Nara Shikaku, Inoichi Yamanaka, and others all breathed a long sigh of relief.
They secretly admired Tsunade's decisiveness and planning.
Danzo froze completely.
His single eye was wide open, the ecstasy brought by the Sharingan still lingering on his face.
But it was overshadowed by immense shock and disbelief.
For a moment, his expression was twisted in a ridiculously comical way.
"No... impossible!" He practically shrieked, "How could it... be a Transformation Jutsu?!"
He had expended the precious and incomparable power of Kotoamatsukami, with a cooldown period of over a decade.
Even with the First Hokage's cells to shorten it, it could certainly not be used again in the short term.
Yet... he had used it on the wrong target?
Used it on the Hokage's substitute, disguised as Shizune?
Damn it, a mere Transformation Jutsu, how could this old man not see through it?
An extreme surge of anger and frustration instantly welled up in Danzo's heart.
Making him almost spit blood!
He had meticulously planned for many years, even willing to expose the Mangekyo Sharingan as his trump card.
The result was such a huge blunder!
"Damn it!!"
Danzo roared frantically internally, the long cooldown of Kotoamatsukami now became his greatest despair.
However, Tsunade would not give him a chance to regret or catch his breath.
"Move!"
As Tsunade gave the order.
The Anbu Ninja, who had been prepared for a long time, emerged like phantoms from all directions.
Instantly surrounding Danzo and the Root members he brought, such as Aburame Torune and Fu Yamanaka!
At the same time, two figures appeared at the forefront of the Anbu squad with extreme speed!
One was Kakashi Hatake, holding a kunai, his Sharingan already activated, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's!
The other was Might Guy, his body burning with green energy, having already opened the Gate of Shock.
Might Guy's thick eyebrows were bristling, and he roared:
"Danzo! Your evil ends here!"
Konoha's two strongest elite Jonin struck simultaneously.
Leading the Anbu, they charged directly at Danzo Shimura!
The coup and counter-coup, after the unveiling of intentions.
Finally entered the most direct stage of armed conflict!
Just as the Anbu surrounded Danzo.
Another team of well-trained Anbu Ninja appeared silently like shadows around Di Yan's seat.
Forming a seemingly protective but actually monitoring encirclement.
The squad leader at the head bowed slightly to Di Yan, his tone respectful but undeniable:
"His Majesty the Emperor, Hokage-sama's order."
"To ensure your absolute safety, please rest here for a while, under our protection."
Di Yan looked at the formation and shook his head helplessly.
But a knowing smile played on his lips.
He, of course, understood Tsunade's intention.
This was to "protect" him, to prevent him from intervening.
Perhaps even to guard against him helping Danzo.
"Heh, what 'thorough' protection indeed."
Di Yan snorted lightly, showing no sign of resistance.
He had no intention of interfering in Konoha's internal strife anyway.
To him, this was more like an interesting play.
All he had to do now was wait.
He didn't know when.
Uchiha Hikari's petite figure had already snuck to his side.
Di Yan naturally picked her up and held her on his lap, embracing her.
One large and one small person.
Right in the center of this tense battlefield.
Like spectators standing apart, ready to enjoy the upcoming "performance."
At this moment, the Konoha Ninja in the plaza had clearly divided into two factions.
One faction stood firmly behind Tsunade and the Hokage lineage.
The other was the power Danzo had cultivated, wooed, or controlled over many years.
Both sides glared at each other, their Chakra fluctuating violently.
Battle could erupt at any moment.
Danzo suppressed the surging rage caused by Kotoamatsukami missing its mark, a sinister and frantic light flickering in his single eye.
He abruptly raised his hand, pointing at the family heads opposite, represented by the Hyuga, Ino–Shika–Chō, and others, his voice hoarse and full of menace:
"Do you think I have no backup plan? Do you think I will just let myself be slaughtered?!"
He let out a sneer: "At this very moment, my Root elites have already attacked your respective clan strongholds!"
"Your clansmen, your parents, wives, and children, are all about to fall into my control!"
"Drop your weapons immediately and support me as Hokage! Otherwise..."
Danzo's voice was like a poisonous snake flicking its tongue, "You'll just be waiting to collect the bodies of your families!"
"Konoha doesn't need indecisive trash; those who resist will only suffer the same fate as the Uchiha Clan!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the expressions of many family heads and Ninja present instantly changed drastically!
To throw a rat and break a valuable, family is always a Ninja's greatest weakness.
Danzo's move was extremely vicious.
Attempting to use emotional blackmail to force everyone into submission.
For a moment, Danzo's side's arrogance flared up again.
While a clear commotion and panic appeared in the ranks behind Tsunade.
However, facing Danzo's threat, Tsunade suddenly tore off her Hokage robe from behind her.
She revealed her practical combat attire underneath.
Her ample body appeared very capable.
With a cold face, she walked step by step to the front line, her voice calm and powerful, resounding throughout the plaza:
"Everyone, there's no need to panic! And no need to be threatened by him!"
Nara Shikaku also immediately stepped forward, adjusted his glasses, and calmly added:
"Hokage-sama has long seen through Danzo's wolfish ambition!"
"All of his Root's actions have long been under our strict surveillance!"
Tsunade took over, her voice resolute: "While Danzo is spouting nonsense here, the Konoha Military Police Force, in conjunction with Anbu elites, has already moved out simultaneously."
"They are currently eradicating all of Danzo's Root bases!"
"The strongholds of all major clans are also specially guarded; Danzo's conspiracy will absolutely not succeed!"
This news was like a calming pill, instantly soothing the restless crowd.
It turned out that the Hokage's side had already made thorough preparations!
"What? Impossible!"
The sinister smile on Danzo's face instantly froze.
Replaced by incredulous shock and an even deeper gloom.
"My plan was so secretive... the locations of the Root bases were even top secret... how could you possibly..."
He couldn't figure out how the intelligence had leaked, no matter what.
Was it Di Yan?
Impossible, Di Yan still needed him to control Konoha.
Was there a traitor among his subordinates?
Or did Tsunade's side have some unknown reconnaissance methods?
A huge sense of frustration and the anger of being played almost overwhelmed Danzo.
He had meticulously planned for many years, believing himself to be infallible.
Yet at the most crucial moment, he discovered that all his trump cards had already been seen through by his opponent.
And targeted arrangements had been made!
The conspiracy was exposed, and the armed threat was neutralized.
Danzo instantly fell into a desperate situation of being abandoned by all and having no way out!
"Danzo!" Tsunade pointed at him, delivering her final ultimatum, "Your crimes are numerous; you have desecrated the dead, coveted forbidden jutsu, and attempted a coup.
"You even threatened the safety of clansmen! Today, Konoha will thoroughly eliminate this tumor that is you!"
"Take him down!"
Before Tsunade's words even finished, she had already struck with lightning speed.
She didn't even form hand signs.
Pure monstrous strength condensed in her fist, accompanied by a sonic boom that tore through the air, and she slammed it fiercely towards Danzo Shimura!
This punch was thrown in anger.
Determined to utterly shatter this tumor of Konoha!
"You won't harm Lord Danzo!"
Aburame Torune and Fu Yamanaka immediately stepped forward, attempting to intercept.
But two figures were faster than them!
"Your opponents are us!"
Kakashi's voice was incredibly calm.
His Sharingan spun rapidly, precisely intercepting Aburame Torune.
The kunai clashed with the opponent's poison-wrapped arm, creating harsh sparks.