Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado felt a chill creep up their spines.
If Danzō could be investigated this thoroughly, then so could they.
Fortunately, what they'd taken over the years stayed within what could be argued as "reasonable." That thought gave them a sliver of calm.
Once they set the scrolls down, Fujimoto Tōma spoke again.
"Everyone finished reading?"
Silence lingered before Koharu finally asked, "How do you intend to deal with Danzō?"
Tōma tilted his head, thinking. "How to deal with him?" He smiled faintly. "Shouldn't the advisors know the rules better than anyone?"
He began counting on his fingers.
"First. Danzō attempted to assassinate a village shinobi. Not just anyone, but a future Hokage candidate."
"Second. Without Hokage authorization, he siphoned off nearly half of the village's stored resources."
"Third. Despite an explicit Hokage order to terminate Wood Release experiments, he colluded with Orochimaru to continue them, supplying infants from the village and nearby settlements."
Tōma's hand fell back to the table.
"And those are just the confirmed charges. So tell me, under Konoha law, what sentence does that earn?"
He posed the question gently, almost politely, and let it sit.
The room went quiet again.
Tsunade, meanwhile, looked completely relaxed, sipping her tea like this was someone else's problem.
At last, Koharu spoke. "Any one of those crimes carries the death penalty."
"Then that settles it," Tōma replied easily. "Danzō is to be sentenced to death."
Koharu and Homura instinctively turned toward the Third Hokage, expecting him to intervene.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes remained closed. His shoulders sagged, as if the weight had finally caught up to him.
Homura cleared his throat. "By the rules, yes, it is a capital crime. But Danzō has served the village for decades. Even if he has no merit left, surely his years of service count for something. Couldn't we spare his life, seal his chakra, and imprison him instead?"
"That's a fair thought," Tōma said, nodding.
Hope flickered in their eyes.
Then he continued.
"But tell me. What merit does he actually have?"
His smile sharpened, cold and precise.
"Don't list his duties. That's effort, not achievement. At best, that effort might offset one death sentence."
He looked directly at them.
"He's earned three."
The two advisors fell silent again.
Tōma had expected this. Koharu and Homura weren't evil. They were old. Nostalgic. Like the Third himself.
Danzō, on the other hand, had once even sent assassins after Hiruzen.
Sentiment had never mattered to him.
That was why Tōma needed evidence this overwhelming. Not to convince them, but to leave them with no room to speak.
He glanced toward the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen still hadn't opened his eyes.
Tōma had assumed he'd argue. He'd prepared for it.
This… was better.
"Any other opinions?" Tōma asked calmly.
"Hiruzen!" Koharu called out.
If anyone could sway this outcome, it would be him.
Tōma waited.
Finally, the Third opened his eyes. He removed the pipe from his mouth and exhaled a long cloud of smoke.
Tsunade waved it away irritably. "Old man, you really should quit. At your age, that habit's asking for trouble."
Hiruzen chuckled bitterly. "It's my last vice. And what's the point of living longer, anyway?"
Then he looked at Koharu and Homura.
"Regarding Danzō," he said quietly, "punish him according to the law. And don't ask me anymore. The one you should be asking… is the Fifth Hokage."
The words landed like thunder.
Even Tsunade stiffened.
She glanced at Tōma, disbelief flickering across her face.
What exactly had he done behind the scenes?
Koharu and Homura were stunned.
For years, they'd pushed for harsher penalties while Hiruzen protected Danzō.
Now, when his life was on the line, Hiruzen was more resolute than either of them.
Tōma spoke again. "This is your last chance. If you have anything else to say for Danzō, say it now."
They looked at him, a faint sense of shared mortality passing between them.
But they said nothing.
"Good," Tōma said. "Then it's decided. The verdict will be carried out the day after tomorrow."
He smiled.
"That also happens to be the day I assume the title of Hokage. I'll announce Danzō's crimes during the inauguration ceremony."
"What?!" Koharu and Homura exclaimed.
Even Hiruzen looked sharply at him.
"Oh, right," Tōma added lightly. "I forgot to mention it. After the investigation concluded, I discussed it with Tsunade-sama. While we've been meeting here, the news has already spread through the village."
Tsunade set her cup down. "That's right. I've agreed."
She sighed inwardly. She hadn't expected Tōma to bring it up so abruptly earlier either. But a promise made was a promise kept.
Shizune was already spreading the word.
Tsunade counted silently. Not even three years as Hokage. About two and a half.
Short.
Still longer than the Fourth.
Koharu and Homura's faces darkened.
They didn't believe for a second that Tōma had "forgotten" to tell them. This was deliberate.
If they opposed him now, it wouldn't matter.
Once Danzō's crimes were announced publicly, the village itself would demand his death. Any attempt to defend him would put them against the entire population.
And then, their own seats wouldn't be safe.
They exchanged a look.
Thank goodness they hadn't pushed harder.
They studied Tōma again. If he became Hokage, he'd be far more dangerous than Tsunade ever was.
"One more thing," Tōma added. "No one is to inform Danzō of this. If someone does, I guarantee he'll only die faster."
Hiruzen sighed, saying nothing.
Homura finally nodded. "As long as everything follows Konoha's laws, we have no objections."
Regret flickered briefly in his eyes. Danzō had been a friend once.
But the crimes were too great.
And honestly… was the Hokage's seat really worth provoking Fujimoto Tōma?
"Then this meeting is adjourned," Tōma said, exhaling quietly.
It was over.
And the outcome was far better than his worst expectations.