Danzo had only lost subordinates; the clan heads had lost their own kin and juniors.
Though the clan heads felt a flicker of instinctive apprehension upon seeing Danzo, they quickly recalled his arrogance when demanding their people. They turned their gazes toward the Third Hokage with deepening frowns, silently urging him to stand up for them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's words finally dismissed them. "Clan heads, Consultant Danzo and I have matters to discuss. You may leave for now. I will take your concerns into serious consideration."
Once the leaders had exited, Danzo sat heavily on the sofa. He cut a sharp glance toward Yellow Dog. "The matter of Konosuke Sarutobi—has your clan failed to produce a result from its internal investigation yet?"
Yagami thought to himself: 'Is the Sarutobi clan actually investigating? I just made that name up on the fly. They'd have more luck investigating 'Yagami Sarutobi'—they might actually find something then.'
Yellow Dog spoke up first. "Consultant Danzo, I have thoroughly vetted the shinobi of the Sarutobi clan. There is no information on any 'Konosuke Sarutobi.' It is highly likely the enemy fabricated the name to sow internal discord."
"Fabricated? Someone can fabricate a name and then casually unleash your clan's S-rank forbidden technique, the Five-Style Great Combo?" Danzo countered sharply. "What about the Sarutobi ninjas listed as missing during the wars? Have they been vetted? This Konosuke appears to be between twenty and twenty-five. Someone that age might have even seen the tail end of the First Great Ninja War. Have you checked the missing persons?"
Yellow Dog replied calmly, "We considered that. There are at least thirty Sarutobi shinobi in that age bracket missing in action. It is impossible to produce a definitive result from such a wide search."
"How many of those thirty had access to the Five-Style Great Combo? Is the scope really that large? Or are you simply unwilling to investigate because you're afraid of what you'll find?"
"Danzo!" Hiruzen interrupted the interrogation. "The individual in the white spiral mask cannot possibly be a member of the Sarutobi clan. If a talent capable of mastering the Five-Style Great Combo existed in our clan, I would have groomed them personally. Why would I let them become a rogue? The leak of the technique is a security breach. I suspect Uchiha Madara obtained my secret scrolls and painstakingly replicated the jutsu."
"Your brothers Nippo and Nichiyu, your nephew Ennosuke, your son Yellow Dog... only a handful of people have learned it. Why not focus the investigation there?"
"Enough, Danzo!" Hiruzen's brow furrowed in irritation. "The matter of Konosuke Sarutobi ends here. Do not waste more time on baseless speculation."
Yagami mused internally: 'When Shimura Tan and Sarutobi Yui were killed by Fire Style, the Uchiha clan had to 'prove' their innocence for a month before the elders let it go. Now that Konosuke has literally slapped them in the face, they just brush it off.'
"Let us discuss something more important," Hiruzen said. "The ANBU reports that intelligence lag has become critical. Danzo, can Root currently guarantee the operation of the spy system?"
Danzo glanced at Yellow Dog. "What are you implying? Do you want the ANBU to take over the spy system?"
"A partial handover," Hiruzen clarified. "Transfer the spy networks for two of the four Great Nations to the ANBU. Leaving spy leaders without contact for so long is irresponsible to those risking their lives in the field."
"Impossible! Give me one month, and I will reconstruct the communication lines!" Danzo insisted. "In the last two weeks, I've selected twelve civilian ninjas for training. If those clans who were just here give me eight more people, I can start a new training cycle. In a month, Root will have a handle on the system again.
Hiruzen, this system has run successfully under me for over a decade. You think the ANBU can just step in because you said so? One wrong move, and spies embedded for years will be rooted out because of ANBU incompetence!"
The spy system was one of Danzo's core pillars of power. Taking it was like taking his eyes. Hiruzen wavered.
Yagami saw the hesitation and thought: 'Hiruzen is too soft. A few threats from Danzo and he backs down.' He exchanged a look with Yellow Dog, and both nodded. Yagami slipped out of the office.
