Tejima Shinichi's roar exploded across every eardrum and every heart!
In an instant, everyone was petrified.
The three Root Ninja froze, forgetting even to breathe; behind their masks their faces had probably gone deathly pale.
The surrounding Anbu and security-team members stared so hard their eyeballs nearly popped out, mouths slack wide enough to stuff in an egg.
Yamato completely lost his composure, jaw dropping -as though dislocated, unable to pull it back.
He stared at the student he'd taken in only a day ago, feeling his decades-old understanding of the phrase "reckless beyond belief" shattered.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had remained seated in the host's chair, could no longer keep his total composure.
The hand holding his pipe froze mid-air; his eyes couldn't help but go round.
He'd known the boy was gifted and aloof, but never imagined he could be this unyielding!
This barrage —cloaked in righteousness, wielding the blood and tears of three generations —was so brilliantly executed that even the Hokage momentarily didn't know how to interject.
As for Shimura Danzo himself—
his pupils shrank to the limit, reflecting Tejima Shinichi's unflinching figure.
On the face forever hidden in shadows and bandages, control cracked for the first time!
At last—
"Insolent!"
Danzo thundered, voice like a night owl.
"You're the insolent one, Danzo!"
At that, Hiruzen slammed the table and shot to his feet!
An aura far more majestic than Danzo's burst forth, instantly crushing the latter's pressure.
Hiruzen's face was livid as he glared. As Hokage, if he didn't take control now… "Which of Shinichi's words isn't fact? His record is spotless—Konoha's own openly trained prodigy! Without any procedure you publicly intercepted and threatened a Genin, were exposed on the spot, and now try to turn the tables?! Do you still acknowledge your Hokage?! Do you still acknowledge Konoha's rules?!"
The roar detonated inside the Hokage Office.
Danzo's complexion turned ashen; the hand gripping his cane trembled slightly as he stared at the equally furious Third Hokage.
How many years had it been?
Besides Hiruzen, who dared speak to him like that?
Yet today a freshly graduated Genin had done it, stripping him of all face in front of everyone.
What stung more was that under Hiruzen's pressure he couldn't even erupt.
Tejima Shinichi stood in place, looking at Danzo with growing disdain!
The other Ninja in the office held their breath, not daring a sound.
Events had surpassed their expectations… Hiruzen's chest heaved as he glowered at Danzo.
He'd just rejoiced at Shinichi's growth and expressly ordered Danzo to keep away —only for Shimura to brazenly defy him and strike at the boy inside the Village within a single day!
This wasn't mere overreach; it was open contempt for the Hokage's authority!
Outright betrayal!
Worse, from the instant Danzo stepped in he had ignored Hiruzen, aiming straight at Shinichi with that commanding air… as though he were the true master of Konoha, igniting the fury Hiruzen had long suppressed.
"Danzo!"
Hiruzen's voice rang again, his Chakra now tangible, pinning down Danzo's frigid aura.
"I warn you for the last time! Tejima Shinichi is a Leaf Ninja, my subordinate! His affairs are none of your or 'Root's'… interference!"
He stepped forward, the Hokage cloak billowing without wind, eyes locked on Danzo's gloomy face:
"Spare me your 'anything for the Village' creed! Konoha's prosperity rests on leaves walking in sunlight, not roots buried underground feeding on rot! Reach for our young Ninja again —reach for Konoha's future —and in the name of Hokage I will eradicate that 'Root' which should never have existed!"
The ultimatum froze the very air of the office.
Everyone felt the Third's unmistakable resolve—!
Danzo's single eye twitched, facial muscles spasming.
The phrase "Root which should never have existed" negated every sacrifice he had made for Konoha through the years.
He opened his mouth, but under Hiruzen's unyielding stare only a cold snort escaped.
"Hmph!"
Danzo spun round, cane striking the floor, and strode out without looking back, his figure radiating reluctance.
Seeing this, the three Root Ninja hastily lowered their heads and followed, vanishing beyond the door.
With Danzo gone the oppression eased slightly, yet the office remained heavy with tension.
Hiruzen slowly sank into his chair, seeming to age in moments; he rubbed his brow, drew a deep breath, and fought to calm his surging emotions.
After a pause he lifted his gaze to Tejima Shinichi.
"Shinichi," he said wearily, "this ends here. The Village will give you an account. From today, 'Root' will not harass you or your family in any form. That is the Hokage's order."
He glanced at the Captain of the Anbu beside him:
"Record today's events in full, seal the file. Those three Root Ninja —confined for reflection."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
The Captain of the Anbu bowed at once.
Hiruzen's final gaze settled on Shinichi, admiration and worry mingled in his eyes.
The boy was not only astonishingly gifted but resolute and unyielding… With his experience, how could he fail to see that Shinichi's performance just now—
could never have come from someone ignorant of Root and Shimura Danzo.
No doubt he had heard of them from his mother, Mori Chie, once a Special Jonin, and from his father, Tejima Kazuto, long a hospital medic; they would know the Village's factions.
The child must have learned of Danzo and Root from them, enabling such composure.
Yet the stiffest tree is the first to snap, the tallest stands alone…