"Elder Homura, Lord Hokage's current situation is still uncertain, yet Danzo has openly violated Lord Hokage's previous confinement order, leading a large contingent of Root ninja away from their headquarters. Before Lord Hokage departed, he entrusted me with the heavy responsibility of safeguarding the village. How can such a serious matter be treated so lightly, as if it were mere child's play?" Nara Shikaku glanced pointedly at Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, then replied, his voice grave and resolute.
"Shikaku," Mitokado Homura countered, his own face hardening, "this matter involves an official appointment personally issued by the Daimyo himself. If, because of your delays and obstructions, this critically important matter of the Five Kage Summit is hindered, can you, and the Nara clan behind you, truly bear that immense responsibility?" He spoke bluntly to Nara Shikaku, his tone leaving no room for misinterpretation.
"Elder Homura, are your words meant as a direct threat to the Nara clan?" Hearing Mitokado Homura's loaded statement, Nara Shikaku's expression immediately darkened. He looked steadily at Homura and repeated, his voice low and dangerous, "A threat?"
"Shikaku, Homura doesn't mean anything else by it," Utatane Koharu, who was standing to the side, quickly interjected, attempting to smooth things over as the tension between the two men visibly escalated. "We just want you to cooperate with Danzo as soon as possible to complete the necessary handover of authority. The Five Kage Summit cannot afford to be delayed any further."
Nara Shikaku shook his head firmly upon hearing this. "Without a handwritten, direct order from Lord Hokage himself, I'm afraid I cannot comply with this matter! My duty is clear."
As his defiant words fell, the expressions of both Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu completely darkened, their faces becoming thunderous. Both of them were high-ranking, influential Konoha Council Elders, long accustomed to their authoritative positions and the deference that came with them. To be so openly and directly refuted by a relative junior like Nara Shikaku made them feel a considerable loss of face, an acute public embarrassment.
Opposite them, a dangerous, predatory glint flickered in Danzo's one visible eye. If not for his strategic concern about the formidable Ino-Shika-Cho alliance that stood firmly behind Nara Shikaku, he would have undoubtedly already ordered Shikaku's summary execution on the spot.
The atmosphere at the scene was heavy and murderous, completely stagnant with unspoken menace.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~
Just as the two sides were locked in this tense standoff, another series of sharp, air-cutting sounds echoed through the clearing as more Konoha ninja continuously arrived on the scene. Following Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, the first to arrive in this new wave of reinforcements were Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy.
"Lord Shikaku, what's going on?" Kakashi and Guy immediately made their way to Nara Shikaku's side to inquire about the volatile situation. Nara Shikaku was the respected leader of Konoha Village's Jonin Corps, making him Kakashi and Guy's direct superior.
Seeing Kakashi and Guy arrive, Danzo's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. In Konoha, Kakashi and Guy's combat strength was undeniably among the absolute top tier of all Jonin, and both of them also possessed a certain degree of influence and a respected voice within the village's hierarchy.
Nara Shikaku briefly, concisely explained the critical situation to them. After listening, Kakashi's visible expression also turned exceedingly grave. This matter was indeed incredibly tricky, with potentially devastating consequences for the village. With the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, absent, the seniority and prestige of these younger generation ninja were indeed insufficient to effectively contend with the combined political weight of Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. Moreover, Danzo also had the explicit backing of the Land of Fire's Daimyo and, undoubtedly, some influential ninja families within Konoha itself. If a direct conflict erupted here, it would inevitably inflict a heavy, perhaps irreparable, blow upon Konoha.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh~
More and more ninja continued to arrive in rapid succession. These individuals were mostly high-ranking members and representatives of the various major ninja clans of Konoha, each accompanied by a contingent of their clan's most elite and loyal shinobi. Upon arrival, these influential figures, like Kakashi before them, first took a moment to quickly familiarize themselves with the tense and rapidly evolving situation at hand. By the time the vast majority had a clear understanding of the complex circumstances, more than ten minutes had already passed since the initial confrontation.
No one at the scene spoke; everyone's gaze was focused intently on the two central figures of the standoff: Danzo and Nara Shikaku. Regarding this brewing conflict, the overwhelming majority of the major ninja clans present chose to remain conspicuously silent, their expressions carefully neutral. They were clearly unwilling to get directly involved in this perilous high-level power struggle, at least not yet.
Only Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza stood firmly and resolutely by Nara Shikaku's side. The vital interests of the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans—the legendary Ino-Shika-Cho formation—were, as always, inextricably aligned. At such a critical, potentially village-altering moment, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza would naturally take their proper, unwavering stance in support of their Nara comrade.
