Chapter 69: Count Your Sins, Shimura Danzō

When Uchiha Iizumi’s voice rang out, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt an immediate, chilling premonition.

To publicly strip Danzō of his position before the entire Leaf Village populace—without sparing him a shred of dignity—was exactly the move Hiruzen had anticipated, and exactly what Hyūga Hiashi had suggested. It was the strongest action he could take, a bold gesture meant to both punish Danzō and soothe the bloodline clans uneasy with his influence.

But he hadn’t counted on one thing: Uchiha Iizumi wouldn’t be placated.

“Kid,” Danzō snarled, his eyes dark with venom, “what do you think you’re doing?!”

He hadn’t forgotten—his twelve Root operatives had died in a single day, all slain by this cursed Uchiha child. And even his Summon Beast, Dream Mō, had fallen. That loss cut deeper than any other. Dream Mō wasn’t just a beast—it was his greatest weapon, his lifelong partner. Losing it was like losing a piece of his strength, his very edge.

And yet, Iizumi didn’t react. He remained expressionless, his gaze fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

“Third Hokage,” he said, voice calm, “is this truly your verdict? Removing Shimura Danzō from office?”

Hiruzen opened his mouth—but before he could speak, Iizumi added, “Truly, you’re a nest of vipers. A perfect alliance of corruption. And yet, you still dare to pretend this is justice?”

Hiruzen’s face darkened instantly. He hadn’t expected the boy to turn on him so openly.

Fugaku, sensing the tension, stepped forward. “Iizumi…,” he warned.

“You’re too soft, Fugaku,” Iizumi said coldly, glancing at him. “Can you really forgive everything Danzō has done to the Uchiha clan? To innocent civilians? Just like that?”

He didn’t even bother with titles—no “Head of the Clan,” no “Family Patriarch.” The dismissal was absolute.

“And you,” Iizumi continued, “what right do you have to pardon him? What right do you have to downplay this? To bury it?”

Fugaku’s stern expression cracked. For some reason, he felt a strange shift in the air—his own clan members were looking at him with unfamiliar, probing eyes.

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Among the ranks of the Leaf Village Anbu, Kakashi’s face twitched with weary resignation.

He’d known it. Anything tied to Uchiha Iizumi never ended quietly.

Especially now, with Iizumi’s power growing, his influence spreading. There were few left who could truly restrain him.

Maybe… if the Hokage hadn’t brought so many Anbu with him, even he wouldn’t have been able to stop Iizumi.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, Kakashi felt it—a flicker of attention, like a whisper on the wind.

He turned sharply, scanning the rooftops in the distance.

His eyes narrowed.

For a split second, he saw a silhouette atop a distant building. Then—gone. Vanished.

“…He’s sharp,” came a soft, distant voice from the shadows. A hooded figure, cloaked in black, spoke quietly to himself. “Kakashi… you’re sharper than I thought. Did I just imagine it? Or… did that kid just glance in my direction?”

But it was only confusion. Once, he’d needed Minato’s protection just to survive a clash with Iizumi.

Now? He believed he was no longer inferior.

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“Shimura Danzō,” Iizumi said, standing firm under the man’s furious glare. “Of all the people in the Leaf Village, you carry the heaviest burden of evil. It’s endless. Unquantifiable. Unbearable.”

He paused.

“Minor crimes? Theft, petty fraud—those deserve a month in jail, a lesson. But you? You’ve murdered countless innocents. Committed unspeakable atrocities. And yet—you stand here, breathing, growling like a dog, unharmed?”

He stepped forward.

“Why do you still live?”

Danzō’s forehead twitched, veins bulging. He couldn’t afford silence. Not now. Not with the monkey—Hiruzen—turning on him.

“I was only taking what was left behind after the Ninja War!” Danzō spat. “The Sharingan? I found them. That’s all. Removing me from office is the highest punishment possible. Or are you just using your so-called Absolute Justice as a cover—to murder people under the guise of righteousness?”

He struck first, throwing the accusation back at Iizumi.

But Iizumi didn’t flinch.

“Is that so?” he asked, voice even. “Then how do you explain Shisui’s Sharingan?”

Danzō’s eyes widened. His pupils contracted.

That was impossible.

The Uchiha clan around him erupted in shock. Hiruzen’s expression darkened with sudden realization. The Anbu narrowed their eyes, suspicious. Even the civilian ninja and bystanders stared at Danzō with dawning horror.

Uchiha Shisui.

A name etched into memory. A genius. A legend.

And yet, he was dead—before his time. The cause of his death had never been confirmed. Rumors swirled. But nothing concrete.

Until now.

“Liar!” Danzō snapped, voice cracking. “Don’t you dare slander me! I didn’t kill Shisui!”

But Iizumi stepped forward again, his gaze locking onto Danzō’s.

That stare—calm, unblinking—made Danzō’s stomach twist. He felt a strange urge to look away. He did look away.

And that terrified him.

How could I be afraid of a child?

Iizumi spoke, as if reading from a book only he could see:

“One year ago. You orchestrated a trap. You injured Shisui severely. You took one of his eyes. Your actions—indirectly—forced him to jump off the cliff.”

Danzō froze. His breath caught. Cold sweat prickled his palms.

He knows. He knows everything.

Even Fugaku—once determined to bury the scandal—now stared at Danzō with disbelief.

Then, Iizumi shifted his focus.

“Hatake Shūmatsu,” he said, voice low. “How do you explain that?”

The words hit like a thunderclap.

Kakashi stiffened. His head snapped toward Iizumi.

Hatake Shūmatsu…

That name hadn’t been spoken in the village in years.

“Years ago,” Iizumi continued, “you deliberately manipulated public opinion. You sent your subordinates to smear Hatake Shūmatsu’s reputation. The pressure drove him to take his own life.”

Danzō’s hands trembled. His face turned pale.

He looked like a man who had just seen a ghost.

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end