Chapter 237: You Are Under Arrest, Danzō!
"Be careful, stand steady."
Tsunade leaned in and whispered softly into Hoshikawa's ear.
Her breath tickled him.
Hoshikawa felt a slight itch in his ear.
"You certainly arrived in time."
Tsunade let go of Hoshikawa, stepped forward, and said expressionlessly.
"We encountered Kumogakure ninja on the way, so we were delayed," Orochimaru said, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
He was further surprised.
Aside from Hoshikawa and Shisui Uchiha, whose faces were pale, Tsunade and Sakumo Hatake seemed to have minimal exhaustion.
And what astonished him most was that none of the four had any obvious injuries.
This was completely different from the mutually destructive scenario he had anticipated.
In contrast, the Kumogakure side—the Fourth Raikage, Killer B, and Yugito Nii—were all unconscious.
Orochimaru was quite familiar with the strength of Tsunade and Sakumo Hatake.
They couldn't have achieved this alone.
The variable, then, had to be Hoshikawa and Shisui Uchiha.
Orochimaru instinctively licked his lips.
Could Shisui Uchiha have genuinely awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?
As a Konoha elder and a research fanatic, Orochimaru naturally knew about the existence of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He had considered testing the waters before, but with Sakumo Hatake around, he never found the opportunity.
Danzō Shimura recovered his senses, his face instantly sour.
He had never dreamed that two Tailed Beasts and the Fourth Raikage would lose so disastrously and so quickly, failing to hold out until they arrived.
What utterly useless trash!
However unbelievable it seemed, it had become a fact.
Tsunade, leading the others, had captured two Tailed Beasts and the Fourth Raikage, raising her prestige to a level comparable to the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
Unless she voluntarily withdrew, the position of the Fourth Hokage would not be granted to anyone else.
The only remaining solution was to eliminate her!
Danzō Shimura instinctively looked at Orochimaru.
He alone could certainly not defeat Tsunade and Hoshikawa.
Only with Orochimaru's intervention was there any hope.
Their eyes met.
Orochimaru instantly understood his thoughts, inwardly calling him an "idiot."
If they were all severely injured, it might indeed be worth a try.
But given the current situation, attempting an attack would likely fail.
If they failed, both of them would have to flee and become rogue ninja.
However, Orochimaru was not yet ready to become a rogue ninja.
The reason was Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Staying in Konoha would provide a better chance to seize the eyes.
Furthermore, could the Mangekyō Sharingan alone truly counter two Tailed Beasts and the Fourth Raikage?
Orochimaru felt there were details he hadn't grasped; rashly acting would carry too much risk.
Especially since his forbidden jutsu was not yet complete.
"Tend to the wounded," Orochimaru waved his hand and instructed.
Tsunade secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
While she didn't fear Danzō Shimura and Orochimaru, she worried about Hoshikawa being injured.
Moreover, she didn't want to see Konoha ninja killing each other.
It was fortunate that Orochimaru hadn't lost his mind over the Hokage position.
"Orochimaru!"
Danzō Shimura couldn't help but urge, his voice laced with anxiety.
He was practically asking, Are you truly giving up the Hokage position?
"Tsunade," Orochimaru ignored Danzō Shimura and said with a faint smile, "I'm curious how you managed to defeat two Tailed Beasts."
"..."
Danzō Shimura trembled with anger but was helpless.
If he were still the leader of Root, he could mobilize Root ninja for a siege.
But Root had been disbanded, and the former Root ninja were incorporated into the Anbu.
The fact that he could mobilize eight former Root ninja was only due to Hiruzen Sarutobi's lingering sentiment.
"Wait a moment."
Hoshikawa released the necklace he was gripping and took Tsunade's hand, pulling her behind him.
"...?"
Tsunade looked at him, confused, not even commenting on the hand-holding.
"Uncle Orochimaru," Hoshikawa stepped forward and asked, "If someone colluded with Kumogakure, what is the appropriate punishment?"
Tsunade frowned slightly.
The moment Hoshikawa spoke, she knew what he was planning.
However, she felt that making it public now was unwise.
But since Hoshikawa had already acted, she could only support him, and she immediately became vigilant.
Sakumo Hatake, Shisui Uchiha, and the others exchanged bewildered glances.
Is there a traitor among us?
"What are you implying?" Danzō Shimura's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively questioned.
"According to Konoha's rules, it's the crime of treason," Orochimaru glanced at Danzō Shimura and asked calmly, "Who are you referring to?"
"Danzō Shimura," Hoshikawa stated clearly, word by word.
"Slander!"
