One of the top advisors of the Hidden Leaf Village in the Land of Fire, Koharu Utane, who is over 70 years old, is pregnant.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the Hokage's office, including Jiraiya, widened their eyes, their jaws nearly dropping to the ground in shock.
"Koharu, is this true?"
Mitokado Homura's voice trembled, his old face flushed as he looked at Utane Koharu with a mixture of disbelief and excitement.
He couldn't believe that he could have a child at such an old age.
"I'll explain later," Utane Koharu said, her cheeks turning red. Being a medical ninja, she already knew her condition but hadn't figured out whose child it was.
What Homura didn't know was that during a recent gathering, he had been unconscious for a time. During this period, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo took his place one after the other.
Danzo originally had no intention of stepping in but eventually did so due to his possessiveness over Koharu. Being a handsome man in his youth, Danzo's influence during that moment proved overwhelming for Koharu.
To this day, Homura remained clueless about the events, as he was too embarrassed to look at the compromising photos that surfaced from that night.
Hearing the exchange between the two advisors, Jiraiya's mouth twitched. He awkwardly said, "Congratulations to the two of you."
"Jiraiya, enough jokes. Let's focus on the matter at hand," Utane Koharu scolded before shifting her attention to Tsunade. Clearing her throat, she asked, "Tsunade, what do you plan to do about Hiruzen and Danzo?"
Upon hearing this, Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya before turning the question back to Koharu and Homura. "Do the two of you have any suggestions?"
"Ahem," Homura coughed lightly, regaining his composure. "Hiruzen made mistakes, no doubt, but I can assure you the Nine-Tails Rebellion wasn't his doing. We hope you can give him a decent farewell as the Fifth Hokage. This is all we ask."
Both advisors bowed deeply to Tsunade, surprising everyone in the room.
"There's no need for that. Kakashi came to me earlier, and I've already decided. Hiruzen's funeral will proceed as a Hokage's should," Tsunade stated calmly.
Koharu and Homura visibly relaxed, grateful that they could honor their old friend.
"Now, about Danzo," Tsunade continued, her tone growing colder. "Let's not even discuss his involvement in the Nine-Tails Rebellion or the death of White Fang. Just the fact that he transplanted my grandfather's cells and stole so many Sharingans is incriminating enough. The villagers of Konoha are watching. If we allow corruption to persist, it will destroy morale."
The advisors exchanged uneasy glances before Koharu tentatively suggested, "What about solitary confinement?"
"Danzo's confinement hasn't been lifted yet," Tsunade replied with a shrug.
"Remove all his positions?" Homura added hesitantly.
Tsunade snorted. "What positions does he even have left? And even if we strip him of all authority, as long as that cursed tongue-eradication seal exists, his subordinates in Root will still follow him."
Koharu frowned, her concern evident. "So, what do you intend to do?"
Homura quickly interjected, "Tsunade—no, Lady Fifth Hokage—please reconsider. Konoha has only just begun recovering from Orochimaru's attack. We can't afford more chaos. Pushing Danzo too far might provoke him."
"It's precisely because you've protected him for so long that he's been allowed to act recklessly," Tsunade snapped. She pulled a stack of documents from her desk and slammed them onto the table. "Look at these. They document everything Danzo has done over the years."
"Let's focus on recent events," she continued. "You're all aware of Fujiwara Kirito, aren't you? He's the young man who's caused quite a stir in Konoha recently."
"Originally, he should have been one of Konoha's finest, contributing to the village's protection. But Danzo's interference changed everything. In exchange for sparing his best friends in the Uchiha clan, Kirito was betrayed. He fled Konoha, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Uchiha Itachi, manipulated by Danzo, massacred his entire clan, including his own parents."
"And what did Kirito gain? Nothing. His friends were killed anyway, and Danzo even tried to assassinate him. The Sarutobi and Shimura clans' destruction can be largely attributed to Danzo's machinations."
Tsunade flipped to another document. "Then there's Kabuto Yakushi. Once a promising Konoha ninja, he was driven to Orochimaru's side because of Danzo. Using threats, Danzo manipulated Kabuto and his adoptive mother, Nono, forcing them into a deadly confrontation. Kabuto accidentally killed Nono and became a pawn for Orochimaru."
Turning to Jiraiya, Tsunade added, "And let's not forget the Akatsuki organization. Once a peace-driven group, it was corrupted due to Danzo's interference. Now, they're a major threat, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike Konoha."
"Danzo has brought nothing but hatred to Konoha," Tsunade concluded. "I'm not like the Third Hokage. I don't need someone like Danzo to do the dirty work. He must face punishment."
"What kind of punishment?" Jiraiya asked, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a serious expression.
"Disband Root completely," Tsunade said firmly. "And when I say disband, I mean for real, not just in name. Additionally, Danzo must surrender the Sharingans and the arm infused with my grandfather's cells. Considering his contributions to Konoha, I'll allow him to live under house arrest for the rest of his life."
"That's essentially a death sentence for him," Jiraiya remarked, glancing at the advisors. "What do you think?"
Koharu and Homura exchanged bitter smiles.
Tsunade's punishment, while harsh, was justified. Danzo's actions had caused untold damage to Konoha.
But they also knew Danzo's ambitions. Stripping him of Root and his enhancements would crush any hope he had of becoming Hokage.
"I fear he may rebel before this order can be enforced," Koharu admitted, her voice heavy with concern.
(End of this chapter)
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