After Hiruzen went back he sent someone to call cloud village envoys and the council. He looked at Danzo that appeared as soon as he was called and his feeling got worse.
After the council arrived he told them what happened quickly before the envoys arrived. Danzo seemed to be too calm and didn't get nervous at all. Hiruzen was taken back and thought, maybe I misjudged him this time.
The envoys were already waiting so they came immediately intending to make a fuss.
After they entered the leader asked.
"What happened, why were we called so late at night."
Hiruzen looked at the leader and said.
"Weren't there ten of you, why does it seem that someone is missing?"
"Well , one of ours went to buy something to eat, why? Is that not allowed."
"No of course not. But my shinobi didn't notice him leaving, how did he do that.?"
The leader of course wouldn't be stupid to get angry at being spied on while you are in someone else place so he replied.
"Well, I really don't know. He left from the front door, so maybe your shinobi were slacking off."
Hiruzen took a puff and said.
"Well , there's no point in dwelling on this matter. Your shinobi was found sneaking into the huyga compound and kidnapped the huyga princess, so I think you us an explanation."
The leader looked shocked and asked,
"Do you want to frame us, I want to see him and investigate if you aren't trying to sell us some shity story , otherwise I will return to the raikage and tell about all of this."
Hiruzen looked at the confident attitude from the cloud village and immediately thought of something so he looked at Danzo then said to the anbu.
"Bring me the cloud shinobi prisoner."
The anbu disappeared and after a while he came back and whispered something to the Hokage. Hiruzen eyes turned cold then he said.
"I understand. You can return."
Hiruzen then looked at Danzo when he heard the envoy leader saying.
"Hokage, where's the supposed our shinobi is?"
Hokage looked at him and said calmly
"Return for now."
The cloud leader didn't want to budge and said.
"I need to know if something happened to my companion, so where is he.?"
Hiruzen chakra erupted and said again with a cold tone.
"Return for now or leave Konoha and tell the Raikage and tell that the negotiations failed."
Danzo felt his friend anger and was slightly taken back. But he acted like he got nothing to do with this.
The leader of course didn't seem afraid and was about to continue to pressuring but Hamoru said.
"Calm down Hiruzen, for now return and we will continue this conversation tomorrow morning. There's no need to say things in anger so calm down tonight and continue this conversation tomorrow."
The leader looked at homaru and glanced at Danzo who seemed too quiet and thought that the plan may have failed so he said.
"I understand, but if we don't get an explanation for what happened tonight, the Raikage sama won't be pleased."
Then he left.
After they left, koharu asked.
"Hiruzen, what's going on?. Why did you suddenly get angry ?."
Hiruzen kept silent and continued taking puffs from the pipe without answering.
Danzo however was really nervous. When he heard about what happened from Hiruzen what exactly happened, he cursed his luck and was really nervous.
The plan he hatched was quite simple. He lured the cloud envoy by promising him a byakugan and made him agree to his plan.
First you would sneak into the the huyga compound and kidnap the huyga princess .
If you managed to escape,it's your luck. but if you don't , try to get your shinobi to be killed by the huyga . But even if the huyga manged to subdue him without killing him, he would make sure that he dies and let the Huyga take the blame.
You make a fuss about his death, and I will tell Hiruzen to convince Huyga to sacrifice for the peace of the village.
The plan was perfect. He didn't even need to risk send someone to make sure the plan going right, as he might be seen by the Byakugan.
So when he heard from his spies in the anbu that the guy was caught, he just send someone to kill him.
But Fugaku happened to appear and subdue the guy himself.
How did the guy kidnap the Huyga princess in the first place from the supposed the first place in the ninja world in detection the enemy.
How did Fugaku happen to appear at that time. Did he have spies in the cloud envoys ?.
Things went really wrong in such a simple operation that he couldn't believe that this is happening.
"Danzo, do you have something to tell me?."
Hiruzen suddenly spoke in a cold voice.
"What do you mean, Hiruzen?."