Hiruzen and Danzo watched him go, unsure what order Fox was off to execute. Moments later, Black Ant and three other ANBU ninjas entered the office. Black Ant looked confused; he didn't know why Fox had relayed a message from Vice Minister Yellow Dog for his subordinates to present themselves.
Danzo's expression shifted the moment he saw the three ninjas' masks.
Yellow Dog commanded the three, "Remove your masks and show your tongues!"
Hiruzen, who had been arguing with Danzo, watched in confusion. The three ANBU ninjas shifted their eyes toward Danzo—a small gesture that did not escape Hiruzen's notice.
"Do as Yellow Dog says!"
At the Hokage's command, the three removed their masks and extended their tongues. They were visibly trembling, their minds racing with the protocol not to betray Lord Danzo. Yagami stepped forward, weaving hand signs.
"Five Elements Unseal!"
As Yagami applied the technique to each of them in turn, the black sigils of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal manifested on their tongues!
Hiruzen stood up abruptly. Black Ant gasped. "You... how could you!"
Yellow Dog and Fox shared a look; this was the moment to seize power. Yellow Dog spoke: "Lord Hokage! I discovered vital clues. Root has been branding new recruits sent to the ANBU with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal!"
He left it at that, letting Hiruzen's imagination fill in the blanks. Cold sweat dripped behind Black Ant's mask. As the leader of the Hokage's direct squad, he had been unaware his subordinates were Root plants. It was a staggering failure of duty. Black Ant looked toward Yellow Dog—why hadn't the Vice Minister consulted him first? If he had made the arrests himself, his culpability would be lessened.
The office fell into a deathly silence.
Finally, Hiruzen spoke, his voice low with fury. "Danzo, you have gone too far! You owe me an explanation!"
Danzo, ever prepared, countered: "I suspect there are traitors in the ANBU! Root has been hit repeatedly; except for Orochimaru, my people are dying in droves. How many Root souls are on Konosuke Sarutobi's hands alone? Something is wrong! Someone knows Root too well—they know the movements of every member. Only the ANBU could have that level of access! How can I trust the ANBU?"
He turned his glare toward Yellow Dog. "Shinnosuke Sarutobi! I didn't expect you to grow so quickly. Your skill at internal power struggles is perhaps the best of your generation. Do you have nothing to explain?"
Yellow Dog kept his eyes lowered behind his mask. He didn't need to explain; the facts spoke for themselves. Danzo had planted spies in the Black Ant squad—the Hokage's personal guards, his most trusted unit.
Yagami relaxed. Danzo's instincts were sharp—there *was* a traitor in the ANBU. Unfortunately for him, Fox was currently the hero who had rooted out Danzo's spies. Yellow Dog would never suspect him.
As for the "power struggle"... of course it was true. Everyone wanted to rise. Between Yellow Dog and the Hokage seat stood titans like Orochimaru, Sakumo Hatake, and Tsunade. Yellow Dog wanted to overtake them, and the position of ANBU Minister was a logical stepping stone.
Hiruzen shouted: "Danzo! Do not change the subject! Do not talk to me about power struggles! If you suspect the ANBU, and if the ANBU and Root can no longer coexist, which one do you think should be abolished?"
Danzou, for once, did not talk back. Hiruzen was truly enraged. He compromised because he wanted the Leaf to meet the needs of as many people as possible, but that didn't mean he lacked a spine. Monitoring his own inner circle was intolerable.
Hiruzen made his decision instantly: "Danzo! Transfer the spy systems of two Great Nations to the ANBU! Do not sabotage them. Do not betray those spies who risk everything. There will be no games! I will personally inspect every transfer report!"
Danzo's eyelids twitched. He wanted to argue but was forced to swallow the bitter pill. Seeing Danzo's defeated state, Yellow Dog felt a surge of satisfaction. The spy system and Root were Danzo's foundation. Losing half the network was a massive blow.
