Even more baffling, the Uchiha clansmen were still wearing Konoha forehead protectors, though whether this was intentional was anyone's guess.
The resulting scene was quite interesting: Uchiha clansmen made up a full three-quarters of the Hidden Sound delegation. They all wore Konoha forehead protectors yet stood behind the Otokage, led by him to meet with Konoha's high command.
The Third Hokage was stunned the moment he saw the situation, and the surrounding villagers began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Isn't that Uchiha Shisui? He's back too? Why is he with the Hidden Sound?"
"The Uchiha have a new clan head. Isn't it normal for them to return?"
"Why are the Uchiha standing with the Hidden Sound Village?"
"You don't know? Back then, Danzo tried to steal Shisui's eyes. When the plot was exposed, Shisui and Itachi left Konoha with a group of disgruntled clansmen."
"I heard they went to the Hidden Sound Village, but it was never officially announced that they joined."
"It's Danzo again, isn't it? Just how many enemies has he made for Konoha?"
"Who's that at the front of the Hidden Sound group? Why are they wearing a Kage's robes?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down, are you trying to get yourself killed? That's the Otokage of the Hidden Sound Village."
"A little place like that has a Kage? How ridiculous."
"Hey..." A companion quickly clamped a hand over the speaker's mouth.
"Don't talk nonsense if you don't know anything. Aside from the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the Hidden Sound is the most developed. They're very strong, so watch what you say."
...
At the entrance to Konoha, the Third Hokage, flanked by a retinue of ANBU, stepped forward.
On the other side, the Sound Four escorted the Otokage's palanquin, slowly setting it down. A figure emerged from within.
He wore a Kage hat, embroidered with the character for "Sound" in purple and white thread. He removed the hat, revealing an exceptionally young face, looking no older than twenty. The crowd of onlookers erupted in an uproar, shocked that the Otokage was so young.
"Lord Third Hokage, it's been a while," Kabuto Yakushi said familiarly, pushing up his glasses.
"You are?" The Third Hokage found Kabuto somewhat familiar but couldn't place him.
"Kabuto Yakushi!" Anko, who had been anxiously searching for Orochimaru, cried out in shock upon seeing him.
The Third was taken aback as well. The boy brought back from the battle at Kikyo Pass, the one adopted by a medical jonin? A faint memory surfaced in the Hokage's mind.
"You've become the leader of the Hidden Sound Village?" Anko asked in astonishment.
Kabuto smiled faintly and spread his arms. "The one and only."
"It seems a lot has happened over the years," the Third Hokage said, now recalling Kabuto's file. When did Kabuto start following Orochimaru?
Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "It was all thanks to Lord Danzo. He sent me to be an undercover agent, and I diligently gathered intelligence for Konoha. In the end, because I wasn't trusted, he set a trap to make me and my adoptive mother kill each other."
"I was lucky to survive, and now I've finally managed to accomplish something."
"So, how does Lord Third intend to resolve this matter?"
The people behind Kabuto, including Shisui and the other Uchiha, took a silent step forward. Though they made no sound, their message was clear: they were here to support Kabuto Yakushi. Kawasaki stood with his arms crossed, a look of someone enjoying a good show on his face.
Kabuto calmly recounted that dark chapter of his past in front of everyone. His voice was neither loud nor soft, but every person present heard him clearly. The surrounding crowd gasped. So the Otokage was once one of Konoha's own, driven away by the oppression of its high command. This visit was likely more than just a simple courtesy call.
"Danzo again. Why is it always the talented ones he drives away?"
"Exactly! The Uchiha were doing a great job with the Police Force. Would they have resigned if Danzo hadn't targeted Shisui's eyes?"
"Danzo has been targeting the Uchiha for a long time. Remember the announcement during the Nine-Tails rampage?"
"Hiss... It started that far back? What kind of deep-seated hatred is that?"
"This Otokage used to be from Konoha, right? From what he's saying, Danzo used him and cast him aside, making him fight his own mother to the death?"
"Who was his adoptive mother?"
"Not sure, probably someone from our village?"
The murmurs rippled through the crowd. The Third Hokage's heart sank. He hadn't known this person was also forced out by Danzo. Just how many foolish things had Danzo done over the years? Moreover, Shisui and the other Uchiha were now openly backing Kabuto. Orochimaru was not among them. It seemed Orochimaru hadn't broken ties with the Uchiha yet; they were still maintaining their cooperative relationship with the Hidden Sound.
This feeling of being put on the spot was all too familiar. Could this be another one of Kawasaki's schemes?
"Esteemed Otokage." Before the eyes of the public, the Third Hokage had to make a statement. Even though Kabuto was not yet twenty, the proper etiquette could not be ignored. Regardless of whether others acknowledged him, the Third first elevated Kabuto's status, recognizing him as a Kage-level figure.
This was a critical period for Konoha and the Uchiha. The Third had already dealt with Danzo and had no intention of making excuses for him, especially with Uchiha Kawasaki watching from the side.
