Seeing how serious Hiruzen was, no one spoke a word. Everyone except Danzo and the Anbu Guards began leaving the office. Hiruzen suddenly realized something and said, "Fujin, take the Anbu Guards with you. Hand over the Root ninjas you captured to them."
Fujin nodded and said, "Alright."
The Anbu Guards followed him out. As the group began walking out of the building, Homura said, "Fujin, I can understand that you were angry due to the situation, but refrain from threatening other council members in the future. It won't do you or the council any good."
Homura still remembered how brazenly Fujin had threatened Koharu. While he spoke, his tone wasn't overbearing. He spoke as if he was an elder trying to pass wisdom to the young. Hence, no one tried refuting him on the spot.
Fujin nodded and said, "Sorry about that. I was just making a point. Besides, if I really intended to do something like that, I would have just done it. Why would I speak about it and draw suspicions?"
Once again, Fujin's words caught everyone's attention. The two elders and the clan leaders all stared at Fujin. They were forced to reevaluate him once again. Sweat appeared on Homura and Koharu's faces. Fujin's words implied that they need to be more worried about him when he doesn't speak instead of otherwise.
In a way, that was a far greater threat than what he had said in Hiruzen's office. Another way of looking at his words was that if something actually happened to Koharu, he shouldn't be considered a suspect because he wouldn't do something so stupid. It removed all responsibility from him while increasing the threat to Koharu several times.
Before anyone could say anything, Fujin said, "Anyway, it's been a long day and a bloody night. I'll take my leave for now. Stay safe. If the attacker is still in the village, then he might target others as well."
Without waiting for anyone's reply, he flickered out of the building. The Anbu Guards followed him to his house.
Koharu cursed under her breath, "This brat…"
Senju Hiromasa chuckled and said, "The boy is still too young. Don't take his words to heart."
Shikaku agreed and said, "I haven't seen him act like this before. I guess Danzo's actions truly infuriated him this time. Not only did he leave Root unguarded, but he also sent someone with such a dangerous ability to spy on him."
Inoichi added, "Still, his ability to control his emotions is truly unbelievable. At 15, I would have exploded in rage if someone had done that against me in the village."
Shikaku nodded and said, "Yeah. No doubts there. He handled this situation very maturely. Anyway, we can't rest easy in this situation. What Fujin and Danzo said is true. If someone can destroy the Root headquarters in one attack, then our clans aren't safe…"
The attack was truly fierce. Thankfully, there were several protocols in place in Konoha to deal with such situations. While Fujin handed over the unconscious Root ninjas to the Anbu Guards, the clan leaders and the elders immediately got into action and began increasing the defense of the village. None of them wanted for such an attack to fall on their families.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen and Danzo stared at each other in Hiruzen's office. The situation was as tense as before even though no words were exchanged. Seeing that Danzo wasn't explaining himself, Hiruzen sighed and asked in a tired voice, "Why did you do that?"
Danzo said, "Hiruzen, I haven't done anything."
Hiruzen sighed again and said, "What's the point in lying to me? Just tell me the truth and your reason. Otherwise, I'm afraid that the Root will be finished for good today."
Hiruzen could sense the intentions of every clan leader. Now that they had received an opportunity, he knew that none of them intended to let go. In truth, he knew that they were looking for such an opportunity for a long time. But with Hiruzen and Danzo at the helm, they never received such an opportunity. Now that Fujin had provided them with one, they wouldn't rest until Root no longer existed or was heavily restricted.
Danzo could see that as well. He said, "The boy is very suspicious. I only sent them to keep an eye on him. I am not sure why they attacked him or even if they attacked him."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. He asked, "What do you mean by suspicious?"
Danzo said, "I don't have anything concrete about him but my instincts say that something about him is horribly wrong. He was missing from the village for quite some time. And from the day he returned, the attack on Root ninjas began. Even earlier, the two Root ninjas who left the village around the same time as him disappeared as well.
Leaving these two incidents, there is a lot about him that is suspicious. Why has he inscribed so many seals on his house? It's almost as if he doesn't want anyone entering his house. When you proposed including him in the council, I had a couple of ninjas check on him. However, he shares the same carefulness even while he is training, not allowing anyone to look at him. It shows that he is extremely careful for some reason even when he is inside the village. It is not something that an innocent person would do.
Besides, his power has increased too suddenly. A 15-year-old boy being this strong is suspicious in itself. Not to mention, Fujin becoming a Grandmaster in Fuinjutsu out of nowhere is even more suspicious. His rapid improvement raises a lot of questions about him."
Hiruzen heard Danzo. Unknowingly, a look of disappointment appeared on Hiruzen's face. He couldn't even hide it. He couldn't help but think, 'Have you fallen this low, old friend? Shisui was innocent, but his power was indeed a threat to the village if his nature changed in the future. But Fujin doesn't have any such power. Will you suspect every talented ninja that appears in the village no matter how loyal they are?'
The things that Danzo mentioned to be suspicious weren't suspicious at all for Hiruzen. Fujin didn't stop Hiruzen from spying on him when he trained. Though the seals on Fujin's house could be seen with suspicion, Hiruzen knew that it was just Fujin's nature. If he truly intended to do something, he wouldn't have put so many seals in an obvious manner. As for Fuinjutsu, Hiruzen knew that Fujin had spammed Shadow Clones to be able to learn it quickly. He hadn't become a Grandmaster out of nowhere.
Similarly, his strength had also increased step by step. Thanks to Renjiro's reports, Hiruzen's crystal ball and the fact that Fujin regularly asked Hiruzen's help, Hiruzen could see how natural his progress was. The only differentiating factor was how much Fujin trained without taking a break.
If Hiruzen began suspecting someone just for training hard, then every capable ninja in the village including Hiruzen and Danzo themselves should be suspected as well. As such, all Hiruzen saw was that Danzo was being delusional.
Danzo didn't miss the look of disappointment on Hiruzen's face. He asked, "Why are you looking at me like that, Hiruzen?"
Hiruzen said, "I am disappointed in you, Danzo."
Danzo displayed some anger and asked, "Do you want to say that my instincts are wrong?"
Hiruzen replied, "It doesn't matter what your instincts say. You are way out of line with your behavior. There is nothing suspicious about Fujin. You only showed interest in him once he became very strong."
Hiruzen's expression hardened as he said, "Fujin's and Shikaku's words are true. From today onwards, I can't allow Root to operate inside the village."
Danzo's eyes widened on hearing that. He never expected Hiruzen to say something like that. His expression became grim. He was angry for real. He asked in a grim tone, "What are you implying?"
Hiruzen said, "If I let you continue doing what you are right now, it is inevitable that you'll try to eliminate him the same way you tried killing Shisui. If you hadn't meddled back then, then perhaps the Uchiha clan would still be in the village and things might have taken a turn for the better.
I can't change what has already happened. However, if you display even a bit of intention of harming Fujin or any other ninja in the village…"
Hiruzen's expression became extremely serious as he stared into Danzo's eye. He said, "Then I won't show you the same mercy that I showed Orochimaru!"