Yagami wondered if he could use this chance to transfer Nono Yakushi. Little Seven was technically one of his lovers, even if she ranked lower. As a man, he had to be fair with his affections.
The Third continued: "Yellow Dog! From now on, the ANBU will vet every recruit Root sends. Not just for strength, but for the Will of Fire!"
"Vetting for the Will of Fire" was code for checking loyalty—specifically, checking for the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
"Understood, Lord Hokage!" Yellow Dog said. "Also, our ANBU can break the seal. Fox is skilled in the Self-Exerting Binding Seal and the Five Elements Seal; he can dispel this technique. We can handle the Root spies we've identified appropriately."
Hiruzen's expression softened slightly. Yellow Dog's increasing competence was a source of pride. He looked at Danzo, who remained silent with downcast eyes. He knew Danzo wasn't finished; he was already plotting a countermove. To ensure Danzo's retreat, the Third thought of one more thing.
"Fox, go fetch Commander Shikaku."
Yagami left immediately to bring Shikaku Nara upstairs. He wondered what Shikaku would provide and why Hiruzen called him now. Once Shikaku entered, he sat opposite Danzo.
"Commander Shikaku," Hiruzen said, "tell us about the situation you just discovered."
Shikaku scanned the room, sensing the tension. "For months, the ANBU has been using the assassination manual to clear powerful enemy ninjas. The other Great Villages have caught on and are now mimicking us, creating their own hit lists. Leaf ninjas in the Land of Grass, River, and Waves have been met with assassinations by unidentified shinobi. When the first Jonin was killed, I investigated. By the second, I confirmed the enemy has their own manuals. They are retaliating with equal intensity. I believe our current assassination protocol has become a problem."
Hiruzen looked at Danzo. "Danzo, the pressure on the ANBU and the Jonin commander's office is immense. I cannot let the spy system sit idle for months. You say you can rebuild it in a month, but we both know that is impossible. Root's duties are complex; it takes half a year for a ninja to master that work. With the system empty and assassinations stalled, the other villages will only get bolder."
Faced with the combined pressure of Hiruzen and Shikaku, Danzo had to yield. "I will temporarily transfer the spy networks of the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind to the ANBU," he said finally.
Yellow Dog was thrilled. 'Temporarily?' Danzo was dreaming. Once the networks were in his hands and he controlled the spy heads, they were never going back. The spy system was the eyes of the Leaf; if the Hidden Whirlpool Village had possessed one, they wouldn't have been blindsided by the Mist and Cloud.
Hiruzen nodded. Danzo had finally stepped back.
Shikaku added, "Lord Hokage, I have another suggestion."
"Oh? Let's hear it." Hiruzen was in a much better mood now.
"Assassinating high-level enemy ninjas is necessary," Shikaku said. "But the direct retaliation caused by ANBU hits is a problem. We are paying a heavy price. I believe we can use other means. If the Leaf kills a Cloud Jonin, the Cloud will retaliate. But if we make it stealthier... The various Daimyos have established an Underground Exchange that uses bounties to kill rogue ninjas. My idea is to blend the assassination manual with the Underground Exchange. If an enemy Jonin dies and their body is turned in for a bounty, the retaliation won't be directed at the Leaf. This would reduce the pressure of 'tit-for-tat' revenge."
"Excellent idea," Hiruzen nodded. "Shikaku, Yellow Dog, work together on a proposal."
Shikaku rose to leave but was stopped by the Third. In front of the Jonin Commander, Hiruzen declared:
"Root has been struck repeatedly, and its high-end combat power is decimated. Its reconstruction won't happen overnight. The clans have sacrificed much to Root already. I have decided that for the next two years, Root is prohibited from recruiting from the noble clans. We will give the clans a chance to breathe and recover!"
Shikaku blinked in surprise—this was fantastic news. He immediately glanced at Consultant Danzo, waiting to see if he would dare to object.