157. Slipped Up!
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Silence. Then—
"Pfft—Hahaha!"
Neji chuckled aloud, unable to hold it in.
Everyone turned to him, startled. Even Danzo's face stiffened.
Tsunade and Hiashi frowned, confused. His evidence had just been destroyed what could possibly be funny?
Danzo's voice was cold and sharp. "Enough games. Arrest Hyuga Neji immediately. Interrogate him."
Tsunade stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "Danzo. This is the second time you've overstepped your authority. Need I remind you… I am the Hokage?"
Her words sliced through the tension like a blade.
Danzo gritted his teeth behind clenched lips, his knuckles whitening on his cane.
Tsunade turned to Neji. "Explain. Now."
Neji straightened his back, voice calm. "It's simple, Tsunade-sensei. The destroyed camera? That alone proves part of my innocence."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "How?"
Neji pointed to the shattered lens and scorched metal. "Look closely. The break pattern, the charring it's fresh. Standard forensic signs."
Tsunade gave a nod. Several ANBU with forensic training stepped up and examined the damage.
"The destruction is recent within the last three to four hours," one confirmed.
"I was asleep at home during that time," Neji continued. "Hanabi can confirm that. Besides, why would I destroy the one thing that could prove I'm innocent?"
He gave a small, knowing smile.
"…and I designed this system myself."
Gasps rose from the room.
Neji reached into the wreckage and retrieved a small, intact memory core. He walked over to a nearby monitor and plugged it in.
The screen flickered then activated.
Grainy footage filled the screen.
Scene one: A group of masked Root agents enters the lab. They inspect the sealed jars. Nothing is touched.
Scene two: One hour later. Another group arrives. This time, one figure removes Neji's synthetic test eyes and replaces them with real Sharingan.
Pause.
Everyone stared at the frame clear, damning. The switch was obvious.
Tsunade's face darkened. Hiashi's fists clenched.
Their eyes turned to Danzo.
Danzo's expression didn't change. "Not my men. Someone's trying to frame me."
He even dared to sound offended. "I'll find out who dared to orchestrate this, Neji. You have my deepest apologies."
He turned to leave like nothing had happened.
But—
"Wait, Danzo-dono."
Neji reached out.
RIP!
His hand "accidentally" caught Danzo's sleeve tearing away the cloth and the bandages underneath.
Dozens of Sharingan were embedded in his arm.
Everyone froze.
Even Danzo couldn't hide it this time. He backed up, cloak fluttering, Sharingan exposed in the pale light.
"Secure him," Tsunade barked.
ANBU moved in instantly, surrounding Danzo like a pack of wolves.
Neji quietly stepped back, his job done.
Now it's not my battle anymore.
The gamble had paid off.
---
Danzo's eyes flicked between everyone. Then, slowly, he lowered his sleeve and lifted his twisted arm proudly.
"So what if I use the Sharingan? It's for the sake of the Leaf! You don't know what I've sacrificed! Hiruzen was too weak too indecisive! It was I who protected this village from the shadows."
"You turned yourself into a monster," Tsunade hissed, "and dared to claim it was for Konoha?"
Danzo's voice rose. "Without me, Konoha wouldn't have survived the Third War! These eyes are weapons tools to ensure our strength! To protect our future!"
Tsunade trembled with rage. "Enough!"
"I hereby revoke Danzo Shimura's position as Konoha Councilor. You are stripped of all authority. The root is to be disbanded immediately. All members detained and interrogated."
Danzo's calm cracked.
"You dare?!"
Tsunade stepped forward, chakra surging with her wrath. The floor beneath her shattered, cracks spiderwebbing through the room.
Even Neji winced. My lab…
Tsunade snarled, "You think you're above the village? That you can play god with people's lives?"
"That arm… You used my grandfather's cells, didn't you?"
Danzo said nothing. His silence was admission enough.
Now surrounded, exposed, and disgraced Danzo faced a choice:
Surrender? Or make a final move?
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