As soon as Tobirama's words about impeaching Danzō fell—
the training ground, which had just been filled with noisy cheers, instantly fell silent.
Everyone turned their gaze toward "Uchiha Seisui."
He had just defeated Minato, and now he wanted to ride that momentum to challenge the Hokage's advisor—and even the village itself?
"Uchiha really do need to be kept on a leash… You can't blame the Second Hokage for that. If you don't restrain them, it won't work…"
Among the onlookers, Hyūga Tenzō rubbed his brow and said to Hyūga Kō beside him, "How many days of peace has it even been? And they're already reverting to their old ways…"
"Showing off too much edge? That's just asking to die!"
Hyūga Kō nodded in deep agreement.
Danzō's anger flared instantly.
In a setting like this, this brat actually dared to impeach him in public?
But with a light cough from Hiruzen, Danzō immediately reined in his emotions…
He had just been warned, after all…
Isshin, seeing the scene unfold, panicked at once.
Wait, this wasn't supposed to happen in front of such a huge crowd!
Shouldn't this have been handled privately with Hokage-sama? At most, maybe semi-publicly at the Hokage Tower?
Doing it in front of everyone like this—wouldn't that be mistaken as forcing the Hokage's hand?!
'It's over, it's over… Seisui still has Uchiha blood in him. I should've realized that! Too stubborn, too extreme…' Isshin's pupils trembled as countless thoughts flashed through his mind: 'Even if Hokage-sama is kind and benevolent, he still holds power over the entire village!'
'All our previous efforts are wasted!'
Isshin put on a pained expression, already thinking about how to explain this to Hiruzen…
The man had just released the Uchiha from the Police Force and even returned Izuna's blade to the clan…
Not only that, the money used to purchase the blade had gone to charity—giving both face and substance!
Even Isshin had no idea how to bring this up anymore…
Hiruzen slowly stood up, looking down at Tobirama from the main platform, signaling him to continue.
"Hokage-sama, my impeachment of the advisor follows the rules!"
"According to the village's publicly announced 'Konoha Committee' system, if a ninja has an issue, they should first report it to the supervising jōnin. If that jōnin cannot resolve it, it should be escalated step by step until a response is received."
Tobirama spoke loudly: "But I was suppressed by the advisor himself! In that situation, escalating through proper channels became meaningless—I could only impeach him directly in front of you!"
"I wrote my concerns about the advisor in a ninja academy exam paper…"
"But that paper was graded by the advisor. He called it nonsense and gave me a zero!"
"The public notice clearly states that in such a case, I can report directly to you!"
Hiruzen feigned a thoughtful look and glanced at Danzō.
Danzō's face darkened, unable to voice his frustration.
Who had ever seen a ninja like this?!
Just because I criticized you a bit on an exam, you blow up like this? What kind of temper is that for a kid?
Isn't he afraid?
I'm the darkness of the shinobi world!
"That is indeed what it says. So it follows procedure."
Hiruzen spoke calmly. "Go on."
Tobirama extended his hand, and Obito immediately understood, pulling out a bloodstained exam paper from his pocket and handing it over.
Tobirama held it high: "Hokage-sama, I accuse the advisor of using coercion—intimidation, threats, and other forced methods—to compel major clans and civilian ninjas to join Root!"
"And not only that, he subjected them to brainwashing and placed curse marks on them for control, turning them into private tools!"
"This is completely against the Will of Fire!"
The moment those words fell—the entire arena erupted.
Behind Tobirama, the elite students of the academy—those with family members or relatives in Root—each held a document!
On them was compiled evidence they had gathered…
But what was interesting was—in the shadows of the training ground, Aburame Tatsuma, formerly Root's second-in-command, watched his own relatives speak up for him, and for the first time in a long while, felt his emotions stir.
Not from gratitude—but because he couldn't hold it in anymore…
I just became a hero to be recorded in academy textbooks…
Don't stir things up for me!
Things are perfectly fine right now—no need to make them better! What if something goes wrong? Who do I complain to then?!
The other Root members seemed to think the same.
Kisame stared fixedly at Seisui, feeling as though he had found a point of reference.
He wanted to talk to the Mizukage like this too!
If the Bloody Mist Village couldn't bring real improvement, then it should be stopped…
The arena buzzed with heated discussion!
No one had expected such a dramatic turn!
The new-generation standard-bearer, Seisui, had chosen this moment to impeach the advisor…
And what Tobirama said struck right at a line the shinobi struggled to define.
As people, they could not accept being controlled or forcibly brainwashed…
But as shinobi, this was normal.
