[Sponsored] Chapter 201: Danzo's Talk-no-Jutsu is a bit weak

[This Chapter Is Sponsored by HE! Everyone, please thank him in the comment!]

"Our… teacher?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly.

Although his own teacher, the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, indeed possessed excellent Water Release techniques, it seemed inappropriate for them to be praised by a former teacher from the Mist Village.

"Genji-dono..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared intently at Genji in front of him, wondering if this elder from the Mist Village had grown too old and confused to remember who his teacher was...

"..."

The elder of the Mist Village raised his hand, his fingers gently forming a hand seal. As he did so, many ninjas from the Mist suddenly erupted into action, rushing toward the high platform where they were gathered!

This was a premeditated sneak attack!

Many ninjas from Konoha were caught off guard!

Only the Anbu operatives close to Sarutobi Hiruzen reacted swiftly, clashing with the group of Mist ninjas to prevent them from reaching the platform!

"Genji-dono, what is the meaning of this?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand clenched slightly, though his attention was not fully on the elderly Genji. He was also discreetly observing Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, who sat calmly nearby, seemingly uninterested in the conflict between the Mist and the Konoha, even enjoying the drama unfolding.

The ninjas from the Sand remained obediently in their place.

However, some restless Sand ninjas gathered around Kazekage's assistant, Maki, and asked anxiously, "Lord Maki, aren't we going to take action?"

"When will we start the attack?"

"Why hasn't the Kazekage allowed us to act yet..."

"Don't be hasty."

Maki looked up at the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, who sat composed on the platform, and advised in a deep voice, "Wait for the Kazekage's command. No one is to act without permission!"

Atop the platform.

The Fourth Kazekage Rasa's fingers gently tapped on the armrest of his chair.

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's tension slowly eased. As long as the Sand didn't also launch an attack, and it was only the Mist showing intent to break the alliance, it wasn't a major issue for Konoha, which could easily suppress any threat.

However...

Sarutobi Hiruzen still did not want to break ties completely.

"Genji-dono."

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to the elderly man sitting not far from him and spoke seriously, "Since Konoha and your village formed an alliance, I believe I have done nothing to wrong your village. Our alliance has been fair..."

"You have done well."

The elder of the Mist Village, Genji, slowly shook his head and continued calmly, "You have even sacrificed the interests of Konoha to maintain the alliance..."

"It's good that you understand my struggles..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's fingers were under the robe of the Hokage, ready to make a hand seal if needed, but he still hoped to negotiate and resolve the issue: "If you have any concerns, we can discuss them slowly, there's no need to..."

"The Mist Village has no complaints against you..."

Genji slowly extended his hand, touching his ear while removing the mask on his face, and continued slowly, "However, I personally do have a grievance against you..."

As he spoke...

Genji had already removed his mask, and even his voice changed to one that Sarutobi Hiruzen recognized.

Shimura Danzo.

A S-rank rogue ninja from Konoha.

A former assistant of the Third Hokage and leader of the Root.

"Monkey..."

Shimura Danzo's demeanor was calm, his eyes half-closed: "I didn't expect you to become so senile that you can't even recognize an old friend of many years!"

"Danzo..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice trembled, his fingers stiffening.

Ever since Shimura Danzo had defected from Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen had harbored a sense of unease, occasionally worrying about him colluding with other villages and betraying Konoha's secrets.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had struggled with how to deal with his old friend who had fled. He had considered killing Danzo to resolve the threat, but more often, he thought of bringing Danzo back to Konoha, as their bond spanned nearly seventy years!

Now...

This old friend, who had defected from the village, brazenly appeared before him, even conspiring with the Mist Village...

"It's indeed been a long time, Danzo…"

A fleeting look of regret flashed across Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, but he quickly regained the dignity of the Hokage. "I never expected you to return to Konoha in this manner..."

A cold smile appeared on Shimura Danzo's lips as he asked sharply, "If not this way, perhaps I would have been executed by you before even reaching Konoha! To cover up your secret human experiments, you shifted all the blame onto me..."

