Chapter 374: Disbandment of Root


    Questioned by Hiruzen, Danzo suddenly had a guilty look, although it was only momentary it did not escape Sandaime’s sharp eyes.


    Hiruzen ordered with a serious look, “Danzo, confess.”


    Danzo has kept a lot of secrets from Hokage. Especially rted to the experiments on Shodaime-sama’s cell transntation. Even after Orochimaru defected, he did not stop on these experiments and had continued them all this time.


    Therefore, in the face of sudden questioning from Sandaime, he was unable to deal parry it.


    Koharu asked with a frowned expression, “Hiruzen, what happened that would prompt you to question on such a matter?”


    Sandaime answered while his gaze was still fixated on Danzo, “Remember the shinobi named Tobi I mentioned?”


    Mitokado asked, “The one who can use a Space-Time Jutsu even superior to Yondaime’s?”


    Hiruzen nodded and continued, “Yes him, aside from a Space-Time Jutsu superior to Yondaime, he also possesses Mokuton Kekkei Genkai!”


    “Mokuton?” – Both Koharu and Homura were taken aback.


    Sandaime nodded and eyed Danzo to fess up everything he knows about this Mokuton user.


    Sandaime has made many spections about the true identity of Tobi.


    In his opinion, Tobi being a Senju who awakened Mokuton is very less.


    This is because even among the history of the Senju n, only Senju Hashirama is known to have awakened Mokuton. No one other than him has awakened Mokuton. Not even his younger brothers, children, or grandchildren who are closest to him gically.


    This proves that Mokuton is not a simple hereditary Kekkei Genkai. Therefore, the only possibilities that are left are self-awakening which ispletely unrted to him being a Senju or Hashirama Cell Transntation.


    Danzo sighed, and while pretending to be helpless, he said, “It is probably because of myck of careful supervision on ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’ Orochimaru that such a thing has happened. I never expected that ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’ will take advantage of ‘MY’ kindness.”


    Sandaime did not interrupt and his gaze was still fixed on Danzo.


    Seeing Hiruzen’s sharp eyes, Danzo had to continue, “As ‘YOU’ already know, great Ambitions lurks inside ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’, he managed to steal Shodaime-sama’s Cells as well as the records of past experimentation from the Restricted section because of the poor supervision of ‘YOUR ANBU’, afterward, he started bloody experiments on small children, when I got a hint of the deeds of ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’, I immediately went to apprehend him, as you already know. But he is a shrewd one, he had caught wind that I wasing to apprehend him and managed to escape.”


    Sandaime still did not budge and spoke, “And?”


    Danzo spoke with a bitter look, “… And… and ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’ had actually seeded in this… one of the subjects ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’ chose sessfully survived the transntation of Shodaime-sama’s Cells and awakened Mokuton!”


    “What?!” – Both Koharu and Homura stood up from their seats in shock.


    Sandaime’s expression was gloomier upon learning Danzo’s words. Originally, he was pretty skeptical about the second possibility. He believed that Tobi might have naturally awakened Mokuton just like he uses a uniquely superior Space-Time Jutsu.


    Unexpectedly, Hashirama Cell transntation experiments were being conducted in secrecy without his knowledge. Not only that, there is even a child who survived and awakened Mokuton.


    Sandaime suppressed his anger, and questioned, “Where is that child?”


    Danzo sighed, “When ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’ defected, he took that child with him… me me for being too weak to be able to stop ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’ from stealing away Konoha’s future.”


    Sandaime said, “I want all the information you have about that child, everyst bit of it! Understand?!”


    Sarutobi Hiruzen undoubtedly believes that the Child Orochimaru has taken away is Tobi. This also exins why he can use a Space-Time Jutsu even superior to Yondaime Hokage.


    After all, Orochimaru was also a member of the Akatsuki. Although they are currently unaware of the exact status of Orochimaru, whether he is still part of it or has defected from Akatsuki because he did not participate or even appeared in any battle during the raid, he did join at some point and that’s unchangeable. So, it is very reasonable that the child Orochimaru once took with him is also a part of Akatsuki.