A shinobi is someone who endures everything. Being used as a tool had been the norm for centuries, not an exception.
Hiruzen had even once spoken in Danzō's defense at a commendation ceremony…
Acknowledging his contributions to the village, though his methods were harsh.
For a moment, the discussions grew louder and louder…
Some supported Danzō, some opposed him, and others believed it shouldn't be viewed in extremes.
Even close companions standing side by side began to disagree.
Uchiha Madara, watching all this, was overjoyed!
"That's it! Seisui, you truly are an Uchiha who resonates with Izuna's chakra…"
"You understand it now, don't you? True peace does not exist in the shinobi world!"
"Only the Eye of the Moon Plan can save everything…"
Madara wanted to add more fuel to Konoha's fire!
Seisui wanted to see the village leadership admit fault?
That was the perfect opportunity to hand a blade to Hiruzen and Danzō!
An Uchiha who saved his comrades but brought heavy losses to the Land of Fire and Konoha—
Wasn't that the perfect excuse to suppress both Seisui and the Uchiha, while reinforcing shinobi doctrine?
Madara was certain—
Even if Hiruzen wasn't Tobirama's student, Danzō would never let this opportunity pass!
On the main platform—
Hiruzen spoke softly: "Isshin and Committee Member Fugaku—you're in charge of the Uchiha, correct?"
The moment Hiruzen spoke, the noise in the arena was smoothed out as if by an invisible hand, quickly settling into silence.
Isshin and Fugaku immediately stood. "Yes, Hokage-sama!"
"You were aware of the issue Seisui raised?" Hiruzen asked expressionlessly.
Cold sweat silently soaked through Fugaku's back.
This situation spiraling out of control was completely beyond his expectations…
I told you to test the Hokage's sincerity—not to flip the table!
Isshin steadied himself and spoke sincerely: "Hokage-sama, Seisui did mention similar concerns to us. Fugaku and I explained things to him, but we didn't expect… sigh!"
"Although the advisor's methods are somewhat harsh, they were for the sake of the village."
Danzō snorted coldly.
At least he knows how to behave!
"Your daily work has indeed lacked depth…"
"While it is allowed to report directly to me, if committee members do not actively resolve issues, then the system becomes meaningless…"
Hiruzen said sternly, "In my view, this is not Seisui's problem…"
"It is the two of you failing in your duties!"
"I should have heard this matter from you—not from a young boy forced to use such a stage to speak about the village's problems!"
Fugaku nodded again and again, his nerves stretched tight.
"Hokage-sama saw right through us… Next time, we absolutely cannot let this happen!"
Isshin, meanwhile, felt a sudden sense of relief.
This was Hiruzen giving the Uchiha a way out…
He didn't label Seisui negatively—instead, he pointed out the shortcomings of the two committee members.
In Isshin's view, if Hiruzen had wanted to, he could have easily steered things… and plunged the Uchiha into unprecedented public condemnation.
Ambitious wolves, ungrateful, never satisfied…
"We will rectify and reflect, Hokage-sama…" Isshin said solemnly.
"Mm. The other Konoha Committee members should take note as well—the system must be properly implemented."
Unexpectedly, Hiruzen called another name: "Sakumo, what do you think of this matter?"
Sakumo was startled.
He had only come to watch Kakashi…
But he hadn't expected his own son to be involved in something this big!
And not even tell him…
Still, Sakumo didn't blame Kakashi—he had always despised Danzō's methods.
"Hokage-sama…" Sakumo hesitated.
"Speak your mind."
"I believe Danzō-sama's actions are problematic. Serving the village is one thing, but forcing ninjas into Root is another matter entirely!"
Sakumo steadied himself and said in a deep voice: "It is precisely because you dissolved Root that things didn't deteriorate further…"
"Speaking from my own work experience, some of Advisor Danzō's actions do indeed lack proper standards! It's not as if his crimes are unforgivable, but there is a need for reflection and correction."
Isshin and Fugaku both froze.
Wait, we were already prepared to admit fault, so why are you still charging straight in?
Aren't you the deputy head of the Anbu? Why aren't you speaking for your superior…?
Could it be that he wanted to use this incident to bring Danzō down and take his place?
But Sakumo simply felt that Danzō was exactly the sort of person who needed to be knocked down a peg—his work style had serious problems!
It didn't fit Konoha's current direction at all!
Back in the Anbu, Danzō had tried to keep building his own little clique.
It was only because Sakumo and Hizashi were watching him that he had no choice but to give it up.
"Tenzō, what do you think?" Hiruzen continued, calling on the next person.
