Chapter 39

Shimura Danzo sat in the small courtyard, surrounded by ANBU operatives. The realization dawned on him: something had gone very wrong.

**Had Hanzo failed? Or had Uzumaki Mito uncovered his plans?** 

Danzo's mind raced as he tried to piece it together. His eyes narrowed when he saw Utatane Koharu, Mitomon En, and Akimichi Tofu approaching with grim expressions.

"Danzo, your actions have come to light. By the order of the Hokage, you are to be detained. Cooperate, and this will be easier for everyone," Akimichi Tofu said, his tone far from friendly.

Danzo's eyes were steely as he asked, "Why?"

Tofu rubbed his face, barely suppressing his irritation. "Why? The Hokage is furious, Danzo. You attempted to assassinate Hyuga Shinki over a mere personal vendetta. That was reckless enough, but to make things worse, you leaked sensitive village information to Hanzo of the Salamander. You crossed too many lines."

Danzo clenched his jaw. **So it was Hanzo. That foolish demigod had betrayed him.** The plan had been simple: use Hanzo's ambition to eliminate Shinki and create plausible deniability for himself. But he hadn't counted on Hanzo's loyalty to his own interests—or that the Rain leader would turn on him so quickly.

"It's true, then," Danzo said, exhaling sharply. "Hanzo came to the border camp and revealed everything, didn't he?"

Koharu stepped forward, her face as cold as stone. "Hanzo did more than that. He exposed your entire scheme in front of dozens of Konoha ninjas. The news is already spreading, and Hiruzen has no choice but to act."

Mitomon En added, "This isn't just about Shinki. You jeopardized Konoha's position by leaking vital information. The trust between our village and its shinobi is now in question. You have put us all at risk."

Danzo's face remained unreadable, but inside, a storm was raging. **Betrayed by Hanzo, exposed by my peers, and now, about to be stripped of everything I've worked for.**

"I see," Danzo said finally, rising slowly. He turned to Akimichi Tofu and the others, his eyes full of defiance. "Hiruzen knows that I did what was necessary. We all know what I've sacrificed for this village."

Tofu's eyes softened for a moment. "Perhaps, but this time, your sacrifices went too far. This village cannot afford your brand of loyalty any longer."

The ANBU operatives stepped forward, binding Danzo's hands with chakra-suppressing restraints. 

As they escorted him out of the courtyard, Danzo looked up at the clear, cold sky. **My vision for Konoha, my sacrifices, wasted on the weakness of others.**

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood by the window, watching as Danzo was led away. His expression was unreadable, but deep within, a mixture of relief and disappointment stirred. **Danzo had been a valuable ally, but now, he was a liability too great to ignore.**

Utatane Koharu turned to Hiruzen. "What will you do next?"

The Third Hokage sighed. "We make this right. An official statement will be released. Danzo's actions will be condemned, and we will take steps to ensure the village remains unified."

Mitomon En nodded solemnly. "And Shinki? What of him?"

Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "He will be protected, as he should have been all along. This village owes him that much."

---

The fallout was immediate. Whispers spread like wildfire through the village. Danzo, once a shadow of power in Konoha, was now confined, awaiting the consequences of his ambition.

In the Senju residence, Uzumaki Mito received the news with a grim nod. **It was inevitable**, she thought. Tsunade, standing beside her, clenched her fists. 

"Shinki is safe now, but the village has suffered a blow," Mito said softly.

Tsunade's eyes burned with determination. "We'll rebuild trust. Konoha needs to heal, and we'll make sure it does."

Across the village, as the news reached Shinki in the border camp, he allowed himself a small smile. **The tides had turned.**

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