Danzo asked back as if he was confused.
"Elder Danzo , I will ask this one last. Did you have nothing to do with this?."
"Hiruzen, Are you implying that I have something to do with this?. I really don't know anything about it."
Hiruzen kept looking at Danzo then said.
"I hope you are as clean as whistle because if not, there will be serious consequences. Know that I will investigate this matter and turn every stone to get the bottom of this."
Koharu and homaru were looking at Danzo with confusion. They didn't understand why would Danzo would do something like this.
Actually, it was really for simple reason . It was to test the unity of Konoha families and isolate the Uchiha and Huyga completely.
As he planned to attack the Uchiha, he wanted to know what the clans reaction would be like. The Huyga clan was the perfect target. They have connections and aren't isolated, so targeting them would allow him to see what might be the worst reaction from the clans if they were targeted.
Also Knowing the uchiha clan nature, they would absolutely stand on the side line, may even gloat in the unfortunate Huyga so if something happened to the uchiha, the Huyga wouldn't interfere.
Not to mention that it will make Hiruzen look bad. But this was just a bonus.
"Do what you got to do, you find nothing."
"I hope so."
Although they still confused, Hamoru still asked Hiruzen.
"What about the cloud village?."
"Talk to them first, then we will see what happens."
Hamoru and koharu nodded then left and Danzo left behind them.
Hiruzen looked at the nack of his friend and then looked at the Anbu outside with his eyes. The Anbu immediately appeared.
"I want a detailed report about what happened. How did the envoy leave undetected? How did he die?. How did enter the Huyga compound and locate the Huyga princess without anyone noticing?, what Uchiha Fukagu was doing there.?
Anyone who is uncooperative will be taken to the torture department. Am I clear?."
"Yes."
The Anbu immediately disappeared. Hiruzen knew letting Danzo leave will allow him to clean up after himself but he can't do anything about it.
He can't arrest an elder based on suspicion alone. Shaking his head, he was determined to clean the root even if it meant clashing with Danzo. His friend had long forgotten our teacher teaching.
Meanwhile Jack felt Hiruzen chakra erupting and he knew that haw really angry and that means that the spy died.
He frowned and couldn't think of a reason why would the spy in the end. Did the cloud village have spies in Konoha's Anbu. He couldn't understand.
Would he still go the Huyga to ask them to sacrifice for the village?. That would be laughable. The Uchiha clan was also more impossible. So are they really going to war?. Mmm not likely. But I should inform Minato of that. He immediately activated a shadow clone , then released to transfer the new information.
Then continued working on the chakra nature transformation.
The next day arrived and Konoha undercurrent was still going on.
The Anbu that went to investigate found nothing in the Anbu team that was responsible for the monitoring. But he did signs of them failing into genjitsui.
The torture department was also a dead end as he found one of Anbu that was responsible for guarding the prisoners yesterday have gone missing.
He went to the Huyga who told what happened yesterday and that Hinata was checking up on her sister when she someone entering her little sister room. So she immediately hid her under the bed and she was taken by the kidnapper.
Hanabi, Hinata little sister, ran to her father and told him.
Then Hiashi pursued him and met Fugaku after Fugaku solved the situation.
Actually Hiashi was also suspicion as he saw someone else there but that guy suddenly disappeared. He couldn't make sense of it so he could only keep it in his heart.
Then the Anbu came to the Uchiha compound. Where he was met with hostile gazes along the way.
He could only endure and then met with Fugaku who was informed about his arrival.
Fugaku story was the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard.
He was worried about the cloud village shinobi who are known for their bad tempers, so he could only do his duty to ensure the safety of his fellow villagers to keep watching over the village.
Fugaku knew that he can't talk about Jack and even if he told them, they would wrong him for not reporting the matter. So he lied with a thick face.
The Anbu captain was speechless but could do nothing except reporting to the Hokage.
Hiruzen kept quiet for a while then asked the Anbu to summon Fugaku .
Fugaku came and met Hiruzen and said.
