I am the new Hokage of Konoha.

Danzo quickly calmed down, thinking that Yunting, this junior, was deliberately bluffing him.

Besides, even if there really was something, as he just said, without solid evidence, a rogue ninja, especially one who is already dead, would have no use for anything he said.

wrong!

There is indeed evidence right now!

Danzo's eyes suddenly narrowed, because he had inadvertently noticed A.

Given that Yun Ting had chosen to stay here and uttered those words, the perceptive man immediately realized that something was amiss.

Danzo reacted decisively. Regardless of whether Yunting had actually discovered the problem, he immediately spoke up to subtly remind Jia.

However, Yunting, who had prepared long before Danzo, would not allow the former to succeed.

With a flash, he appeared in front of Danzo, blocking their view.

Then, as if patting Danzo on the shoulder like an old friend, he looked at Kagami not far away and unleashed the technique he had prepared beforehand.

Illusion Technique: Dark Travel!

In an instant, caught off guard, Jia felt a darkness before his eyes. Although his eyes were open, he could not see a single ray of light; all he could see was endless darkness.

On the other side, before Danzo could react, Yun Ting placed a hand on his shoulder.

"So fast!"

Sensing the faint killing intent surrounding him, he dared not move at all, and could only watch helplessly as Jia, not far away, frantically moved around like a headless fly, on guard.

Then, when Yun Ting threw several shuriken at him, the blind Jia made the most correct response as a ninja at that moment.

Wood escape·Wooden spindle wall.

Rows of wooden pillars emerged from the ground, quickly bending and forming an archway to protect him.

Soon, the shuriken struck the wooden pillar with a crisp, clear sound.

Yun Ting released his grip on Danzo, then dispelled the Dark Travel Technique. As Jia looked over, bewildered, he sighed:

"Wood Release! Elder Danzo, what's your explanation?"

Danzo remained silent, not only because of the fact that Jia had been exposed, but also because Yun Ting's actions just now made him deeply wary.

He suddenly realized that if Yun Ting really wanted to kill him now, he would have a very good chance of not being able to resist.

This forced him to adopt a more cautious approach to deal with the troubles that followed.

Danzo remained silent for a moment.

However, this does not mean that Yun Ting will not continue.

He glanced at the Root ninjas who had gathered around because of the commotion, and continued his provocation without a care: "Orochimaru told me before he died that he had collaborated with Root on human experiments using Wood Release, and that one child had survived and inherited Wood Release. At first, I didn't believe him. Now it seems he wasn't lying to me. This boy in front of me who knows Wood Release is named 'Kou,' right?"

Since Orochimaru is no longer around, Yun Ting can naturally pin everything he knows on him.

Upon hearing Yun Ting utter the name "Jia," Danzo finally couldn't hold back his anger any longer.

Jia possesses Wood Release techniques, and even his name is something outsiders could never know.

The only clear answer lies with a few at the very top.

But these people have all been marked with the seal of 'the root of all evil,' so they would never betray him.

The only exception is Orochimaru.

The fact that Yun Ting was able to accurately locate the person and state his name clearly indicates that he has detailed information.

Therefore, it can only be Orochimaru!

Even at this point, Danzo still couldn't understand why Orochimaru would betray him in a way that harmed others without benefiting himself.

But there was no time to think further; he had to defend himself:

"Fourth Hokage, don't believe Orochimaru's one-sided story. He did this simply to sow discord between Root and Konoha. As for the Wood Release experiment, Orochimaru conducted it in secret, and it was only because I discovered it in time that it was stopped. As for the armor, I took it from him to prevent him from prying into powers he shouldn't have."

They really know how to distort the truth.

Yun Ting's lips twitched slightly; he was too lazy to argue about the matter any further.

After all, the testimony of a dead rogue ninja can't harm the high-ranking elders of Konoha.

So he went straight to the point and said, "If that's the case, why not hand over the armor to Konoha? Elder Danzo should know very well the status of Wood Release in the village."

"This child, Jia, possesses immense ninja potential. As a tool, he can receive the most comprehensive training here, becoming a member of Root. Without a true name, without emotions, without a past, and without a future. Only in this way can he unleash his full potential, becoming a sharp sword of Konoha, eliminating all enemies!"

Danzo spoke with genuine sincerity, but he also concealed his personal desires.

Yun Ting bluntly stated, "It's also a powerful tool for Elder Danzo. Wood Release techniques are matters of Konoha's secrets, allowing no room for personal concealment. Elder Danzo, you've overstepped your bounds!"

Danzo remained silent.

"As the Fourth Hokage, and as a member of the Senju clan of the forest, I have made my decision!"

At this point, Yun Ting pointed directly at Danzo with an undeniable gaze.

"A is hereby removed from his position as a Root ninja, effective immediately, and will be directly under the Hokage's command. Elder Danzo, who was aware of this but failed to report it, is hereby confined to his home for one year. Does Elder Danzo have any objections?"

Danzo's eyes flickered.

After A was exposed, he realized that he could no longer protect him. The punishment he received was not unexpected.

Ultimately defeated in this sudden confrontation, he conceded defeat and calmly replied, "I have no objection."

