DevilHex
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Chapter 904 : Hokages Vs Root
🕑 Added 2025-04-16 11:27:20 +0000 UTCSensing Tsunade's wrathful glare, Yoru bowed and apologized, “We apologize, Lady Fifth. We didn't intend to deceive you, but those were our orders.”
Tsunade ignored their excuses and focused on the important matter. She asked, “Where is Danzo?”
Yoru reported, “Danzo-sama received a high-priority message some time ago. He left immediately after without telling us the purpose of his departure or his destination.”
“So, you mean to say that you don't know where Danzo is or why he left while you two pretended to be him and fool me?” Tsunade asked without attempting to hide her rage. Seeing the two masked Root ninjas nodding their heads without a hint of hesitation, Tsunade angrily scolded, “Stop making a fool out of me and tell me everything you know!”
Her rage worried the two Root ninjas as well as her Anbu Guards. The Root ninjas were worried about being on the receiving end of one of Tsunade's herculean punches, while her Anbu Guards were considering the political fallout if Tsunade were to lose her temper inside Root headquarters and level the entire base.
Unknown to either party, most of Tsunade's rage was just for show. At that particular moment, she was more joyous than enraged. Danzo had finally given her the opening she had been looking for. Of course, she wasn't completely relaxed.
She knew that Danzo understood the consequences of making such a move. Yet, Danzo had done so. Tsunade was on guard against the reason behind Danzo's bold move.
With Danzo nowhere in sight, she could only interrogate the two Root ninjas. Unfortunately, no matter what tactic she used, the two Root ninjas didn't divulge any details and continued feigning ignorance. When Tsunade became too overbearing, Nezumi extended his tongue, displayed the curse seal on it and said, “Lady Fifth, we don't know what you're asking us. Even if we did, this seal would make it impossible for us to answer you. You know this better than us. I implore you to please understand our situation.”
Tsunade complained internally in annoyance, ‘It's because of that seal that I haven't captured you and let the Yamanakas read through your brains. How annoying!’
Tsunade snorted, “I do understand your situation properly. Capture and send them to Ibiki. Let Danzo come to my office and explain why he ordered his subordinates to fool the Hokage. Then I shall decide what to do with the two of you.”
Nezumi and Yoru tried arguing their innocence, but Tsunade didn't entertain them any further. Not wanting to cause Danzo more trouble and understanding how bad their odds were, neither bothered to put up any resistance.
Not long after they were taken away by a couple of Tsunade's Anbu Guards, Hiruzen reached the Root headquarters. For a moment, the sight immediately filled him with worry. The entire area where Danzo usually sat was obliterated. He recalled Shizune's words and wondered, ‘Danzo must have used Shisui's eye and left. Did she destroy the clone he left behind? Where are the Root ninjas?’
He voiced his questions to Tsunade, who informed him about everything that had happened so far. A frown developed on Hiruzen's face as he muttered, “For Danzo to make such a move… He should understand the repercussions and still, he left… He must have discovered something extremely beneficial for him…”
Tsunade said, “That's obvious. He'll only make a move if his benefits outweigh the losses. We have to ensure that isn't the case. No matter what his gains are, his losses have to be higher. Sensei…”
Tsunade stopped speaking as she saw Hiruzen shake his head in disagreement. He said, “You misunderstand me, Tsunade. And, you underestimate Danzo. Danzo knows we could use this incident to strip Root away from him completely and permanently. So, whatever he gains from this expedition should be impactful enough to nullify the backlash from his actions completely. He must believe we won't be in a position to take any punitive action against him due to his gains.”
From being worried about the life of his old comrade and a potential clash between Tsunade and Root, Hiruzen was now worried about what new scheme his old comrade was cooking. Due to how much they suppressed Danzo, Hiruzen's worry was even greater.
Hiruzen's words also forced Tsunade to think more deeply. A frown developed on her face as she thought, ‘I seem to have taken Danzo too lightly. Sensei is correct. No matter what the gains are, Danzo can no longer handle another backlash. Danzo plans to sidestep it completely. However…’
She asked in confusion, “What could Danzo gain that'd be impactful enough to make us helpless?”
She thought for a few seconds and asked, “Could it be that he intends to participate in the hidden clash between us and Iwa?”
Due to Fujin's actions in Iwagakure and Konoha's refusal to accept any responsibility, the Anbu forces of the two great villages started clashing in the dark. However, the clashes were still in their early phases and hadn't become too intense yet. The two villages treated the clashes as a way to train their new elite forces.
Hiruzen thought for a bit and replied, “No, that alone wouldn't be enough. Even if he killed Kitsuchi, it won't be enough. The only accomplishments there that could get him out of this jam is if he kills Onoki or captures Roshi or the Four Tails.”
Tsunade asked, “What are the chances of either happening?”
Hiruzen replied without any hesitation, “Next to impossible. Even though he has been experimenting continuously and must have an array of new trump cards, he can't match up to true raw strength. Killing Onoki would be difficult even for me when I wasn't injured. Similarly, capturing Roshi without killing him isn't a walk in the park, especially now since he stays inside Iwa and hovers around Onoki.”
