Tsunade gave Hatake Sakumo a simple treatment to ensure that the injury would not worsen and then returned to the Konoha front line with him.
It was best to treat it as soon as possible—leaving injuries unattended could lead to lasting damage.
This time, Hatake Sakumo had been seriously wounded and was on the brink of death.
Chiyo's poison was exceptionally potent, and even Hatake Sakumo, with his remarkable endurance, couldn't resist its effects for too long. He had been poisoned and relentlessly pursued by Chiyo for over half an hour, and surviving that ordeal was nothing short of miraculous. Pushing his body beyond its limits had temporarily awakened further potential, but his body could no longer hold out.
A wound of this severity, if not treated properly, could lead to dire consequences.
Fortunately, Tsunade's medical expertise was more than sufficient to handle such an injury.
Hatake Sakumo was older than the Sannin, but his path in shinobi arts was focused solely on kenjutsu.
Mastery of the blade required continuous refinement, and achieving the power of a Kage-level shinobi through swordsmanship alone was no small feat, which is why Sakumo lagged behind the Sannin in terms of ranking.
However, the three legendary shinobi held immense respect for this senior of theirs.
After all, the sheer lethality of his swordsmanship was undeniable—even before his recent breakthrough, the infamous "White Fang" could seriously wound Kage-level opponents. However, sustaining that kind of combat power for long durations had always been a challenge.
Tsunade worked tirelessly to stabilize Sakumo's condition upon their return to camp. After an entire afternoon of treatment, his life was no longer in danger.
With proper rest and rehabilitation, he would recover fully—ensuring that Konoha would gain yet another complete top-tier combatant.
---
Back in Konoha, news of the front-line developments quickly reached the village.
Three of Sunagakure's most talented shinobi had fallen to Konoha's forces, and the legendary White Fang had ascended to Kage-level.
Ordinarily, such a victory would have sent waves of celebration through the village.
Yet, Konoha was anything but joyful at this moment.
Most civilians remained oblivious to the details of the war, receiving only filtered updates from the higher-ups. Normally, such triumphs were widely publicized to boost morale and reinforce confidence in the village's leadership.
"See how effective my leadership is? Another decisive victory on the front lines!"
This time, however, the higher-ups remained silent.
Not because they didn't want to announce it—rather, they had been preoccupied with another matter.
In fact, under the current circumstances, celebrating this victory might only serve to aggravate the existing tensions.
The issue at hand was the mysterious disappearance of several clan-affiliated shinobi.
Thanks to intelligence provided by an anonymous Uchiha informant, multiple clans had swiftly gathered evidence, confirming that the rumors were true.
Regardless of the informant's identity or motives, the information had proven accurate.
For years, the clans had maintained extensive networks of operatives throughout Konoha, ensuring that no major development escaped their notice. In less than half a day, a full investigation had been conducted, and the results were undeniable.
Under the leadership of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the clans formally demanded an explanation from the Hokage.
Their conditions were non-negotiable:
Danzo must be severely punished.
The Root organization must be disbanded.
The captured clan shinobi must be released immediately, and the cursed seals placed upon them must be removed.
Their stance was resolute.
Unfortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, opposed them with equal firmness.
Disband Root? Absurd. Without them, who would carry out the village's unsanctioned operations from the shadows?
Despite its growing corruption, Root remained an essential tool.
Initially, the clan heads had considered the potential repercussions of pushing too hard—if their actions led to instability at the front lines, they would undoubtedly be held responsible.
It wasn't worth the risk.
However, once news of Hatake Sakumo's breakthrough reached them, any hesitation vanished. The front lines were now stable, eliminating their previous concerns.
Adding to the tension, word had spread that Uchiha Kiyo had been killed.
This revelation prompted the Uchiha clan to join the effort against Danzo.
Though their reasons differed from those of the other clans, their goal was the same.
For the first time in a long while, the Uchiha stood united with the other noble clans in their opposition.
Danzo's actions were not flawless.
Root lacked sufficient manpower to act covertly, meaning their methods often left traces.
The sudden reassignment of Uchiha Kiyo was too abrupt—any skilled investigator could detect foul play.
Unless, of course, someone obstructed the investigation.
Unfortunately for Danzo, the officer overseeing personnel assignments on the front lines was none other than Orochimaru—Uchiha Kiyo's own mentor.
Even if Orochimaru wasn't willing to directly oppose the Hokage, he had no obligation to protect Danzo either. Instead, he quietly provided the Uchiha clan with everything they needed to confirm their suspicions.
---
The confrontation reached its boiling point in the Hokage's office.
As the clan heads argued their case, Uchiha Jinsuke entered the room.
Unfazed by the tension in the air, he had already expected this deadlock to continue for hours.
"Lord Hokage!" Jinsuke addressed Sarutobi directly. "Danzo's treachery is nothing new—if this continues, who will dare to serve the village? Do you not fear betrayal from within?"
This time, Jinsuke framed his argument on broader principles.
Yet, reason held no sway over an unwilling listener.
"Jinsuke, calm yourself," the Hokage responded. "This must be a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" Jinsuke's expression darkened. "You expect us to believe that? Do you not understand the kind of mission those shinobi were assigned to? There was no need for a rescue.
"And how did Sunagakure know exactly where Uchiha Kiyo would be?
"They ambushed him with overwhelming numbers and continued to send reinforcements as if they had prior intelligence. Even if their front-line commanders received the information and responded instantly, they wouldn't have been able to execute such a perfect interception."
Sarutobi fell silent.
Jinsuke pressed no further, merely standing his ground.
Surveying the assembled clan leaders, the Third Hokage sighed heavily, his face lined with frustration.
Danzo… this is your mess again.
And yet, he couldn't feign ignorance.
Every time Danzo acted, Sarutobi had allowed it.
Half of Danzo's infamous reputation as the "King of Konoha's Scandals" belonged to Sarutobi as well.
Perhaps sensing the growing hostility, Danzo had chosen not to attend this confrontation.
If he wasn't present, he couldn't be held accountable—not publicly, at least.
And no one could enter Root's headquarters without clearance.
It was a classified location, much like Anbu's facilities. Anyone attempting to probe Root's secrets before its official dissolution would be committing a serious crime.
Sarutobi could shield Danzo for now, but the tension was growing unbearable.
---
Suddenly, the ground trembled violently.
The Hokage's office shook, drawing alarmed looks from all present.
"What was that?" one clan head demanded.
They turned toward the direction of the disturbance.
"Wait… that's near the Root base!"
Realization dawned upon them all.
Without hesitation, they rushed toward the scene.
"Hokage-sama," one patriarch said mockingly, "shall we investigate together?"
Sarutobi's heart sank.
Something had gone terribly wrong.
And this time, he wasn't sure if he could cover for Danzo anymore.
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