About half an hour later, Makoto leisurely strolled to the Root's base.
To be honest, Hiruzen's bond with his old friend was genuine.
Immediately after the Night of the Massacre, Hiruzen had suspended Danzo from all duties.
After all, any Ninja in the village with a functioning brain could tell something was fishy about that incident.
The day before the Uchiha Massacre, an announcement was made about a disaster prevention drill, forbidding anyone from going out at night.
What a coincidence?
Simply put, it was telling smart people like Shikaku: Danzo did the dirty work… it has nothing to do with me, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Even then, it's just a superficial show for others to see.
After all, Danzo still used the Root's base, kept his core team… apart from losing his title, he still had everything he needed.
When Makoto arrived, Konoha's top fighters like Kakashi, Asuma, and Genma had already surrounded Danzo.
The old man was clearly backed into a corner, his terrifying right arm covered in Sharingan exposed. Makoto counted… seven had already dimmed, three were barely flickering.
Utaha and the others who came along changed expressions at the sight.
"Makoto, that arm of his..." Megumi's voice was tinged with shock, the rest of the sentence stuck in her throat.
True, the players had killed people, but seeing Danzo's arm covered with densely packed eyeballs... was truly unsettling.
Makoto raised his hand to signal for silence, his gaze fixed on Danzo.
'Had he used Shisui's eye yet?'
He had deliberately dawdled until now precisely for this… to let Kakashi and the others exhaust Danzo's ten 'revival coins', preferably forcing him to use Kotoamatsukami as well.
Hashirama's cells could shorten the cooldown, it's true, but the original work had made it clear: even at its fastest, it still took several hours to recharge.
By then, Danzo would be meat on the chopping block.
Just then, Kakashi's right hand erupted with the white light of the Chidori, stabbing Danzo from behind.
With a muffled 'squelch', Danzo's heart was pierced by the Chidori.
But two seconds later, that body dissipated like a mirage, and Danzo himself appeared out of nowhere behind Kakashi.
Just as Danzo was about to ambush Kakashi, Asuma rushed out from the side, temporarily forcing him back.
"What kind of Ninjutsu is this?!" Ran exclaimed.
Danzo was furious: "What is the meaning of this?! I have rendered meritorious service and shed blood for Konoha! On what grounds do you treat me like this?!"
"Stop pretending, Danzo!"
Asuma's blades were coated with Wind Release Chakra as he gritted his teeth, "Killing my father, killing the two advisors, aiding Orochimaru's infiltration of Konoha… and now you still want to play innocent?!"
Danzo was stunned.
Honestly, the thought of killing Hiruzen had crossed his mind.
As for Koharu and Homura, those two fence-sitters who had vacillated between him and Hiruzen all these years… though most of the time they still leaned toward Hiruzen and he had indeed wanted to eliminate them-
The problem was, this time he really hadn't killed them!
And what was this about aiding Orochimaru?
The last time he had cooperated with Orochimaru was during the Hashirama's cells research.
"Slander! You're slandering me! All of you are slandering me!"
Danzo roared, "I've been in the base all day today, never leaving for a moment!"
Unfortunately, Danzo's reputation in Konoha had long been ruined; no one believed a word he said.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes and said with ill intent: "In that case, please come with us. Let me use my Sharingan to interrogate you properly, and the truth will naturally come to light."
He paused, his gaze falling on the row of Sharingan on Danzo's right arm, "I'm sure everyone is very interested in these eyes of yours."
Danzo's face darkened.
'Damn it, if I were interrogated, all the dirty deeds I'd done over the years would be exposed!'
"Enough talk. Take him down!!"
Makoto's voice came from outside the crowd, carrying an undeniable authority.
Logically speaking, as a newly promoted Jonin, he had no authority to give orders to seasoned veterans like Kakashi and Asuma.
But after that battle, everyone had witnessed his strength firsthand… he was now Konoha's top fighter, so who wouldn't show him some respect?
What's more, Konohamaru, who had come along, was shouting at the top of his lungs: "Didn't you hear what Aniki said? Take down that bastard and avenge Grandpa!"
With that, all the Jonin rushed forward together.
Perhaps Danzo could have fought in his younger days, but in his old age, all his energy was consumed by scheming.
In the original work, he couldn't even defeat a worn-out Sasuke with ten 'revival coins'. Now, facing the combined assault of Kakashi and the others, there was no way he could hold out.
The last Sharingan on his right shoulder slowly closed.
Makoto's lips curled into a smile.
'Good.'
'Time to use Shisui's eye, right? Use it, and it's your death sentence.'
He activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, every move Danzo made reflected in the depths of his pupils.
If Danzo used Shisui's eye, the flow of his Chakra would inevitably change.
At that moment, with no revival coins left, one strike would be fatal.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Danzo roared, his hand already grasping the bandage over his right eye.
This was his last trump card… Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo.
But in that instant, his gaze met Makoto's eyes.
'Those eyes...'
Danzo's expression drastically changed.
'Mangekyo Sharingan? And it looked far more formidable than an ordinary Mangekyo!'
What shocked him even more was the aura emanating from Makoto… a scent he knew all too well.
A kindred spirit.
The scent of a master schemer.
"Makoto! What have you done?!" Danzo screamed.
Makoto's smile deepened.
"The corpse is speaking."
Before the words faded, countless kunai shot from his hand.
Through Shisui's Mangekyo, Danzo could clearly see… they were all Flying Thunder God kunai!
"Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"
He frantically formed hand seals, trying to use wind to scatter the kunai.
But the moment the seals were completed, while the kunai were still in midair, Makoto was already before him.
"How—"
One word barely escaped, a flash of light.
His head fell to the ground. Makoto raised his left hand, catching the nearly dropped head in his palm.
Those Flying Thunder God kunai were merely bait.
The Ninjutsu Makoto had actually used was—
Fugaku's Mangekyo ability, Shinatsuhiko!
Makoto bent down, reaching into the right eye socket of Danzo's severed head, forcibly gouging out the Sharingan.
A cold system notification sounded in his mind:
[Player Makoto has obtained item: Mangekyo Sharingan (Uchiha Shisui Version · Right Eye)]
"As expected of Aniki! We've avenged Grandpa!"
Konohamaru rushed up and hugged Makoto's waist, his face full of excitement.
But the next second, Makoto suddenly bent down, his voice filled with deep sorrow: "This is not a cause for celebration, Konohamaru."
He raised his hand and placed it on the boy's shoulder, "Regardless of whether revenge is achieved, Sarutobi-sensei... has left us forever."
He paused, his voice dropping lower: "I never imagined that besides Sarutobi-sensei, even the two advisors..."
He took a deep breath, as if suppressing a tremble, "How could something like this happen to our Konoha?"
By the end, he was already choked with sobs.
Makoto lifted his head, tears streaming down his face as he looked around: "Everyone... please put this inhuman beast on display in Konoha Square... let every villager know of his crimes..."
He covered his eyes, his shoulders shaking violently.
"Aniki!!"
Konohamaru was so infected by the emotion that he burst into tears, hugging Makoto tightly.
The two wept together in each other's arms.
This scene was deeply moving.
Kurenai's maternal instincts overflowed. She stepped forward and pulled the two brothers into her embrace: "Rest assured, we will carry on the will of the Third Hokage!"
No one noticed that, buried in her arms, Makoto was biting his lip hard.
'No, hold it in. Can't laugh yet.'