Strain

A/N: Alright... I can sense the anger from afar from MANY who reads this chap. The only thing I'll say is that Konoha was so deeply rotten for a reason and it wasn't just Hiruzen giving others leeway. Again... would have been way easier to just do the same as everyone else but hey... I've written what I have and I just stand behind it, the same as Uzumaki 'Slave' Tattoo from back then.

***

[Earned 25 SP.]

Kai didn't give a fuck about Tsunade's stormy expression, the two corpses placed on the Hokage's table with stacks of paperwork strewn on the floor, Mikoto's embarrassed expression or the Hokage's dazed expression as he read through the scroll while Kai sensed the man's honest surprise as easy as daylight. He just stood there silently, enjoying his gains and making plans for the next grind.

'Oh, and here comes the bundle of bandaged fucking hypocrisy...' Kai rolled his eyes internally as a Danzo entered the office.

"Danzo..." Yet, before Hiruzen could even begin, Tsunade's hand smacked the table, crashing it into two halves as her furious gaze pinned her Sensei on his seat, "I demanded a War Council. Anything that needs to be discussed will be done there or are you going to fuck with the etiquettes just because Biwako-san won't give you a head and this little bandaged bitch would?"

Danzo's and Hiruzen's eyes widened not because of her anger but because of the sheer recklessness that Tsunade displayed at the moment with her fists popping terrifying veins that revealed she meant business. Danzo's gaze briefly flickered as he looked at the two corpses now on the floor because of the table getting destroyed in half while Kai felt the man's terror, anger, frustration, and fear all at once.

'Woah... Tsunade was right. He really is a bandaged bitch, huh?'

Kai didn't need to know more to conclude that Danzo had something to do with this attack... but Tsunade's backing was proving of use already. He couldn't have called Hiruzen unfaithful to his wife for a, quoting Tsunade, an eager head-giving bitch. Oh, well, when it comes to politics, things are rarely simple and that's why Kai tends to keep away from the poison to his grind but they were in the center this time around.

Besides, today's ANBUsh already proved that he needed strength derived from the grind more than the political one so his path was quite determined already.

---

The War Council was in for a surprise.

Seven Shinobi of Konoha targeting the Senju Interim Matriarch, the Senju/Uzumaki Princesses' Guardian, and the Uchiha Princess all at once stunned the crowd of clan heads and made one particular leader seethe in a silent and cold rage.

Yata had been stressed because of the war and yet, before his daughter even returned to the clan, he had to enter the council to find THIS out. On everyone's table was Tsunade's, Kai's, and Mikoto's account not of the mission but about the attack they faced that made the Aburame, Nara, Yamanaka, and Gekko Clan head somewhat ashen.

Especially Shikudo Nara who easily inferred that someone had access to the personal records of Team Tsunade which narrowed down the scope of perpetrators to the Elders, himself as the Jonin Commander, and the Hokage. And this understanding was being slowly interpreted by everyone in the council.

"Well?" Tsunade felt she had given them enough time after pulling a War Council based on her situation. Attacking a fellow village member, much less a clan head during a war with evidence in the form of two corpses no less was enough for Tsunade to bring such actions down without caring an ounce about her Sensei. It was BECAUSE her Sensei was the Hokage she was so miffed.

The hints were beginning to turn clearer by the second, too.

The Senju and Uzumaki being targeted.

Her records, no less, being known the conspirator.

The news of Mito's death getting spread out, which, she only knew after returning to the village.

Tsunade knew her situation was unique because of how many things connected to her just by the virtue of her origin and there was only one individual who controlled the damn loons with suicidal seals that Kai easily countered by destroying or separating the brain itself. Sure, this knowledge will be used to streamline the suicide seals further but now wasn't the time for inventions.

Her words began the council with exhausted sighs leaking from many clan heads as the Elders had deep frowns themselves.

"This is a complicated situation..." Hiruzen began, "We've all read your reports, Tsunade. Let us hear from Elder Danzo Shimura."

Multiple, invasive gazes fell on the man who calmly stood up and walked to the central location in the space between the U-shaped desk.

"These men are from Root indeed. As many of you are already aware, Root was established after the Second Hokage's—"

"Did anyone ask you to open the history textbook? Your organization just attacked Team Tsunade. You better have a good reason for it." Tsunade interjected coldly.

"Tsunade, at least don't—" Hiruzen began but even he was cut off.

"Senju Tsunade is correct. Answers are more worthwhile than long passages that reveal nothing of note. You aren't here to waste everyone's time, right, Elder Shimura? You must need more time to grieve the death of your son so it's better to be on point." Yata narrowed his eyes as the council fell into a deafening silence while even the Hokage himself couldn't refute the same points made by the leaders of the founding clans and he looked at Danzo stoically.

