Chapter 214: The Reveal
Kitahara Kaede sprinted through the dense forest.
The branches beneath his feet bent and snapped under his weight. Using the tension to propel himself, he cleared dozens of meters in a single bound. His mind was racing even faster than his feet.
Danzo was dead.
There was no way to keep this a secret. If Root failed to contact Danzo for just two days, they would inevitably trigger their emergency protocols. Once the Intelligence Division stepped in and the investigation began, Kaede would be the one on the defensive.
He had to strike first and seize the initiative.
However, how to confess was a delicate matter.
Kaede narrowed his eyes. If he simply revealed the truth during a high-level Konoha meeting, those two old fossils, Koharu and Homura Mitokado, would certainly lash out. They were birds of a feather with Danzo, their interests deeply intertwined. Even if Danzo had truly betrayed the village, they would likely turn on him first.
Assassinating a Konoha high official—once that label was pinned on him, even Minato might not be able to protect him.
He had to bypass the advisory council.
A small smirk played on Kaede's lips. Minato and the arms trade project were his chips for this gamble. Danzo had gone to the Land of Rain specifically to sabotage the layout for the arms dump. As long as he tied Danzo's death to the "protection of Konoha's core interests," Minato's position would naturally be secure.
As for the Third Hokage...
Kaede knew all too well that Hiruzen Sarutobi's feelings toward Danzo were incredibly complex. Old classmates, old comrades-in-arms—decades of bonds. Even though Danzo had committed countless atrocities in the shadows, the Third still clung to those old sentiments, always turning a blind eye to his antics.
Therefore, the narrative had to center on betrayal.
As long as he could prove that Danzo had defied the Hokage's will, colluded with foreign enemies, and sabotaged Konoha's financial lifeline, the Third would have to bite the bullet and accept the outcome, regardless of how much it hurt.
That was politics. No matter how deep a personal friendship ran, it could not withstand the weight of the word "traitor."
Kaede accelerated. After all, dead men tell no tales. How the story was told would depend entirely on his tongue.
By noon, the gates of Konoha appeared on the horizon. Without stopping, Kaede tore through the streets and headed straight for Minato's house.
He knocked twice.
Kushina opened the door, wearing an apron. Her eyes lit up when she saw him.
"Kaede? When did you get back?"
As she spoke, her gaze swept over him, and her brow immediately furrowed. Kaede's clothes were torn in several places, the edges stained with dried mud.
"You look terrible. Have you been traveling without sleep again?" Kushina's voice was thick with concern.
Kaede shook his head and forced a smile. "Sister Kushina, is Lord Minato home?"
"He is, he is!" Kushina stepped aside quickly. "He's in the second-floor study reviewing documents. Come in, quickly. I just finished making lunch, you can eat with us."
Kaede politely declined her kindness and headed straight for the stairs. "I have urgent business with Lord Minato; I'll skip lunch."
Kushina watched his retreating back, her words catching in her throat. She felt that something about Kaede's demeanor today was off.
The door to the second-floor study was slightly ajar. Kaede knocked.
Minato's gentle voice drifted from inside. "Come in."
Pushing the door open, Kaede found Minato reviewing documents. A thick stack of scrolls sat on the desk, and Minato held a brush, his brow slightly knit. Hearing footsteps, Minato looked up. A smile appeared on his face when he saw Kaede.
"You're back?" Minato set down the brush and stretched his wrist. "How is the progress on the arms trade? When did Lord Orochimaru say the first batch would be ready?"
Kaede didn't answer. He reached back and closed the door.
*Click.*
Minato's smile faltered. "What is it?" His voice dropped, becoming serious.
Kaede walked up to the desk. "Lord Minato, Danzo is dead."
Minato froze. He searched Kaede's eyes, trying to find a hint that this was a joke, but he found only cold indifference.
"What happened?" Minato's voice was very low. "Who did it?"
Kaede didn't look away. "I did."
Silence descended upon the room. Minato's breath hitched for a moment. He stared at Kaede, his mind racing. A few seconds later, he stood up abruptly.
"Tell me everything. From the beginning."
Kaede straightened his posture. "Danzo took a group of Root elites and infiltrated the Land of Rain to contact Hanzo of the Salamander. His plan was to assassinate the leaders of the Akatsuki—Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan."
"His goal was to throw the Land of Rain into chaos and incite war to sabotage the arms trade project. If the Land of Rain fell into turmoil, all our previous layouts would be wasted, and both the alliance and the arms project would be shelved. Konoha's finances would only worsen."
Minato's expression grew increasingly grim. Kaede continued.
"I was in the Land of Rain collecting materials. After discovering the plot, I intervened in the battle. Hanzo had already been swayed by Danzo; the three Akatsuki leaders were nearly killed in the canyon. I killed Hanzo and ruined Danzo's plan."
"Seeing that his plot had been exposed, he attempted to use the Inner Four Symbols Seal to take me down with him. I didn't give him the chance."
Kaede's tone remained flat. "His body has been thoroughly disposed of."
Minato closed his eyes. He remained silent for a full ten seconds. When he opened them again, the shock had been replaced by a cold calm.
