Chapter 220: Chapter 220 – Gozu Tenno

The moment Danzo appeared, waves of Root operatives surged forward, surrounding Tsunade and Kitazawa.

Tsunade gave them a single glance, then dismissed them entirely.

First—she had absolute faith in her own strength.

Second—she knew Danzo wouldn’t dare to touch her.

And indeed, he didn’t.

Though his heart screamed to give the order to kill, Danzo forced the impulse down. Striking Tsunade would mean disaster. If he killed her, he’d likely pay with his life. Even if he didn’t, the dream of becoming Hokage would vanish forever.

“Tsunade!” Danzo snapped, his voice sharp with forced righteousness. “You barge into Root and assault my operatives AGAIN!!!—do you still have any respect for the rules of Konoha?”

His expression was hard, but unease gnawed beneath the surface.

This wasn’t the first time Tsunade had crossed him since her return. She never came without reason. Just like before—when she stormed a Root facility to rescue Aburame Torune and exposed his illegal recruitment. That incident had gutted his forces.

And now?

This base was Shigaraki’s laboratory—the site of the Gozu Tennō experiments tied to Hashirama’s cells. If Tsunade discovered the truth and took it to Hiruzen, there’d be no escape. Not even Hiruzen himself knew of Tanuki’s work.

“That’s what I should be asking you,” Tsunade shot back coldly. She raised a finger, pointing at the lab entrance. “What experiments are being conducted inside?”

“Whatever they are, they’re none of your concern.” Danzo’s heartbeat spiked, but his face remained composed. “This is Root. You have no authority here.”

“No authority? These are my grandfather’s cells you’re meddling with,” Tsunade hissed.

Danzo’s grip on his cane tightened. “Cells? I know nothing of the sort.”

Had she already uncovered the truth?

For a split second, killing intent flickered in his eyes—then vanished. To kill Tsunade inside the village would be suicide. Still, another thought coiled in his mind. Should I use Kotoamatsukami? With Shisui’s Mangekyō, he could end this here and now. Tsunade stood alone, after all.

As for Kitazawa? Danzo didn’t even spare him a thought. A mere Special Jōnin posed no threat.

“Still denying it?” Tsunade gave a laugh full of scorn. “Fine then. If you won’t speak, we’ll ask someone who will.”

Danzo’s eyes narrowed. His stomach sank. Besides himself, only Shigaraki knew the details of the experiment. Could it be—?

Useless fools! He cursed Root silently. They couldn’t even track intruders properly.

A commotion erupted from the lab. A gust of wind swept across the valley as Uchiha Itachi emerged, dragging a limp Shigaraki Tanuki in his grasp.

Danzo’s face went rigid. The ANBU uniform left no doubt. Which meant this operation had Hiruzen’s backing.

Tsunade’s sneer deepened. “Well, Danzo? What do you have to say now?”

Danzo’s eyes flicked between Tsunade, Itachi, and Tanuki. “He’s… my researcher,” he said at last. “Though I don’t know how he provoked you, it seems I was negligent in supervision. Kill him.”

The last words were a barked command, thick with killing intent.

“You dare?!” Tsunade’s eyes blazed.

But Root moved without hesitation. Orders were absolute. In an instant, ninjutsu rained down—not just on Tanuki, but also on Itachi, who stood at his side.

Itachi’s Sharingan flared to life, tomoe spinning. He prepared to dodge when suddenly a whirling wall of water rose around him and Tanuki, shielding them.

Danzo’s stomach dropped. That Sharingan—it left no doubt who the ANBU was.

Itachi… Uchiha Itachi.

Conflict twisted in Danzo’s chest. With Itachi present, unleashing Kotoamatsukami wasn’t so simple.

Then his frustration peaked. The water wall hardened as an earth wall surged before it, carved with familiar figures—the Four Hokage.

And beside them… two dog heads. One dog in particular looked like Danzo himself.

“Bastard!” Danzo slammed his cane against the ground, face black with rage. “You mock me?!”

“What’s the problem?” Tsunade chuckled, her mood lightening. “It’s a tribute—you should be honored.”

Kitazawa silently glanced at her, baffled. Since when did she learn to throw out lines like that?

“Tsunade, you’re going too far!” Danzo’s voice shook with fury. If there had been three of his portraits, he might have twisted it into respect. But this? The insult was blatant.

Before the clash could ignite further, a new voice cut through the tension.

“Stop!”

Danzo’s expression soured instantly. A chill ran through him.

The voice belonged to Hiruzen.

Danzo’s last chance to silence Tanuki was gone.

Hiruzen strode into the valley, eight ANBU and Shizune at his back.

“Hokage-sama.” Itachi immediately bowed.

“You don’t even know what’s happening under your own nose?” Tsunade snapped, her voice sharp with accusation. “As Hokage, you don’t know what experiments Root is conducting?”

Hiruzen’s chest tightened. Could Danzo truly be attempting Wood Release experiments again? He had forbidden them years ago, after Yamato—the sole survivor—was claimed. Both Konoha’s official project and Danzo’s secret ventures with Orochimaru had claimed countless lives.

“Danzo,” Hiruzen said coldly, his killing intent leaking through. “What have you done?”

For a moment, Danzo faltered, and in Hiruzen’s aura, he saw the shadow of the man once hailed as Konoha’s hero. This was the weight that had suppressed him for decades. Only in Hiruzen’s old age had that pressure eased.

But now, it was back in full force.

“See for yourself.”

Tsunade tossed a scroll into Hiruzen’s hands.

