Chapter 171: Real Reason for Danzo's Defection?
Atop the Hokage Rock.
Sarutobi Hiruzen increasingly spent more time here.
Konoha would never lack for ninja who defect, nor would it ever be without those who, due to their own bonds, leave Konoha and suffer for it.
This time, it was Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, who felt the weight.
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but become increasingly anxious, fearing that Shimura Danzo might commit a grave mistake, worrying that Danzo might sacrifice Konoha's interests for his own, concerned that he might one day have to kill Danzo, disregarding their past camaraderie.
Standing atop the Hokage Rock, Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered the struggle between the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara, remembering how the First Hokage had decisively acted against Uchiha Madara.
"Lord Hokage."
Hatake Kakashi knelt on one knee behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, softly saying, "The warrant for his arrest has been made public."
"Good."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.
The official news from Konoha was unKabutobtedly credible.
All of Konoha and even the ninja world received the news that Shimura Danzo had become a rogue ninja of Konoha. This news didn't much affect the ordinary villagers, but it was unKabutobtedly shocking for the elite ninja of Konoha.
Since many things within Konoha could not be completely covered up, Sarutobi Hiruzen simply made public the three charges against Shimura Danzo, taking the opportunity to quell the resentment within the village.
The first charge: Shimura Danzo, in conspiracy with Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito, harmed the Uchiha clan, secretly scheming to acquire the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan.
This was undeniable.
Because Shimura Danzo indeed committed this act.
Sarutobi Hiruzen no longer wished to conceal it for Danzo.
The second charge: Shimura Danzo conducted unauthorized human experiments related to the Sharingan, aiming to obtain more powerful Kekkei Genkai.
Due to the significant impact of Hashirama Cells, Sarutobi Hiruzen had to omit this charge to avoid further disputes, although the higher-ups of Konoha ninja were largely aware of it.
The third charge: Shimura Danzo led his men in an unauthorized attack on the ninja of the Mist Village, intending to provoke a war between Konoha and Mist Village.
This was acknowledged by the Mist Village.
After all, the Mist Village was an ally of Konoha, and it was necessary to consider the feelings of an ally. This act indeed angered Sarutobi Hiruzen greatly; he had always treated allies with a conciliatory policy, and Shimura Danzo's actions were unKabutobtedly contrary to the policies of the Hokage's office.
These charges...
Were enough to infuriate the people of Konoha.
Over the years, Shimura Danzo had always within the Root, his name not very prominent in the village. Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions also made Shimura Danzo thoroughly infamous in Konoha.
In a sweets shop.
A group of ninjas were still discussing Shimura Danzo.
Might Guy, looking at the wanted poster in the handbook, felt some regrets: "I had once applied to join Lord Danzo's Anbu..."
"That's the Root."
Genma Shiranui, with a senbon in his mouth, muttered indifferently: "Well, it doesn't matter now. Danzo has defected, and the harm he has brought is too great. He must be killed... but it won't be easy to kill that guy, he has many subordinates!"
"He still has to be eliminated!"
"He has killed so many people!"
"Even wanting to provoke a war, how could this be allowed!"
A group of Konoha ninja having afternoon tea immediately became passionately agitated.
Most of these Konoha ninja had never really seen Shimura Danzo, nor understood the story between Konoha's high-level officials and the Uchiha. But they still considered the Uchiha as comrades, especially resenting people like Shimura Danzo and Uchiha Itachi!
Some resent...
Naturally, there are those who regret.
At the Root's base.
This base no longer had any of Shimura Danzo's subordinates.
Akihara Kagura spoke calmly: "Apart from Awei, everyone here should already know each other. Awei acts on my behalf outside, Karin will be my assistant from now on, and Kabuto's identity goes without saying..."
Turning back, Akihara Kagura glanced at White Zetzu Awei and then at the twelve Uchihas: "Thanks to all of you, Lord Danzo could take a break from his busy duties in Konoha..."
"Hehehe, this is quite fun."
White Zetzu Awei responded with a laugh.