"Hokage sama, you needed to see me?."
Hiruzen looked at Fugaku and then said.
"Yeah, I want to know what do you think about the cloud village situation."
Fugaku frowned and said.
"Excuse me, Hokage sama . But isn't the situation clear enough."
"Yes, but something happened to the spy yesterday . So we are investigating the situation again ."
Fugaku eyes widened and asked.
"What happened to him?."
Hiruzen looked at Fugaku and knew that he really didn't seem to know but he continued.
"He was killed in the Anbu's custody."
"What?. Did the seal activate on its own or something ."
"We are still investigating,so what do think.?"
Fugaku thought for a while then his eyes changed then asked calmly
"Are you suspecting me.?"
Hiruzen looked at Fugaku for a moment before replying.
"No, I didn't but you have to understand that I have to be through as it's an important matter"
Fugaku calmed down slightly and said.
"I understand but I really have nothing to do with this. It was just a coincidence that I ran into him."
Hiruzen sensed lying when he said he it was a coincidence.
Uchiha are an emotional punch, so they really are not good at lying. Especially because they don't do covert operations or receive Anbu training that they are lacking in that aspect.
But everything else Hiruzen didn't sense him lying so he came to a conclusion.
Fugaku only knew about it but didn't create it. But here comes the question, if he knew about, why not report it. Is it just to the Huyga a favor?.
Hiruzen then said.
"Alright, I understand. Thank you for coming and sorry for the trouble.
Although now isn't the right time, you saving the Huyga princess prevented the leak of our Konoha blood limit outside the village.
So think about what reward would you like to receive and tell me about it after this matter is over"
Fugaku kept silent for a while then said
"It's my duty and I don't need any rewards but I would be grateful if you could tell me where the Senju princess is"
Hiruzen paused then asked Fugaku.
"Why do you need to know her location.?"
Fugaku said.
"I felr itachi my son has some kind of illness. So I took him to Konoha hospital and they said he has a weak physique but don't know the reason. They said maybe only who can figure it out."
Hiruzen kept silent for a while then said.
"I'm sorry to hear about Itachi. Then I will try to find her location and inform you."
"Okay, thank you."
Fugaku left after saying that. He really went to the hospital today with Itachi and found that he really had some kind of illness that weakened his physique but they didn't know the reason and recommended tsunade.
Hiruzen kept thinking before summoning the council.
Homaru and koharu came immediately and Danzo arrived later.
Hiruzen asked "how did it go?."
"They are demanding the killer to be brought up to justice."
"Did you inform them that we don't know the situation yet"
"Yeah."
Hiruzen looked at Danzo and then said.
"Danzo, what do you think we should."
Danzo said.
"I feel Fugaku are suspicious, I think he might be behind this. Uchiha can't be trusted so we should ask him to compensate the cloud village."
Hiruzen looked at Danzo and asked.
"What's suspicious about him.?"
Danzo replied.
"You don't think he is suspicion. He just happened to run into him by accident .?"
"No, he knew about. I talked to him before you came. He lied and I noticed it. But he didn't know anything else."
"Then we should question his source of information and why he didn't report it."
"Oh, then what if he insisted he didn't know anything?."
Hiruzen asked with a sharp tone.
Danzo noticed Hiruzen change of tone but he couldn't back down and said.
"Then, we attack the uchiha."
"Based on what exactly?. Are you listening to yourself?. And what do you think the cloud village or other villages would do when we have a civil war in our house?."
Danzo kept quiet then asked back .
"So what do you think we should then?."
Hiruzen looked at Danzo then replied.
"If the root leader unable to come up with an solution for this matter, then I will need to compensate the cloud ninja with the money that fund the root."
Danzo immediately stood up and yelled.
"What that has got with the root.?"
Hiruzen looked at him with cold eyes and said.
"Well, the root seems to have lost its function if they can't solve Konoha's external threats. So instead of starting another war that we aren't prepared for, it better to spend this money to solve our problem."
