Everyone turned toward the voice.
Danzo Shimura stood at the doorway, expressionless, leaning on his cane.
His half-wrapped body and cane accompanied each heavy step inside.
Danzo's appearance froze the already tense atmosphere solid.
The three Root Ninjas lowered their heads even further.
Without greeting Hiruzen first, Danzo's single eye locked on Shinichi Tejima.
"Shinichi Tejima? You're the one who injured Root operatives and stirred unrest in the Village?"
Shinichi narrowed his eyes at the lofty interrogation.
'Ah… so the man himself finally shows up!'
"Unknown disabled sir, your accusation is rather one-sided. First, these three so-called Root Ninjas publicly blocked and threatened me, a freshly graduated Konoha Genin. Second, they attacked me after I refused their unreasonable demands."
Shinichi paused, then looked toward Hiruzen.
"Most importantly, I, Shinichi Tejima, am a registered Ninja under Hokage-sama. Any review of my strength or loyalty should be decided by Hokage-sama or my Jonin Instructor, Teacher Yamato. May I ask under what authority an unknown disabled senior bypasses Hokage-sama to decide the fate of an official Konoha Ninja?"
The office air seemed vacuumed out in an instant.
"Gasp—"
Someone's sharp inhale cut through the silence.
Every face froze.
The three Root Ninjas snapped their heads up, eyes wide behind masks, staring at Shinichi as if he'd spoken fantasy.
Surrounding Anbu and Police Corps stood transfixed.
Their gaze at Shinichi overflowed with shock —and a hint of dread.
"U-unknown disabled person?"
"D-disabled senior?"
"H-how dare he…"
Yamato's face changed; cold sweat dotted his forehead.
Even though he'd left Root and stood with the Hokage, Danzo's long shadow still stirred instinctive fear.
His pupil's insults were… absolutely brilliant!
Danzo's lone pupil contracted.
He'd considered recruiting the boy—
But Shinichi's provocations, especially "unknown" and repeated "Hokage-sama," stabbed Danzo's most sensitive nerves.
Hokage! Hokage! Always Hokage!
Why did everyone only see Hiruzen Sarutobi?!
Why must Danzo, who gave everything for Konoha, forever stand unnamed in the shadows?!
He was the one willing to shoulder any necessary evil for the Village!
This brat —Shinichi Tejima —feigning innocence while openly slighting him… Danzo's grip on his cane tightened.
Such defiance, such blind worship of the title "Hokage", such open challenge to his authority… so like those damned Uchiha!
Equally arrogant, equally self-righteous, equally uncontrollable!
'An evil Senju descendant indeed!'
The thought flashed; any intent to recruit vanished, replaced by familiar loathing —and killing intent.
"Sharp-tongued brat," Danzo snorted, cane striking the floor. "Root acts for absolute Konoha safety. You wield strength and Chakra unfitting a Genin; your origin and potential are suspect. Root has the right to examine and guide you, lest you become a Village threat."
"Danzo!"
Hiruzen, silent until now, barked a warning.
Yet Shinichi stepped forward another half-pace!
"Oh —so you're Lord Danzo they speak of!"
Shinichi met Danzo's gaze —an eye that could chill Jonin —without flinching, even curling a mocking smile.
"Examine? Guide?" He sneered and shook his head. "Utterly ridiculous."
"I, Shinichi Tejima: father Kazuto Tejima, a medical Chunin who served Konoha Hospital twenty years, saving countless Ninja. Mother Chie Mori, former Special Jonin, forced to retire after mission injuries severed her Chakra coils."
"Grandfather Masao Tejima died covering comrades in the Second Ninja World War. Grandmother Miyoko Tejima perished evacuating civilians during the Nine-Tails attack. Grandfather Shinshin Mori, grandmother Touka Senju, both spilled their last blood defending the Land of Fire's borders in the Second War."
Shinichi listed every ancestor, each deed drawing awe from every Konoha Ninja present.
A blood-written record of unshakable loyalty!
Shinichi's burning stare speared Danzo.
"The Tejima family, three generations, bled and died for Konoha and the Land of Fire. I graduated top of Ninja Academy in the sixty-fourth year, studied under Jonin Instructor Yamato, and today completed four D-Rank Missions —payment here!"
He slapped the small purse of mission pay onto the table with a crisp clack.
"Family background, upbringing, academic record, mission history, even ancestors' sacrifices —every line is in the Village archives, open to scrutiny!"
He strode another step forward, overwhelming.
"So, Elder Danzo, on what grounds do you call me 'of unknown origin,' 'suspect potential,' needing your shadowed Root to 'examine and guide'?!"
The roar echoed through the office.
"Has Root's intelligence network grown so senile it can't read the names on the memorial stone or open the public records in the archive?!"
"Or—"
Shinichi's voice turned icy.
"In your eyes, does a family like mine, that burned itself out for Konoha, still not merit trust? Must its children be publicly blocked, threatened —even abducted —like suspects inside our own Village?!"
"Are you questioning me —or every martyr who died for Konoha? The Village archives under Hokage-sama that record countless heroic spirits?!"
"Danzo—answer me—NOW!!!"