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Danzo was utterly unaware of the storm brewing outside. The Third Hokage's stern warnings, combined with Anbu's covert operations, ensured that all news about the unfolding events was tightly sealed. Danzo's loyalists embedded within Anbu found no opportunity to inform him—every move was monitored, every whisper intercepted. What was happening beyond his residence had yet to spread, known only to a select few trusted individuals. The Third Hokage did not act alone this time. Tsunade and Jiraiya, the other two members of the legendary Sannin, accompanied him personally. They held no disagreement with the idea of confronting Danzo, but neither wanted to see their old teacher act alone. The sting of Orochimaru's previous escape, facilitated by the Third Hokage's hesitation, still lingered fresh in their minds. Back then, the Third Hokage had led a full Anbu squad to apprehend Orochimaru. Yet despite such overwhelming force, Orochimaru had evaded capture with ease, vanishing like smoke, leaving behind no traces, no clues. It had been a farce—a painful one. Not because of Orochimaru's formidable strength or mastery of escape techniques, but because the Hokage had ultimately let him go. Tsunade and Jiraiya had seen it for what it was. But Danzo was not Orochimaru, and this was not that time. Letting Danzo go would ignite chaos across the village and beyond. His escape would cause a political storm, one that neither the villagers nor the Daimyo would tolerate. Danzo had to be publicly dealt with. The Hokage, Tsunade, and Jiraiya stood before Danzo's heavily fortified residence. Elite shinobi squads surrounded the area, sealing off every possible escape route. The message was clear: this was no courtesy visit. It was an arrest. "Danzo, your actions can no longer be hidden," the Third Hokage declared solemnly. "You are to be taken into custody and escorted to Konoha Prison." Deep down, the Hokage did not wish to do this. Danzo had been his comrade, his brother-in-arms for decades. But for the sake of Konoha's future, even sentiment must be sacrificed. Turning a blind eye now would only bring disaster. Danzo's eyes narrowed, his tone dry with disdain. "Sarutobi, let's skip the theatrics. We both know what I've done. If you're throwing me under the bus for the village and your own reputation, then say it. Don't dress it up." Tsunade stepped forward, her voice cold. "Danzo, your crimes are exposed. There's no use pretending." Indeed, Danzo had long been the Third Hokage's closest ally—even when his actions crossed moral lines. He had orchestrated assassinations, manipulated policies from the shadows, and experimented on living beings, all in the name of the village. And Sarutobi had always covered for him—until now. The Hokage remained silent, instead pulling out the scroll that Tsunade had retrieved. He tossed it to Danzo, a gesture of reluctant finality. Danzo caught it and unrolled it casually, expecting nothing serious. But within seconds, his face twisted in horror. His composure shattered. "This… this can't be real!" he shouted, his voice trembling. "Sarutobi! You betrayed me?!" The Third Hokage lowered his head, his heart heavy. Danzo tore the scroll apart with a snarl. "It's Orochimaru! It must be him! That snake leaked this! Does he have any idea what this could do to the village?" The irony was painful. Orochimaru, who once took the fall and became a rogue ninja, had preserved Danzo's reputation—until now. Back then, Orochimaru believed protecting Danzo would preserve a useful connection within the village. But something had changed. Danzo didn't understand why Orochimaru would turn on him now. Tsunade snapped, "You knew what you were doing could destroy the village—and you still did it!" Danzo's face contorted with rage. "Everything I did was for the village! You think I wanted this? I sacrificed more than any of you!" His voice was shrill, bordering madness. His favorite justification, his shield for every crime—"for the village"—sounded more hollow than ever. The same excuse the Third Hokage often used. Perhaps that was the tragic bond between them. Tsunade sneered. "You two really are alike. Same age, same lies. Even your justifications are identical." The Third Hokage remained silent. Yes, he had acted in the village's interest. But when that phrase left Danzo's lips, even he couldn't help but feel it had lost all credibility. "Danzo," Jiraiya spoke at last, his voice firm. "There's no escape. Surrender now, and we can ensure your safety. Konoha doesn't want blood today." The perimeter was locked down tighter than a fortress. Danzo was surrounded by elite jonin, ANBU operatives, and the Sannin themselves. Unless he possessed the might of Uchiha Madara or Senju Hashirama, there was no escape. Danzo was cunning, but not powerful. Without his schemes, he was just an average ninja—dangerous, but beatable. He knew it too. Any attempt to flee would not only fail but also escalate his punishment. He could even be killed en route if he resisted too fiercely. Danzo's eyes darkened. "You'll regret this…" He chose surrender. Better to live, to bide his time in prison, to plan for the future. He still had followers. Resources. Secrets. His glare at the Third Hokage was filled with venom. Were eyes capable of murder, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have died on the spot. Their march back to Konoha began soon after. At one checkpoint, the group paused to rest. The village ninjas and the Uchiha stationed themselves on opposite sides of the road, keeping their distance. The division was as stark as ever. No one expected the Uchiha to blend seamlessly with the village's other ninja forces—not yet. Even if their innocence was proven, years of suspicion and conflict could not be erased overnight. Hiko surveyed the tension silently. Getting Uchiha to coexist with other clans was one thing. But with common civilians? That was a fantasy. Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed from above. "A message hawk," Hiko muttered, squinting up at the sky. Feng, ever quick, signaled the hawk with a whistle. The creature descended gracefully and landed on his shoulder. "It's from the clan," Feng said, detaching the scroll from the hawk's leg. He passed it to Hiko while feeding the bird a few dried insects from his pouch. All eyes turned to Hiko as he read the scroll. It was small, the message brief. But whatever it contained, it struck like lightning. "Pfft—Agh!!" Hiko suddenly choked, coughing violently, doubling over in shock. "Captain?!" his squad surged toward him, panic on their faces. Zhiyan was already shouting, "Medic! Shizune! Get over here, now!"
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