area51novel Chapter 45 Favoring Danzo, the Threat of Shingetsu!
Chapter 45 Favoring Danzo, the Threat of Shingetsu!
As Shingetsu spoke, his gaze swept over the Third Hokage and the two advisors: "Third Hokage, advisors. Consider this: the Daimyo is the ruler of a nation, a man of high status, and has a cooperative relationship with Konoha. Without solid evidence or strong suspicion, why would he personally write a letter accusing Konoha's high-ranking officials? What benefit would this bring to him or the Land of Fire? This can only mean that certain actions of Lord Danzo have seriously threatened the Daimyo's safety and the stability of the Land of Fire, forcing the Daimyo to personally intervene and issue a warning to Konoha!"
"If we don't deal with Danzo today, we will be letting down the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, and all the ninjas, including us Uchiha!" Kamizuki began frantically accusing Danzo.
"This kid has such a sharp tongue, unlike the typical Uchiha lunatics!"
Faced with Shingetsu's accusations, Danzo was momentarily speechless.
After all, he had never seen a non-traditional Uchiha like Shingetsu, who was crazy, eccentric, and had a sharp tongue.
Worse.
Based on his past reputation and style of doing things, everyone felt that he might actually do such a thing.
Moreover, he does indeed have ideas about the Land of Fire, but he hasn't had a chance to implement them yet.
The feeling of wanting to do something but having it exposed beforehand made him so frustrated he almost vomited blood.
The atmosphere in the office became even more tense.
"This is troublesome!" The two advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, looked at the secret letter on the table, then at Danzo, who was disheveled but still exuded murderous intent, and then at the Uchiha group who had a tough attitude and held the moral high ground. Their brows furrowed tightly.
The situation was far more complicated and difficult than they had imagined.
The Third Hokage was also in a real bind.
He took a deep drag of his pipe, the smoke billowing around him.
Danzo and he, one in the open and one in the shadows, both initially aimed to protect Konoha. Although their methods and ideologies sometimes differed, the evidence currently points to Danzo.
If Danzo is not punished, it would be unreasonable and unacceptable. We would not be able to explain this to the Daimyo, nor would we be able to quell the Uchiha's anger. Furthermore, it would damage the credibility of Konoha's leadership.
But what if there's a punishment!
What should be the punishment?
Danzo has a special identity, as he controls the Root organization and is an indispensable dark side of Konoha.
Severe punishment would damage Konoha's foundation and its hidden forces.
Letting it go lightly won't convince the public.
"Kamizuki, you've really ruined my life!"
The Third Hokage was caught in a dilemma.
Just then, the two advisors exchanged a glance and began to defend Danzo in unison.
Koharu Utatane's voice was rigid and serious: "Hiruzen, this matter needs to be investigated thoroughly. It's too hasty to conclude that Danzo is plotting something based solely on a letter and one accusation from the Uchiha. Danzo has worked diligently for Konoha for many years, handling countless shady troubles. We know his loyalty."
Mitokado Homura chimed in, "Indeed. The letter from the Fire Country's daimyo is important, but whether the specific accusations within are conclusive still needs verification. Perhaps a third-party force is deliberately sowing discord, attempting to damage the relationship between Konoha and the Fire Country, or even sow discord within Konoha itself. Danzo, what is your explanation for this?"
"Find an opportunity to kill those two old bastards too!" Shingetsu seemed to have anticipated that the two advisors would side with Danzo.
Her bright red Sharingan swept over Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, her killing intent palpable.
The Leaf Village is now decaying.
"A thorough investigation? Verification? Sure, Third Hokage, both advisors, you may investigate and verify at your leisure. But today, here and now, the fact that Danzo sent assassins to kill my Uchiha ninja with the intention of stealing the Sharingan, and the suspicion that he poses a threat to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, must be clearly explained and dealt with!"
He stepped forward, his small frame radiating an astonishing aura: "If the Konoha leadership cannot give the Uchiha a satisfactory answer today, and cannot handle this matter fairly, then I, Uchiha Shingetsu, hereby declare that from this day forward, the Uchiha and Shimura Danzo and his Root organization will be sworn enemies to the death! All attacks against the Uchiha will be met with an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!"
These words struck like a thunderbolt in the office.
"A fight to the death? Ha, you brat, how dare you speak so arrogantly!" Danzo covered his bandaged ear, his single eye filled with sinister malice and mockery. "Since when did it become your place, a mere child, to make decisions about the Uchiha clan? Fugaku, is this how you discipline your clansmen?"
Faced with Danzo's sarcasm and provocation, Fugaku Uchiha did not hesitate. He stepped forward and stood beside Shingetsu, his gaze calm yet unwavering, looking at the Third Hokage and the two advisors:
"Kamizuki's words represent my stance, and also the stance of the Uchiha clan. Danzo's actions have crossed the line. The Uchiha need justice, and they need safety."
"Father?" Itachi, who was in the corner, was shocked when he heard this. His handsome face was filled with disbelief and worry.
He never expected that his father would support Shenyue so openly and so strongly!
This was completely different from the father he knew who always tried to consider the big picture and was patient and restrained!
How could Shen Yue hold such an important place in her father's heart?
The Third Hokage and his two advisors were even more bewildered upon hearing this.
"Sigh!" The Third Hokage rubbed his aching temples, looking at the three Uchiha who wouldn't budge an inch, then at Danzo with his gloomy face, and the two advisors who were clearly trying to smooth things over but couldn't control the situation. He knew that he had to come up with a solution that both sides could temporarily accept, otherwise Konoha might really be in big trouble.
He sighed helplessly, his gaze finally settling on Shen Yue, who had instigated all of this and maintained control throughout. His voice was weary: "Shen Yue, what do you want? State your conditions."
"Since the Third Hokage has said so, I can't refuse!" Upon hearing this, Shingetsu's Sharingan slowly rotated, his cold gaze sweeping over Danzo as if he were meat on a chopping board.
"What's this kid up to?" Danzo was furious at the look in his eyes, and the Third Hokage and the two advisors also felt a sense of foreboding.
Just then, Shenyue slowly extended a finger.
What does this mean?
Danzo was taken aback at first, then, as if deeply insulted, his one eye widened as he roared, "Uchiha Shingetsu! Don't go too far! You want one of my arms? No way! I'd rather die than submit to a brat like you!"
Shen Yue rolled her eyes in annoyance, her tone full of disdain: "Who wants your old arm? It's so dry and tough, even if you chopped it up and fed it to a dog, it would be too hard to chew! What would I do with it?"
Upon hearing this, the two advisors breathed a slight sigh of relief.
It's not enough to just want an arm!
Koharu tentatively asked, "That one finger? If it's Danzo's finger, as a symbolic punishment and an explanation to your Uchiha clan, it seems acceptable." She felt that if it was just one finger, although it was still humiliating, it was easier to accept than losing an arm or a more severe punishment, and it could at least shut the Uchiha up.
"Pfft!" Shen Yue almost burst out laughing. He looked at the two advisors as if they were idiots. "What would I do with his fingers? Keep them to make wine? Or as a souvenir? How disgusting!"