I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 505: The choice you make comes with its own consequences.

"Monkey, what are you expecting?"

Seeing the astonished look on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, Danzo revealed a mocking smile. Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression kept changing, making it difficult to describe his feelings at that moment.

As one of the most outstanding ninjas, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already deduced what had happened the moment he saw the scene inside the shrine.

Moreover, judging from the bloodstains splattered on the ground and walls of the shrine, the edges of which had already dried slightly, it indicates that Danzo did not deliberately change his attitude and put on an act after knowing that he had arrived.

At least when he first arrived, no, even before, Danzo had already taken action against Uchiha Orika, the mastermind, and several core Uchiha Jonin of the rebel organization.

To accomplish all this without being discovered by the Uchiha on the outside, Danzo's plan started much earlier. He could easily deduce that Danzo had probably rehearsed this scene from the middle of the cooperation or even from the very beginning.

Why not tell him?

They were once the best teammates and best friends, and they confided in each other countless days and nights. But unknowingly, have the two become so estranged?

The two gazed at each other with deep affection, but the Anbu paid no heed to that. They swiftly dealt with the chaotic remnants of the Uchiha rebels on the periphery and surrounded the Naga Shrine.

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand, and the ANBU members who were about to step into the Naga Shrine stopped in their tracks. Hiruzen Sarutobi then walked towards Danzo and stood on the ground of the Treasure Hall.

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes at the treasures here, but quickly looked away and instead looked at several people who were clearly Danzo's subordinates.

Although they were unfamiliar, Hiruzen Sarutobi still recognized two or three of them. They were children who had just been selected to study at Root when it disbanded, and they were members who had passed the Yamanaka clan's interrogation and were confirmed to be harmless.

I never expected that after a few years, these children would have grown up and continue to serve Danzo. Such control methods are truly worthy of Shimura Danzo.

He looked at the slightly older boy next to Danzo and said, "If I remember correctly, you're Ryoma from the Aburame family, right?"

"Yes, Lord Hokage. However, I submitted a name change application four years ago. I am truly unworthy of the name Ryuma."

Although it was a slightly joking remark, it also revealed some information, or rather, the time point that Aburame Ryoma or Danzo deliberately leaked: four years ago was precisely when Root was disbanded.

What else happened back then? Right, Tatsuma reminded himself that Danzo and Orochimaru had jointly developed a cursed seal. It seems that it was that cursed seal that allowed some of the children to escape the Yamanaka clan's scrutiny?

Having sorted out some of his thoughts, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo. Without exchanging pleasantries or greetings, after a long hesitation, he asked, "How many subordinates do you still have?"

"Besides this group, there are thirty-five people left."

Danzo answered calmly, but Hiruzen Sarutobi pursed his lips, and Takumi Uchiha stepped forward, demanding, "Then where are they?!"

Neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Takumi Uchiha believed that Danzo, with so many people at his disposal, would only send out the few present; the rest must still be on the move.

"Sarutobi, you're too soft-hearted."

Danzo didn't answer directly, but instead uttered a phrase both of them were intimately familiar with. Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed, and he turned to the Anbu, saying, "Have Sakumo confirm the situation regarding the relatives of the Uchiha traitors!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi could actually allow those people to live, because they were no longer ninjas. Some were too old to be ninjas, some lacked the talent to be ninjas, and some were not old enough.

Uchiha Taku's eyes, with their three tomoe inside, were also constantly rotating as he stared intently at Danzo, his back teeth clenched tightly.

Inside the treasure hall, the few Uchiha who were already on the verge of death heard this conversation and their eyes blazed with extreme hatred. Danzo looked at the people before him, a grin spreading across his face, and said:

"Are you excited? It's just that we're making them wait for you in a different place."

"Danzo! You've gone too far!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi grabbed Uchiha Taku's hand as he was about to raise it, glaring at Danzo. Those people were mostly forced to participate in this incident, and the village would definitely hold them accountable for their mistakes, but they didn't deserve to die!

"You taught me that choosing an option comes with its own consequences, didn't you, monkey?"

Danzo completely ignored Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger, looked at Takumi Uchiha, and said, "Similarly, wasn't it your choice to tolerate everything to this point?"

"you!"

Uchiha Taku gritted his teeth. If Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't been holding him back, he really would have fought Danzo. His crimson Sharingan stared at Danzo as he said, "Even the Second Hokage never harmed Uchiha Setsuna's friends and family!"