He opened it slowly. The evidence was undeniable—Itachi had secured the Gozu Tennō research notes. Relief flickered in him that it wasn’t Wood Release. If it had been, today’s outcome would have been bloodier.

But this experiment couldn’t simply be ignored either.

“Danzo,” Hiruzen said, hurling the scroll toward him. “Explain this.”

Danzo skimmed the contents and clenched his teeth. No wonder Tsunade had stormed in—she had evidence all along.

“Hiruzen,” he said quickly, “everything I’ve done has been for Konoha. If the Gozu Tennō succeeds, the village will gain—”

“Silence.”

Hiruzen’s voice was like steel. “That is not what I asked.”

Danzo froze. He knew that tone well. No excuses, no justifications. And with Tsunade standing here, armed with proof, Hiruzen could only act as the just Hokage.

“I admit it,” Danzo said stiffly, voice strained. “I violated Konoha’s rules. I will accept punishment.”

The words tasted like ash. Explanations were pointless; Hiruzen would never listen. Still, Danzo clung to one reassurance—Hiruzen’s soft heart. Whatever punishment came, it wouldn’t be too severe.

“All Root experiments are to be canceled, effective immediately,” Hiruzen declared, his tone like iron.

“What?!” Danzo’s eyes went wide, fury boiling over. “Hiruzen, no! These experiments will grant Konoha unprecedented power!”

“For Konoha?” Hiruzen’s gaze sharpened. “Don’t lie to me. Everything you’ve done is for Root, not the village. And this is not up for debate.”

Tsunade’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Only this much punishment?” She folded her arms, voice cutting. “Old man, the true culprit here is Danzo Shimura.”

Danzo’s expression darkened. “Tsunade! Don’t go too far!”

But Hiruzen raised a hand. His voice was low, deliberate. “Tsunade is right. Root will be disbanded. Effective immediately, Danzo is stripped of his command.”

Danzo’s breath caught. “Hiruzen… have you lost your mind?!”

Tsunade arched an eyebrow but held her tongue. She knew Hiruzen wouldn’t go as far as she’d like. Arresting Danzo, even executing him—that was a dream too far. But dissolving Root? That was victory enough.

Across the chamber, Itachi clenched his fists, struggling to contain his elation. If not for the solemn setting, he might have laughed aloud. Danzo without Root was nothing but a commander without soldiers. His grip over the Uchiha would shatter. Half of Shisui’s vengeance was already realized—the other half would have to wait until Tsunade claimed the Hokage’s hat.

Danzo trembled with rage. “You’re the one who’s insane! Do you even understand what you’ve done?”

“If not for your past service,” Hiruzen said coldly, “this punishment would be far harsher.”

The words struck Danzo like a kunai to the chest. This wasn’t the indulgent Hokage he knew. This was Sarutobi Hiruzen—the man once feared as the Professor, the one who had crushed every rival to secure Konoha’s peace. For decades, that pressure had smothered him. Only now, in Hiruzen’s twilight years, had Danzo felt he could breathe.

But in this moment, the old shadow loomed again.

“Tora!” Hiruzen barked.

“Hokage-sama.” The masked shinobi appeared at once.

“Mobilize every ANBU in the village. Seal Root. Clean it out, top to bottom.”

“As you command.” In a flicker, Tora vanished.

“Hiruzen!” Danzo’s voice broke with grief and fury, his eyes bloodshot. “You’ll regret this!”

Years of ambition crumbled around him. Without Root, his path to the Hokage’s seat was dead. He might outlive Hiruzen… but Tsunade? Impossible. Once she became Hokage, his last hope would vanish.

No—he couldn’t allow it. He wouldn’t.

“You’re old too, Danzo,” Hiruzen said quietly, his gaze heavy. “Go home. Rest.”

The words froze Danzo where he stood. Not “I am the Hokage.” Not the tone he knew. Just finality. Just dismissal.

Old? He refused to accept it. He turned on his heel and stalked away, not sparing Hiruzen another glance. If you abandon me, don’t blame me for turning ruthless.

Hiruzen watched him go, heart heavy. He prayed his old friend would finally stand down. Konoha was thriving; he would not allow Danzo to plunge it into chaos again.

Turning to Tsunade, he said solemnly, “I swear, no one will ever use the First Hokage’s cells for experiments again.”

“It had better stay that way.” Tsunade’s eyes narrowed, though some of the sharpness left her voice.

“I’ll order the sealing squad to reinforce the First’s tomb immediately,” Hiruzen added.

At that, Kitazawa’s mind flicked to Orochimaru. If he truly wants Hashirama’s power, even seals won’t stop him.

“Mhm.” Tsunade gave a small nod. At least this much was being done.

“Old man, I’m done here.” She waved a hand, restless. The faint smell of blood still hung in the air, gnawing at her unease. Yakumo’s treatments helped, but hemophobia was not so easily silenced.

“I’ll have ANBU report the full results to you once Root is cleared,” Hiruzen said.

“Kitazawa.” Tsunade called, already walking away.

“Yes! Hokage-sama.” Kitazawa followed quickly. Shizune trailed behind, quietly nursing her own resentment at being overlooked.

“Itachi,” Hiruzen said gravely once they had gone, “tell me everything.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.” And so Itachi recounted the truth, every detail.

When he finished, Hiruzen closed his eyes in thought. This was no fault of Tsunade’s—Danzo had brought it upon himself. And perhaps it was for the best. Root’s disbandment felt like lifting a rotten weight from Konoha’s shoulders.

For the first time, Hiruzen could clearly see it. The Fifth Hokage would be Tsunade. It could only be her.

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