For White Zetzu, who enjoys observing, White Zetzu Awei is particularly fond of the novel stories that occur in the ninja world, especially since this story was completed with his help.
The twelve Uchihas remained silent.
Their identity as Uchihas meant they could not speak to Akihara Kagura as freely as White Zetzu Awei could, and they dared not make any mistakes at any time, for they had no way out, with the Uchiha clan having nowhere to turn.
These twelve Uchihas, after undergoing training in a limited Tsukuyomi world and first acquiring the three tomoe Sharingan and extensive combat experience, were then used by Akihara Kagura through "genetic modification technology" to transplant Hashirama's cells, successfully awakening Wood Release, becoming dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas.
However...
This was a novel experience for them.
This group of Uchihas was fully involved in the process of framing Shimura Danzo.
It must be said...
This was a textbook case of making something out of nothing.
First, Akihara Kagura secretly assisted Shimura Danzo's comeback, taking advantage of the need for manpower during Danzo's return to successfully place two spies, Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fu, under Danzo's command, ready to influence him at any time.
Second, after Danzo left Konoha, a team of dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas took advantage of the end of Might Guy's training session to forge an incident where they sneaked into Konoha and were discovered by Might Guy, leading to a conflict and fight that attracted the attention of many in Konoha, allowing the existence of the dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas to be discovered by Konoha.
Third, Akihara Kagura used the evidence left in his hands by Shimura Danzo, [the order for 143 Sharingan], to directly blame the dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas on Danzo, taking Hatake Kakashi to investigate Danzo's home, finding two teams of people, and confirming Danzo's conspiracy to accumulate loyal soldiers.
Fourth, all dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas, under the cover of Akihara Kagura's interrogation, deliberately claimed that Danzo had another fifty-nine dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas, causing Hiruzen and the Konoha higher-ups to be alert and leading Hiruzen to send envoys to negotiate with Danzo.
Fifth, these dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas then pretended to be Hiruzen's envoys to capture Danzo, specifically framing Danzo to force him to hope for his subordinates to rescue him. As a result, a major battle occurred, and except for the two spies, Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fu, all of Danzo's other subordinates died;
Sixth, these dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas, taking advantage of Danzo's shortage of manpower, pursued Danzo, forcing him to use the spy Aburame Torune's strategy, trying to instigate a major battle between the Mist ninjas and the dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas.
Seventh, White Zetzu Awei opportunistically led this group of dual Kekkei Genkai ninjas, posing as Danzo, initiating fights under Danzo's name to chase Mist Village ninjas, framing Danzo with the crime of initiating a war, even attacking the Hokage's advisors; white getting deceived by Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fu, making Danzo believe he was carrying the blame for Hiruzen, once returning to the village, he would be dealt with.
Eighth, White Zetzu Awei spread rumors everywhere that Danzo was too afraid to return to the village and chose to defect, forcing the Konoha leadership to issue a warrant for Danzo, definitively branding him as a rogue ninja in name.
Finally...
Someone needed to conclude.
Making Danzo himself admit to defecting.
The crimes published by Konoha include those committed by Danzo himself and those Danzo thought he was framed for; anyway, he surely knew he couldn't refute them.
"Awei."
Akihara Kagura began to instruct Awei: "Go and ask Obito if there's anything else I can help with..."
"Okay."
White Zetzu Awei quickly disappeared.
"Kabuto."
Akihara Kagura looked at Yakushi Kabuto and said, "Let's go to the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields together, to meet Danzo!"
"Okay."
Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses and spoke softly: "Danzo is now like a dog that has lost its home. Not killing him, are you planning to let him join forces with Orochimaru?"
"Where else could he go, except to Orochimaru?"
Akihara Kagura spread his hands with a somewhat merciful heart: "An old man has been driven out of Konoha by an old friend; we should at least find a place for the elderly to live, right?"
"I'm not on good terms with Orochimaru..."
"Now that Lord Danzo has been driven out of the village by us, Orochimaru wants to get information about Konoha, he must go through me..."
"Just right, we ask Lord Danzo to mediate for us, letting them know my indispensability, only I can be their future reliance on mastering Konoha..."