"He is the tree bathed in sunlight, and I am the root buried in the ground. Why? Why is it always me?! Why must I be the one forced into the shadows, sacrificed for the village, while they bask in glory?" Danzo's voice trembled, a rare crack in his usually steely composure.
The atmosphere fell silent. Tatsuya turned his back to Namikaze Minato and spoke:
"Minato," Tatsuya's voice was as sharp as a blade, "you will guard Danzo-san. If you let him escape, I'll see to it that Kushina is betrothed to someone else—and the child will be left for you to raise alone."
Namikaze Minato's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. He felt a chill run down his spine. Isn't this too cruel? He thought, almost unable to process the threat.
Still, in his cell, Danzo hadn't seen Tatsuya draw his blade. All he saw was a flash of light. When he came to, the cage was sliced in two.
"I look forward to your performance, Mr. Danzo."
After 30 years in this world, Tatsuya addressed Danzo with respect for the first time. Because it was fascinating. Every once in a while, Konoha has pairs of friends who both love and hate each other.
It was true for Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama. If someone asked Hashirama who he loved the most—Mito, Konoha, or Madara—the answer would be interesting.
It was true for Uchiha Obito and Hatake Kakashi too. Obito gave Kakashi his Sharingan to him to protect Rin but he used the very same thing to kill her. Later on, Obito killed Minato and Kushina almost destroyed Konoha during the nine-tail attack.
It was the same for Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto. Naruto, who longed for acceptance, saw Sasuke as both a brother and rival, someone who understood his loneliness. Sasuke, however, saw Naruto as someone he had to kill to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan to seek revenge on his brother, Itachi.
How could we miss the Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō? Grim and silent Danzo walked out of the prison without a word.
"What are you doing just standing there?"
Hearing Tatsuya's reminder, Minato shivered suddenly and quickly followed behind Danzo.
If Tatsuya asks Kushina to marry someone else and then raise the child she gave birth to... The thought alone made him shudder. I, Namikaze Minato, refuse to wear a green hat!
"Since coming to Konoha, I feel like my worldview is being reshaped every day," Terumi Mei remarked, full of emotion.
Tatsuya led the trio out of the prison at a measured pace, his voice calm yet laced with dark amusement. "Ever since Sarutobi Hiruzen ascended to the role of Third Hokage thirty years ago, Danzo has worked relentlessly in the shadows, performing ruthless, unspeakable deeds to keep Hiruzen secure in his seat of power. Every genius or potential threat—those with the strength, intelligence, or ambition to challenge Hiruzen's rule—Danzo made sure they were dealt with before they ever had the chance. But even as he did all this, he was building up his bitterness, his grievances against Hiruzen."
As he spoke, the smile on Tatsuya's face grew even brighter. "And now, Hiruzen and his two oldest friends, instead of saving him, are asking him to play one last role before death, becoming the final straw that breaks the camel's back."
The trio, though not fully understanding, found it fascinating. Tatsuya gave another order: "Go and inform Konoha's clan leaders; no matter what rumors or noise they hear tonight, they are not to worry."
In the Hokage's office...
"Ahhhhh! I'm so fed up! Papers everywhere, all day long! I quit!" Tsunade erupted from behind a mountain of documents, roaring like a female Tyrannosaurus.
Especially when she looked in the mirror just now and saw crow's feet at the corners of her eyes. That made Tsunade explode on the spot.
"Sister, please calm down. After tomorrow's public trial of Danzo, you can have a holiday," Nawaki persuaded her with a wry smile.
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door. Nawaki turned his head and said, "Please come in."
The familiar figure of Nara Shikaku, with his iconic ponytail, entered the room.
"Hokage-sama, we received an order from Lord Tatsuya just now," Nara Shikaku reported. "No matter what rumors or noise we hear tonight, we are not to worry.."
With that, Nara Shikaku scratched his head. Even with his sharp mind, he couldn't fully grasp Tatsuya's meaning.
"Um?" Tsunade frowned.
"What the hell is Tatsuya doing?" she whispered.
..
For some reason, the moon tonight is particularly beautiful. Even without sunlight, you can see the bustling Konoha Village under the moonlight.
Tomorrow is Danzo's public trial. Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura couldn't sleep. So they gathered together, quietly awaiting the arrival of the next day.
But instead of waiting for tomorrow, they hoped to hear news of Danzo's death. As long as they received word of Danzo's suicide, their worries would be over.
"Hiruzen, with Danzo's character, do you think he would commit suicide?" Mitokado Homura asked, worry etched on his face.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had answered this question many times in the past two days, always with calm assurance: "Don't worry, Homura; I know Danzo. He has no other choice."
He took a sip of the hot tea made by his wife, Biwako, and repeated calmly, "I know Danzo."
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's repeated assurances, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura felt a bit relieved.
Alas, Danzo, I'm sorry. It's not that we don't want to save you; it's because you've left too much for us to handle. At least after you die, we will engrave your name on a memorial tablet for future generations to remember.
"I am the leaf bathed in the sun. He is the root hidden in the ground. Because of our dedication, Konoha has been created," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his eyes empty. "Now... it's his last act of devotion as the 'root.'"
During the Third Ninja War, their relationship had reached a freezing point. But why haven't I held Danzo accountable for his numerous transgressions?
First, it's because of Tatsuya and Tsunade's watchful eyes. Secondly, Danzo, the scapegoat, is so convenient that every blame can be placed on him. Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't bear to lose him. When there's a shortage of kunai in the weapon stores, it's because Danzo's probably stockpiling them for his 'emergency' plans. And the Chunin Exams? Well, Danzo's probably the reason half the participants from the other shinobi villages mysteriously disappeared—when asked he will just tell him, it was not him this time and the roots are probably off on some secret mission he concocted!
"Biwako, let's make some more tea," Sarutobi Hiruzen called, picking up the teapot only to find it empty. He turned toward the kitchen and shouted again, "Biwako? Biwako?"
After several seconds, there was no response. "Biwako? Biwako?" he repeated, frowning slightly.
"Is she asleep?" Mitokado Homura guessed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's frown deepened as an ominous feeling grew within him. He stood up to find his wife, but he no longer needed to. A dark shadow emerged from the corner near the kitchen, appearing before the three of them. The sight that greeted their eyes struck them like lightning.
"Danzo?!" Utatane Koharu shuddered.
Soon after, they saw an even more terrifying scene—Danzo, with a Kunai clad in Wind Style Chakra in his right hand and a bloody head in his left. It was the head of Sarutobi Hiruzen's wife, Sarutobi Biwako.
---
Read 40 chapters ahead on P*treon.c*m/Marioni and Ko-fi.c*m/Marioni37