"Is this still not enough, Hyuga Clan Head? The Fifth Hokage may have colluded with outside forces. This threatens all of Konoha. When the time comes, you'll be dragged down with her. The Fifth Hokage has betrayed the Land of Fire!"
The official from the Daimyō's estate shouted in outrage. They wanted Konoha and the other hidden villages to unite against the Sand Federation and restore the original one-country–one-village system. But Tsunade's alleged cooperation with the Sand Federation directly defied the Daimyō's orders.
"The Daimyō's intent is to immediately dismiss Tsunade and select a new Hokage. The Third Hokage at the frontline will place her under custody until her connection with the Sand Federation is clarified. If she proves innocent, then the position of Hokage…"
Hyuga Kiyo cut him off mid-sentence with a cold snort. "No need to investigate. I'll tell you directly. It isn't just Lady Tsunade. The three clans of the Police Force, the First and Second Ninja Divisions, the ANBU, Root, and even the administrative, logistics, finance, and medical departments—all share Tsunade-sama's intention. We are all prepared to merge Konoha into the Sand Federation."
"So, what does the Daimyō intend to do now?"
The temperature in the conference room seemed to drop instantly.
Several clan heads stared in shock. They had assumed the Daimyō's accusations were baseless. But Tsunade and the Hyuga Clan Head actually meant it.
Some turned their heads slightly toward Inuzuka Nin and Aburame Shiwē, and toward Kakashi. Seeing their calm expressions and lowered heads, a chill went through the smaller clans.
Of course—they wouldn't have known. And once the big clans made their move, the smaller ones would have no choice at all.
The three Police Force clans plus Kakashi's ninja division, combined with Root and ANBU, formed the largest power bloc in Konoha. No clan could oppose them—especially with a Fifth Hokage who had awakened Wood Release.
The smaller clan heads shrank back. Even Inuzuka Nin and Aburame Shiwē were bewildered.
Both realized, the moment Kiyo Hyuga spoke, that they were already tied to this ship. Tsunade's favoritism toward the three clans was well known, and she had even let the next generation of the Aburame and Inuzuka become Kiyo's students. Neither clan rejected the offer.
To outsiders, the three clans were becoming a new version of the Ino–Shika–Cho trio. The Police Force of Three Clans could easily become a permanent institution, just like the Uchiha once were. Their next-generation heirs were Kiyo's students. They had no path of retreat.
Kakashi exhaled deeply. Just like them, he had been pushed step by step onto this ship of rebels, with no way to jump off now.
"Hyuga… Clan Head Hyuga, what do you mean by this?"
The Daimyō's official paled—uncertain whether from anger or fear. Pointing at Kiyo, he trembled.
"You… all of you… intend to betray Konoha and the Land of Fire?"
"Enough pointless words. If you hadn't come, I might worry you'd run away and hide. But since you walked right in…"
The veins bulged at the sides of Kiyo Hyuga's face, her pale eyes turning feral. No ordinary person dared meet her gaze.
"Danzo, after all that scheming, you still didn't get to be Hokage."
A masked figure behind the Daimyō removed his disguise—revealing the long-missing Danzo.
His heart froze in frustration. He had waited for Tsunade to leave Konoha, counting on Hiruzen and the other two Kage being occupied at the front. Yet she had left behind so many loyalists.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, you useless old fool!
Decades as Hokage, and Tsunade managed to strip his influence this badly. Pathetic.
"Hyuga Kiyo… I expected you to betray Konoha. But Kakashi… Shiwē… even you would turn against the village…" Danzo muttered as he unfastened the metal brace on his arm.
He knew today would not end peacefully. With no message from Hiruzen, this was his final chance to struggle.
He refused to die here. He was the one meant to reshape the shinobi world.
Suddenly Kiyo shouted, "Exploding tags! Be careful!"
The moment she spoke, the Sharingan under Danzo's bandages activated Izanagi.
Kiyo and Kurenai released mercury-like nanomaterial from their fingertips, forming a protective shield, while Kimimaro raised a bone shield.
