For a moment, time stood still in the Hokage’s office. Kazuo’s declaration echoed in their ears, louder than any explosion. The weight of his words didn’t settle immediately. It crashed down in a delayed wave, sucking the breath from their lungs.

Shizune staggered half a step back, eyes wide as she muttered, “Danzo… is dead?”

Kakashi’s visible eye narrowed sharply. “How did it come to this?”

Tsunade’s face darkened, disbelief and irritation clearly visible on her face, ‘That old relic! Did he really die so silently and quickly? What was the purpose behind his sneaky departure from the village?’

Needless to say, it was Hiruzen who took it the hardest. The retired Hokage didn’t say a word. His eyes didn’t widen, nor did he flinch. He simply stood still—silent and immovable. Yet a storm churned behind his gaze. Only a single thought ran through his mind for a few seconds, ‘Danzo… gone…’

Just a few minutes ago, he was worried about what schemes his old friend would implement this time. He expected an intense confrontation and hoped Danzo would retire just like he did once the dust settled. But knowing his old friend, Hiruzen knew it wouldn’t be easy. He was even worried that he had cornered Danzo to such an extent that Danzo might do something that would force him to exile his old friend just like he exiled his former student. But this? Hiruzen didn’t expect to hear such a news even in his wildest dreams!

The exhausted old man sighed in pity, ‘Kagami, Torifu and now you… Only 3 of us now remain…’

His heart ached… Not for Danzo’s choices, nor for the consequences he brought upon himself, but for the memory of the boy he used to know. The boy who once fought by his side, prepared to sacrifice everything for the sake of his village. The man who shared the immense burden of the Hokage after the devastation left behind by the First Great Ninja War. Konoha never lacked talents and Danzo did several questionable acts in his latter years, but Hiruzen understood very well how critical Danzo’s contribution was for the village when Konoha was in its critical state.

The sudden news of Danzo’s had left the room in such disbelief that some questioned how accurate it was.

A frown appeared on Tsunade’s face as she muttered, “It doesn’t make sense. He just left the village a few hours ago without alerting anyone. No one outside Konoha should know about it by now. How could he be killed in such a short time?”

Even though Tsunade didn’t say it directly, everyone in the room understood what she was hinting at. Danzo’s death would remove the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, but that wasn’t the only method. He could remove it voluntarily as well. Tsunade implied Danzo did so to fake his death.

The former Root ninjas had complicated expressions behind their masks. Kakashi pondered seriously while Shizune wondered in disbelief, ‘Did one of our Elders go rogue? This…’

Before anyone else could let their colorful imagination run wild, Hiruzen shook his head and said, “Danzo wouldn’t betray the village. We may have our differences, but he would never take this step. I’m afraid he truly has fallen.”

Tsunade’s frown deepened. Knowing Hiruzen’s comradery with Danzo, Tsunade didn’t insist on her point. Glancing at one of her hidden Anbu Guards, she ordered, “Without the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, they are no longer restricted. Ask Inoichi to cooperate with Ibiki and find out where Danzo went.”

Though Fujin killed all Root ninjas Danzo brought along, Tsunade still had 2 who were captured by her. Earlier, she couldn’t investigate much as the seal even contained countermeasures against the Yamanaka clan’s mind reading technique. However, there were no such restrictions now. The Anbu Guard immediately disappeared from the room.

Hiruzen muttered, “I’m afraid that wouldn’t help us much either. They may not have the full information. At most, we can track Danzo’s initial movements.”

Before Tsunade could reply, Hiruzen glanced at the Root ninjas and said, “Don’t inform anyone about this news. Keep it a secret for now. We’ll announce it after our investigations are completed. Pass the message to others.”

Even though Danzo had withdrawn from public eye and most citizens and younger ninjas were no longer aware of him, he still held some reputation among the veteran ninjas. His sudden death could cause some panic in the village. Hiruzen wanted to postpone it until he had some clarity.

The Root ninjas agreed, left the office and informed all the Root ninjas who were waiting outside the office. Hiruzen glanced at another Anbu Guard of Tsunade and ordered, “Follow him and pass the same message to Ibiki and Inoichi.”

Another Anbu Guard’s figure disappeared from the room as he trailed after the previous Anbu Guard. Tsunade asked, “Are you planning to use that…?”

Her words made Kakashi and Shizune curious. They glanced at Hiruzen wondering what Tsunade was hinting at. Hiruzen nodded, “I don’t like the technique, but it is the best available option.”

