UTBW: Ch. 60

"I have naturally thought it through." Hiruzen smiled, and even took off his Hokage robes, handing them over to Genma, saying, "I'll entrust these to you for safekeeping for now."

Genma took them in a daze, a little at a loss. He hadn't expected the Third Hokage to entrust him with the Hokage robes and hat.

This kind of arrangement, regardless of who became the next Hokage, would ensure that he would receive a form of goodwill.

Their faction would also be reactivated.

What a move! he sighed inwardly.

Even though he clearly knew this was the Third Hokage's way of offering a sweet deal, he still felt that the resentment he had harbored after being forced into the Uchiha district had largely dissipated.

And it wasn't just him.

The jonin present, upon seeing this gesture, also had most of the malice and anger in their eyes dissipate.

Hiruzen was using his own abdication as the price to protect Danzō. It was a deal that could be accepted.

You're still a bit too inexperienced. Hiruzen thought smugly to himself, smiling as he looked at Junichi.

While thinking this, a flash of coldness appeared in his eyes.

The boy was only fifteen, what terrifying figure would he grow into in the future? However...

The coldness quickly disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a faint smile.

From now on, Junichi would not be given the chance to grow.

Although he had stepped down as Hokage, he would remain a village elder, interfering with village affairs under the pretext of assisting the new Hokage. His authority would shrink significantly, of course. But if it was for the sake of Danzō, it was worth it.

At that time, the other members of the council would assist his disciple, either Tsunade or Jiraiya, and they would still have overwhelming influence over Konoha.

You can't flip the table anymore now.

He then glanced at Guy, who wore a complicated expression. With him present, even if Junichi lost his temper, Hiruzen would remain safe.

All these thoughts happened in a flash.

On the surface, Hiruzen only paused for a moment, then smiled cheerfully at Junichi, waiting for his reply.

"..."

Silence.

Including Fugaku, all the Uchiha members fell into silence, their brows tightly furrowed, as if forcibly suppressing some emotion.

Junichi, meanwhile, stared blankly at Hiruzen, expressionless.

"Does this arrangement satisfy you?" Hiruzen asked with a light smile.

Junichi didn't reply, continuing to stare at him.

The atmosphere turned solemn. The surrounding jonin couldn't help but feel tense.

One second.

Three seconds.

Ten seconds.

Just when everyone was wondering if he was about to turn hostile, he suddenly broke into a smile, clapping his hands and saying, "Hahaha... This arrangement couldn't be better. I agree."

The jonin present were all stunned. That straightforward?

"You agree?" Hiruzen was surprised; looking at Junichi's smiling face, he suddenly felt a wave of unease. It felt like he had overlooked something. Danzō and the other two also stared at Junichi in astonishment.

He agreed this easily?

"Out of respect for you, the Uchiha clan agrees to hand over everything inside the Root base to the future Fifth Hokage for disposal," Junichi said with a smile.

At the back, the gathered Uchiha, including Fugaku, all wore strange smiles on their faces. These smiles made Hiruzen feel even more uneasy. For the first time in a long while, he felt a chill run down his spine, as if he had just stepped into a deadly trap.

"Now," Junichi said with a smile, waving his hand, "let's talk about something else. Fugaku."

"Yes," Fugaku answered.

Under the confused gazes of the others, he stepped forward with a solemn look in his eyes, staring intently at Danzō's right hand as he questioned sharply: "You've implanted the First Hokage's cells into your right arm, haven't you?"

Boom!

These words were like a boulder thrown into a still lake, causing a thousand ripples. Every jonin present showed expressions of shock and stared at Danzō in disbelief.

Hiruzen's face also turned pale with shock as he looked at Danzō in astonishment.

"Could what Fugaku said really be true?" Koharu was equally stunned.

"You wouldn't do something like that, would you?" Homura asked, horrified.

Back then, with his unparalleled strength, the First Hokage had put an end to the Warring States period and established the hidden village system. Countless clans and ninjas had benefited from that, and they remained deeply grateful to this day. That gratitude, after years of reverence, had evolved into pure admiration and worship!

Almost every ninja grew up hearing tales of him.

They deeply respected him.

And they regarded his body as something sacred, something that must never be defiled or desecrated. Just like how the Mangekyō Sharingan held a sacred status in the hearts of the Uchiha.

Therefore, upon hearing Fugaku's accusation, everyone found it almost unbelievable.

Danzō was a disciple of the Second Hokage, who himself was the younger brother of the First Hokage!

With that relationship, how could he dare to defile the First Hokage?

"How could I possibly something like that?" His expression changed dramatically, and he hurriedly denied it, "This is pure slander! I would never do such a thing!"

He desperately tried to explain himself.

However, the cold sweat pouring down his forehead, the trembling voice, and the guilty, shifty eyes, all clearly told one truth.

Danzō had done it!

Hiruzen stared at Danzō in disbelief.

He had known that his friend was researching Wood Release in secret, but he hadn't expected Danzō to be so insane as to actually implant the First Hokage's cells into himself.

That surgery carried an extremely high risk of death.

"Have you lost your mind?" Koharu couldn't help but curse out loud.

Even though Fugaku's words had been an accusation, his tone had been so firm that she couldn't help but believe it. And now, even before Fugaku had presented any evidence, Danzō's panicked reaction had already given everything away!

"Tell us you didn't do it!" Homura said sternly, staring at Danzō.

"I didn't!" Danzō replied firmly.

However, No one believed him. All the jonin looked at him with disgust, as if staring at some kind of monster.

Pfft—

On the Uchiha side, several members with three-tomoe Sharingan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Silence!"

Danzō, like a powder keg ready to explode, heard the laughter and nearly jumped up, glaring fiercely at the Uchiha side, screaming.

Especially at Fugaku.

Danzō stared at him with twisted features, shouting, "Do you have any evidence!?"

"You can't accuse an elder without evidence." Hiruzen also spoke up for Danzō.

At this moment, he had no choice but to help.

He had sacrificed the position of Hokage to protect Danzō, the sunk cost was too great to abandon him now.

Moreover, if it was confirmed that he had implanted the cells, the resulting scandal would seriously damage their future plans.