"Are you certain Danzo went there to sabotage the arms project?"
Kaede nodded. "He likely learned of the plan and didn't want Konoha to prosper, which is why he acted. Otherwise, I cannot believe his actions were ordered by the Hokage. To betray the Third and the high-level officials, to collude with foreign enemies in secret, and to sabotage Konoha's fundamental interests... no matter how he tries to dress it up, the essence of it is treason."
Minato remained silent, looking down at the documents on his desk. Among those scrolls was the detailed plan for the arms trade. This was the most important achievement of his career before taking office, and the only hope for Konoha's financial recovery. Without this plan, the deficit would only continue to grow.
And Danzo had wanted to destroy it all.
Minato knew exactly who Danzo was. That old man used his status as the Second Hokage's student to obstruct the Third at every turn while secretly cultivating Root. Once the arms project was implemented, Danzo's war-driven logic would be completely obsolete. That was why he opposed it—and why he was willing to kill.
But understanding was one thing; killing a high-ranking official of Konoha was a massive complication.
Minato looked up at Kaede. "Who else knows about this?"
"Currently, only you and I."
Minato nodded, making a decision. "Aside from me, the advisory council must never find out." His tone was incredibly stern. "Koharu and Homura Mitokado will not accept any explanation; they will do everything in their power to label you a missing-nin. I will protect you, but only on the condition that this matter ends here."
Kaede was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Minato to side with him so decisively without even weighing the pros and cons.
"Understood."
Minato wasted no more time. He stood up and walked around the desk. "Come. Let's go see the Third."
***
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with his pipe, gazing at the village outside the window. Wars had decreased recently, Minato was about to succeed him, and the financial plan was taking shape. Everything was moving in a positive direction.
A knock sounded. Hiruzen turned to see Minato and Kaede enter. His gaze swept over Kaede, and his brow furrowed slightly.
Minato dismissed the ANBU and closed the door tightly. Only the three of them remained in the room.
"What is it?" Hiruzen took out his pipe and tapped the ash on the corner of the desk.
Kaede stepped forward and recounted the events in the Land of Rain once more. When he reached the words "Danzo is dead," the pipe slipped from Hiruzen's hand and clattered onto the desk.
With trembling hands, the old man picked it up. Shock, anger, and finally a deep sense of helplessness flickered across his face.
"Danzo..." Hiruzen's tone shifted from grief to rage. "Why did you kill him! Why couldn't you bring him back to the village alive to face trial!"
Kaede remained unfazed. "He spotted me and immediately attacked with lethal intent. He gave me no opportunity to take him alive."
Hiruzen fell silent. He understood Danzo's ambition and methods better than anyone. Colluding with Hanzo, sabotaging the arms project, and privately leaving the village to interfere in foreign politics—every single one of these was a capital offense. Even if the man had been brought back, the advisory council would have found a way to protect him. In the end, he likely would have received a slap on the wrist.
Hiruzen looked at the two young men before him. One was the soon-to-be Fourth Hokage, and the other was a rising star. Standing together, they represented the future of Konoha.
And Danzo represented Konoha's dark past.
Hiruzen knew in his heart that Danzo's death was not necessarily a bad thing for the village. Over the years, Root had become increasingly uncontrollable, and Danzo's ambition had grown too large. He had wanted to rein Danzo in for a long time but could never bring himself to do it. Now, Kaede had done it for him. Though the method was violent, the result was beneficial.
Hiruzen closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Danzo, oh Danzo... you finally walked this path to the end."
Minato spoke up at the appropriate moment. "Lord Third, the priority now is the cleanup. Once the news of Danzo's betrayal becomes public, it will not only split Konoha internally but also affect the arms project."
Hiruzen opened his eyes. He understood perfectly. Danzo was dead, but Konoha could not lose face. Even if his old friend had committed a capital crime, he could not be nailed to the pillar of shame as a traitor. This was the final mercy he could offer.
"To the public, we will announce..." Hiruzen's voice sounded exhausted. "That Danzo encountered a powerful enemy while executing a top-secret mission and died in a fierce battle. He will be recorded as having died in the line of duty."
Minato immediately followed. "I agree." He added, "Lord Third, before the news of Danzo's death spreads, Root must be reorganized immediately. I suggest dismantling and restructuring Root, merging all its members into the ANBU."
Hiruzen glanced at Minato. This was a move to completely eradicate Danzo's foundation. However, he did not object. With Danzo dead, Root had lost its core; leaving it as is would only be a liability.
"I leave this matter to you." Hiruzen paused. "As for the advisory council, I will deal with them personally."
Kaede and Minato exchanged a glance. The matter was settled.
The Third and Minato discussed the details of the Root absorption. Before they left, Hiruzen called out to Kaede.
"Kitahara Kaede."
Kaede turned back. The Third looked at him with a complex expression.
"Danzo was my friend for decades. I also bear responsibility for him walking this path."
"But you..."
The Third didn't finish his sentence. He simply waved his hand, signaling that Kaede could leave. Kaede didn't say anything more; he simply turned and walked away.