"It was you who conducted the human experiments!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned grim; he remembered the torment he endured upon learning of the outbreak involving ninja with dual kekkei genkai.

If Danzo had confided in him privately and the information had been beneficial for Konoha, they could have resolved the matter quietly without the village uncovering it, almost triggering a crisis of trust within Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glared coldly at Danzo: "If it were just the unauthorized human experiments, I would have simply punished you. But at that time, you also attempted to kill the advisor, Homura Mitokado, and frame the Mist Village to provoke a war between them and Konoha..."

"That was your doing!"

Anger flashed in Danzo's eyes.

"Interesting..."

Sitting nearby, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, remained calmly seated, his smile growing thicker as if he were witnessing their quarrel for the first time.

"Many have witnessed it..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes at Rasa, knowing he must not lose face in front of the Kazekage, and wished to press down all issues: "Now that you're back in Konoha, let's calm the unrest here first, and we can discuss everything after it's settled."

No matter what, they must avoid unnecessary sacrifices.

This was Sarutobi Hiruzen's guiding principle. With the presence of people from the Sand, it wasn't the time to break with Danzo; he hoped to discuss matters privately and leave room for maneuvering.

Moreover...

If the conflict between Konoha and the Mist continued to escalate, allowing the Sand to think they could intervene would inevitably lead to more bloodshed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered coldly, "Command Akihara Kagura to act immediately, capture all the rioting Mist ninja, and try to avoid harming them..."

In the spectator stands.

A group of Konoha ninja had already become restless.

Surrounded by Jōnin, Akihara Kagura swiftly headed towards the platform, aiming to protect the Third Hokage and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.

"Wood Release: Nativity of a Sea of Trees!"

Immediately, countless roots and vines sprouted throughout the arena, each precisely capturing a Mist ninja and binding them to trees!

Soon.

Almost all the Mist ninja present were captured by the Wood Release: Nativity of a Sea of Trees.

The leading Jōnin of the Mist, Hōzuki Mangetsu, swung his ninja sword, severing a vine and exerting so much force that he coughed up blood: "What's happening with Orochimaru? Wasn't someone supposed to stop Akihara Kagura?"

"Lord Mangetsu, look at the platform..."

A Mist ninja looked towards the platform in panic: "Where is Elder Genji? Why is it Shimura Danzo?"

"What in the world is happening?"

Hōzuki Mangetsu frowned at the noisy figures on the platform: "Why hasn't Orochimaru acted according to the plan?"

The critical issue now was not Elder Genji's whereabouts but that Orochimaru must act immediately to stop Akihara Kagura, or they would stand no chance against him, not even the Konoha ninja could handle it!

"Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu hastily formed seals, supporting his ailing body to release a massive wave of water, which almost instantly submerged half of the arena and even neared the Four Red Yang Formation. The barrier rapidly burned the incoming wave, filling the air with steam.

In the next moment!

Hōzuki Mangetsu controlled the water beneath him to form a gigantic water figure, reaching towards the approaching Akihara Kagura!

However...

A tree root suddenly grew, quickly transforming into a wooden figure, which directly extended its hand to grab the head of the water figure, crushing it and capturing Hōzuki Mangetsu who was controlling it!

The riot caused by the Mist ninja didn't last more than a minute or two and was swiftly suppressed by Akihara Kagura!

This decisive action also immediately deterred many who wanted to exploit the chaos!

Akihara Kagura stood atop the wooden figure, surveying those he had deterred, then turned his gaze towards Gaara and Karin who had ceased action within the Four Red Yang Formation.

"The exam continues."

"..."

Everyone present fell silent.

At such a time, who still has the mood to focus on the exam?

With the Mist ninjas stirring up a riot in Konoha, directly provoking a war between two ninja villages, who among those present would still pay attention to a fight between two Genin ninjas!

Even if the strength of these two Genin is extraordinary, it cannot be compared to a war between two villages! The most pressing issue now should be whether a new Great Ninja War is about to erupt in the ninja world, shouldn't it?

However...

Karin is very obedient.