"But the root is still needed for sabotage, infiltration, assassination, and manipulating events for Konoha's
greater good."
"Oh, so you sabotage the negotiation for the greater good?."
"What do mean Hiruzen?. Didn't you investigate already and found nothing that connected me with the matter."
Hiruzen erupted with chakra and pressured Danzo as he said in anger.
"Danzo, Do you think that I'm stupid enough not to connect the disappearing Anbu with the root ninja who joined the Anbu after i dissolved the Root officially.?"
Three years ago when Danzo and the root refused to help Konoha defend against the kyubi, because they are needed to safeguard Konoha future.
Hiruzen was forced by this act of treason to give the shinobi an explanation so he officially disbanded it. But unofficially it was still under Danzo for many reasons
Political Necessity: Danzo retained influence via Konoha's elders. Eliminating him risked civil strife.
Hiruzen's Guilt: He felt responsible for Danzo's descent into darkness.
The Darkness Excuse: Hiruzen believed Konoha needed someone like Danzo to handle morally grey operations allowing Root to persist clandestinely for decades
But some root joined the Anbu to show that Hiruzen really disbanded it.
But now it seems that has made Danzo hand reach even the Anbu.
Danzo felt the pressure and knew that his friend was reaching a tipping point.
He either solves the problem or Hiruzen might really disband the root for good this time. He also knew that Hiruzen wouldn't leave alone as he would be afraid if he betrayed Konoha. So he is either imprisoned or killed.
"Danzo, you have until the end of the day. I hope to hear good news soon. This is my last thread of kindness towards you, so cherish it as you have left nothing good for me to remember you with."
Danzo stood there for a moment and then left.
Hamura spoke after Danzo left.
"Hiruzen, are you sure that this wasn't a plot by the uchiha?."
Hiruzen shook his head immediately.
"It's nearly impossible. Fugaku doesn't have that kind of meticulous mind. Not to mention him reaching his hand to the Anbu is impossible let alone targeting the root ninja .
From my meeting with him, he didn't seem to know that know about the prisoner death.
I even suspected Shisui, but he is also not in the village right now. I even checked his whereabouts and confirmed that he is still with his Anbu team."
Koharu then asked.
"What would you do if Danzo couldn't handle it.?"
"Then there really isn't a need for the root to exist."
"Hiruzen, this could lead to a disaster."
"If Danzo dares to betray the village for this , then it's better for it to happen when I anticipate it than to be black sided."
Meanwhile Danzo went to his base and began to think about what to do. He was furious about Hiruzen threats but also felt afraid.
Hiruzen this time, the look on his eyes had an extreme determination written all over it.
He thought for a while, while he may able to kill him, he would be without a doubt buried with him. And his dream of becoming the Hokage would vanish forever.
After thinking for a long time time he went to his personal vault. He took out a container that has two eye balls. They were sharingan eyes with two tomoes .
When he had a transaction with the masked Uchiha , he gave one eye ball with three tomoes and this container plus izanagi technique. The masked man told him that izanagi couldn't be activated with a two tomoes sharingan but he didn't believe it as he wanted orochimaru to confirm his claims, but he didn't as he was suspicious that orochimaru may steal it.
Taking a deep breath, he went and talked to the cloud village envoy leader in secret.
After some time, he came back with a signed peace agreement document .
When The envoy leader contacted the fourth Raikage and informed him about what happened. The fourth Raikage agreed to Danzo plan.
But when the situation got a lot worse, the Raikage informed the envoy that they needed the peace agreement to be signed so they can focus on the rock village. So try to get as much compensation as possible and don't push it too hard.
Danzo entered the Hokage office and handed the document. Hiruzen took it and after reading, he nodded and said.
"Good, seems like the root leader just needed some motivation."
"I will take my leave then."
Danzo left without saying anything.
"Danzo, this will be the last mistake I tolerate, if you happened to make more of them, I really can't protect you anymore."
Danzo standing at the door step didn't reply and left.