Kakashi's brows knit together tightly as he looked at the aggressive group standing before him.
He hadn't expected Danzō Shimura to arrive this quickly.
This power grab was simply too unsightly.
It wasn't just him, either; even Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had come along.
It was worth noting that back when Kakashi was recommended for Hokage, Danzō Shimura and Koharu Utatane had nearly come to blows.
There was no reason for Koharu not to have noticed Danzō's petty schemes.
Could it be that in this old woman's eyes, even Danzō taking power would be better than him?
This was truly...
You asked for it.
As for Homura Mitokado?
Since he had come here, he had best be prepared to be dealt with alongside the others.
"Explain?"
"Explain what?"
"The Konoha official announcement stated it clearly: the Uchiha Clan intended to rebel. Do I really need to teach Elder Danzō how to read?"
Since Danzō Shimura had actively torn off the mask of civility, Kakashi had no interest in continuing this charade with him.
"Heh, that announcement is merely for the common villagers to see. Did you think this old man would believe your one-sided story?"
Danzō sneered as he looked at Kakashi, who still carried the scent of blood on him, paying no heed whatsoever to that announcement.
"I decided back then that you weren't Hokage material, and look now!"
"How long has it been since you took office, and already so many lives have been lost!"
Koharu Utatane chimed in repeatedly, her words full of acrimony and spite.
"Kakashi, perhaps you should explain yourself," Homura Mitokado said, looking at the two beside him with a hesitant expression.
"Explain?"
"I already told you. The Uchiha rebelled. Are the three of you getting so old that your ears don't work anymore?"
Purple lightning flashed through his eyes as Kakashi looked coldly at the three before him.
"What? Do you intend to make a move right here?"
The corners of Danzō Shimura's mouth curled up slightly, a hidden delight in his eyes.
Still young, after all.
He can't hold back.
As long as Kakashi dared to strike here, Danzō had the ability to turn white into black—to twist the truth completely!
But Danzō was to be disappointed. No matter how much Kakashi wanted to eliminate the three in front of him, attacking inside the Hokage's office was, in the end, not a wise move.
"The Uchiha Clan has been part of the Hidden Leaf since its founding. For decades, they have served as the Konoha Military Police Force, working with great diligence, yet you killed them just like that."
"Is your heart made of iron?!"
"Even if you ignore their achievements, you should respect their hard work!"
Koharu Utatane sighed and shook her head, angrily scolding the Hokage.
Kakashi looked at Koharu with a subtle expression.
The words aren't wrong, but is it appropriate for you to be saying them?
Kakashi remembered clearly that in the original story, when voting on whether to wipe out the Uchiha Clan, this old hag was the most ruthless one.
If they were to kill, then none should be left alive.
The final result was that not even infants or pregnant women survived.
Koharu Utatane could be said to be the most vicious of the "Konoha F4," Hiruzen Sarutobi included.
Compared to her, his current self was far more benevolent.
Kakashi looked at the three of them, leaning back in his chair to slightly soothe his nerves after a sleepless night, then spoke unhurriedly:
"Before we investigate the Uchiha matter, answer me one question first."
Koharu sneered, looking at the Hokage before her. "Ask."
Hearing this, Danzō Shimura felt a slight unease in his heart. They had joined forces to come here precisely to take advantage of the fact that Kakashi hadn't yet dealt with the aftermath of the Uchiha incident, using the momentum of the situation to force his hand.
How could they let Kakashi take the initiative?
But at this moment, it was too late to stop it; he could only watch helplessly as Kakashi voiced his question.
Kakashi gave a cold laugh. Looking at the three people in front of him, his voice was icy.
"I am the Hokage. The Fifth Hokage."
"Who gave you the nerve to join forces and interrogate the Hokage!"
"What are you trying to do?!"
"Are you planning a coup, just like the Uchiha?!"
As Kakashi's words fell, the Hokage's office fell into a momentary deathly silence; one could hear a pin drop.
"Do not hide behind the title of Hokage."
Koharu's expression stiffened slightly, but she withstood Kakashi's gaze and spoke coldly:
"You must provide an explanation for the Uchiha matter!"
Looking at this ungrateful old hag, Kakashi laughed out of sheer anger.
"You want an explanation? I'll give you an explanation."
"But when all this is over, the three of you had better be prepared to pay the price for this joint attempt to force the palace!"
With those words, the nature of this event was set in stone.
No matter the outcome, as long as Kakashi continued to serve as Hokage, the three of them would definitely pay a terribly heavy price for their actions!
These words caused Koharu Utatane's expression to change.
She knew there was no turning back now.
Kakashi's declaration meant that this was a battle to the death between the two sides.
"Guards!"
Kakashi shouted angrily.
"Lord Hokage."
Hayate Gekkō appeared immediately.
"Summon Itachi Uchiha!"
The order given, Hayate Gekkō vanished from the spot instantly.
Looking at Danzō Shimura before him, Kakashi spoke in a chilling voice:
"If Hayate Gekkō and Itachi Uchiha encounter any 'accidents' on their way here, then don't blame me for being unreasonable."
Kakashi could clearly sense that the Anbu originally responsible for guarding the Hokage's building had all been replaced.
It was obvious that Danzō Shimura had seized the opportunity while Kakashi had deployed all the Anbu to suppress the Uchiha Clan, inserting his Root operatives into the gap.
"What do you mean?"
Danzō's expression changed slightly.
"You know exactly what I mean."
"You, who dare to even assassinate a Hokage—what is there that you wouldn't dare to do?"
Things having reached this point, Kakashi had no intention of concealing anything anymore.
As Kakashi's words fell, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado looked at Danzō Shimura in disbelief.
What was going on?
They had originally thought that with Danzō Shimura's cooperation, taking down Kakashi, the Fifth Hokage, was a sure thing.
Who knew their teammate had dirty hands!
"Do not slander me!"
Danzō Shimura spoke, flustered and exasperated.
No matter what, even if he really had assassinated the Hokage, he could never admit it.
"What? Do you want me to bring the Old Man and Tenzō here to confront you on the spot?"
Kakashi said coldly, staring at Danzō Shimura.
"This old man will never take the blame for something he didn't do!"
Danzō Shimura's heart went cold.
Regardless of the outcome, if Tenzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived on the scene, never mind what happened to Kakashi—he was definitely finished!
The current Hokage wasn't the Hiruzen Sarutobi of the past.
It was this ruthless Kakashi Hatake standing before him!
"Is that so? When the time comes, I hope your bones are as hard as your mouth."
Looking at Danzō Shimura, who refused to admit guilt even unto death, Kakashi revealed a cold sneer.
This single incident was enough to completely end Danzō Shimura's political career, not to mention that his actions went far beyond just this.
The behavior of Root during the Nine-Tails' attack, as well as Orochimaru's human experiments—which of these events could this old thing possibly wash his hands of?
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