Over on Orochimaru's side—
After walking far enough away, he stretched out his long tongue and licked his lips, murmuring with a playful expression:
"Who could it be?"
"Interesting… very interesting. Looks like Danzo has offended someone he shouldn't have."
However, he quickly lost interest in the matter.
Right now, he had more important concerns.
The Wood Release experiment had reached a critical stage.
He felt like he was just one step away from success… yet he could never grasp that final key point.
It frustrated him.
"If I had Tsunade's help, the success rate would be much higher…"
"But unfortunately, she absolutely must not find out about this. Let alone participate—she'd definitely turn on me."
"Still… I heard Tsunade recently took in a monster of a disciple. Supposedly extremely talented in medical ninjutsu… I wonder if he's any use?"
The key point was—
That person was an Uchiha.
This alone piqued Orochimaru's curiosity.
But then again—
Since Uchiha Sora was Tsunade's disciple, involving him would likely alert her.
"…Forget it. I'll find another way."
At the end of the day, Orochimaru simply didn't believe that a three-year-old child—who had only studied under Tsunade for a few months—could truly help him in such a matter.
That would make the threshold for medical ninjutsu absurdly low.
Yes, the ninja hospital was full of praise for Uchiha Sora—
But Orochimaru took such reports with cautious skepticism.
He had seen plenty of geniuses.
He himself was one.
But even geniuses had limits.
No matter how talented Sora was, to assist him in this matter would likely require years—if not over a decade.
Assuming the boy lived that long.
After all, Orochimaru knew—
Danzo had taken a great interest in him.
Thinking of Uchiha Sora made him think of another person.
Tilting his head slightly, he looked up at the distant sky, a faint smile curling at his lips as he said in his hoarse voice:
"I hope this time… you can protect the one beside you, Tsunade."
—
Inside the Hokage's office—
Danzo pushed open the door, walked in, and shut it behind him.
Before the Hiruzen Sarutobi could even speak, Danzo took the initiative:
"Hiruzen, it seems it's time to purge the spies within the village."
"They've already begun openly manipulating public opinion, trying to slander me and stir internal unrest. This is outrageous!"
Hiruzen: "..."
Do you think I'm an idiot?
You're seriously saying something like that?
Just as he was about to speak—
BANG!
The next instant, a loud explosion came from behind Danzo.
Hiruzen watched as the office door shattered into pieces—
And a leg, carrying countless fragments of the door, slammed directly into Danzo's back.
"PUH—!"
Danzo was sent flying instantly, coughing up blood midair.
"You bas—"
While still in the air, Danzo twisted his body with fury to see who dared attack him—
Only to meet the cold, murderous gaze of Tsunade.
He swallowed the rest of his words.
He knew exactly why she had come.
If he dared curse her right now—
That madwoman might just kill him on the spot.
So he forcibly suppressed his rage and humiliation, saying nothing as he continued flying toward Hiruzen.
He assumed Hiruzen would catch him.
But—
This old fox immediately used the Body Flicker Technique, disappearing from his spot and reappearing to the side.
Not only did he dodge the blood—
He dodged Danzo himself.
"Phew! That was close… very close…"
Hiruzen sighed in relief inwardly—
Then met Danzo's gloomy stare.
He returned a look that clearly said:
Danzo… this is for your own good.
Tsunade's current state—you saw it yourself. If I don't let her vent, she might actually kill you.
For the sake of your life, just endure it.
What?
You say you're innocent?
That you didn't conduct Wood Release experiments?
Didn't tamper with the First Hokage's corpse?
As if I wouldn't know.
Did you forget? We dug up the First Hokage's body together back then.
We failed—and then we buried it again.
But I didn't expect you to secretly dig it up again.
Thinking of this, even Hiruzen felt dissatisfied.
His earlier dodge—
Was also a warning.
Because Danzo had acted beyond his authority.
Danzo immediately understood the meaning behind that look.
And felt utterly humiliated.
He felt betrayed.
Hiruzen had always been like this—
Backstabbing him, making him take the blame.
Too much.
That was why—
He wanted the Hokage position even more.
One day, he would make Hiruzen stand where he stood—
Bearing all the filth and blame.
"BOOM!!"
With that thought, Danzo smashed straight through the wall ahead, nearly falling from the third floor.
"Cough… cough…"
After a moment, he wiped the blood from his mouth and glared darkly at Tsunade:
"Though you've insulted me, I will still say this—I have not defiled the First Hokage. Those are nothing but rumors."
Tsunade stared at him coldly for several seconds—
Before finally speaking in a chilling tone:
"Today is just a small lesson."
"If I ever find out you really did this—if I find evidence…"
"Then you'd better watch your life."
With that, she turned and left without even glancing at Hiruzen.
Hiruzen: "..."
So… did Danzo take the hit for me?
Or was Tsunade targeting him from the start?
No—
Definitely the latter.
After all, he was her teacher.
She wouldn't go that far with him.
Right?
—
At that moment, Danzo glared at Hiruzen and said coldly:
"Hiruzen, are you satisfied now?"
"This is the fine disciple you trained? Does she even acknowledge me as the Hokage's advisor anymore?"
"Spare me."
Hiruzen calmly packed tobacco into his pipe.
With a flick of chakra, he ignited it—
Then took a few slow puffs.
Finally, he sat down on the sofa and looked at Danzo:
"We both know the truth of this matter."
"This time—you brought it upon yourself."
"No matter how dissatisfied you are, you'll endure it."
"You should be grateful Tsunade has no evidence. Otherwise…"
He shook his head and continued:
"In any case, I'll say it again—"
"Stop, Danzo."
"Wood Release experiments don't work. We proved that years ago."
"Don't continue down this path."
"Return the First Hokage's remains. I'll pretend nothing happened."
Even if Danzo could succeed—
Hiruzen would never allow it.
Because if Danzo obtained Wood Release—
He would no longer be someone Hiruzen could control.