Of course, there was another primary, unspoken reason for their steadfastness: they had confidence. Tatsuya's very existence, his overwhelming and often unpredictable power, was their ultimate reassurance. They reasoned that even if this direct confrontation with Danzo ultimately failed, Danzo wouldn't be foolish enough to directly target and antagonize the powerful Ino-Shika-Cho alliance afterward, especially with Tatsuya as a potential X-factor. The incredible strength Tatsuya had previously displayed was more than enough to shatter Konoha's existing, delicate balance of power. This, in fact, was also the main underlying reason why Danzo was now so desperately and urgently trying to ascend to the position of Hokage through such questionable and high-risk means. With a wildcard like Tatsuya in the picture, if Danzo waited any longer, he might truly have no hope at all of achieving his lifelong ambition.
Seeing Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza taking their stand beside Nara Shikaku, a cold, dismissive glint flashed in Danzo's eyes.
Amidst the charged silence, Danzo took a deliberate step forward, looking coldly at Nara Shikaku opposite him, and said in a harsh, unyielding tone, "Nara Shikaku, are you absolutely certain you want to openly defy the official opinions of the Daimyo and the village's esteemed council of elders?"
As Danzo's threatening words fell, the scores of Root ninja arrayed behind him all drew their weapons in unison. They then dispersed with practiced efficiency, silently occupying advantageous tactical positions, making it clear they were prepared for battle at any given moment.
Facing Danzo, who was now clearly prepared to escalate the situation and get serious, the expressions of everyone present changed slightly, a new wave of tension rippling through the assembled crowd. Nara Shikaku extended his right hand and waved it backward; the dozens of Hokage's personal ANBU guard who had accompanied him also tensed, preparing for imminent combat. Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza, along with the elites of their two clans, stood shoulder to shoulder with Nara Shikaku, their resolve firm.
For a moment, the situation at the scene was on a knife's edge, the slightest spark ready to ignite an all-out confrontation.
Clap, clap, clap~
Suddenly, a slow, deliberate round of applause sounded from the periphery of the tense standoff. Tatsuya walked out calmly from the shadows of the trees, flanked by Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Misuke.
"Danzo," Tatsuya began, his voice carrying clearly across the clearing, "you've played this hand quite well, I must admit. You three old geezers might not be good for much else these days, but your methods for screwing over your own comrades and undermining the village are certainly… impressive." Tatsuya's gaze swept disdainfully over Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, a mocking, contemptuous smile playing on his lips as he spoke.
As Tatsuya's cutting words fell, a large group of Uchiha clansmen, all dressed in the crisp, authoritative uniforms of the Konoha Military Police Force, surged out from behind the three of them, their numbers formidable. Each of these Uchiha clansmen wore an eager, almost predatory, excited expression, clearly itching for action. When Shisui and Misuke had informed them earlier that they were coming to suppress Root's rebellion, they had all agreed without a moment's hesitation. Towards Danzo and his shadowy Root organization, the vast majority of Uchiha clansmen harbored a deep-seated, bitter malice, born of years of suspicion and oppression. To have the opportunity to personally participate in the annihilation of the Root organization—they were more than happy, even eager, to do so.
Watching Tatsuya, Shisui, and Misuke walk out so confidently, along with the large and clearly battle-ready contingent of Uchiha clansmen behind them, Danzo's already dark face grew even more thunderous. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu's faces turned as black as the bottom of a pot, their expressions livid with fury and humiliation. Today, their long-held dignity and authority as Konoha's revered Council Elders was being outrageously and publicly trampled upon.
Opposite the three of them, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Choza, and their supporters let out a collective, almost imperceptible sigh of relief. The various elites from the other clans who had been anxiously observing the standoff also visibly relaxed. Everyone felt that this fight, this potentially devastating internal conflict, probably wouldn't happen now.
However, the subsequent development of events quickly and dramatically exceeded their expectations.
Facing Tatsuya's merciless, biting mockery, Utatane Koharu shrieked, her voice sharp and piercing with indignation, "Tatsuya Akimichi, you will mind your status and your tongue! We are currently discussing the critical matter of who will temporarily act as Hokage and preside over the upcoming Five Kage Summit in Lord Third's absence! Your Military Police Force has absolutely no authority or right to interfere in this high-level village decision!"
"Status?" Tatsuya scoffed, a sound of pure derision. "What a laughable, pathetic notion." Then, his figure flickered and vanished in an instant.
Not good! Seeing this, Danzo's expression changed drastically, his one eye widening in alarm.
Swoosh~
With a virtually instantaneous flicker, Tatsuya reappeared directly in front of Utatane Koharu, his right hand gently, yet with an undeniable firmness, closing around her throat. At this moment, Tatsuya had already activated Sage Mode, the orange pigmentation around his eyes a clear sign of his heightened power.
Utatane Koharu froze, her eyes wide with stunned disbelief, utterly paralyzed! Mitokado Homura, standing beside her, was also completely dumbfounded, his jaw agape!
Tatsuya's action was simply too audacious, too shockingly bold! It had completely, utterly surpassed everyone's wildest expectations.