"I see," Danzo replied quietly and spoke up, "The Seven Shinobi, of which one was from the branch family of Aburame Clan, Nara Clan, Yamanaka Clan, and Gekko Clan, alongside three orphans raised in Root itself, betrayed the organization and left Root with appropriate preparations to keep their defection hidden.

Further investigation is, of course, required to ascertain which outside forces have infiltrated the village to such an extent."

"Spies, is that your answer?" Hiruzen frowned.

"Naturally," Danzo replied with cold conviction, "The Root is raised to be the most loyal. Aside from the intervention of a third party, they can never shift their loyalties."

Everyone frowned as the situation became more complicated. Danzo happened to be one of the War Heroes of Konoha from the 1st Shinobi World War. This was one of the many reasons why he was even allowed to operate Root. Yet now... other clan heads, especially younger ones, couldn't easily question the man because he had proven his loyalty to the village.

But consequences be damned. Tsunade wasn't the kind to let bygones be bygones or she wouldn't have broken Jiraiya and Dan for their actions.

"And what about our classified information being released?"

Tsunade remarked coldly. Even though she couldn't be sure now if it was a third party or not but there was still this piece that connected the situation to the elders, Hokage, and the Nara Commander.

Danzo turned to look at her and frowned, "I'm still not aware of how the information is leaked. You must give me time to investigate."

Yet Tsunade smiled and pressed, "Elder Shimura, do tell the council what's the punishment for failing an S-ranked mission during a war."

Danzo narrowed his eyes and remarked coldly, "Mostly Death."

"Indeed. That's because of a concept known as accountability. The Shinobi leading the mission are held accountable for the failure of the mission. Surely you're not thinking of just stating your ignorance and stepping back, right? You either lead right or you step down. The village doesn't need Anbu Corps that doesn't answer to the Hokage but an Elder from the Advisory Council. So, Elder Shimura, right now I present you with two options. Either step down as the leader of Root and appoint someone loyal to the village after he is examined by the Hokage for any loyalty seal or leave the Root under the Hokage's care.

Such ill-mannered leadership will not be tolerated and is not expected from someone of your caliber. I advise the council that Elder Danzo should stick to Advising the Hokage and not participate in the execution of said suggestions."

Fine... maybe she did reluctantly pick up the policy guidance of Konoha and went through with it in her idle time... but it turned out beneficial, right? She can always read medical books later.

Nobody expected such a turn of events as Danzo still stared at Tsunade.

When did SHE become so... well, ruthless?

But her words were reasonable. The loss of seven jonin Anbu with four of them belonging to the major clans was nothing short of an S-ranked failure. And Danzo... DID admit his ignorance to the matter which meant that as the leader of an organization meant for intelligence gathering... was inept for the role itself.

Danzo was stuck at this moment. But he looked thoughtful for a moment and sighed, "Indeed... it is as Matriarch of the Senju Clan claims. If I am not held accountable for the actions of the Organization I am supposed to lead then how would the council impose the same on other team leaders. I shall step down and leave the Root in the wise hands of Hokage and his discretion."

Danzo claimed before anyone could even object to it as Tsunade frowned. She felt that she had gotten her revenge but it still left a bad taste in her mouth and a pit in her gut as if she missed something. Something that Mito would have seen through at a glance but she herself couldn't.

Even Yata looked at Hiruzen for a moment who sported a deep scowl while Shikuda was already massaging his head.

With nothing else being the subject for the council, it was dispersed soon after yet Tsunade felt the shift in mood and began to wonder... what the hell actually happened.

---

"Danzo, you didn't have to—" Hiruzen began with a sigh but Danzo already noticed the effect of his action. Ordinarily, Danzo would have to request a meeting yet here he was, asked by Hiruzen to come instead.

"It's alright. She's your disciple, right? And she raised an interesting topic of accountability. Root will be transferred over to Anbu once again."

Danzo kept it plain and simple before leaving but he couldn't help but feel joyful instead.

'Ah, Hiruzen, you'll see my way in time. Root can be raised again, in time. But by just accepting Tsunade's words, I can now fill Anbu with enough of my seeds. Not only that, she unknowingly challenged your authority. Hehe, even you might not know this now but similar to how a broken pearl necklace cannot be restored to its original shape, a relationship once strained can never recover, too.

Yata Uchiha is a man who is supporting the Senju... it'll take time. But two arrogant fools challenging the third one will never bode well for the village.

Accountability, huh... I'll surely remember that... but to think both Kai and Mikoto would have strength surpassing their records... well, I need to be more low-key for the time being," Danzo narrowed his eye coldly.

***

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