Naruto's Strongest Force - Chapter 48
Root Headquarters
“What good are you?” Danzo scolded Nakamura Kazuya, who knelt before him.
“I told you not to give them any handle! Now, several of you have been dismissed.”
“How can the others accomplish anything significant?”
Nakamura Kazuya looked grim. “I wanted to cause some trouble for the Hy?ga, but suddenly Uchiha Yamaki appeared.”
“This incident, I believe, was premeditated by Uchiha Yamaki.”
Danzo struck the ground with his cane.
“Do you think I don’t know that? Now, the entire Konoha village is talking about Jiraiya being a peeping tom.”
“Even Sarutobi’s reputation has taken a hit. Everyone says the misbehavior of subordinates reflects on their superiors.”
Danzo sighed, reluctantly admitting that Yamaki’s unconventional methods were unexpectedly effective. The Third Hokage had brought Jiraiya back to be the village’s figurehead. But before he could establish himself, his reputation was tarnished.
With Jiraiya’s name now stained, he could no longer be the village’s frontman, at least not for now.
Danzo’s right eye throbbed with pain. Without a replacement, Sharingan he didn’t know how long this one would last.
Since the rise of Uchiha Yamaki, Danzo has suffered setback after setback. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi has been embarrassed.
Previously, there were operatives in the Police Force he could influence, but now it was a scattered mess.
Danzo took a deep breath. “Select someone capable from the remaining members of the Police Force to temporarily take your place.”
“Root needs to lie low for now. Once we’ve regained enough strength, we will rise again!”
Nakamura Kazuya nodded firmly. “Yes, sir!”
Danzo felt a surge of irritation.
The Third Hokage had issued several orders demanding Root vacate the premises within three days.
Although Root was officially disbanded, its members remained loyal to Danzo alone.
However, he suffered significant losses in funds, equipment, and support from certain ninja clans, all severed due to the official disbandment.
Looking at the skylight, Danzo saw the bright light illuminating his gloomy face. “I will return…”
…
Though he despised Yamaki, the Third Hokage kept his promise to disband Root.
When the Third Hokage made the official announcement, it signalled his public break with Danzo.
Danzo accused the Third Hokage of unlawfully taking his Root members.
The Third Hokage condemned Danzo for his relentless ambition and attempt to steal Kakashi’s Sharingan, calling for the dissolution of Root.
Without an official position, the Shimura clan could only retreat in the face of the Third Hokage’s authority.
Danzo could only watch as ANBU completely cleared out Root without support from other ninja clans and lacking public sympathy.
Even expensive equipment that couldn’t be moved was seized by ANBU.
With his right eye troubling him, Danzo reluctantly disbanded Root, planning to rise again.
…
Ding! Congratulations, host, for significantly altering Danzo Shimura’s life trajectory.
Congratulations, host, for obtaining Izanagi (one-time use).
Disbanding Root dealt a significant blow to Danzo, who still had many loyal followers.
However, this heavy setback would keep Danzo quiet, giving the Uchiha clan time to get through this challenging period.
Now, only one person remained to be dealt with: Jiraiya.
…
After half a month of turmoil in Konoha—Jiraiya’s detention, Root’s disbandment—the Third Hokage issued a diplomatic statement to the Hidden Mist regarding the Hy?ga incident. But the Hidden Mist remained unresponsive, even closing off the entire Land of Water.
The matter eventually faded due to the distance and strained relations between the two villages.
…
As the public furore subsided, Jiraiya was released from the Police Force’s detention room.
Hizashi personally came to release him. “Lord Jiraiya, your detention period is over.”
Jiraiya scratched his head. “Ahaha, Hizashi, why did you come personally?”
Hizashi, displaying a formal demeanour, replied, “Lord Jiraiya, the Police Force is now under Hy?ga management. If such incidents happen again, it would trouble our clan greatly.”
Jiraiya’s face reddened with embarrassment. “Don’t worry, Hizashi. It won’t happen again.”
Hizashi said nothing more, simply escorting Jiraiya to the door before leaving.
As Jiraiya stepped outside, the sunlight felt refreshing. It had been so long since he’d seen the sun.
However, he hadn’t bathed in over ten days and smelled terrible. He decided to relax and headed to the bathhouse he’d visited before.
Walking towards Konoha’s commercial district, he noticed people’s reactions. Memories of his recent scandal were still fresh.
Women screamed and ran away while men stopped to whisper and point.
“Look, that’s Jiraiya.”
“The peeping tom who enjoys peeking into bathhouses.”
“I heard he even tried to peek at Lady Tsunade and nearly got killed.”
“Is this really one of the legendary Sannin?”
“He’s also the Third Hokage’s student.”
“I heard he’s been a lecher since he was young, but it always got covered up because of the Third Hokage.”
“That explains why he was never caught. He had connections.”
Though the whispers were low, Jiraiya could hear them.
People were holding flyers and comparing them with Jiraiya.
Feeling unnerved, he snatched one. The flyer detailed his identity and various escapades, speculated about who protected him, and emphasised how he allegedly sketched peeping victims in his books.
No one wanted their female relatives drawn in Jiraiya’s books, so women feared him, and men despised him.
Fuming, Jiraiya sprinted through the streets, using the Body Flicker Technique. Along the way, he encountered Hy?ga Y?jin distributing flyers.
Angry, Jiraiya roared, “Who told you to spread these lies? When did I ever sketch women I peeped at? I was gathering material! Gathering material!”
“I never liked peeping as a kid! It’s something I developed as an adult!”
“Brat! Who told you to distribute these?!” Jiraiya’s voice thundered, his white hair bristling.
But Hy?ga Y?jin wasn’t afraid. With Yamaki and Hizashi’s backing, he felt secure. This was Konoha; Jiraiya couldn’t do anything to him.
Puffing his chest, Y?jin said, “Lord Jiraiya, Lord Yamaki instructed us to distribute these flyers to prevent the village women from suffering again. We aim to remind everyone of your actions and avoid contact with you.”
“To prevent suffering!? Specially made!? Today’s distribution!?” Jiraiya was furious. Uchiha Yamaki was determined to ruin his reputation.
Despite feeling nervous, Y?jin stood his ground, seeing villagers watching.
“Please don’t interrupt my work, Lord Jiraiya.” With that, Y?jin walked around Jiraiya to continue his task.
“Uchiha Yamaki!”
Jiraiya grabbed a flyer, roaring as he headed towards the Uchiha compound.
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