Therefore, the Third spoke without reservation. "Danzo has indeed done many wicked things over the years. He was arrested and imprisoned not long ago, and we are investigating his actions one by one. As Hokage, I am deeply sorry for the harm Danzo has caused you. I will ensure you receive a satisfactory answer in due time."
The Third Hokage handled the situation gracefully. At a time like this, saving face was not the priority. Acknowledging Kabuto as a Kage and offering an apology were secondary. As long as he could placate the Uchiha clan, everything was negotiable.
Kabuto nodded, his expression unreadable. "I hope I won't have to wait too long."
With a wave of his hand, Kabuto led the Hidden Sound contingent past the Third Hokage and toward the Uchiha compound.
"Kabuto..." Anko, having failed to find Orochimaru, tried to follow Kabuto but was stopped by the Third.
"Anko, Orochimaru is not with them."
Anko stopped, a look of disappointment on her face.
...
The villagers continued their heated discussion.
"I can't believe Danzo did so many terrible things."
"Yeah, weren't there rumors before that he framed Orochimaru?"
"This Kabuto must be incredibly capable to have become a Kage. It's a shame he was driven away by Danzo."
"Lord Third Hokage is truly responsible, not shirking any of Danzo's wrongdoings."
"I think your intelligence is a bit concerning."
"What do you mean by that!?"
"Nothing. As long as you're happy."
From the Hidden Stone, Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi exchanged glances. They had just arrived in Konoha today and had stumbled upon such a huge piece of intelligence. The leader of the recently emerged Hidden Sound Village, the first person outside the Five Great Nations to call himself a Kage, was a young man not even twenty years old.
More importantly, this man was an exile from Konoha, a product of Danzo's machinations. Kitsuchi felt he had seen him somewhere before.
But the most mind-boggling part was the Uchiha clan who had previously left Konoha. They weren't just working for the Hidden Sound; they were unequivocally backing the Otokage. The Uchiha, supporting an outsider against their own village—it was the height of absurdity. Could it be that this Otokage was merely a puppet of the Uchiha?
This Danzo fellow was truly something else. Based on the intelligence gathered today, almost everything he did served to weaken Konoha. He drove out the capable and sabotaged the powerful Uchiha clan, single-mindedly undermining Konoha from within. How did a man like that become a Konoha elder and hold the position for so many years?
It seemed the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha was terrible, on the verge of open conflict. They hadn't torn off the facade of civility yet, but they had clearly fallen out.
The team from the Hidden Cloud, led by Samui, reached a similar conclusion. They exchanged looks. The situation in Konoha was far more complicated than they had imagined. The key takeaway was that the Uchiha and Konoha were not on the same side. That much was certain. As skilled ninja, they could sense the numerous ANBU hidden throughout the village. In other words, Konoha was on guard against the Uchiha. For the Hidden Cloud, this was a golden opportunity.
The ninja from the Hidden Sand were also unaware of how complex the situation in Konoha was. Yashamaru's faction was more inclined to side with the Uchiha, and given Uchiha Kawasaki's style, this Hidden Sound Village was likely a puppet state propped up by them.
The Third Hokage saw the subtle exchanges between the foreign shinobi and felt a sense of burning urgency. The relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha was already strained. Now that the Uchiha had revealed such a powerful ally, Konoha was in an extremely passive position. Kawasaki's inauguration ceremony was tomorrow. It seemed the information Jiraiya brought back would have to be carefully considered.
...
In Konoha, a bird with a slightly distorted shape soared through the sky, flying over the Konoha Prison. A young man with cold eyes leaped down from a high place. The bird dissolved into ink, splattering onto a scroll.
Sai gazed at the prison, his brow furrowed. Since the Hyuga clan had taken over as the guard force, the prison's security had been replaced by Hyuga members. The Hyuga's Byakugan was truly all-seeing in a place like this. He could only get a brief overview from a high vantage point; getting any closer would risk immediate detection.
Where on earth did Danzo hide my brother?
...
Inside Konoha Prison.
How many days had it been? Danzo hadn't bothered to count, but it had been over twenty. The Root medic that Sarutobi Hiruzen had promised never came. Danzo knew Sarutobi had gone back on his word. He was in grave danger.
There had been no news from Root, which most likely meant they had been taken over by the Third Hokage. Danzo felt a knot of panic in his stomach.
He looked at his right arm, the seal on it already undone. The sealing jutsu in this prison greatly weakened the power of ninjutsu. Even if he were to use a Great Fireball Technique, it would probably be no larger than a teacup. The cell holding him was built with reinforced ironwood. Breaking through it would require immense physical strength.
Danzo was not a taijutsu specialist, and at over sixty years old, he certainly couldn't force his way out. That was what the Third thought, and what the supervising Hyuga clansmen believed. For the past few days, the Third had been busy cleaning up the remnants of Root and investigating traitors within the ANBU. He had no time to deal with Danzo.
But Danzo had been unusually quiet in prison. Apart from the first few days when he demanded to see Sarutobi, he had remained silent in his cell. It was as if he had accepted his fate, becoming taciturn and withdrawn. The guards were happy to have an easy job and relaxed their surveillance of him. The cell was sturdy, and without a key, Danzo wasn't getting out.