BOOM!
Half the Hokage building collapsed instantly. The remaining half creaked, threatening to fall. Danzo's Edo Tensei body had used hundreds of explosive tags to generate such force.
"Cough… thank you, Kurenai-san…" Kurama Yunkai groaned. At this distance, the explosion left his mind ringing. Without her special tool shielding them, the small clan heads would have died instantly.
"That damned Danzo—I'll never forgive him!"
The clan heads shouted angrily. Without Kiyo's warning and Kurenai's protection, they would have been blown apart.
"Kiyo, where's Danzo?"
Kurenai ignored the thanks. She knew Danzo possessed forbidden jutsu like Izanagi. If he dared use that many explosive tags, he must have expected to escape.
Kabuto spoke from the side. "He can't get away. I already had barriers set up."
"I found him. Kurenai, follow me."
Kiyo scanned the area with her Byakugan, then said to the others, "Clan Heads of Inuzuka and Aburame, Kimimaro—the Edo Tensei bodies and everyone outside are yours."
Leaving that order behind, she and Kurenai left the ruined building.
The Edo Tensei body that triggered the explosion slowly regenerated, but its mask and extra garments were destroyed, revealing its true face.
Kakashi's exposed eye widened. "Father?"
The man beneath the mask was none other than Konoha's White Fang—Sakumo Hatake.
Expressionless, he drew his short blade and charged.
His swordsmanship had terrified Sand and Stone during the Second Shinobi War. Even as an Edo Tensei unable to fight at full power, the flash of his white blade was faster than several clan heads could react.
Clang!
Kimimaro flashed in front of Sakumo, blocking the short blade with bone protruding from his arm.
Lightning chakra and wind chakra?!
Kimimaro felt both properties surge along the short blade—lightning crackle and wind's invisible edge cutting his skin.
Two chakra nature transformations in a single instant… he must have been a monster in life.
Kimimaro's eyes lit up with interest—then narrowed. He leapt back.
A figure rushed past him, lightning in hand, clashing with Sakumo's blade. Wind and lightning scattered across the floor, leaving cut marks and scorch patterns.
"Sorry, Kimimaro. Leave him to me."
Kakashi's lone Sharingan eye focused. As Sakumo's son, it was his responsibility—and no one understood the White Fang's swordstyle better than him.
Kimimaro didn't argue. He wanted to fight Sakumo, but now wasn't the time.
Nearby, Aburame Shibi adjusted his sunglasses. "That's Dan… but he seems mindless, so we—"
"I'll take him!"
Inuzuka Nin growled, charging forward before finishing his sentence.
"…Ignored again."
Shibi sighed, but released a swarm of insects to support him.
Elsewhere, Danzo's Izanagi revival was quickly detected by the Byakugan.
He hadn't run far before Kiyo and Kurenai cornered him.
"Danzo-sama, stop running. As a traitor to Konoha, where do you plan to flee this time?"
Kurenai twirled two kunai, their metallic chime echoing softly.
"You Konoha traitors—"
Danzo's words died. His body flickered into transparency and vanished.
He hadn't even sensed the illusion.
From above, Kiyo pointed. "To your back right, Kurenai. He still has seven Sharingan. Don't kill him yet—cut off his arm."
She vanished with a Body Flicker, sprinting toward him.
Both knew Danzo specialized in Wind Release, though he also wielded Wood Release and Sharingan tricks. But with the two of them combined, he had no chance.
Kurenai and Kiyo unleashed the Strength of a Hundred Seal, and in an instant caught up to him.
BOOM!
Two monstrous punches struck Danzo simultaneously. His eyes bulged with rage as his form faded again.
"There!"
Danzo revived once more, grinding his teeth. He hadn't achieved his dream—he refused to die. His Sharingan weren't exhausted, his test subjects weren't exhausted. Damn it… damn it!
"You traitors… you're dooming the shinobi world! I won't forgive this!"
(End of chapter)