Tsunade agreed as it would also resolve the uncertainty in her heart. Hiruzen created two Shadow Clones, who disappeared from the room. He said, “You two stay here. Others, come with me.”

Hiruzen’s figure disappeared from the office as well. Tsunade, Shizune and Kakashi followed him while the two remaining Anbu Guards stayed behind to look after the office and alert Tsunade and Hiruzen in case another critical information was delivered to the Hokage office.

The group of four ninjas entered a secret underground base in an old, remote and abandoned training field in Konoha. Shizune asked curiously, “What is this base?”

She turned her head to look at Hiruzen’s Shadow Clone, who re-grouped with them and handed Hiruzen and box, before dispersing in a cloud of smoke. Hiruzen held the box carefully and answered, “I have been experimenting with Edo Tensei here. I’ll reanimate Danzo and we’ll learn the entire truth from him.”

Kakashi asked in surprise, “You’re working on that forbidden jutsu?”

Hiruzen nodded, “It was a concern Fujin raised after Sasuke was kidnapped. While rescuing him, we may face formidable reanimated ninjas if Orochimaru heals his soul. Fujin recommended finding a weakness in the jutsu, or replicating Orochimaru’s improvements, to keep Orochimaru on the backfoot.”

A helpless smile appeared on his lips as he added, “Unfortunately, I haven’t had much luck…”

The box Hiruzen held was locked with multiple seals. He undid them one by one, and the lid creaked open to reveal several vials and a few preserved tissue samples, each meticulously labeled. He picked up one of the vials marked ‘Shimura Danzo’ and stored the rest back inside before placing the box on a nearby stone shelf.

Just then, Hiruzen’s second shadow clone returned, his mission complete. At his feet lay an unconsious man in tattered prisoner garb. Chakra suppression tags and other seals were plastered across his back and neck to ensure he stayed unconscious. Before anyone could say anything, the clone dispelled silently.

Kakashi glanced at the prisoner and thought, ‘He must be a death row prisoner. Lord Third really thought this through. With Danzo’s tissue samples and a sacrifice, he already has everything needed for the jutsu…’

Kakashi was interested in understanding how a jutsu as magical as Edo Tensei worked. He closed his right eye, adjusted his headband and opened the Sharingan.

Hiruzen raised a hand and made a single hand sign without a hint of hesitation in his actions. Black markings spread from the edge of his sleeve, spiraling around his arm before extending onto the stone floor in a wide circular array. The familiar symbols of the Edo Tensei ritual etched themselves into the earth, pulsing faintly with chakra.

Tsunade merely crossed her arms, observing intently. She was one of the few who knew how to cast the jutsu, though she refrained from ever using it as it disgusted her. If it could permanently revive the person, she would have been the first to propagate it. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. From her perspective, Edo Tensei forcefully disturbed the dead and enslaved them.

Without another word, Hiruzen threw the DNA vial into the center of the array. The markings glowed brighter. He bit his thumb, pressed it to the ground, and slammed his hand down.

‘Summoning jutsu: Edo Tensei!’

The prisoner’s body began to tremble violently, his eyes snapped open despite the seals. Ash-like dust flaked from his skin. His features contorted, first in agony, then into something unrecognizable as a painful shriek escaped his lungs!

Kakashi observed the change with more focus while Shizune felt conflicted. Though she was a top-notch medic and a formidable ninja who could go up against Elite Jounins, she wasn’t raised as a typical ninja. Unlike others in the room, she was sheltered and trained by Tsunade.

She never had to perform active duty and wasn’t too exposed to the dark side of the ninja world despite being completely aware of it. After all, it wasn’t too long ago that Tsunade and Fujin nearly ran out of prisoners while experimenting on souls to heal Hiruzen. She suppresed her discomfort and observed Hiruzen silently.

Paper-like skin of the prisoner peeled and reformed. Tattered clothing re-knitted itself into the familiar battle-worn robes of a shinobi. A black right arm began to regrow, stitched together by the jutsu.

Moments later, Shimura Danzo opened his eyes, eyes that now reflected nothing but emptiness, with small cracks running beneath them like porcelain. He stood slowly, as if confused by his own presence.

Hiruzen took a step forward, staring at his once-friend, his voice solemn, “Danzo…”

The reanimated Danzo’s eyes flickered toward Hiruzen. A hint of awareness crept in. He glanced at Hiruzen’s tired figure and let out a defeated sigh.

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