The Third Hokage's firm stance made Danzo's face darken. He dared not deny the Hokage's words, yet he was unwilling to give up so easily.
Danzo looked at Rakawa, his expression shifting and unpredictable.
However, Rakawa could discern a hint of something in his gaze: greed. His eyes were filled with greed.
The only thing that could provoke such a look from Danzo was typically a Kekkei Genkai. The Byakugan, one of the Three Great Dōjutsu, enjoyed immense prestige in the Shinobi World.
The Hyuga Clan was a prominent noble family in Konoha, and they guarded the Byakugan with extreme vigilance, rarely allowing anyone to obtain it. Even the Hokage could not force the Hyuga Clan to surrender the Byakugan, let alone Danzo Shimura.
Danzo Shimura was single-mindedly obsessed with obtaining powerful Kekkei Genkai. He was even researching the First Hokage's cells, hoping to acquire the formidable Wood Release.
Now that he had appeared in the Hokage's Office, his target was naturally the Byakugan.
Understanding the crux of the matter, Rakawa's eyes narrowed slightly, a hidden glint of ferocity flashing within them.
Danzo Shimura, still observing Rakawa, spoke up. "Hey, you Hyuga brat, tell us exactly what happened tonight. No hiding anything!"
"Danzo, are you trying to threaten him?"
The Third Hokage spoke slowly, his tone subtly warning.
However, Danzo Shimura showed no fear, retorting, "As the leader of Root, I must maintain strict control over the village's security. Hiruzen, are you trying to obstruct me from exercising the Elder Council's authority? Besides, questioning the person involved is the simplest way to learn the truth. Brat, explain yourself clearly."
Danzo slowly walked up to Rakawa, his dark pupils fixed on the person before him.
Rakawa sneered inwardly. 'Question the person involved? Then I'll make you cry.'
"Tonight, after I escorted Kushina Uzumaki home, I was attacked on my way back to the Hyuga Estate. My initial assessment is that they were enemy ninja, and I've already identified them. They had obtained some intelligence, but I don't know why they attacked me. Perhaps due to the First Hokage's blessing, I killed him. ANBU ninja are already handling the body. As for the specific intelligence, the ANBU should be quite clear on that."
Concise and clear, with lucid reasoning.
Danzo suddenly felt a bit confused. Was the situation truly as this Hyuga Rakawa described?
No, it couldn't be that simple. He hadn't explained the details, nor the specifics of the battle. How could he be believed? Even if he was just a child, he absolutely couldn't be trusted.
With that thought, Danzo suddenly roared, "Nonsense! Brat, what is the real truth of the matter? How could you, a Ninja Academy student, kill an adult ninja? Hmph, did you use some Kinjustu? Explain yourself immediately! If it's truly as you say, then you won't be punished; you'll even be rewarded."
No one would believe that a student could kill an adult ninja. Danzo didn't believe it. He hadn't witnessed it himself, so how could he believe it?
"Danzo, are you trying to mislead him? This is Konoha, a harmonious family. Are you trying to disrupt this harmonious big family now?"
"Indeed, Konoha is a harmonious family. Therefore, we absolutely cannot have anyone researching and using Kinjustu. To dabble in such things at such a young age will surely lead to becoming a danger to Konoha in the future. I must take him back for questioning now. I'll tell you the details once everything is clear!"
As Danzo spoke, he reached out his hand, but Rakawa instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside the Third Hokage.
This sudden change made Danzo freeze. The Body Flicker Technique?
"Brat, you--"
Before he could finish, Rakawa suddenly spoke, "Elder Danzo, are you implying that my Hyuga Clan's Byakugan is a Kinjustu? If so, what do you think if the Hyuga Clan no longer uses the Byakugan from now on?"
Danzo's face darkened, while the Third Hokage showed a hint of a smile. This brat was truly not someone to be trifled with, just as Senyo had said.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Still can't understand? How could outsiders thoroughly research the Byakugan's abilities? Those without Kekkei Genkai foolishly attempt to judge the power of Kekkei Genkai. That enemy ninja died under my Byakugan, so what?"
The credit was pushed onto the Kekkei Genkai. Danzo suddenly realized he had been led into a trap.
Now the focus had shifted to the Byakugan. If he continued to press the issue, he would clearly be questioning the Byakugan's abilities. But if he gave up, only he would lose face. Moreover, everything tonight would have been for naught.
Danzo secretly cursed in his heart. 'Why was this brat so difficult? Neither threats nor inducements worked on him.'
The Byakugan truly made him envious. Its reconnaissance capabilities, its ability to seal Tenketsu--these were all powers he yearned for.
Perhaps it didn't possess the various powerful abilities of the Sharingan, but the Byakugan's power was absolutely not weak; it was a steady and reliable ability.
He had worked so hard for so long just to obtain the Byakugan. How could he give up so easily?
"Brat, what you're saying is too far-fetched. I'm sure you'll tell the truth soon enough."
The Third Hokage's expression changed, and he said, "Danzo, don't act recklessly!"
"Lord Danzo, isn't it a bit inappropriate to lay hands on a child like this? Moreover, it seems you're not putting me in your eyes."
A voice came from the doorway, and a figure slowly walked in.
Danzo looked over with a dark face, and his eyes shifted when he saw the newcomer, letting out a hmph.
"Senyo, why are you here?"
The newcomer was Hyuga Senyo. After hearing the Third Hokage's words, he bowed slightly and said, "I heard someone was questioning my Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect to witness such a good show. Lord Danzo has so little faith in the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan. Truly, it's a bit disappointing. I wonder what kind of Kekkei Genkai Lord Danzo considers truly powerful?"
Forceful, absolutely forceful.
The sarcastic remarks made Danzo's face turn completely black. This Hyuga Senyo actually dared to talk back to him like this?
"Hyuga Senyo, is this your intention or the Hyuga Clan's intention?"
"Oh? Is there a difference? Then, is taking Rakawa away the Elder Council's intention or Root's intention? Or perhaps, your intention?"