The critical issue wasn't just Hanzo's appearance or the body he brought—it was the revelation that Shimura Danzo had leaked village information to broker a deal with Hanzo to assassinate Shinki.
**This was serious. Very serious.**
"Is what you're saying true?" Honda asked, wide-eyed.
Hanzo's expression darkened as he looked at the gathered Konoha ninjas. "I don't need to lie. This man was captured after offending me in the Rain Village. Here is the information from his interrogation. Take this to the Hokage."
He paused, his voice sharp with warning. "Tell him that if he wants to respond to the Sand Village's provocations, he should do so without involving the Rain Village. We have no desire to be Konoha's enemy, but we are not weaklings to be played with."
**You manipulated me, Danzo? Prepare for the fallout.**
After dropping off the body and delivering his message, Hanzo turned and left with the same decisiveness as when he arrived. The camp was left in stunned silence.
---
"Why did Danzo target Shinki?" one ninja whispered.
"Did Shinki offend him somehow?" another speculated.
"It doesn't matter if there was a conflict—leaking village secrets and recruiting outsiders to handle an internal issue is unforgivable," Honda said, still trying to process the shock.
Honda rushed to the medical room where Shinki and Sarutobi Mishima were. He burst in, eyes wide with panic. "What should we do? This is bad. Really bad."
Shinki, hiding his satisfaction, kept his expression neutral. **Danzo, your own schemes have caught up with you.**
Sarutobi Mishima grimaced, rubbing his temples. "Danzo, you've really crossed the line this time. Even your past services won't save you."
If Hanzo's words and the evidence were sent to Konoha, Danzo's fate was sealed. The demigod's betrayal had turned the tables, leaving Danzo exposed and vulnerable.
"I'll take this report to the village myself," Mishima said, knowing the gravity of the situation. He glanced at Honda. "You stay and keep the camp secure."
---
Mishima sent an urgent message using the camp's carrier hawk, warning the Third Hokage of the incoming storm. Then, with the body in tow, he began the trek back to Konoha. Even in winter's thick snow, it would take at least two days for him to reach the village.
The hawk, however, reached Konoha in just a few hours.
---
"Hokage-sama, an urgent report from the border camp in the Land of Rain," an ANBU member announced, presenting a sealed scroll.
The Third Hokage, who was engrossed in reviewing documents, absentmindedly gestured for it to be placed on the table. He continued working, only looking up once he had finished and stamped the document.
Finally, he reached for the scroll, breaking its seal and reading the contents.
**His eyes widened in shock.**
"Puff—cough, cough!" The pipe slipped from his lips as he stood so quickly that his chair crashed to the floor. "What?! This can't be true."
Trembling, he read the report again, disbelief turning to rage. **Shimura Danzo had leaked Konoha's secrets to Hanzo in exchange for the assassination of Shinki.**
"Danzo!" The Third Hokage's voice boomed, full of fury. He slammed the scroll onto the table, shaking with anger.
The ANBU guards outside flinched at the outburst.
**He had tacitly allowed Danzo to act against Shinki, so long as he kept it discreet and didn't implicate the village. But to involve an outsider and compromise village security? That was a line too far.**
"Send for Danzo. Now! And summon Koharu, Mitomon, and Akimichi Norifu. Immediately!" the Hokage commanded.
The ANBU members exchanged worried glances before vanishing to carry out the orders.
---
Within minutes, Akimichi Norifu entered the Hokage's office, pausing mid-step as he saw the Hokage's livid face. He raised an eyebrow, suppressing his usual jovial demeanor. **This wasn't the time for jokes.**
"I take it something serious has happened?" Norifu muttered, sitting down carefully.
The Third Hokage's silence was telling.
Koharu and Mitomon entered shortly after, their expressions shifting from curiosity to concern as they noticed the tension in the room. Koharu glanced at Norifu, who gave her a subtle shrug.
**He had no idea what storm was brewing, but it was big.**
Moments later, Danzo entered, flanked by ANBU guards. He walked in confidently, but his eyes flickered with unease at the stern expressions of his peers and the seething anger of the Third Hokage.
"Monkey, why the sudden meeting?" Danzo asked, attempting to sound casual.
The Hokage's eyes burned with fury as he spoke. "Danzo, explain to us why I received a report stating that you leaked village secrets to Hanzo of the Rain Village in exchange for an assassination."
The room fell silent as the implications sank in. **Danzo's mask of calm slipped, just for a moment.**
**This time, he may have overplayed his hand.**
>>>>>
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