Chapter 166: A Force Comparable to Anbu

No Doubt.

Shimura Danzo's home was the focus of the investigation.

Fortunately, this time it was led by Akihara Kagura; otherwise, Hatake Kakashi would have had to seek permission from Sarutobi Hiruzen to conduct the investigation with the Anbu, which might have been too late.

Akihara Kagura and Hatake Kakashi led the Anbu to blockade the area, capturing two Wood Release ninja with Sharingan and finding some remnants of Hashirama Cells.

"Do you have any other bases in Konoha?"

Akihara Kagura grasped a masked Wood Release ninja and softly asked, "Including the four people we've captured, there are eight of you here, totaling twelve people, twenty-four Sharingan. These numbers don't add up; there must be others, right?"

"I don't know!"

The masked ninja stubbornly shook his head.

Akihara Kagura looked at this stubborn individual, unbothered, "It's okay if you don't want to speak. The Root's logistics team is interrogating your comrades. If you are a subordinate of Lord Danzo, you should be aware of the Root's methods. They should confess soon..."

"We really don't know!"

The Wood Release ninja shook his head again, gritting his teeth, "We are a total of seventy-one people. Three of our teams are stationed in the village: one monitoring the Hokage Building, one watching the Root, and one responsible for relaying messages. The rest were taken away by Lord Danzo!"

"How many people!"

Hatake Kakashi was startled by this number!

The success rate of the Wood Release and Sharingan experiment was too high!

Hatake Kakashi, along with Tenzo and Akihara Kagura, who are friends, knew the success rate of the Hashirama Cell transplantation experiment was very low, with Tenzo's one time being only one in sixty!

However...

Hatake Kakashi had already seen Shimura Danzo's orders.

Shimura Danzo had transferred a total of 143 Sharingan from the Root, and seventy-one people who had received Sharingan and Hashirama Cell transplants survived, making the success rate almost one hundred percent!

Besides the three teams here, twelve people...

Shimura Danzo still had fifty-nine people with him!

Hatake Kakashi's heart tightened; he could guess that the combination of Wood Release and Sharingan must have created powerful dual Kekkei Genkai ninja. This number was almost equal to the number of Anbu, even stronger in combat power!

Shimura Danzo, who had retired, was holding a force capable of contending with, even suppressing the Anbu!

What this meant...

It meant that if Shimura Danzo wanted to revolt in Konoha, the Anbu could not suppress him. He could immediately replace the Anbu's duties with these people!

"Is there anything else you haven't said?"

Akihara Kagura pressed the Wood Release ninja's head, continuing to question, "How do you usually contact Lord Danzo?"

The Wood Release ninja spoke again, "The seventy-one of us don't contact anyone else, only Lord Danzo. According to the distance between Lord Danzo and Konoha, we ensure Lord Danzo is informed of the village's news in the shortest time..."

"No!"

Hatake Kakashi immediately realized the severity of the issue and turned to Akihara Kagura, "We must report to Lord Hokage immediately!"

"Let's go."

Akihara Kagura nodded, gesturing, "Take these people to the Root. Anyway, it's me who will do the deed when it's time to kill them..."

"Maybe... there's no need to kill them..."

Hatake Kakashi twitched, feeling it would be a pity to kill these people.

In the home of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The old man was sleeping very peacefully.

Since the Konoha Village entered a period of peace, Sarutobi Hiruzen's sleep quality has been very good. The only problem that troubled him was his successor, Akihara Kagura.

However...

There was no need to rush this matter.

He still had a few years left!

Just when Sarutobi Hiruzen was sleeping soundly, a series of urgent knocks came from outside his door. A group of Anbu gathered at his doorstep, disturbing his sleep.

"Lord Hokage, there's trouble!"

Not just trouble, but a major incident!

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat on the sofa in his pajamas, holding the evidence against Shimura Danzo—an order for the acquisition of one hundred and forty-three Sharingan.

"Danzo, that guy..."

Hiruzen's palm clenched the order tightly.

As a Hokage, Hiruzen had always maintained a calm and rational demeanor, akin to an iceberg that remains unflustered by collapse. At this moment, however, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anger, shocked by the number.