Tsunade's frown deepened as Hiruzen continued, “I have a feeling that whatever Danzo is planning isn't related to this matter. It's something else…”
Hiruzen thought for a while but couldn't figure it out. He suggested, “Keep an eye on the news coming in from outside. We'll hear something related to Danzo soon. Also, plan a punitive action against Danzo. We need to be prepared for all possibilities.”
Tsunade nodded. Unlike Hiruzen, who rarely acted against Danzo due to their past relationship, Tsunade had no intention of letting Danzo off easily. She had already stripped the powers of Koharu and Homura, the two elders of Konoha. Completely getting rid of the Root was the next step in ensuring her reign experienced as little trouble as it did so far.
——
While Hiruzen and Tsunade were planning punitive actions against Danzo and preparing for his schemes, Danzo continued moving across the Land of Fire rapidly. He wanted to secure the Lightning crystal vein as quickly as he could.
As he moved, he thought, ‘Hiruzen must have figured it out by now. He and Tsunade must be preparing to restrict my influence further. Everything now depends on Shirabe's report. If his observations are accurate and there truly is a Lightning Crystal Vein here, no matter how big or small it is, it'll solve my issues immediately. Dealing with their schemes will be a child's play for me. However, if his report is wrong…’
Danzo couldn't help but feel the pressure. It wasn't often that he was driven into a corner. It was a rather unfamiliar and unpleasant experience for him. He had betted nearly everything on the competence of his subordinates.
Danzo thought, ‘If there's no crystal vein, I'll have to manufacture an incident that would force Hiruzen to depict me in a good light. Not difficult, but my options are limited due to the limited manpower available. Any miscalculation could reduce my forces even further…
Sigh, to think I'd see such a day. I should have made a move when Orochimaru attacked Konoha, even if just a superficial one. That would have bought me some time and given me some room to maneuver.’
Danzo stayed out of the battle, expecting Orochimaru to exhaust forces loyal to Hiruzen and cause a huge loss to Konoha, giving Danzo an opening to get back in power. Unfortunately, he made the wrong bet. The battle was a one-sided victory for Konoha. By staying out of it completely, Danzo had not only failed to share the glory but was also looked down upon by everyone who still remembered him.
“Danzo-sama, we've arrived. Shirabe and Higure should be somewhere around here.” Fu spoke, snapping Danzo out of his thoughts.
Fu continued, “Unfortunately, I can't sense them. They have hidden themselves to avoid being spotted by others…”
Since there was nothing like GPS in the ninja world and there were no major landmarks near the spot where they found the crystal vein, Shirabe couldn't give Danzo the exact coordinates of their location. They could only mention the closest landmarks to inform Danzo of their approximate location. Danzo ordered, “Split and search for them.”
Comments
Stefan_Ov3rdose
Its Akuro using up the stash he stole from Ay ain't it?
Dracule Newgate
Imagine if Fujin just buried all his lighting crystal in order to lure Danzo out of the village and finally kill him. 🤣
Zereket
I had an interesting idea that if the followers of jashin in the past, the Uzumaki ashina (or some other Uzumaki in the past), the leaders of the Hyuga clan in the past, who created the seal of the bird in the cage, were all somehow connected or planned some kind of conspiracy, but considering that almost all the data is erasedthen someone like Hashirama could have stopped them and destroyed them, like something like that, maybe Jigen (Ishiki from Boruto) could have controlled them, because he's still hiding somewhere, and this could have opened the light on how Hashirama died. Damn it, in the past, in the days before the hidden villages or in the beginning, there are a lot of interesting things, maybe I'm just shocked.
Devil Hex
Simple politics. If a village starts taking things from their ninjas (especially someone as influencial as Danzo) without giving anything in return, it'll reduce the unity and create doubts about the leadership. Tbh, it'll be more beneficial for Danzo
Devil Hex
8-14 hours
Kevin Sadhere
DH san, ETA to the next chapter. Also, I hope it's a trap by Fujin to kill Danzo. Also, Fujin mentioned that there was someone who has improved drastically this past 1 year. I'm suspecting it's Kakashi.
Jack Nathaniel Mikhail
Mmmhhh thanks for the chapter DH sama 🙂🤩
TrustZee
It is certain that Danzo studied Edo Tensei, but it is unlikely that he left notes, and if he did, it would be impossible to find them. And trying to force information out of Danzo is also something on the verge of fantasy.
Diametric
Danzo is very confident in their ability to control the vein. I don't see what's stopping Konoha from going in all guns blazing and just taking it from him by force.
Devil Hex
👍
Zereket
Hex-san, do you remember in one of the chapters, there was a mention of Uzumaki Ashina and his method of gaining youth and strength? It seems that his body and some methods of fuinjutsu were taken by the Kiri ninja, since Fujin is now in the land of water, then in addition to investigating Yagura's death, he could try to find these scrolls and the body of Uzumaki Ashina himself
Aetherist
I hope it's a trap set by Fujin to kill Danzo, he must know how to do EDO TENSEI. Thanks for the chapter! 👊
hector lyng
TFTC
Yamir
Cool
Ren
Huzzah!🥳
Qvintus Brude
Hes back!
Mark Hernandez
First
