Takuya waved his hand dismissively, gesturing for Tsunade to wait a moment. He turned back toward Danzo's small courtyard and said to Pakura, "Keep an eye on that old man. I'll grab the people hiding inside and hand them over to Tsunade. She'll take care of the rest."
"Understood."
Pakura nodded, lazily twirling a kunai in her hand as she followed Takuya into the front hall.
Danzo, already looking visibly thinner and weaker, sat with a grim expression. The loss of weight only made his features appear harsher and more menacing.
"Here to humiliate me again?" Danzo sneered coldly.
"No, no."
Takuya smiled faintly. "I'm just here to grab some people. Don't worry—someone will bring you food soon. After all, you're not young anymore, and going hungry for too long isn't good. Drinking tea and living off ration pills won't cut it forever."
Grab some people?
Danzo's heart skipped a beat, and his pupils shrank sharply.
How did they find out?
He had ensured his men remained hidden in the secret chamber the entire time. They had barely made a sound—eating, drinking, and even relieving themselves quietly to avoid detection. How could they have been discovered?
Seeing Danzo's stunned expression, Takuya smiled smugly. He was thoroughly satisfied with the reaction.
"I've always prided myself on my exceptional sensory abilities," he said casually. "I noticed people hiding in your secret chamber on the very first day. Sorry for letting you hide them for so long."
This damn brat!
Veins bulged on Danzo's forehead as he clenched his fists tightly. He wanted nothing more than to leap forward and throttle Takuya.
The realization that this little devil had known about his subordinates all along—only to toy with him—made his blood boil.
Thinking back to the humiliation he'd suffered in recent days because of these hidden men, Danzo's eyes burned with fury.
"Oh, and one more thing," Takuya added with a smirk. "Keep your experiments hidden better next time. If I find anything shady, you'll really be done for."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Danzo barked, nearly jumping out of his seat.
Pakura, standing nearby, narrowed her eyes and watched him closely. Two glowing fireballs floated silently around her, ready to strike at the first sign of trouble.
For Pakura, the mission was simple: follow Takuya's orders, and don't take the fall for anyone. Whether it was Danzo or even the Third Hokage himself, she would act as commanded.
Pakura understood the rules of survival well. She was under Takuya's protection, and betraying his trust meant losing everything. As long as she remained loyal, even if the higher-ups in Konoha resented her, she could live peacefully.
Danzo, seemingly aware of his vulnerable state and the futility of resistance, grunted coldly and fell silent. He feigned ignorance, pretending not to understand what Takuya meant.
His hidden men had already been discovered. It no longer mattered. Another offense wouldn't make much of a difference.
Danzo comforted himself with the knowledge that the Third Hokage would never take things too far. No matter what Tsunade did, the actual authority still rested with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Takuya, unfazed by Danzo's theatrics, walked toward the entrance of the secret chamber.
Inside, the two hidden subordinates had sensed the danger and quietly moved toward the entrance, as though preparing for an escape.
But Takuya didn't bother with subtlety. He simply raised his fist and slammed it into the wall.
"Boom!"
The entire house shook violently. A loud crash echoed as large sections of the wall collapsed, burying Danzo's two subordinates under the rubble. Their muffled screams rang out briefly before silence fell.
The sheer force of the blow, amplified by Takuya's monstrous strength and chakra control, was enough to incapacitate the men instantly.
Danzo glared at Takuya with hatred, his expression venomous. Pakura, on the other hand, stood there, momentarily stunned.
Without sparing Danzo another glance, Takuya walked over and pulled the two men out from the rubble. Like helpless chicks, they offered no resistance as he grabbed them by the collar and knocked them out cold.
Tilting one man's head back, Takuya pried open his mouth and inspected his tongue. Satisfied, he let the man drop unceremoniously to the floor.
"Well, well," Takuya said, clicking his tongue. "You're really thorough, Danzo. Every subordinate of yours carries the Curse Mark of the Tongue Eradication—so afraid of your secrets being revealed. Too bad for you, this mark can also serve as evidence against you."
"Hmph."
Danzo turned his back to them, letting out a low snort. He knew that arguing was pointless at this stage. As long as the Third Hokage refrained from drastic action, he could endure.
Takuya didn't linger. After dusting off his hands, he turned to Pakura.
"Pakura, tie them up and take them away. Tsunade will handle the rest."
"Yes."
Pakura dispersed her floating fireballs, tied up the unconscious men, and began dragging them out of the house.
As they stepped outside, a group of ANBU operatives arrived. One of them carried a box of food in his hands.
Yawning, Takuya waved his hand lazily. "Clean up inside and leave the food on the table. You know what you're allowed to do and what you aren't, right?"
The ANBU members straightened up nervously. The village had already undergone a major purge, but there were always those who might secretly follow Danzo. Takuya's warning ensured no one stepped out of line.
"Understood, sir. We won't overstep our bounds," one of the ANBU replied immediately.
"Good. Get to work."
The ANBU nodded and entered the house, placing the food on the table before beginning repairs.
The damage was significant—two collapsed walls and a shattered secret chamber. Fixing the house was far more tedious than sealing up the hidden room, which could be done with a simple Earth Release jutsu.
In less than two hours, the repairs were complete. The ANBU also took Danzo's bound subordinates with them as they left, delivering the prisoners directly to Tsunade.
Tsunade, wasting no time, dragged the captured men to the Hokage office and unceremoniously dropped them in front of the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi blinked in surprise at the two ANBU-clad prisoners. "What's going on?"
After a brief explanation, his face darkened, unable to hide his frustration.
How had Danzo still managed to hide people after all the purges?
The evidence was undeniable. The Curse Mark of the Tongue Eradication on the prisoners' tongues made it clear who they belonged to.
At this point, there was no denying Danzo's guilt.
Takuya didn't ask about Danzo's final punishment, and Tsunade didn't tell him.
However, the faint smirk on Tsunade's face said it all—Hiruzen had been forced to make significant concessions.
Whatever the exact outcome, one thing was certain: Danzo's life would only grow more miserable from now on.
Takuya didn't care to know the details. The process was irrelevant. He could already picture Tsunade stubbornly pressing the issue, Hiruzen hesitating to take action, and the resulting compromise to keep the matter quiet.
In the end, Hiruzen must have caved under pressure to prevent the situation from escalating further.
_______________________
Next Bonus: 1000
___________________________
(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 500+ at Patreon com/ Emik01.
And Visit Me On Scribble_Hub for the other chapters
___________________________