Hiruzen quickly contemplated in his mind, looking towards Akihara Kagura and Hatake Kakashi, not pursuing faults but first inquiring about the outcomes.

"Tonight, in the village, you found twelve ninjas with both Sharingan and Wood Release kekkei genkai. Where are all these people now?"

"They're in the Root."

Looking at the Hokage, Akihara Kagura casually suggested, "These guys' Wood Release abilities aren't that great, and their Sharingan only has three tomoe. Since they've already confessed, there's no point in keeping them alive. I'll go back and kill them later..."

"Don't be so extreme."

Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly shook his head.

Just having a three-tomoe Sharingan is powerful enough, not to mention with the assistance of Wood Release kekkei genkai. That's at least the combat power of twelve Jonin, how could they be easily killed!

"What should we do, then?"

Akihara Kagura frowned, continuing, "Let's keep them in the Root for now. At least it's more secretive there. Keeping them in the Anbu or as ninjas in the village would be more troublesome, right? Shouldn't we keep this a secret? I've seen that many who found out can't accept it..."

"This must not be leaked!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was very clear on how severe the repercussions of leaking this information could be!

The ninja clans of Konoha still remember the village's high command's extermination of the Uchiha clan. Now, to turn around and find that Konoha's former higher-up, Shimura Danzo, was conducting human experiments with the Uchiha clan's Sharingan would likely cause unrest among all the ninja clans of Konoha!

Shimura Danzo, that bastard...

Hiding such matters from him!

If Danzo had communicated with him, at least they could have discussed how to keep the secret. Now, however, many ninjas in the village had seen it!

Of course.

Hiruzen also harbored some resentment towards Danzo.

The fusion experiments of Wood Release and Sharingan were predicted to produce more Wood Release ninjas, and Danzo surely had foreseen this, yet he chose to hide this information!

As a Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had to destroy all the Sharingan collected from the Uchiha clan's corpses by the Anbu. Now, even if he wanted to restart the human experiments, it was impossible...

Moreover...

He had to clean up after Danzo!

"Control those in the know, you've done well."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. As the Hokage, it wasn't right to kill fellow villagers just to keep a secret. He could only gesture to Hatake Kakashi, "Order those in the know to absolutely not disclose any information, there's no need to harm them for this."

"As for those with dual kekkei genkai, they can only stay in the Root for now."

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his gaze toward Akihara Kagura, saying, "You must be careful to keep this secret. Absolutely no one should know about this…"

According to Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts, the future Hokage successor must be Akihara Kagura, and it would also be acceptable to keep those people in the Root.

"And for those in the know, just kill them…"

Akihara Kagura bluntly stated a harsh truth.

However, in front of his subordinates, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't agree with Akihara Kagura's methods and even had to educate, "You can't always be so extreme. The ninjas in the village are all comrades who have been trained and trained, and they will surely keep secrets…"

After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, he brought up his most concerning matter: "You just mentioned that Danzo has fifty-nine…"

"Yes."

Hatake Kakashi looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and nodded, saying, "If we deduce from the number of Sharingan, this number is accurate. Danzo took away the remaining fifty-nine ninja with double Kekkei Genkai when he left the village."

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but feel more furious upon hearing this, deducing from these numbers that the compatibility between the Sharingan and Wood Release Kekkei Genkai is one hundred percent.

That bastard Danzo…

Must have had sufficient experimental data to support this!

"Sigh…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, now he was worried that Danzo, holding a powerful force, might harbor ambitions of power and disobedience, especially since Danzo held many cards in his hand.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to issue an order first: "Now, send someone to convey the order to Danzo, to recall Danzo back to the village."

As for disarming the forces around Danzo…

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the elder, fell into his old weakness of leniency, worried that disarming Danzo might provoke his resistance, causing harm to Konoha's interests.

If possible…

Sarutobi Hiruzen still wanted to resolve this peacefully.

If Danzo was willing to obey the orders and even allow his fifty-nine-person double Kekkei Genkai ninja force to serve Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen even thought of removing Akihara Kagura's position as the leader of the Root, trying to retain Kagura's candidacy for Hokage…

Of course.

