"I've already heard about this. Let it go."
Danzo's goal, as always, was damage control. If this turned into a full-blown scandal, he'd never again be able to knife his allies with impunity.
The truth was, besides his title as Supreme Commander, Danzo had no one willing to lay down their life for him anymore. Only he could issue his own orders now.
"That's it? Does Lord Danzo admit guilt?"
Yukika's warm demeanor vanished. His voice turned cold.
"What's there to admit? Don't talk nonsense!"
Danzo erupted in fury.
"Then why won't you let Lord Orochimaru examine the body to confirm if it's Root?"
Yukika folded his arms calmly.
He was done playing nice. Today, he would rip Danzo's mask off for good and take his rightful place as Supreme Commander.
"No need. They are Root."
Danzo admitted it freely. He knew if Orochimaru saw them, he'd recognize them immediately. No point hiding it.
"Why? Lord Danzo! Why did you want me dead!?"
Sakazaki cried, his voice hoarse with pain.
"Insolent!" Danzo roared. "Who gave you permission to yell in camp!? Look at the chaos you've caused!"
"I sent Root to protect you! You attacked them and now you're blaming me? You even killed them!"
"There's no question—they're dead. Their bodies are right here. Sakazaki En…"
"What else do you have to say for yourself? Killing fellow villagers, slandering your commander… Are you a spy from another village!?"
Danzo waved his hand furiously. "Take him! String him up and beat the truth out of him!"
What a piece of work.
The camp fell silent.
The situation seemed obvious, yet no one expected Danzo to say that out loud.
You sent people to kill him—who else would it be?
But they couldn't speak. Danzo's version hadn't leaked.
After all, it was Root members who'd died, not Sakazaki.
Danzo truly lived up to his reputation.
He might be a poor battlefield strategist, but when it came to scheming and stabbing his own allies, he was every bit as ruthless as Hiruzen.
This was a public warning: Anyone who talks about the Senju Clan or criticizes Danzo will be next.
But what if it didn't work?
You sent people to "protect" him—and they died. That's your fault, Sakazaki!
Danzo sneered and looked at Yukika.
He knew this whole show was Yukika's doing.
But the boy was still too green.
Trying to out-scheme him?
Danzo was unbothered.
But… was he really safe?
Yukika saw Danzo's smug smirk and looked into the distance.
Kakashi should be ready by now.
Getting Root members to speak publicly wasn't easy.
First, you had to deal with Danzo's sealing technique: the Seal of Despair.
As long as it was active, any Root ninja who tried to reveal Danzo's secrets would become paralyzed.
But that wasn't a problem for Orochimaru.
The real challenge was deeper.
Root agents had been brainwashed from childhood into unfeeling weapons. Sai was a prime example.
They had no family, so threats didn't work. And they were loyal to Danzo.
But…
The body may be numb—but the soul is not.
Nothing hurts more than the burning of the soul.
Once Yukika told Hatake about the Soul-Cleaving Blade, he understood the horror.
Cut the soul.
Remind them they're human—not tools.
It was time.
As Hatake appeared, carrying two Root agents, Yukika knew it was over.
The corpses had been bait. The real Root members had already been "negotiated" with—and freed by Orochimaru.
"Lord Danzo, please admit the truth!"
The previously obedient Root agent now wore a tortured expression. He looked at Hatake in terror… and dropped to his knees.
Then he said the words that crushed Danzo:
"It was Lord Danzo who gave us the order. We were to follow Sakazaki En… and make sure there were no loose ends."
"This isn't the first time. I've done this before…"
Crack!
As the Root ninja began to spill everything, Danzo snapped.
He couldn't believe it. How had his seal failed!?
Wasn't this guy supposed to be dead!?
Too bad.
When he lunged to silence the agent, Hatake calmly stepped forward and blocked the strike.
"Lord Danzo, you seem agitated."
"Why not let him finish?"
For Hatake, this was a moment of catharsis.
He'd never had the chance to defy Danzo so publicly—and make him taste his own poison.
Is this what a new life feels like?
Thank you, Yukika.
"You heard him! It's the truth!"
Sakazaki struggled to his feet, furious.
"If not for White Fang, I'd be dead again!"
"Is this who we're supposed to fight for?"
"I don't want to die without knowing why!"
"We bled for the village—for Danzo! We fought and died for him, and this is how he repays us?"
His words hit like a thunderclap.
The hidden actors—planted by Tsunade—leapt into action.
"Damn it! Danzo's shameless. Master Yukika's been too kind!"
"Yeah! My friend died on a mission a few days ago—probably Danzo's doing!"
"Why should he be Supreme Commander? What if he gets us all killed!?"
"Today it's Sakazaki. Tomorrow it's us!"
"Danzo's a spy from another village!"
"Get out, Danzo!"
One actor went too far and screamed for Danzo to be banished outright.
A wave was building.
Even the doubtful shinobi now shouted in anger.
The evidence was clear. Danzo had become a public enemy.
Mass outrage was contagious.
Even in the future, someone like Hatake—on par with a Kage—might be cursed openly.
Danzo tried to regain control, shouting back at those cursing him.
But one man can only do so much.
Someone yelled "Heave-ho!" and flung something disgusting at Danzo's face.
Then came the wave of projectiles.
The Konoha camp had turned on its own commander!
They were done with failure. Done with Danzo's arrogance.
Done dying for nothing.
It was chaos.
Yukika looked at the man before him and sighed.
It was over.
No one could save him now.
A mutiny in the military is impossible to suppress.
Especially when it's aimed at the top.
But…
Danzo wasn't done yet.
Elite Root agents dropped from above, surrounding him.
His final trump card.
All eyes turned to Yukika.
"Lord Danzo, are you going to use violence now? Wipe out everyone who knows the truth?"
With one sentence, Yukika pushed Danzo off the cliff.
Kill everyone?
Would he dare?
Yukika sneered and held up his pinky, waving it.
"Just now, I heard you say…"
"The backstabbing spy might be from another village."
"In that case…"
"Senju Clan! Hear my command!"
"Eliminate the imposters disguised as Root—and arrest Danzo!"
"Hang him high! Extract every bit of valuable intel from his mouth!"
"Move out!"