"Alright, Elder Danzo, please remove the seal that severs the root of tongue-trouble for Jia." Yun Ting waved for Jia to come over.

Jia, who looked completely bewildered from beginning to end, could only do as instructed.

Then he watched helplessly as Lord Danzo removed the seal that sealed his tongue.

At this point, he still couldn't understand what it meant to break free from the seal of the root of tongue-related calamities.

Upon hearing Lord Danzo explain to him that he had left Root and was following the Fourth Hokage, Kagami subconsciously obeyed the order, took off his mask, and then stood beside Yun Ting.

Chapter Forty-Seven: Conversation between Master and Disciple

This matter has now come to an end.

Just as Yun Ting and his group were about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and turned to Danzo, saying, "By the way, Orochimaru was once a member of Root. Regardless of whether he truly didn't cooperate with Root on forbidden experiments, Root still bears responsibility for negligence. Recently, a group of ninja clan leaders have been complaining to me that Root has taken in too many of their clansmen. As punishment for their negligence, let's revoke Root's authority to directly recruit members."

Yun Ting spoke lightly, but Danzo's anger, which hadn't ignited even when he lost his armor, finally burned: "Fourth Hokage! Root, as the sword of darkness beneath Konoha, has made enormous contributions to Konoha while bearing heavy casualties. If we can't replenish our losses in time, how can we protect Konoha's interests? How can we safeguard Konoha's security?"

Yun Ting's move to cut off the root of Danzo's forces was undoubtedly a move that would infuriate Danzo.

He continued, "The Fourth Hokage may not know, but Orochimaru actually came to Root as the Third Hokage's eyes and ears. He didn't even plant the Seal of the Tongue-Slaying Cultivator. If anyone is to blame, it should be the Third Hokage. Furthermore! The Konoha ninja clan is already very powerful. If Root doesn't periodically draw upon its elite forces, it will likely have become too powerful to control, and might even further threaten the Hokage's authority. The Fourth Hokage needs to think this through!"

Yun Ting's attitude remained firm: "Regardless of the reason, since Orochimaru is a member of Root, Root has an inescapable responsibility. Elder Danzo, there are some things that you and I are both very clear about. If I really want to investigate further, then even the deepest hidden background will eventually be exposed. For the sake of Konoha's internal unity, Elder Danzo, you'd better accept this outcome."

"Furthermore, I'm not saying that Root can't replenish its personnel, but from now on, it will have to be reported. Recruitment can be handled by the Anbu after the report is submitted. In this way, the problem of the ninja clans becoming too powerful, as Elder Danzo mentioned, can still be solved."

It is not something that can be accomplished overnight to truly grasp the power of the roots, which is outside of official authority.

As in the original story, the Third Hokage once disbanded Root, but the latter secretly maintained it and was controlled by Danzo, ultimately proving to be a futile effort.

The only effective way for Yun Ting to do this now is to gradually tighten the ropes.

Just like the subsequent personnel reporting process within the root unit, the dark side will have even stronger control over it.

Danzo was well aware of this.

But Root made a mistake first, and the power of Hokage is right in front of them.

Senju Undeni is not Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Faced with the other party's compliant punishment, Danzo could only reluctantly accept it, no matter how unwilling he was.

Just like during the decades of cooperation with Hiruzen, the latter did not refrain from suppressing Root.

But so what? As the Dark One of Ninja, he has never lacked the patience to wait.

The same applies now!

Watching Yun Ting's departing figure, Danzo, who had no choice but to compromise, could not suppress his anger and frustration, even though he kept telling himself this.

After all, he could still willingly admit defeat when facing his old comrade-in-arms, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But right now, Senju Unting is just a junior, and his contributions to Konoha are not even comparable to his eleventh. Yet, just because he became Hokage, he is so domineering in front of him. How can he be willing to accept this?

At this moment, Danzo's obsession with becoming Hokage was deeper than ever before!

......

Leave the roots and return to the sunlight.

Looking at the armored figure following him, Yun Ting thought to himself that this trip had come to a successful end.

Overthrowing Danzo is never something that can be done overnight, especially now that the old forces in Konoha are still deeply entrenched.

Although he has been in power, it has only been a short time and his foundation is not yet solid.

Without sufficient evidence, Yun Ting, as the Hokage caught in the power struggle, could not act arbitrarily but had to proceed step by step according to the rules.

At this point, the first step has undoubtedly been completed.

"Lord Hokage."

Just then, A, looking somewhat bewildered, asked, "What should I do next?"

Yun Ting reached out and patted his head, laughing:

"Let's embrace a new life."

"Besides, 'A' is ultimately just a code name. From now on, you'll be called Yamato."

......

Konoha Village, Sarutobi Clan territory, Hiruzen's home.

The former Third Hokage, now a retired old man, Hiruzen Sarutobi has been staying at home ever since he handed over power. He spends his days smoking, reading, and writing, leading a very peaceful life.

Today should have been like any other day. Just as Hiruzen was smoking his pipe and reading, an uninvited guest suddenly appeared.

"Hey old man, looking at how relaxed you are now, it seems that retirement is much better than I thought."

Those who come uninvited are indeed those who come of their own accord.

As he spoke, he casually pushed the door open and entered.