Danzō narrowed his single eye.
Behind Hiruzen's righteous condemnation, he felt something colder.
This wasn't about blocking his candidacy.
Hiruzen intended to bury him.
Hiruzen himself felt no less conflicted.
At first, he had only planned to use the losses at Kikyo Fortress to weaken Danzō's chances of becoming Fourth Hokage. As acting Hokage, he could have framed the narrative.
But yesterday's move by Uchiha Jin had changed everything.
It forced him to confront a terrifying reality.
According to information from Tenzō, Danzō had already promised Elder seats to both the Uchiha and the Hyūga. The Uchiha had even participated in Hiruzen's assassination attempt—Kakuzu had been hired through them.
Danzō was deeply bound to the two strongest clans in Konoha.
And Hiruzen—
He had lost the authority of Hokage.
He had lost the moral high ground.
Under those conditions, Minato might not win.
Even if Minato secured the jōnin confidence vote and became Fourth Hokage—
If the Fire Daimyō refused to ratify him, the position would be hollow.
Danzō, with Root's intelligence network, could easily undermine Mito Menma and Koharu. Replace them with Uchiha and Hyūga representatives.
And once that happened—
From top to bottom, the entire administrative structure would belong to Danzō.
Minato would be nothing more than a rubber stamp in the Hokage's office.
As for Hiruzen?
A mere Academy principal, exiled from the core.
Waiting for Danzō's eventual purge.
He understood now.
There could be no mercy.
This meeting was his final chance.
He had to nail Danzō to the wall.
Danzō read the resolve in Hiruzen's eyes.
This would not end peacefully.
He spoke coldly.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"Are you questioning a Village Elder? A Hokage Advisor?"
"What exactly is your current status?"
"You are nothing more than the head of the Ninja Academy."
"And yet you dare lecture this assembly?"
"Know your place."
Hiruzen's face twitched.
He had expected Danzō to invoke rank.
But facing it directly—
The humiliation stung.
He gritted his teeth and pointed toward the portraits of the previous Hokage on the wall.
"Before the former Hokage, there is no seniority."
"There must be hierarchy," Danzō slammed the table.
"Village decisions require consideration of the whole."
"You manage your Academy."
"I owe you no explanations."
"You have no standing to demand one."
Hiruzen's face flushed dark red.
When he had been Hokage, he too had used authority to silence Danzō in disagreements.
But never like this.
Never so nakedly.
The room was utterly still.
No one dared breathe too loudly.
Even Uchiha Jin felt a twinge of regret.
He should have brought peanuts.
This was better than any stage play.
At last, Koharu cleared her throat.
"Danzō."
"If Hiruzen lacks standing, then I, as Village Elder, certainly do."
"The losses at Kikyo were catastrophic."
"You owe the village an explanation."
Danzō glanced at her lazily.
"An explanation?"
"War has casualties."
"Do you believe the other villages emerged unscathed?"
He rose slightly.
"Sunagakure lost over three thousand. The Fourth Kazekage was gravely wounded. Their foundation may not recover for a decade."
"Kumogakure lost roughly three thousand as well. The Fourth Raikage critically injured. The Two-Tails Jinchūriki dead. The Eight-Tails captured."
"Iwagakure lost five thousand. Ōnoki's son severely wounded. The Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchūriki dead."
"And we paid four thousand to achieve that."
"We secured at least fifteen years of peace."
"This was a decisive victory."
"Why should I apologize?"
He shifted from defense to attack.
"And those who died in this war?"
"They are heroes."
"They died for Konoha."
"But those who died in the Third Great War?"
"That is a different matter."
His voice sharpened.
"We were the victors."
"And yet you compromised."
"You appeased."
"You failed to extract due reparations."
"Village finances collapsed."
"Even the fallen could not receive proper compensation."
"You had to coerce noble clans to cover your failures."
"You made our shinobi bleed—and then you made them weep."
"You are the true criminals."
"If anyone should throw themselves from the Hokage Monument, it is you."
"Not stand here and preach responsibility."
The assault was relentless.
Koharu was stunned into silence.
Danzō had never aimed his full firepower at her before.
In the past, his fury was always directed at Hiruzen.
And Hiruzen could end it with a single sentence:
"I am Hokage."
Now—
That shield was gone.
Danzō looked at Koharu with thinly veiled contempt.
Other than Hiruzen, the rest of the upper council are incompetent.
And Hiruzen no longer has the authority to confront me.
For the first time that morning—
Danzō felt confident.
Almost triumphant.
The battle lines had been drawn.
And he believed he was winning.
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