"Death for him is the only recourse, Lord Third." Fugaku pushed. Finally making Hiruzen snap. He slammed his pipe on the table, "No! No death penalty or Prison. That is non-negotiable."
He had torn off all pretense.
This was a proper negotiation now.
Shikaku stood again — but this time, everyone listened.
"A death sentence creates a scandal. It will draw too many eyes and damage the village's reputation.
Exile gives him room to plot.
We need a punishment that removes Danzo from power—without deepening fractures, Root exploited."
Eyes turned toward Hiruzen — but Shikaku pointed at the clans.
"This verdict must come from us."
One by one:
"Strip his title and ban him from contesting for any official administrative or leadership positions.
Murmurs of assent arose. Hokage nodded. This much was expected.
Heavy fines to be levied on Danzo and the Shimura clan, for compensation to the victims and their families."
"It was I who was responsible. Why drag my clan into this?"
"The pretense is gone, Lord Danzo. You are welcome to choose execution."
Fugaku really wasn't holding back.
The clans agreed in deadly harmony.
The Hokage looked trapped between loyalty and reality.
"Next, I propose he be put under house arrest indefinitely."
Hiruzen nodded again. So far, so good. It will hurt them both. But considering what happened. The losses were acceptable.
"And lastly, the Root must be disbanded to border patrol."
Now both of them spoke up in outraged protest.
"Don't go too far, Nara!"
"The Anbu is my Jurisdiction. The clans have no say in it!"
He just stayed silent and stared. So did every other clan head. A silent threat. An admission of the will of the clans.
"If they truly are under your Jurisdiction, Hiruzen. Then I guess we must remove them from it. We don't want a Hokage who treats his own subjects as inconsequential pawns to power."
And I thought Fugaku was bad. His old man was worse.
Finally, Hiruzen relented and nodded. The deal was done.
Oh, the clan interests you ask? Well, it was the money, of course. It was decided to be a considerable sum. There's a reason people say that wars are costly.
"Danzo Shimura," Hiruzen said formally, "you are hereby stripped of all administrative authority and shinobi command. Effective immediately. And you are also banned from holding any positions of responsibility in the future."
Danzo scowled. A man who had always controlled shadows — now dragged into the light.
"Your clan will provide financial compensation for all victims — multiplied by rank and age."
Danzo didn't flinch, but his eye twitched. Money was a language even he feared.
"You will serve house arrest, monitored by the Anbu, until further notice."
With this, Danzo was effectively crippled. He won't be able to make any big moves. But to effectively cripple him. I added something else.
"I request that the monitoring be done by the KMPF instead of the ANBU."
All eyes turned to me. It made me nervous. Last time I was piping in. This time I was butting in. "The Anbu and the root have had too close a connection to the point where Hokage considered it a part of Anbu. They cannot monitor Danzo effectively."
It was a scathing remark. One that highlighted the Hokage's incompetence again. The Hokage faction glared but didn't say anything. My arguments were logical, and the Uchiha, who weren't yet seen as pariahs, were overjoyed.
They wanted Danzo. And one mistake would allow them to take him. Which is why I wanted them to have it. And yes, I see the irony in the events of Canon.
He bit his lips, but continued. "You will serve house arrest, monitored by the KMPF, until further notice."
"And as for Root—"
Hiruzen paused a long time here, his hand tightening around his staff.
"Root is formally disbanded and reassigned to border patrol duties only. No black operations. No internal jurisdiction."
That line… hurt Hiruzen more than Danzo.
I could tell.
------
One by one, the clan heads took their leave. Some were smug, some were currying favor with the Hokage's faction by expressing sympathy. As I got up to leave, "Ren, stay." His voice was grim and laced with anger. Oh, boy, here comes the music.
The most important thing when separating from someone was the way you parted ways. As a traitor or as someone whose path you disagreed with but respected. I was aiming for the latter. Hiruzen trusts and loves Danzo too much, as seen just before. He hadn't been directly fined, but his political pull as Hokage had hit rock bottom.
I slowly turned, and he asked just one question. "Why?"
He knew what he was asking, and I knew it. I had supported the Uchiha against him. I had intentionally made his and Danzo's problems more difficult.
"I told you, Hiruzen. You will regret it." Danzo was right. He must be regretting sponsoring me. And no excuse or explanation will change that. Only one thing could.
"Why?"
"Lord Third, are you seriously asking why?" I bellowed in as much anger and disappointment I could muster. Stunning even the Hokage and the advisors. I was usually extremely polite to them and this was pure unadulterated tell off.
The only one that could get through to him now wad himself.
I chuckled dryly.
"And I thought that you could help me create an ideal clan." I pressed my fingers to my forehead, and then turned slowly towards him and in an expression that conveyed barely contained rage I asked, "Is the Will of Fire you preach nothing more than I lie Lord Third?"
"Boy!"
"Ren!"
"You ungrateful little…"
And an overlapping cacophony of voices echoed in the room. But I stared at him. Channeling the anger I had from Taku's kidnapping. It gave my gaze true wrath and accusation.
I stared straight at him. As if the others didn't matter. As if it was not a clan head or Shinobi but the kid who came to him for guidance. I had actually come to like and appreciate the old man over time. He was kind most of the time. And it somehow did bring a small tear into my eyes.
Seeing this the stunned Hokage spoke in anguish, "Why do you say that, Ren?"
"If you have to ask Lord Third. Then there's no point in telling you."