No problem, fool!
"Who can explain this?"
"As one of the Legendary Sannin, why is Tsunade-sama standing next to our Captain, Mink?!"
"And why is she acting as Captain Mink's personal bodyguard?!"
"Does this mean they have some kind of special connection? Did he pull strings to make this happen?!"
If Tsunade-hime—who even dares to defy the Hokage—knew what they were thinking right now... wouldn't she just knock them all out with a single punch?!
For a moment, the ANBU members felt a chill run down their spines.
"Captain Mink!"
"Why didn't you tell us about this sooner?!"
At that moment, a sudden realization struck them—
Tsunade-sama, one of the three legendary shinobi, was acting as a mere bodyguard...
What kind of person was their Captain Mink, really?
"Cough, cough..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow drag from his pipe, exhaling a stream of white smoke as his brows furrowed deeply.
He had meticulously planned everything tonight, confident that things would unfold just as expected.
Yet the situation had spiraled far beyond his initial predictions.
And now, even Tsunade was in his office.
Things had suddenly become... complicated.
"Tsunade, don't worry. I will investigate this matter thoroughly and give you a proper explanation."
With that, Sarutobi turned toward the ANBU squad.
"Has the Torture and Interrogation Force reported their findings?"
One of the masked ANBU members stepped forward and respectfully responded:
"Hokage-sama, the results have been compiled."
Sarutobi narrowed his eyes and nodded. "Summon Ibiki at once."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Before long, a tall, scarred man in a black trench coat stepped into the Hokage's office—Ibiki Morino, head of Konoha's Torture and Interrogation Unit.
He bowed slightly and reported:
"Hokage-sama, we have extracted the necessary information.
The ones who attempted to steal the Scroll of Seals tonight—most of them were indeed former Root operatives.
However, they all had Fūinjutsu placed on their tongues, preventing them from revealing any further information.
As for the others, their identities remain uncertain.
By probing their memories, we confirmed that they were all rogue ninja originally from the Land of Fire.
In recent years, they've been involved in covert financial dealings with the Shimura clan..."
The room fell silent.
The events that had unfolded tonight were now becoming painfully clear.
And Shimura Danzō—along with his entire faction—could no longer feign innocence.
"Oi, old man!" Tsunade suddenly barked, her arms crossed, her amber eyes blazing.
"Do you really need to keep analyzing this crap? This has Danzō written all over it!"
Hiruzen's brows furrowed slightly, but he kept his composure.
"Since the Shimura clan is involved, I will summon Danzō here and question him personally," he said evenly.
"Tsunade, rest assured—I will get to the bottom of this."
Tsunade scoffed. "Hmph!"
Even though the man before her was her old sensei, the Third Hokage himself, she made no effort to hide her disdain.
Tonight's unexpected turn of events had sent countless thoughts racing through Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.
But on the surface, his expression remained unreadable.
After decades in power, he had long since mastered the art of suppressing his emotions—his true thoughts hidden deep within.
Outside, the village remained eerily silent.
But inside the Hokage's office, one light after another flickered to life, illuminating the tense atmosphere.
The once-empty chamber was now crowded with shinobi.
Tsunade stood before Hiruzen, accompanied by ANBU's Second Assassination Squad.
At her feet lay the stolen Scroll of Seals—retrieved at last.
Beside it, the lifeless bodies of the enemy spoke volumes about the battle that had taken place.
And the night was far from over.
Until this matter is resolved, they will not leave for the time being.
"Sarutobi, are you looking for me?"
In the dead silence of the night, the office door was pushed open.
Shimura Danzo stepped inside, his expression cold, his tone carrying a faint hint of hostility. If one looked closely, they would notice his pallid complexion, the thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, and even the slight unsteadiness in his steps.
Despite having used Izanagi to escape a fatal Ice Release attack in his battle against Kazuki, the lingering sword-infused chakra embedded in the ice had still inflicted severe internal damage. He had barely returned to his base when Anbu operatives intercepted him, summoning him immediately to the Hokage's office.
The moment he entered, his gaze fell upon the massive Scroll of Seals resting behind one of the Anbu.
His expression darkened instantly.
What happened?
He had carefully orchestrated the tiger-away-from-the-mountain strategy to lure Kazuki away. So why had his subordinates at Root failed to retrieve the Scroll of Seals?
Useless fools.
A flash of resentment flickered in Danzo's eyes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, sitting at his desk, wasted no time. His voice was calm but carried undeniable weight.
"Danzo, do you know anything about what happened tonight?"
"Tonight? What are you talking about?" Danzo scoffed, his voice laced with cold indifference.
Bang!
Tsunade slammed her hand on the desk, standing up abruptly.
Her golden-brown eyes were fierce as she glared at the old war hawk.
"Hey, old man, drop the act!" she snapped.
"Tonight, I personally dealt with the thieves who attempted to steal the Scroll of Seals. The Torture and Interrogation Force has already extracted the truth. The culprits were Root operatives—your subordinates—and members of the Shimura clan. Care to explain that?!"
Danzo's expression didn't change. The moment he saw the Scroll of Seals, he had already deduced that his plan had completely failed.
However, one thing puzzled him.
Why had Tsunade appeared at the scene?
Was it truly a coincidence that she happened to intercept his men? Or was there another force at play?
Now was not the time to dwell on it.
As he faced Tsunade's accusations and Hiruzen's scrutinizing gaze, Danzo remained composed, his eyes cold and unwavering.
"Heh." A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"I don't know what you're talking about. What exactly do I need to explain? Do you have any concrete evidence proving that I was behind this?"
His voice was calm, almost mocking.
"Tsunade, I'll overlook your public slander this time because of your lineage as the First Hokage's granddaughter. But be careful—youthful arrogance can be dangerous."
Danzo's ability to deflect blame was a skill honed over decades in Konoha's political landscape. He knew precisely how to manipulate words to avoid accountability.
Tsunade's fists clenched in rage.
"You…"
If they weren't inside the Hokage's office, she would have already punched him through the wall.
Just looking at his smug, self-righteous face made her stomach churn.
This was exactly why she had chosen to leave Konoha all those years ago. After both her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, and her great-uncle, Tobirama Senju, passed away, the village had gradually fallen into the hands of self-serving bureaucrats like Danzo—men who craved power but lacked the true strength to protect Konoha.
Had she not encountered that brat, Kazuki, who piqued her interest, she wouldn't have even bothered returning to this nest of vipers.
Tsunade scoffed, crossing her arms as a sneer curled on her lips.
"Heh. Danzo, everyone knows that Root was founded by you. Every shinobi there answers to you alone. And among the captured, there were also members of the Shimura clan."
Her voice grew sharper.
"As the head of the Shimura clan, are you seriously telling me that none of this is connected to you?"
Despite her sharp words, Danzo remained unfazed. Compared to her, he was far more experienced in the shadows of Konoha's political game.
And Tsunade…
She was still too straightforward.
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