"What is the meaning of this, Hiruzen?" Koharu demanded as both she and Homura made their way toward the ter of the hall.

  Hiruzen sighed, losing t of how many times he had done so already. This recisely why he hadn't included them in the meeting from the start. Since he was already pnning to remove Danzo from his position and dissolve Root, these two would have likely opposed it.

  But now there was nothing he could do; either Danzo would die, or Konoha would face a deadly civil war, just like the Blood Mist Vilge.

  "We know what he did was wrong, but you 't fet all the things he has done for the vilge. The death penalty is too harsh, Hiruzen," Homura said in the most serious voice he could muster, trying to act as impartial as possible.

  "I agree with Elder Homura, Lord Third," Fugaku interjected. "It would be uo know only one side of the story. I would like to once agaihe Yamanaka 's expertise to show us what Danzo has done and the reasons behind his as.

  However, I strongly request to be part of the group. The number of Sharingan we recovered from the Root base is very ing. From the t, it seems that more than 50 pert of the Uchiha shinobi who died during missions have had their Sharingan stored in Root bases."

  This was the st thing Kaida had asked Fugaku to plete. Acc to him, there might be a ce that Danzo had kept some captives alive for live experiments.

  Even if Kaida hadn't poihis out, Fugaku was already pnning to iigate. The problem was getting Hiruzen's permission, but now the situation was so mu his favor that it would be utterly foolish not to pursue it.

  Both Koharu and Homura's faces went pale. If this iigation happehey would also have to face punishment too, because they already knew about some of Danzo's experiments and had decided to keep quiet, while also receiving gifts from their old friend.

  "Do you even know what you're saying? You want to viote the mind of an elder of Konoha?" Koharu shouted, as if she had heard the most offehing in the world.

  "Ex-elder, who had killed hundreds of my allies," Shibi retorted, his voice filled with killing i. "Fet vioting his mind; if I were to do what I actually want, he would plead for death himself after I'm doh him."

  The main reason for Shibi's anger was that just a couple of days before Fugaku called for the meeting, Danzo had asked for Shibi's son, who had shown many qualities of a genius to be recruited in Root.

  Shibi was sure that given time and proper training, his son would easily surpass him and might even bee an S-rank ninja. When Danzo requested him, Shibi wao refuse, but Danzo forced him with his authority, spouting rhetoric about sacrifice for the vilge.

  Shibi had asked for some time befiving a reply, trying to figure out a way to protect his son. After seeing what had happeo other Aburame inja who were under Root or captured by them, the thought of his son fag the same fate made Shibi want to kill Danzo in a way that would shred even his soul from the pain.

  "There is no need for that," Hiruzen interrupted, not wanting t things out further. "As I have already said, Danzo is going to die for what he has doo the vilge's shinobi."

  "I apologize, Lord Third, but I must insist on my request," Fugaku persisted. "The reason for this is crucial for me and everyone else here..." Though he called it a request, there was no possibility that he would accept a refusal.

  "Fine. Inoichi, you help us?" Seeing no ces of Fugaku bag down Hiruzen ceded.

  "Lord Third, you please remove the seal from Danzo's brain first?" Inoichi asked, already sensing a seal simir to the one Root ninja had, only this one was much more deadly for aempting to read Danzo's mind.

  Hiruzen nodded and pced his hand on Danzo's head. After five minutes, when he had almost removed the seal, he was surprised to find a message embedded within it:

  "Hiruzen, I know this is you. No other person would be able to remove this seal this far. Since you're doing this, it means I'm going to die. Looks like I really screwed up, huh? Well, sorry for everything, and thank you for believing iil now."

  Hiruzehis could very well be Danzo's st-ditch effort to manipute his emotions, but the situation had progressed to a point where, even if he wao, there was nothing he could do now.

  'It's all for the vilge, my friend,' Hiruzen thought as he removed his hand and o Inoichi to proceed.

  Inoichi got straight to business. "I will be able to share the memories with five people," he said, sitting directly in front of Danzo.

  Hiruzen looked toward Fugaku and Shibi, knowing he would have to include them.

  "I will be part of the group as well," Homura said, hoping to see the memories firsthand and e up with excuses if anythied to him surfaced.

  "Shikaku, join us as well," Hiruzen added, knowing he would need a capable person to help him make rational decisions after seeing the memories.

  With the group of Hiruzen, Homura, Shikaku, Shibi, and Fugaku surrounding Inoichi, everyone else remained seated. The tension was so high that one might have thought the Freat Ninja War had already begun.

  Everyoouched Inoichi as he began making many hand signs, then decred:

  "Yin Release: Memory Share Jutsu!"

  All six of them closed their eyes as they began to see Danzo's most impactful memories, which were the easiest to access and share. Inoichi could access plete memories too, but he wasn't doing so at the moment because it would require an enormous amount of tration and chakra, which he couldn't manage while sharing memories with five other people.

  The first se they witnessed was of Danzo on a team led by the Sed Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Everyone could feel the deep respect Danzo had for Tobirama. They saw many ses of Danzo being trained alongside his teammates, with two individuals particurly highlighted in these memories:

  The first was a boy with dark brown hair, all of it pointing upward, possessing unparalleled talent. This person absorbed every teag of Tobirama Senju like a spo remained humble, helping his teammates whled to grasp the lessons. This was Hiruzen Sarutobi.

  The sed was an anomaly: a handsome young boy with dark bck hair and eyes of the same color. Though not as naturally talented as Hiruzen, he possessed something that made his learning speed parable - a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan. Even though Tobirama never fully trusted the Uchihas, this person was different. With a pure heart and a will to protect the vilge, he had found a p Tobirama's team - Kagami Uchiha.

  Although they were all friends, Danzo was quite jealous of both of them. Even though he was talented in his ht, they were simply better than him. There was no denying it, but he still sidered them his friends.

  The memory shifted, and they saw various missions where Kagami saved Danzo's and Hiruzen's lives many times with the help of his Sharingan. Though Danzo was grateful fami's help, he began to think that if he had those eyes, he would be just as good as Kagami.

  Finally, the memory that had the biggest impa Danzo's mind pyed out:

  Tobirama and his guard squad were sitting in a jungle, alert and ready to attack at a moment's notice. Tobirama said, "We will not be able to shake them off. It's impossible for all of us to reach the vilge."

  The meaning behind his words was clear. A team of S-rank ninja, including the Gold and Silver Brothers, had bee after Tobirama's life. This was a carefully ptack. Someone had to stall the enemy so the Hokage and others could reach the vilge safely. Danzo wao volunteer for the sacrifice.

  'e on, don't be afraid... You do it,' he thought to himself. But before he could act, he saw Kagami starting to raise his hand. Before Kagami could fully volunteer, Hiruzen spoke up:

  "Lord Sed, I will stall them for some time. Please return as quickly as you ." There was a smile on Hiruzen's face, as if he was happy to give his life for the vilge.

  "Good," Tobirama replied. "Hiruzen, I appoint you as the Hokage of Konohagakure. All of you will support Hiruzen from now on."