It all depends on the quality of Danzo's specimens.

Even if the quality of Danzo's specimens does not reach Akihara Kagura's level, even if only the combat power of a group of elite Jonin, Sarutobi Hiruzen was willing to agree to some conditions for Danzo, even letting Danzo reassume the role of Hokage's assistant and Root leader if necessary.

"By the way, Lord Hokage."

Hatake Kakashi remembered the matter of the Wood Release ninja's confession, those double Kekkei Genkai ninja were almost continuously in contact with Danzo: "If Danzo receives the message later, he might have guessed that the village found out about his illegal human experiments…"

"…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly felt a headache.

After some thought, he still said, "Anyway, send someone to summon Danzo back to the village first…"

As long as Danzo is willing to return after knowing the truth…

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt he could still control Danzo.

Probably no one in Konoha understands Danzo better than Sarutobi Hiruzen; he knew his old friend's weaknesses very well.

Although Danzo controls a force not inferior to the Anbu, as long as he negotiates well with Danzo, giving in a bit more, they should be able to resolve peacefully.

Really…

Konoha seems never to be at peace.

Just when the conflict between the upper echelons of Konoha and the Uchiha clan was barely resolved, Danzo caused trouble again, making everything not as severe as Danzo's issue.

A force equivalent to the Anbu.

There might even emerge more genius ninjas.

Of course.

Sarutobi Hiruzen is not without advantages.

Within the ranks of the double Kekkei Genkai ninja under Shimura Danzo, it is unclear if any possess talents surpassing those of Akihara Kagura. After all, Akihara Kagura is merely an experimental subject of Hashirama cells. Those individuals possess both Wood Release and the Sharingan, two of the top Kekkei Genkai. However, it is believed that none surpass the capabilities of Akihara Kagura.

Sarutobi Hiruzen expended considerable effort in nurturing Akihara Kagura. Merely having Jiraiya teach the Sage Mode is not something Shimura Danzo could replicate. The Wood Release techniques left by Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, could be significantly empowered with the Sage Mode.

"Everyone, please leave!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took up his pipe, took a deep draw, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke: "I need to think this over..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen needs to ponder how to peacefully resolve this issue, how to strategize against Shimura Danzo, and how to eventually coerce Danzo into relinquishing that power.

Shimura Danzo still commands fifty-nine double Kekkei Genkai ninja, signifying fifty-nine elite Jonin. This means the strength of Konoha could be further enhanced...

And then...

How to accommodate Akihara Kagura...

After all, if Shimura Danzo is willing to resolve this peacefully, the first demand would surely be to regain control of the Root, and the second might be to refuse Akihara Kagura as a candidate for Hokage, which could prove to be problematic.

After all...

Konoha has more Wood Release ninja...

They even have the Sharingan, another top-tier Kekkei Genkai.

Akihara Kagura's uniqueness in Wood Release and his genius status is no longer exclusive.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind was in turmoil, his thoughts sprawling. Once Shimura Danzo hands over the double Kekkei Genkai ninja, Konoha's strength will indeed increase, but if Konoha becomes too powerful, who could be the future Hokage capable of keeping them in check?

Of course.

This is not without a solution.

The difficulty of learning Sage Mode is immense, and those double Kekkei Genkai ninja might not be able to master Sage Mode. The current Hokage candidate, Akihara Kagura, remains ahead and powerful, perhaps capable of keeping them in check...

Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts gradually became clear. As the Hokage, he must consider the long-term interests of Konoha, not just focus on the people in Shimura Danzo's hands...

First, sacrifice Kagura's interests, let Danzo gradually hand over the double Kekkei Genkai ninja, weakening Shimura Danzo's forces; then, sacrifice his promise to Danzo, placing the most powerful Kagura back in the position of Hokage candidate.

However...

Who should meet with Shimura Danzo?

If Akihara Kagura were to go, inevitable conflicts between him and Danzo would arise.

Just...

Besides Akihara Kagura, does Konoha have anyone more influential?

After some thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to summon Homura Mitokado: "Let's have an old friend make a visit, it's impossible to completely hide Danzo's affairs from him…"