"I think this has gone too far! It's true that the advisor's methods are rough, but the shinobi world isn't as ideal as Konoha's ninja academy. For the sake of completing missions more effectively, it is necessary to keep the relevant shinobi under control!"
Tenzō had already prepared a whole speech in advance: "A shinobi's life is meant for completing missions… Some sacrifices are unavoidable!"
Tobirama's words sounded extremely grating to Tenzō.
Was this really about Danzō?
Talk of curse mark control and all that—somehow it felt like an insinuation aimed at the Hyūga main and branch families…
Hiruzen merely nodded noncommittally.
Sakumo frowned deeply as he listened.
That was a sleight of hand!
Sacrificing oneself for the village was naturally not wrong, but how could coercion and consent possibly be the same thing?
The brains of these thousand-year noble clans were truly rotten!
"Orochimaru, what about you?"
"It has always been widely recognized in the village that Advisor Danzō's Will of Fire is relatively weak…"
Orochimaru, having been called by name, spoke with elegance: "I think he needs to reflect on himself. He also needs to sincerely apologize to the former Root members, and he should likewise be punished."
Having caught an opportunity to attack Danzō, Orochimaru naturally had no intention of letting it slip!
Who cared about all the rest of it…
"Orochimaru, you—!" Danzō finally snapped in fury. "You think you're fit to criticize me?"
"Are you referring to the Wood Release matter?"
Orochimaru chuckled softly: "The Iburi Clan and the Tsuchigumo Clan voluntarily entered into cooperation with the village to jointly develop Wood Release. Under Sensei's direction and my research, progress toward overcoming their bloodline illness is steadily advancing…"
"They have now become the village's reserve forces, and in the future, more and more talented people will join Konoha…"
The Iburi Clan was Yamato's maternal clan.
Back then, Orochimaru had indeed worked with Danzō to target clans around the Land of Fire.
But now, that historical problem had already been resolved…
At this moment, while feeling immense satisfaction from attacking Danzō, Orochimaru also deeply felt his teacher's care for him—it truly had been meticulous in every possible way.
If Hiruzen had not taken the lead in cleaning up the dark stains in his past…
Then perhaps today, standing in the center of the whirlpool, there would have been one more person added to it—him!
"You!" A vicious gleam flashed in Danzō's eyes, but for the moment he couldn't find a good rebuttal. Inwardly, he roared: 'That damned Orochimaru—what a cautious, disgusting bastard! Slippery as a snake, and he even knew to patch up his own weak points. He must have been waiting for a chance to attack me all along!'
Orochimaru looked toward Hiruzen, and his heart could not help but feel warm.
But when he looked back at Danzō, his gaze turned as cold as a serpent's.
Hiruzen continued calling on people.
Those selected were the Konoha Committee members and their alternates who were present,
along with some jōnin, chūnin, and a portion of the ninja academy students.
He had them all express their views.
As for Danzō's conduct—this conduct that walked the narrow gap between shinobi rules and the Will of Fire…
Just as Hiruzen had expected, Konoha's shinobi were far from united in their opinions.
Sixty percent believed Danzō had problems, but that it wasn't serious enough to make such a huge fuss over; it just needed to be resolved properly…
Twenty percent believed Danzō should be punished, but for the moment could not find any explicit written rule to support it…
And astonishingly, another twenty percent believed Danzō had rendered meritorious service and that this should not be blown out of proportion!
It could only be said that the reason Danzō's methods had worked before was not merely because of his power, but also because they happened to align with a certain strange mentality among part of the shinobi.
Once again, Hiruzen found himself marveling at the shinobi's tolerance.
There was a sort of aesthetic to it—like, 'As long as there's just a bit of feudalism, it's already pretty good; if it's not outright slavery, then hallelujah.'
But the anger in Danzō's heart only burned hotter and hotter.
How was it that, added together, eighty percent thought he had done something wrong?!
These insolent fools truly needed the discipline of Konoha's Root!
Yet amid that fury, Danzō's heart also began to panic in a way it hadn't in a long time.
He wanted to become Hokage…
And if Orochimaru used this opportunity to stir up trouble and carve an indelible stain onto his name, then from this point on he would be burdened with a massive liability!
Unconsciously, Danzō looked toward Orochimaru.
And Orochimaru was also looking at Danzō, his snake-like eyes filled with undisguised malice.
"Konoha's current code, compared to the village's rapidly changing development, is relatively outdated."
"We must see within its shortcomings the opportunity for change."
"All Konoha Committee members, jōnin, and special jōnin are to take five days, gather the opinions of the shinobi under their respective supervision in stages, organize them into precise and concise reports, and submit them to me."