    Seeing that the matter has been exposed, Danzo could no longer conceal it and ryed all the information he had about that child.


    After he had received all the information, Sandaime’s expression turned indifferent and he said, “Shimura Danzo, for the crime of concealing valuable information from the vige’s leader, as well as, conducting forbidden experiments without any permission from the vige’s leader, in the name of Sandaime Hokage, the leader of Konoha, I dismiss you from the leader of Root subdivision. At the same time, the Root subdivision will be disbanded and will be unified into a single Anbu unit under themand of Hokage.”


    Danzo stood up in anger, “Hiruzen, it was ‘YOUR DISCIPLE’ Orochimaru’s doings… I tried my best to st-…”


    Before Danzo could finish his words, Sandaime waved his hand without even looking at Danzo’s face, “There is no need to act innocent, you have as much involvement in this as Orochimaru.”


    Some parts Danzo has said are indeed true, and Hiruzen does not deny it but… Danzo is not fooling anyone here.


    If it was previously, Hiruzen may have turned a blind eye to this information, but… the current situation is no longer the same…


    Both Elder Mitokado and Elder Koharu looked at each other and chose to remain silent.


    If Sandaime had given such an order in normal times, they might have raised objections, but… the current situation is not normal. The threat Konoha is facing currently is no longer normal, and concealing information from the leader of the vige is a serious crime, that Danzo hasmitted that has even given birth to a rogue-nin Tobi.


    As such both the elders had no objection to Sandaime’s orders.


    Angered, Danzo immediately started walking towards the door of the room to leave even though the meeting was unfinished.


    Neither Sandaime nor the other two elders stopped him.


    Just when he was at the door, he tapped his crutch on the floor, and said, “Do not forget Hiruzen, Orochimaru’s most likely and most capable spy… that is Hyuga Kuroto still lurks in the vige. You mentioned that Orochimaru was not at the base of Akatsuki during the raid… who is to say if Hyuga Kuroto did not give out the intelligence of the iing raid on Akatsuki to Orochimaru? Who is to say if the very intelligence of Akatsuki’s base being located in Amegakure was found by Hyuga Kuroto himself, and not passed on to him by Orochimaru? Who is to say whether Hyuga Kuroto did not betray the vige to Akatsuki just like Orochimaru? You should choose who you trust carefully… Watch you back Hiruzen, otherwise, who knows if your trusted Anbu might be the cause of your…” – Danzo did not finish… and left.


    From beginning to end, Sandaime did not even nce at Danzo…


    <em>Click… Shut…</em>


    After Danzo had left, Elder Utatane spoke, “Hiruzen, about what Danzo said in regards to Hyuga Kuroto?”


    Sandaime thought about Danzo’s words, at the same time he also remembered the shinobi named Hyuga Kuroto.


    <em>‘If that is the case then I want to learn Yondaime-sama’s Rasengan.’ </em>


    And after a long silence, he said with a mild smile, “No need to worry… Hyuga Kuroto… is a Konoha Shinobi. I have observed him for the past few years, as well as, taken regr input from Kakashi about Hyuga Kuroto… the child may share some simrities with Orochimaru… but… essentially, he is different from Orochimaru, sometimes, he reminds me of Minato. I am not really sure as to why that is. But I have started to feel as such, therefore, I believe he will not betray the vige to Akatsuki… As for his rtionship with Orochimaru… I think there is no need to worry about that as well…”


    Utatane and Mitokado nced at each other then finally nodded towards Sandaime. If Hokage trusts him… then that’s all that matters. Others can keep saying and thinking whatever they want, it is of little significance.


    “Now, what do you n to do Hiruzen? The Akatsuki ns to collect Bijuu, so it is inevitable that they will attack Konoha at some point…”


    “Kirigakure’s involvement with Akatsuki has to be investigated too…”


    Sandaime nodded, and said, “I have several ns in regards to these…”


    “And what are they?” – Both Elder Mitokado and Elder Utatane were curious.


    Sandaime nodded and exined……


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