Everyone's gaze was fixed on Tsunade, awaiting her response.
Facing Di Yan's heart-piercing questions and the pressure of all eyes on her, Tsunade indeed showed a hint of imperceptible tension, her breathing slightly quickened.
This was very unlike her usual self.
But she took a deep breath and straightened her back.
Her Hokage robe billowed without wind, and Tsunade's clear and firm voice echoed over the square:
"His Majesty the Emperor, you speak too seriously! Konoha's loyalty to the Land of Fire and to His Majesty has never changed!"
"The assassination attempt is absolutely a misunderstanding. Asuma could never have committed such an outrageous act!"
"There must be hidden circumstances. I humbly request His Majesty allow us to thoroughly investigate this matter."
"To clear Asuma's name, and also to clear Konoha's name!"
Her response was neither servile nor overbearing.
It upheld Konoha's dignity.
And also attempted to bring the incident back to the path of investigation and evidence collection.
However, Di Yan clearly had no intention of giving her this opportunity.
He sneered, leaned back slightly in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.
Di Yan's tone was full of deep mockery and undeniable authority:
"Misunderstanding? Thorough investigation?" He shook his head, "Does what I say not count in the Land of Fire?
"Is the truth of the matter not to be decided by me, but rather to be investigated by you, Konoha, yourselves, and only what you say counts?"
His words were extremely cunning.
Directly twisting Tsunade's request for a fair investigation into a challenge to imperial power.
Immediately after, Di Yan's gaze swept across all the Konoha Ninja present.
His voice suddenly rose, carrying a provocative undertone:
"Is there truly no loyal and upright person in the vast Konoha Village who is truly loyal to the Land of Fire and to me?"
"Are you just going to let your Hokage shield a suspect and question my judgment like this?"
These words were like a clear signal.
Danzo Shimura, who had been waiting for a long time, was ecstatic, thinking, "The opportunity has come!"
He immediately leaned on his cane and strode out from the corner.
He walked directly to the center of the square, standing in front of Tsunade.
But his back was completely exposed to Di Yan.
Danzo's posture was impeccable.
As if he were the emperor's most loyal subject, facing a 'rebellious minister'.
Danzo turned around, his single eye sharply fixed on Tsunade.
His voice was grim and filled with 'righteous indignation,' as if Tsunade had committed some heinous crime:
"Tsunade! His Majesty the Emperor is the supreme emperor of the Land of Fire, the sole supreme ruler of this land!"
"As the Hokage of Konoha, you not only failed to restrain your subordinates, leading to such a shocking attempted assassination.
"Now you even dare to openly contradict His Majesty's decree and try to shield a criminal!"
He suddenly raised his cane, pointing it at Tsunade, his voice becoming even more impassioned and inflammatory:
"Where do your actions place His Majesty?"
"Where do they place the laws of the Land of Fire?"
"What right do you still have to lead Konoha?"
Danzo took a deep breath and made his final, revealing declaration:
"Today, I, Danzo Shimura, in my capacity as an Advisory Elder of Konoha, formally propose!"
He looked around, especially at the high-ranking officials and clan heads who originally supported him or were neutral.
"Lady Tsunade, her virtue does not match her position; she indulges her subordinates and disregards imperial authority! She is no longer suitable to be the Fifth Hokage!"
"For the future of Konoha, for the stability of the Land of Fire, please step down immediately!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the entire square erupted in an uproar!
Although many people had guessed that something might happen today.
No one expected Danzo to be so direct, so aggressive in his public challenge, directly demanding the Hokage's resignation!
Everyone's eyes moved back and forth between Danzo, Tsunade, and Di Yan.
So tense they almost forgot to breathe.
The prelude to the coup d'état was finally personally pulled open by Danzo!
And Di Yan, sitting high above, a faint smile playing on his lips, watched it all with indifference.
As if watching a play that had already been rehearsed.
The atmosphere in the square was like a lit powder keg, ready to explode at any moment!
Advisory Elder Utatane Koharu was the first to lose her composure, suddenly standing up and pointing at Danzo, sharply rebuking him:
"Danzo! You are simply being ridiculous!"
"Tsunade's succession as the Fifth Hokage was by the joint recommendation of the Village's high-ranking officials and approved by the Daimyo's Residence."
"How can you negate it with a single sentence?"
"What 'virtue does not match her position,' I think you have coveted the Hokage position for a long time!"
Homura Mitokado also turned to Di Yan with a solemn expression, his tone respectful, but his words carried a hint of doubt:
"His Majesty the Emperor, I also believe there are many suspicious points in the assassination attempt."
"Asuma was at the scene; why not let him speak in his own defense?"
"To convict a Konoha Jonin, the son of the former Hokage, and even implicate the entire Konoha, based solely on one-sided accusations?"
"This... I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince the public!"
His words were almost implying that Di Yan was deliberately framing them, not allowing the person involved to speak.
However, Di Yan merely sat high above.
The playful smile still lingered on his lips, as if watching an interesting farce.
He showed no intention of responding to Homura Mitokado's doubts.
But his silence.
Was undoubtedly the greatest encouragement to Danzo.
Danzo seemed to have suffered immense 'slander' and 'provocation,' acting as if he were furious.
Although he didn't have much hair.
He completely ignored the doubts of the two Advisory Elders.
Instead, he suddenly waved his hand, his voice loud and highly inflammatory:
"The old recommendation is no longer appropriate!"
"For the future of Konoha, changes must be made!"
"Today, in my capacity as an Advisory Elder, I formally propose... a re-election for the Sixth Hokage!"
He paused, his single eye gleaming with undisguised ambition and fanaticism, his voice firm and decisive:
"I, Danzo Shimura, recommend myself... as the best candidate for the Sixth Hokage!"
As his voice fell, the pre-arranged drama immediately unfolded.
Led by members of the Shimura clan, a chorus of agreement immediately rang out from the crowd!
"Support Lord Danzo!"
"Lord Danzo is the most suitable Hokage!"
"Re-election!"
Immediately after, some representatives of small clans and Ninja who had long been controlled or swayed by Danzo through various means.
Also sparsely stood up to express their support.
Although the number was not an absolute majority.
But in this tense atmosphere, the sudden outburst.
The momentum was quite significant for a moment.
The Konoha camp instantly split.
Those supporting Tsunade and those supporting Danzo glared at each other.
Chakra subtly fluctuated, and swords were drawn.
A great battle seemed about to erupt in the next second!
"Danzo!"
Tsunade could no longer hold back.
Her emerald eyes burned with fury, staring intently at Danzo, "What exactly do you want to do? Publicly split the Village?"
Facing Tsunade's anger, Danzo not only did not back down.
Instead, a strange and sinister smile appeared on his face.
He suddenly looked up!
Unbeknownst to anyone.
The eye patch he had always worn had quietly slipped off!
And in what should have been an empty eye socket.
There was a distinctly unusual, crimson eye!
That eye had complex black patterns, slowly rotating.
Emitting a strange and powerful ocular power fluctuation!
That was... a Sharingan!
And definitely not an ordinary Sharingan!
"What do I want to do?"
Danzo's voice became low and full of menace.
That crimson Sharingan was fixed on Tsunade, who was a few steps away, "I am merely... correcting a mistake!"
"For the true future of Konoha!"
In that crimson eye, the speed of the complex patterns' rotation suddenly accelerated!
An invisible yet immensely powerful force, capable of distorting will.
Instantly crossed space and surged towards Tsunade!
Kotoamatsukami... activated!
Danzo actually, at such close range, in front of so many people.