Danzō Shimura immediately retorted in fury. "I am the Advisor to the Hokage! Your claim of treason is utterly preposterous!"
"What is your evidence?"
Orochimaru raised his hand, stopping Danzō Shimura.
But he was internally speechless; your overly intense reaction is basically telling everyone you have something to hide.
"Mabui."
Hoshikawa looked toward Mabui in the distance.
Mabui was slightly startled.
But she was extremely intelligent and quickly understood.
Hoshikawa was referring to the four Root ninja captured by Kumogakure.
Wait!
Mabui suddenly realized something crucial.
How did Hoshikawa know this?
Could it be that he witnessed the entire event? If so, this ambush was already exposed to Hoshikawa and his team.
In other words, they were assured of victory even before the fighting began.
Mabui was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
"How can the word of a mere Kumogakure person be considered evidence?" Danzō Shimura quickly interjected before Mabui could speak.
"That's a fair point," Orochimaru nodded slightly and added, "Hand them over to me; I will conduct the interrogation."
Danzō Shimura's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this.
With Orochimaru's abilities, if Mabui fell into his hands, he could certainly twist the truth.
Danzō could also use the time to erase all traces of his involvement.
"No."
Hoshikawa refused.
What results could possibly come from handing it over to Orochimaru?
"Hoshikawa!"
Danzō Shimura said with a grim expression, "Don't forget, Orochimaru is the commanding officer here!"
"He is indeed the commander, but his responsibility is to lead during the war," Hoshikawa replied, neither hurried nor slow. "The war is over now."
"Excellent!"
Danzō Shimura suddenly sneered. "You are now committing insubordination and slandering the Hokage Advisor! I have the authority to arrest you!"
He didn't hesitate, forming hand signs, and suddenly exhaled a gust of wind.
The wind was blade-like, emanating a sharp, cutting aura.
Orochimaru's mouth twitched.
This was clearly forcing him to act.
"Don't move!"
Hoshikawa stopped Tsunade and the others from helping, then clapped his hands together.
Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!
The ground swelled, and trees burst forth, forming a forest in the blink of an eye.
"Wood Release?!"
Orochimaru's eyes widened, and he froze in place.
He remained still, and the branches and vines didn't attack him.
Orochimaru was incredibly excited, his gaze fixed intensely on the forest before him.
He had collaborated with Danzō Shimura on Wood Release experiments because he knew the invincibility of Hashirama Senju and his Wood Release, and he desperately wanted to acquire it.
Now, a living ninja capable of using Wood Release was right before his eyes; how could he not be thrilled?
"No! Impossible!"
Danzō Shimura was momentarily stunned.
In that instant of distraction, branches and vines wrapped around him.
Danzō Shimura instinctively tried to dodge, but Hoshikawa had already appeared before him, taking advantage of the opportunity.
Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!
The two locked eyes, and Danzō Shimura's face immediately contorted in fear.
More branches and vines surged in, completely encasing him like a mummy.
Tsunade was surprised.
How did Hoshikawa still have the chakra to use Wood Release?
Wait!
Tsunade suddenly detected a familiar feeling from this chakra.
She instinctively looked at the First Hokage's necklace Hoshikawa was wearing.
So that's it.
Tsunade's face showed realization.
She looked at the high-spirited Hoshikawa, her lips curling slightly, and her heart gently fluttered.
This brat looks even better than usual.
"Uncle Orochimaru," Hoshikawa looked at Orochimaru and asked, "Danzō Shimura has been apprehended. Do you have anything more to say?"
Normally, Danzō Shimura wouldn't be defeated so easily, but the sight of the Wood Release caused him to lose focus, costing him the initiative.
It once again proved the saying: ninja warfare is information warfare.
"Truly remarkable!"
Orochimaru extended his tongue, licking his lips, staring at Hoshikawa with urgency and longing in his eyes.
After the failure of the Wood Release experiment, he had turned his pursuit toward eternal life.
Having researched numerous Konoha forbidden jutsu, he had an initial concept for the Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Individual human bodies had limits, so why not just switch to a new body once the limit was reached?
But at this moment, he suddenly realized that Hoshikawa was the most suitable vessel for him!
He's too perfect!
Unbelievably perfect!
Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Kenjutsu, Ninjutsu, and a Bloodline Limit like Wood Release.
Could there be a more perfect vessel in the entire ninja world?
"...?"
Hoshikawa subtly took half a step back.
He could handle that look coming from a woman.
But from a man, it was simply too horrifying.
Undoubtedly, Orochimaru had fixed his sights on him.
However, Hoshikawa wasn't afraid. Strength reigned supreme; no matter what Orochimaru planned, he couldn't defeat him.
"Orochimaru!"
