Chapter 21 - Kakashi VS The Elders

As the dust settled from their intense battle, Kakashi exhaled deeply, withdrawing from his Sage Mode. The sensation of natural energy coursing through his body faded, leaving behind a slight exhaustion. His Sharingan, still hidden beneath his headband, remained unnoticed by the onlookers.

Just as he steadied himself, a familiar voice called out.

"Oh? Isn't that Shisui? How have you been? And who is this?" Kakashi greeted the young Uchiha as he turned his gaze toward the boy standing beside him. The kid had an air of quiet confidence, a sharp contrast to Shisui's livelier demeanor.

"It's been a long time, Kakashi-senpai. This is Itachi, the son of the clan leader. He just graduated from the academy last year. He was close to breaking your record—he's the best genius the Uchiha clan has to offer!" Shisui said with obvious pride.

Itachi gave a respectful bow. "Nice to meet you, Kakashi-san."

Kakashi observed the boy with mild interest. The name sounded familiar, but the intensity in Itachi's gaze intrigued him more.

Shisui tilted his head, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "By the way, Kakashi-senpai, was that some kind of Sage Mode?"

Kakashi smirked. "Yeah. That was the Art of the Spider Sage. How did you know?"

"Well, I saw Lord Fourth in the battlefield once. The energy was different, but it still had the same natural flow," Shisui replied. His eyes then shifted toward the unconscious Guy. "Speaking of which... doesn't Guy-senpai need to go to the hospital?"

Kakashi followed Shisui's gaze and sighed. "Ah, right. I almost forgot. Shisui-kun, could you take Guy to the hospital? He didn't sustain any serious injuries, so he should be fine. And—" Kakashi glanced at Naruto, who was still wide-eyed from the battle. "Could you take Naruto to my place?"

Before Shisui could respond, two ANBU suddenly flickered into view.

"Kakashi, your presence is required in the Hokage's office."

Kakashi glanced at them and nodded, already guessing what this was about. "Alright."

With that, he vanished along with the ANBU, leaving behind the disappointed onlookers.

Hokage's Office

The tension in the office was palpable. Hiruzen sat behind his desk, his expression heavy. Shikaku stood beside him, his analytical gaze sweeping over Kakashi as he entered. Fugaku, the Uchiha clan head, remained stoic, while the two elders, Homura and Koharu, looked visibly shaken.

"You're here," Hiruzen said, his voice lined with weariness. "Kakashi, we need answers."

Kakashi's single eye lazily scanned the room. "About what?"

Hiruzen sighed. "Someone attacked the Root base last night. Almost all of the operatives were killed, and Danzo sustained severe injuries. Do you know anything about this?"

A moment of silence passed before Kakashi gave a casual shrug. "You said 'almost' all of them were dead? That's odd—I was pretty sure I killed every last one. If some survived, they must've been out on missions. I'll take care of them later."

His nonchalant tone sent a chill through the room.

Koharu slammed her hand on the table. "So you admit it?! You destroyed Root?!"

Kakashi tilted his head. "That's right."

"How do you have the nerve to sit there and admit it so casually?!" Homura spat. "Aren't you afraid of punishment?"

Kakashi's gaze sharpened as he leaned forward slightly. "You? Punishing me?" His tone was laced with amusement. "That's funny."

Hiruzen's patience thinned. "Kakashi, explain yourself."

Kakashi met the Third's gaze, his expression unreadable. "Let's drop the act and be honest, Lord Hokage. Danzo was evil—no matter which way you look at it. You knew what he's done over the decades, and that's just the things you were aware of. Who knows what else he orchestrated in the shadows?"

Hiruzen's jaw tightened. "That was not for you to decide."

Kakashi narrowed his eye. "With all due respect, Lord Hokage, you lost the ability to judge his actions a long time ago. Minato-sensei often spoke about wanting to take Danzo down, but he never got the chance. Both you and the elders sitting here today—still holding power despite Minato-sensei's ideals—are proof that the Fourth's will was ignored."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Koharu scowled. "You speak as if you're above the law, Kakashi. Killing an elder of Konoha is a grave offense!"

Kakashi scoffed. "An elder? You think that matters?" He leaned back in his chair, his tone turning cold. "Punishing me won't be easy. To the public, I'm Kakashi of the Sharingan—a war hero, the son of the White Fang, and the student of the Fourth Hokage. And who is Danzo? An unknown elder no one really cares about. If you ask a hundred people who Danzo was, ninety-nine of them wouldn't even know."

He smirked, his next words laced with finality. "So in the eyes of the public, me killing him is like him killing a civilian—it would go unnoticed."

His words sent a shockwave through the room. Hiruzen clenched his fists, the weight of reality pressing down on him.

Shikaku, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "Lord Hokage… he's not wrong. Even if we wanted to act, the public wouldn't support it. If we tried to punish him, it could cause unrest."

Hiruzen took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. "Then what do you suggest?"

Kakashi stood up. "You already know what needs to be done. Danzo is finished. Root is no more. It's time to let it go."

Before Hiruzen could respond, Koharu spoke up, her tone sharp. "Let it go? Do you even realize what you've done, Kakashi? Root was a necessary evil, ensuring Konoha's stability from the shadows. Eliminating it has left us exposed!"

Homura nodded in agreement. "This kind of reckless action sets a dangerous precedent. If a shinobi can execute an elder and walk away without consequences, what does that say about our leadership?"

Shikaku sighed, rubbing his temples. "Enough. Root was a liability, and deep down, you all know it. Danzo operated outside the law, and Kakashi merely did what should have been done years ago."

Hiruzen exhaled deeply, his face shadowed with resignation. "For now, this matter is closed. But Kakashi… tread carefully."

Kakashi gave a lazy wave as he walked toward the door. "As always, Lord Hokage."

With that, he left the office, leaving behind a room full of conflicted, uneasy leaders.