The black butterfly wings on Karin's back fluttered gently, charging directly towards Gaara. This Chunin Exam is still continuing!

Gaara, who is not one to easily admit defeat, had his gourd already turned completely into sand. Under his control, it frantically blocked the charging Karin!

A battle in the Chunin Exams that should have ended is still ongoing.

The battle that was supposed to start on the high platform has not yet begun. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is still hoping that Shimura Danzo can settle everything privately, to avoid a public dispute and avoid giving the Fourth Kazekage a reason to ridicule.

But...

Shimura Danzo is no longer willing to do so.

In the past, when Shimura Danzo served as the advisor to the Hokage, he did many dirty, secretive deeds, and Sarutobi Hiruzen would always help suppress these issues, discussing solutions privately with him.

This time...

Shimura Danzo insists on exposing all of Konoha's darkness in public, letting the sunlight shine down to reveal the ugliness of his old friend, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Don't forget, monkey."

As Akihara Kagura leads a group of ninjas surrounding them, Shimura Danzo, unconcerned for his own safety, coldly questions: "It was you who decided to use the First Hokage's cells for human transplantation experiments, to endow the ability to control the Nine-Tails with Wood Release, preventing the Jinchuriki in the village from losing control..."

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened.

Is this the right time to discuss such secrets of the higher-ups of Konoha?

Despite it being his own decision to use Hashirama's cells for human transplantation experiments, wasn't it Danzo who initially proposed this idea?

Moreover, seeing the huge losses from the experiment, he immediately ordered it to stop. However, it was Shimura Danzo who continued the experiments in violation of rules, even colluding with Orochimaru!

"I had already ordered the experiments to stop."

Sarutobi Hiruzen coldly rebuked Shimura Danzo, bluntly exposing his intentions: "However, you secretly defied my orders and even colluded with Orochimaru to continue unauthorized human experiments, abducting orphans from surrounding villages and kidnapping our own comrades..."

"For the sake of Konoha..."

"Is it really for the sake of Konoha or for your own personal desires!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen coldly scrutinizes Shimura Danzo, presenting even stronger evidence: "All ninja registration information in the village should be submitted to the Hokage's office. Over the years, how many subordinates have you secretly hoarded? Do I need to explain each one?"

"..."

Shimura Danzo's demeanor falters.

This elder forgot that his mistakes are greater than those of Sarutobi Hiruzen. He stubbornly believed he acted for Konoha's sake, not his own, but when he raised a point, Sarutobi Hiruzen swiftly punctured it, leaving him barely able to retort.

"That's because..."

Shimura Danzo hesitated for a moment before finding an unreliable reason: "You always want to monopolize power and control everything, I was also trying to prevent you from making mistakes..."

Shimura Danzo recalled deceiving the First and Second Hokages as evidence: "To maintain control over the village, you chose Namikaze Minato, who was more malleable, to become the Fourth Hokage, rather than Orochimaru, who was more qualified at the time. You deprived Orochimaru of the opportunity to become Hokage because it would defy your orders..."

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was almost amused by Shimura Danzo.

Does this old friend not realize how easily he could counter such a rationale?

"..."

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, sitting nearby, seems very interested in the transition of Hokage in Konoha, earnestly looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen for an answer.

"Orochimaru harbored too much darkness within him."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stated this reason quite fittingly, even finding evidence to support it: "The facts prove that my choice was correct. Orochimaru, fearing death, conducted unauthorized human experiments and defected from Konoha. Minato, on the other hand, chose to sacrifice his own life to protect the village..."

If we speak with facts, Sarutobi Hiruzen is not at fault at all; his choice of Namikaze Minato was indeed the right one. The points raised by Shimura Danzo simply do not hold up and only prove Sarutobi Hiruzen's correctness.

No choice.

Who made Orochimaru defect?

However, Shimura Danzo's verbal fighting strength is too weak!

Fortunately.

The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, is right there, chiming in: "I'm a bit curious about one thing. Was the Third Hokage worried that if Orochimaru became Hokage, he would lose power?"