Danzō Shimura barely broke free from the Genjutsu, but he was completely bound and unable to perform hand signs, only struggling instinctively.
"Since you've captured him, temporarily detain him. When we return to Konoha, the old man will determine his sentence."
Orochimaru suppressed his emotions and spoke in a flat tone.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura's friendship was too deep; at most, he would strip him of his authority, not kill him.
"Bastard!"
Although Danzō Shimura understood this logic, being taken down so directly by Hoshikawa was utterly humiliating.
Did he just curse me?
Hoshikawa glanced at him.
The vines and branches immediately tightened, choking him until he passed out.
Just then, three lines of text appeared before Hoshikawa's eyes.
[B-rank Talent Descriptor: Pot Breaker.]
[Trigger Condition: Defeat Danzō Shimura.]
[Effect: All Wind Release jutsu power increased by 100%.]
Hoshikawa let out a soft sound of surprise.
He hadn't expected Danzō Shimura to contribute a descriptor.
In terms of effect, it wasn't bad.
Although the bonus wasn't as high as Water Release, Wind Release countered Lightning Release, making it useful in critical moments.
Of course, the most important thing was that a free descriptor shouldn't be refused.
Hoshikawa waved his hand, retracting the Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
"Hiashi, go to the Konoha main encampment and bring more ninja to clean up the battlefield."
With Danzō Shimura dealt with, Tsunade returned to the main task.
"Yes!"
Hiashi Hyūga replied with excitement.
The stronger Hoshikawa was, the more the Hyūga clan benefited.
He only regretted one thing now.
If he had acted sooner, he might have been able to get Neji Hyūga to apprentice under Hoshikawa.
Hiashi Hyūga quickly departed with his team.
The remaining Konoha ninja immediately got busy.
Medical ninja treated the wounded, while the rest searched for injured and guarded the captured Kumogakure ninja.
"Hoshikawa, come with me."
Tsunade pulled Hoshikawa into a hastily erected tent.
Hoshikawa had just exhaled when fatigue surged from all parts of his body, leaving him extremely weak.
His body swayed, and he fell backward.
Tsunade quickly caught him.
She sank down, kneeling on the rug, and held Hoshikawa in her arms.
"Why do you have to be so reckless?"
Tsunade looked at Hoshikawa, asking with a mix of frustration and helplessness.
In her view, he shouldn't have wasted chakra dealing with Danzō Shimura.
Even though he used chakra from the First Hokage's necklace, it still affected Hoshikawa.
After all, it wasn't his own chakra, making it less seamless to control.
Hoshikawa instinctively pressed his forehead.
The Yin Seal had automatically closed.
He suddenly remembered the consequences of overusing the Yin Seal.
"Did I age a bit?"
Hoshikawa touched his face but found no wrinkles.
"No."
Tsunade said calmly.
There was a very slight difference, but it was negligible and instead added a touch of maturity to his features.
"That's good."
Hoshikawa nodded.
Even if there were side effects, they would disappear once his chakra recovered, likely within half a day.
Hoshikawa regained his senses and realized he was resting on Tsunade's lap.
Her arms were wrapped around him, and various clean scents drifted into his nose, making him feel comfortable.
"Sensei, remember to coordinate with Kumogakure to locate those four Root ninja as soon as possible."
Hoshikawa looked up, trying to see Tsunade's face, but his view was blocked; he could only see the curve of her chest.
"I know."
Tsunade nodded. "I'll have Sakumo and the others handle it."
Those four Root ninja were the direct evidence.
Once they were captured, Danzō Shimura would be unable to clear his name.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't be able to cover for him.
However, getting Danzō Shimura sentenced to death would be very difficult.
Hoshikawa sank into thought.
With Hiruzen Sarutobi involved, it would be theoretically impossible to kill Danzō Shimura; at best, it would be lifelong imprisonment.
But what if he voluntarily defected?
Hoshikawa considered helping him along.
If Danzō became a rogue ninja, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't save his life, and he could then be eliminated.
"Enough, don't worry about this. The priority now is to rest well."
Tsunade extended her hand and lightly flicked his forehead.
"Yes, Sensei."
Hoshikawa was only forcing himself to stay awake. As soon as he closed his eyes, he instantly fell asleep.
Tsunade gently supported his head with her hands and carefully placed him on the rug.
She watched him for a few seconds, then leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead before finally standing up to leave.
Compared to Hoshikawa, she had barely used her Yin Seal, so she wasn't exhausted.
Moreover, with Orochimaru present, she couldn't rest easy. She first needed to secure the evidence of Danzō Shimura's collusion with Kumogakure.
.............
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