"Take note—accuracy must be ensured. I will have the Administrative Department assist you…"
Hiruzen said this much, then concluded: "That's all. You may all disperse."
Isshin and Fugaku exchanged a glance.
This time, they absolutely had to fulfill their duties as Konoha Committee members properly…
They had to do the statistics work well and serve as the buffer layer that resolved the shinobi's concerns. Otherwise, they really would be replaced.
This task Hiruzen had assigned was clearly meant to use this incident to train the various committee members in exactly that aspect of their ability.
As for how this incident itself would ultimately be defined…
No one could get a read on the Hokage's true intentions.
"Clan Head, if the clan members' attitudes are too intense, should we make a few minor adjustments? Help Seisui and the clan smooth things over a little…"
After returning to the clan district, Fugaku let out long sighs.
"If you don't know how to speak, then speak less! If that gets discovered, that's called deceiving the Hokage!"
Isshin barked sharply: "Then everything will be over! Don't think nobody can tell what you're up to. Hokage-sama gave you, me, and the Uchiha a way out, and you still want to play smart here?"
As if still dissatisfied, Isshin viciously punched Fugaku once: "Good thing Seisui showed up! He may have been a bit extreme, but at least his starting point was good. He already tested Hokage-sama's sincerity toward the Uchiha…"
"Otherwise, with the clan in your hands, wouldn't we be waiting for extermination, damn it?!"
Fugaku clutched his head and said aggrievedly, "I know, I know! But did you really have to curse at me? Clan Head Isshin, I thought you were supposed to be a cultured man…"
Isshin glared at Fugaku in irritation. "Get lost, get lost, get to work!"
He had originally still been thinking about whether the matter of Izuna possessing Seisui should be communicated to the clan members…
But now that he looked at it, there really was no need at all…
Who knew what kind of mess that might create!
'Could it be that what Seisui did today was Young Clan Head's instigation?'
Isshin was suddenly startled. 'Though Young Clan Head logically shouldn't be that kind of person, after being in the Pure Land for so long…'
'No, that's not right. Young Clan Head was an elder from the Warring States era—he shouldn't be this extreme, should he?'
'No, wait—right! Back then, when the Young Clan Head insisted on giving his eyes to the Great Clan Head, no one could persuade him either. After all, he was the Great Clan Head's younger brother—ah, damn it!'
With his left and right brain fighting each other, Isshin firmly dumped the blame onto Izuna.
As for "Seisui"…
Isshin didn't believe this was truly Seisui's own intention.
The kid hadn't been like this before!
And at this moment—
Izuna was earnestly trying to persuade Tobirama.
"You can't do things like this. I know you want to make the village better, but handling it this way only escalates the conflict!"
"If Hiruzen hadn't been this magnanimous as Hokage, do you have any idea how hard this would've been to clean up?"
"Next time, you should at least discuss it with me first. Pulling off something this big at the drop of a hat—how are you going to lead the clan in the future? Governing a clan, even a village, has to be done step by step…"
"Don't be so extreme!"
Tobirama found it rather amusing as he listened.
How many years had you even been Hokage, to be lecturing me like this…?
At most, you'd only ever been the Uchiha's number two for a few years!
And Izuna's calm demeanor even felt unfamiliar to Tobirama…
Why did what he was saying sound so similar to Tobirama's own approach when he was Hokage?
"Enough, Izuna!"
"If I'm not extreme, how else can I test whether the Hokage is truly sincere toward the Uchiha?"
"As an Uchiha, this is how I do things!"
Tobirama said bluntly.
Izuna slowly let out a long breath and sighed inwardly: 'Here we go again… another purebred Uchiha. And an old-school one at that—just like my brother…'
'Take it slow. No rushing this…'
'No wonder he claims to have inherited my brother's will!'
By a twist of fate, Izuna ended up giving Tobirama an "official certification" as the inheritor of Madara's will…
...
Three days later.
The collected opinions gradually converged at the Hokage Tower.
But at that very moment, an unexpected incident erupted!
Uchiha Yashiro, while carrying out a high-level mission with two companions, instinctively chose to save his teammates—causing the mission to fail…
The "National Treasure Bronze Mirror," passed down in the Land of Fire for centuries, was destroyed!
The great noble En Masamune, who had assigned the mission, flew into a rage. He rallied a portion of the Land of Fire's nobility and even joined forces with aristocratic relatives in other countries, spreading the news far and wide…
Applying pressure on Konoha from multiple fronts!
In an instant, the entire village was aware.
The surface of the already unsettled lake had another massive stone thrown into it—creating an even larger and more complex wave of public opinion…
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