Hiruzen Sarutobi, accompanied by Orochimaru and Tsunade, entered the Root's underground base with practiced ease. The sounds of battle grew clearer, interspersed with the dying screams of Root ninjas and the frenzied laughter of Barioo. Hatake Sakumo, leading dozens of elite ANBU, prepared to head to the combat zone ahead of Hiruzen, hoping to control the situation before the Hokage's arrival.
"No need, let's go in together!" Hiruzen Sarutobi adjusted his Hokage hat, his face appearing even more somber in the dim underground base.
Passing through a long corridor, the initially narrow passage suddenly opened up, revealing the figures engaged in combat.
"It really is you, old classmate!" Orochimaru, seeing the bandaged figure wielding a black lightning dragon to slaughter the enemies, curved his lips into an inscrutable cold smile.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade were momentarily stunned, both bewildered. Hatake Sakumo, standing nearby, cast an extra glance at the bandaged figure but still couldn't recognize him.
"Old classmate?"
"Orochimaru, you recognize that person?"
"Black lightning, the chakra fluctuations are not weak. Who is he?" Tsunade glanced at Danzo, who was cowering behind the crowd, with a flicker of disdain in her eyes. After examining the figure like Sakumo, she asked Orochimaru with confusion.
"Indeed!" Orochimaru chuckled lightly. "Transforming oneself into such a state, neither human nor ghost, no wonder you didn't recognize him. Teacher Sarutobi should remember the individual who was declared a rogue ninja for secretly conducting human experiments?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in realization. "Barioo?" "I never thought he would use the results of his human experiments on himself. Truly..." "It seems Danzo used him to complete those experiments!"
Orochimaru nodded, watching Danzo, who was feigning composure after seeing them enter, with a playful expression. "Lord Danzo has courage! To be able to ruthlessly eliminate such a valuable research talent."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo with a cold expression, his voice stern as he reprimanded, "Danzo, harboring a rogue ninja from Konoha, illegally conducting prohibited human experiments, leading to the tragic deaths of innocent villagers, do you have anything to explain to this old man?"
The words were almost identical to Danzo's previous justification for Barioo, but this time the speaker was the Hokage, and the target was himself. Danzo narrowed his single eye, secretly cursing the damned Barioo. His eyes darted, and with a righteous indignation, he retorted, "Hiruzen, don't talk nonsense! Everything I have done is for Konoha! Seeing me apprehend a rogue ninja causing trouble in the village, not only do you not help, but you also slander me! Hiruzen, you have disappointed me too much!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was almost angered to the point of passing out by Danzo's shameless words. Barioo, who was fighting on the other side, felt a desire to retreat upon seeing the Third Hokage himself arrive. Compared to Danzo, the rat hiding in the dark, Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation as a Konoha hero was far more deeply ingrained. Barioo knew that he, who was already struggling against Danzo, would likely be no match for Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was skilled in all-attribute composite ninjutsu.
"Let's escape here first!" With a thought, he grabbed a Root ninja pierced by the Arashi Ki Ryuu, casually drained his chakra, and turned to charge towards the passage through which Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had just entered.
"Meiton – Jashin Metsu!" The ferocious lightning dragon roared, piercing through several Root ninjas blocking its path, clearing an escape route for Barioo. Simultaneously, a blue chakra dragon shot out from Barioo's palm. The black and blue dragons intertwined, crashing towards the group who had just finished their conversation.
"Dodge!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed slightly. With a command, the ANBU ninjas around him immediately scattered to the sides. Orochimaru and Tsunade, without needing Hiruzen Sarutobi's reminder, had no intention of confronting the attack head-on, allowing Barioo, shielded by the two dragons, to slip past.
Barioo glanced back at Danzo with a sinister grin, letting out a mocking laugh. "Shimura Danzo, Konoha is no longer a place for you!" "From now on, you will be like me, a stray dog, living a life of hiding and fleeing throughout the ninja world!" "I'll be waiting for you!" "Hahahahaha!" With his rampant laughter fading, Barioo cast a disdainful look at his old classmates Tsunade and Orochimaru, and without any hesitation, plunged into the passage.
"Orochimaru, go capture him!" "Sakumo, take some subordinates to help Orochimaru. Leave this place to me!" Orochimaru glanced at the grim-faced Danzo and nodded in understanding. He whispered a few words into Hiruzen Sarutobi's ear and turned with Hatake Sakumo to pursue Barioo.
"Teacher, be careful of Danzo's eye!" "It's very likely the eye of senior Uchiha Kagami, and its grade might not be low!" Orochimaru's words struck Hiruzen Sarutobi like a heavy hammer, instantly casting aside the last bit of old affection he had for Danzo. "I had this suspicion before, but..." "If Orochimaru's and my suspicions are both true, Danzo..." "As a fellow disciple of Master Tobirama, you dared to attempt to kill your fellow student." "Then I cannot let you live today!"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's killing intent gradually emerge, Danzo's heart suddenly panicked. Barioo's rampage had resulted in the near annihilation of the Root ninjas Danzo had cultivated openly and secretly over the years. The original force of dozens was now reduced to a mere handful. Behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, besides Tsunade, stood nearly fifty ANBU elites left by Sakumo. In contrast, coupled with the furious Tsunade and the now murderous Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo's heart sank.
"Hiruzen, that rogue ninja is powerful and can use three Kekkei Genkai. Orochimaru might not be a match for him." "Clear the way, I will lead my subordinates to help Orochimaru. Even if Root fights to the last man, I will never retreat!"
Looking at the still self-righteous Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed in disappointment. This person is beyond saving!
"Heh!" "Even now, you can't see what Teacher Sarutobi intends to do?" Tsunade let out a cold laugh, her chakra surging around her. Her already immense chakra reserves seemed even more astonishing, amplified by the nascent Yin-Yang Release within her. "Shimura Danzo, discard your disgusting hypocrisy. Your day of reckoning has come!"
Danzo returned a cold laugh, his gaze still sincere as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Tsunade did indeed bring him a sense of danger, but so what? As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't give the word, who would dare to do anything to him?
Facing Danzo's expectant gaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi grabbed the hem of his ceremonial robe and said in a deep voice, "Danzo, stop!" "Come back with me!" "I will notify Torune, Koharu, and Homura, and we will jointly judge your crimes!" "Otherwise..." Danzo's expression froze, and he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had adopted a combat stance, with disbelief. "You..." "You want to kill me?"