CHAPTER 38

Land of Fire, Konohagakure

Night had fallen over Konoha, the evening wind carrying the scent of burning wood and distant ramen stalls. The village's lights flickered against the darkness, painting a peaceful scene—one that sharply contrasted with the storm brewing in the home of the Third Hokage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, walked through the familiar streets, his gait steady despite his advancing age. He tugged at his Hokage robes, his expression one of quiet contemplation.

"The wind is restless tonight," he murmured to himself, brushing off a stray leaf that had settled on his shoulder.

He looked up at his home in the distance, its lanterns glowing warmly. A sense of satisfaction filled him. The village was at peace, the new generation thriving. He chuckled to himself and, almost instinctively, recited an old saying:

"Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."

He smiled, though his expression faltered for just a moment.

At the entrance of his residence, Uchiha Satoshi stood motionless, his arms crossed, his Sharingan inactive but his sharp gaze unwavering. He had been waiting.

"You're here," Hiruzen greeted with a warm smile. "Haven't been waiting long, I hope?"

Satoshi's expression was unreadable. "Just arrived."

Sarutobi retrieved his pipe, lighting it with a small burst of chakra-infused fire. His eyes, wise and calculating, studied the young Uchiha.

"Even though he's under Uchiha Bai Ye's influence, he still responded to my summons."

This was promising. Hiruzen knew that if he could create a divide between Uchiha Satoshi and Bai Ye, there might be a chance to sway him. That was why this meeting was important.

"It's good that you came," Hiruzen continued, his voice kind but firm. "We have much to discuss."

But Satoshi didn't move.

"What's wrong?" Hiruzen asked, tilting his head slightly.

Satoshi hesitated. "…Do I have to go in?"

Hiruzen frowned. That was an odd response.

"Of course," he said smoothly. "It's just a discussion. Come inside."

But something about Satoshi's posture seemed off. His gaze flickered toward the house, his fingers tensing slightly.

Sarutobi dismissed his concerns. "He's just wary of how this might be perceived by Bai Ye. That's natural."

With a reassuring chuckle, he placed a hand on Satoshi's shoulder and led him toward the entrance.

The door creaked open.

And then—everything changed.

The warm, homely atmosphere shattered as Sarutobi's eyes landed on the scene before him. His smile vanished, replaced by stunned silence.

His wife, Sarutobi Biwako, was in the arms of none other than—

"Danzo?"

The air grew heavy. The flickering candlelight cast grotesque shadows across the room, highlighting the undeniable truth. The man he had trusted for decades, his closest advisor, the leader of Root… was entangled with his wife.

Silence.

Then—

"WHAT?!"

Sarutobi's rage erupted like an inferno. His pipe clattered to the ground, forgotten. The weight of betrayal struck him harder than any jutsu ever could.

Biwako recoiled, her eyes widening in feigned innocence. She pointed an accusing finger at Danzo.

"He… He forced me!" she declared, her voice trembling.

Danzo's single visible eye widened in disbelief. "You lie! You—"

Sarutobi's hand lashed out, striking Biwako's cheek with a sharp smack!

She gasped, holding her face in shock.

Danzo sneered. "You didn't say that a moment ago," he spat. "You kept calling me Brother Danzo! You even said—"

Smack!

This time, Sarutobi's palm struck Danzo with such force that the man stumbled back.

"YOU—BASTARD—!" Hiruzen's voice was thick with fury, his Hokage composure nowhere to be found. "How DARE you—!"

Danzo growled, his patience snapping. He straightened, ignoring the tattered state of his robes.

"This isn't what it looks like!" he protested. "It was she who—"

"You're finished."

The voice cut through the tension.

Danzo and Sarutobi turned sharply.

Uchiha Satoshi stood firm, his expression serious, his gaze unwavering. He stepped forward, voice ringing with authority.

"Senior Biwako," he addressed her coolly, "you just stated that Shimura Danzo forced himself upon you."

Biwako, clutching her cheek, nodded fervently. "Yes! He—he did!"

Satoshi's eyes flashed.

"Then as a member of the Konoha Military Police, I am placing Shimura Danzo under arrest for the crime of assault."

Silence.

Then—

"WHAT?!"

Danzo's rage boiled over. "You little—!" His hand darted to his kunai pouch, moving with the deadly speed of a veteran shinobi.

But Satoshi was faster.

The tomoe in his Sharingan spun violently. A surge of chakra erupted from his body, the oppressive force of an awakened Mangekyō Sharingan filling the room.

A skeletal hand of pure chakra materialized around him, blocking Danzo's strike effortlessly.

Susanoo.

Danzo froze. His kunai barely scratched the hardened chakra. His one visible eye reflected the glowing, skeletal figure that now stood before him.

"Impossible…" he whispered.

Satoshi's expression remained cold as he clenched his fist. The skeletal hand mimicked his motion, seizing Danzo in a vice-like grip.

The house shook as Danzo was forcefully yanked off his feet.

Then—

CRASH!

The wall exploded as Satoshi hurled Danzo through it, sending him sprawling into the streets of Konoha.

The commotion immediately caught the attention of patrolling guards. Torches flickered to life. Voices shouted in confusion.

Satoshi leapt through the ruined wall, landing gracefully beside Danzo's crumpled form. He straightened, projecting his voice for all to hear:

"The Konoha Military Police are conducting an arrest! Step aside!"

Gasps rippled through the gathering crowd. Whispers spread like wildfire.

Danzo, the feared leader of Root. Being arrested?

Satoshi's gaze flickered to Sarutobi, whose face was pale with disbelief. He turned back to Danzo, his grip on Susanoo tightening.

"For the crime of attempting to assault the Third Hokage's wife," Satoshi declared, "I, Uchiha Satoshi, hereby take Shimura Danzo into custody!"

Danzo thrashed in his grip, furious beyond words. But he could do nothing.

He had lost.

Sarutobi sank onto the ruined remains of his couch, his entire body trembling. His Hokage hat slipped from his head, tumbling to the floor.

Biwako, still clutching her cheek, sat beside him.

Her eyes gleamed in the firelight.

As though she were reminiscing.

JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 30+ CHAPTERS

patreon.com/Prince209