"Even the wisest can make a mistake, and the Second Hokage overlooked something. If he had punished him severely back then, Konoha wouldn't be facing these troubles today."

"Enough! Danzo! I am the Hokage! Only I can decide how to do certain things! Immediately order your subordinates to cease their actions!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said angrily, but Danzo turned around and said, "Monkey, haven't you always had others fulfill the duties of Hokage for you? Today, it's no different."

If you have any complaints, then order the arrest of me and my men. If you dare not give the order, then I will not keep you company any longer!

"Speak," Danzo said, and strode away, with Ryoma Aburame and the others following closely behind. The group walked out of the Anbu's encirclement in a blatant manner, without Hiruzen Sarutobi giving any orders.

After Danzo left, an Anbu ninja in charge of communications approached Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Hokage-sama, Lord Sakumo reports that... the number of corpses has been confirmed to be correct."

"Thump~"

Uchiha Orika's eyes rolled back and she fainted on the ground. Uchiha Taku also staggered. If it weren't for Hiruzen Sarutobi pulling him up, he probably would have fallen to the ground as well. As for the remaining Uchiha rogue ninja, they were already ashen-faced and looked like dead men.

Hiruzen Sarutobi helped Taku Uchiha sit down on a low cabinet and said, "Taku, once the village has investigated this matter thoroughly, we will definitely give you and the Uchiha clan an explanation. I hope this matter will not affect our relationship."

"I'm afraid no one will agree to punish Shimura Danzo then?"

Uchiha Taku raised his head and said, "After all, once this matter is revealed, he won't be a criminal; instead, he'll be a hero of the village, won't he?"

Upon hearing Uchiha Taku's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you mean this matter should end here?"

Once an investigation begins, more people will inevitably come into contact with the matter. If the village dares to investigate further, the incident will likely be exposed, and the Uchiha clan will probably face another round of attacks.

The villagers' acceptance, which had only just begun to recover, will likely plummet again. But what they might get in return is merely a half-hearted punishment for Shimura Danzo. Is it worth it? No, it's not.

Therefore, what other choice did Uchiha Taku have but to stop here? After all, the Uchiha were in the wrong first. Besides, this wasn't the first time. Continuing to argue would only earn the Uchiha another reputation for being "incorrigible."

Uchiha Taku freed his hand from Hiruzen Sarutobi's grasp, then waved it and said, "Let's end it here. Let it end here."

"Alright, I also promise that this matter will not be known to others. The Uchiha will remain the most important members of Konoha."

Seeing Uchiha Taku take the initiative to back down, Hiruzen Sarutobi also breathed a sigh of relief. If this matter were to be investigated further, it would be extremely detrimental to both the Uchiha clan and the village.

After all, this is wartime, and any rumors of internal discord can become the sharpest weapon, piercing the hearts of frontline soldiers who are full of morale.

Uchiha Taku nodded and said, "The rest is an internal matter for the Uchiha clan. I hope the Hokage will understand."

This was a dismissal. Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said, "If the Uchiha need any help, please ask the village."

"Yes, the Uchiha will also make it so that these clansmen have never existed before."

"Then I will not disturb you any longer."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and gave hand signals to the Anbu. Instantly, the Anbu surrounding the shrine disappeared back into the darkness, and Hiruzen Sarutobi also vanished in a flash.

A little later, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in a long robe and wearing a straw hat, arrived outside Danzo's residence, holding his pipe.

Without knocking or asking permission, he opened the door and went straight in. As he stepped into the foyer and was about to enter the living room, Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped, looked at the group photo of the Hokage's direct subordinates, and inexplicably, a smile appeared on his face.

Compared to the last time, this group photo has been restored to a very clean state, as if it has been wiped clean every day.

Entering the living room, it was pitch black, with only a faint moonlight shining in, illuminating almost nothing. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat down on the sofa, lit his pipe, and then asked:

"Is this what you've been doing all this time?"

After saying that, he reached for the wine glass on the coffee table and drank it all in one gulp. Danzo, on the other hand, took another wine glass and, seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had finished his drink, also tilted his head back and drank it all.

Judging from his preparations, it was as if he knew all along that Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely come.

"I want to leave the village."

Danzo put down his wine cup, poured wine for the two of them, and suddenly spoke.

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip on his pipe, but didn't immediately object. Instead, he took another deep drag before asking, "Why?"

"This matter is not that simple."

"Um?"

"There were people involved whom we had never noticed, and I failed to catch them."

"it is good."

(End of this chapter)