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The Akatsuki’s attack on Konoha sent shockwaves through the Shinobi world.
Konoha was in the midst of rebuilding.
The villagers’ faces were etched with sorrow. This was the most devastating blow Konoha had suffered since its founding…
———
“Danzō, where were you when the Akatsuki attacked? And the two elders—where were you?”
Jiraiya questioned Danzō, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane, his voice sharp with accusation.
During Konoha’s crisis, Danzō and the others were nowhere to be found. Now that the dust had settled, they conveniently reappeared.
“Jiraiya, watch your tone,” Danzō said, his voice devoid of emotion.
Jiraiya was so enraged by Danzō’s nonchalant response that he almost choked. He was already severely injured; his condition was not good.
“Remember, you are the Hokage. Konoha has just faced a major crisis. You should be the one giving everyone an explanation.”
Danzō stared at Jiraiya. His goal was to oust the injured Jiraiya and seize the Hokage position for himself.
Even with Konoha in its current state, Danzō was confident he could lead the Village to glory.
Danzō always possessed a strange, misplaced confidence. In reality, he was far from capable.
If the shattered Konoha were entrusted to Danzō, its complete destruction wouldn’t be far off.
“An explanation?”
Jiraiya was furious. He was the one demanding answers, and Danzō had the audacity to ask him for an explanation?
Jiraiya didn’t deny his own responsibility.
The Akatsuki’s leader was his former student. As Hokage, he was ultimately responsible for the village’s losses.
But now, he was confronting Danzō and the two elders. When Konoha was on the brink of annihilation, they were nowhere to be seen.
Do they care about anything other than power? Is Konoha worthless to them? Jiraiya felt a chill in his heart.
“Jiraiya, Koharu and I were evacuating the villagers,” Homura Mitokado stated flatly.
BULLSHIT!!
Jiraiya didn’t believe a single word. Evacuating villagers? He was certain they had been hiding somewhere safe.
“Jiraiya, you’re no longer fit to be Hokage. You should focus on recovering,” Danzō said to Jiraiya.
Upon hearing this, Homura and Koharu’s expressions changed slightly. They didn’t want to remove Jiraiya as Hokage.
They knew Danzō’s motive was to take the position for himself.
That was unacceptable.
“The disaster that befell Konoha can’t be entirely blamed on Jiraiya. I think Jiraiya should continue as Hokage,” Koharu Utatane said.
“Indeed. I agree,” Homura Mitokado immediately concurred.
“You two… are you really going to oppose me?” A ruthless glint flashed in Danzō’s eyes.
This was his last chance to become Hokage. If he missed this opportunity, he might never get another.
He was old; he didn’t know how much longer he had to live. If he failed now, he’d never achieve his lifelong ambition.
Danzō’s killing intent flared. If these two old fools stood in his way again, he’d send them to join Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Homura and Koharu sensed Danzō’s killing intent. It was a chilling realization.
Knowing Danzō, he would act on his threats. Since he had murderous intent, he would definitely try to kill them.
However, they still didn’t back down and support Danzō. The outcome would be the same.
Even if they supported Danzō and he became Hokage, he would eventually find a way to eliminate them.
They would have to be extremely careful around Danzō from now on. Dying at Danzō’s hands would be a truly tragic end.
In the end, Jiraiya’s questioning was futile. No one was held accountable. Danzō, Homura, and Koharu all walked away unscathed.
Watching them leave, Jiraiya’s face was as dark as a thundercloud. They were a cancer, hindering Konoha’s recovery.
But he couldn’t do anything about them. At least he had managed to hold onto the Hokage position. That was something.
It wasn’t that Jiraiya loved the position, but if Danzō became Hokage, the consequences would be unimaginable.
———
Danzō returned to the Root base, his face even darker, his killing intent palpable.
“You old geezers! You forced my hand!”
Being blocked by Homura and Koharu again had pushed Danzō over the edge.
He had to kill them, no matter what.
“Yamanaka Fū, Aburame Torune, go kill Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. Remember, don’t be discovered. If possible, make it look like Jiraiya did it.”
Danzō summoned his two strongest subordinates and gave them their orders.
Even now, with Konoha in ruins, Danzō was still focused on internal strife. He truly was a special kind of talent.
“Yes, Lord Danzō.”
Fū and Torune left with a team of Root operatives.
No one in Konoha knew about the internal turmoil brewing while they were busy rebuilding.
Other Hidden Villages were watching Konoha closely, hoping to take advantage of its weakness.
But they had their own problems. The Akatsuki had captured their Jinchūriki; no village could let that slide.
Well, Kirigakure was an exception.
The Three-Tails had been a wild Tailed Beast, captured by Shin after it wandered onto his territory.
As for the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, he had already become a missing-nin, so Kirigakure wasn’t directly involved.
And with Hiashi Hyūga now the Mizukage, their past animosity with the Akatsuki was gone.
Hiashi Hyūga chose to remain a bystander to Konoha’s misfortune. Not kicking them while they were down was already a kindness.
As for the Akatsuki, Nagato, though not dead, was a frail shadow of his former self, unable to exert much power.
Obito had already abandoned him. Nagato was useless now. The only reason he was still alive was because Obito had some lingering use for him.
Once Nagato was truly worthless, Obito would be the first to kill him. He definitely wanted Nagato’s pair of Rinnegan.
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