Due to Danzo's special status, all other cells on his level were empty. The Hyuga clansmen only needed to guard the entrance. Who would have thought of something like the Mayfly Technique?
"Mr. Danzo, you seem to be in quite a predicament." A black and white figure emerged from the wall.
Danzo seemed to have expected this. "You tampered with my arm?"
"Just a little something for tracking. Otherwise, how could I have found you so easily?" Zetsu said in his raspy voice.
Danzo was silent for a moment, neither confirming nor denying. He looked up toward the window. "What's the situation outside? What about my Root?"
"The Third Hokage issued a public notice, exposing your theft of the First Hokage's cells, the kidnapping of infants, framing Orochimaru... Today, Kabuto Yakushi returned. He's the leader of the Hidden Sound Village now and is demanding a reckoning with you. The Third publicly apologized and announced a full investigation into your crimes."
Danzo's eye drooped slightly, but he showed no anger. The Third's actions were all within his expectations. This was only the beginning; soon, a pile of other crimes would be pinned on him.
Black Zetsu continued, "Jiraiya and Tsunade have both returned to the village, though Tsunade is with the Uchiha right now. Your Root has been eliminated by the Third. Jiraiya was the one who did it."
Danzo said nothing, but the tension in his arm betrayed his inner turmoil. "What price do I have to pay for you to get me out?" he asked in a low voice. Since Zetsu was here, he was obviously looking to make a deal.
Zetsu let out a low chuckle. "You have no Root left. You're a general without an army. What price can you possibly offer?"
Danzo narrowed his single eye. "What do you want?"
Zetsu's voice turned frivolous. "The current Konoha is terrifying. With Jiraiya and Tsunade back, the Hokage's faction has grown immensely powerful. Our organization needs to weaken Konoha's strength."
"Weaken Konoha?"
"Impossible! I will never betray Konoha!" Danzo's tone was firm and resonant.
Zetsu chuckled darkly. "The current Konoha belongs to Sarutobi Hiruzen, not Danzo Shimura. If you don't weaken Sarutobi, when will you ever have a chance to make a comeback?"
Danzo closed his eye, countless images flashing through his mind. He pondered for a long time. Zetsu wasn't in a hurry, waiting leisurely in the cell.
Danzo slowly opened his eye. Since Sarutobi had cast him aside after he had served his purpose, then Sarutobi would have to pay the price.
"Fine. I have plenty of dirt on Sarutobi. Once it's released, Konoha will surely be torn apart." Danzo's exposed eye was filled with an icy coldness.
"Hehehehe..." Zetsu let out a strange laugh.
"Then let's go now." Another White Zetsu emerged from the ground. This one sprang up and quickly merged into Danzo's right arm.
"Ugh... Argh...!" Danzo felt an excruciating pain and couldn't help but scream. The cry echoed through the prison.
"My, my, how pathetic," Zetsu sighed as his body sank back into the wall.
"What's happening!?"
"It's Danzo! Go check on him!"
Two guards, both Hyuga, rushed in. They saw Danzo clutching his right arm, rolling on the ground. Snot and tears streamed down his face, his old features twisted in a terrifying grimace.
"Byakugan!" One of them immediately activated his eyes and looked at Danzo. He saw the chakra in Danzo's right arm flowing chaotically, as if it wasn't his own.
"He's not faking it!" he confirmed to his partner. The other guard hurriedly took out the key and opened the cell door. By this point, Danzo was delirious with pain, his single eye rolling back as he collapsed.
The two men immediately knelt to check his condition. Suddenly, Danzo felt a cooling sensation in his right arm as an external chakra surged into his body. A powerful force coursed through his weakened frame.
Danzo's eye shot open, and he swung his right arm.
With a tremendous boom, a giant tree erupted from the floor of the cell. The two Hyuga clansmen were instantly obliterated by the burst of Wood Style, their blood splattering everywhere. Danzo retracted his right hand, internally shocked. So powerful. What in the world was this Zetsu?
Zetsu's head popped out of the wall. "The guards are heading this way. We can't use the main entrance. The seals here can't contain Wood Style. Use it to get out from here."
Danzo could already hear the shouts from outside. "There's trouble! Quick! Block the gate, don't let the prisoner escape!"
Danzo aimed his right arm at the thick wall, and his chakra erupted.
...
Sai, who had been loitering near the prison, suddenly saw a large crack split the ground in the distance, with countless branches sprouting out. Danzo emerged from the fissure.
Sai had been wary of Danzo for some time, always checking to see if everything was fine before returning to the village. He had been shocked to learn of Danzo's arrest upon his return this time. He went to the Root headquarters, only to find it an empty shell. The base was deserted, and the research equipment had been cleared out. ANBU members were constantly searching for any stragglers.
Faced with this situation, Sai had no choice but to investigate on his own. Fortunately, he was skilled in reconnaissance. After some effort, he learned two pieces of news, one good and one bad.
The good news was that his brother, Shin, had not died during the roundup. The bad news was that Shin had disappeared. There was no trace of him in Konoha.