The Hokage building had already been blown up.
So this time the meeting room was relocated to the Akimichi clan.
As for why it was the Akimichi clan, it was simply because the Akimichi had a spacious place, with a relatively large meeting room.
Logically speaking, Akimichi Torifu, back in the day, was also the same as Sarutobi Hiruzen, both were disciples of the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama.
But Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu had all climbed to high positions.
Each clan had received quite a few benefits.
But although Akimichi Torifu was also a council elder, the clan had no movement at all.
Although the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were somewhat well-known, they weren't real power-holding clans and did not obtain more important positions.
Even now, Akimichi Torifu's health was already very poor, long bedridden with chronic illness.
This time, so many people from Konoha came for the meeting, and Akimichi Torifu still did not show up.
The power structure of Konoha, of course, had the Hokage at the top.
Below were the council elders, followed by the honorary elders.
As for [Hokage Advisor], this is a position, but in practice Danzo's status was still council elder.
If regarding Hokage policies, all three council elders opposed at the same time, they could invalidate the policies.
This framework was set by the Second Hokage Tobirama.
Even the succession of the Hokage should be determined by a vote.
But it was with the Third Hokage that problems arose.
When Konoha signed a treaty with Kumogakure, the Gold and Silver Brothers rebelled, causing the Second Hokage Tobirama to die in battle. Hiruzen was urgently appointed as the Third Hokage at that critical time.
But Tobirama did not know that Hiruzen was a very ambitious person.
And one who prioritized his own clan above all.
He wholeheartedly wanted to exclude all other shinobi clans and make the Sarutobi clan the strongest.
Without Tobirama's restraint, he directly handed over Konoha's highest power entirely to his own teammates.
Resulting in unprecedented expansion of the Hokage's power, to the point of being uncontrollable.
But Hiruzen did not have the force to suppress everything and could only use various political methods.
Thus Konoha entered its dirtiest era of conspiracies.
As the most honest and sincere Akimichi Torifu, he often chose not to go along with them, and gradually got pushed out of the core of power.
Adding to that the Nine-Tails Rebellion seven years ago, Akimichi Torifu was injured, and fearing the Akimichi clan would follow the same fate as the Senju clan.
He chose to no longer be involved in affairs, becoming a nominal elder.
So, even when Hiruzen and the others arrived, Akimichi Torifu still didn't show up.
Rengoku had spent some time over at Yagura's place, and by the time he and Fugaku arrived at the location.
Only the two of them had not yet arrived.
Rengoku and Fugaku entered the meeting room one after the other, Rengoku in front, Fugaku behind.
"Looks like everyone's here."
Rengoku walked in casually, followed by Fugaku to the two remaining seats.
The seats were arranged in a U-shape, at the end sat Hiruzen, with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu on either side.
Jiraiya had also come, but he stood behind Hiruzen.
Though Rengoku's manner was casual, no one said anything.
After all, being able to beat the Fourth Mizukage Yagura alone and directly control the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, that was high-level combat power.
And judging by the combatants exposed by Hiruzen, if they didn't unite now, they'd be eliminated one by one.
Most of the honorary elders cast friendly glances at Rengoku and Fugaku.
Fugaku also nodded back in greeting.
As for Rengoku, he swept his gaze around and found the Hyuga clan head Hiashi and Hyuga Great Elder Sarumito.
Hiashi gave Rengoku a slight nod, while Sarumito frowned, seemingly deep in thought.
Seeing the two's serious expressions, a hint of contemplation also flashed in Rengoku's eyes.
After Rengoku and Fugaku sat down.
Hiruzen coughed and then said, "Since everyone is here, the meeting shall officially begin."
"First, regarding the matter of Shimura Danzo and the Uchiha clan."
"Danzo, blinded by greed, tried to obtain the Uchiha Sharingan, so he carried out actions deliberately targeting the Uchiha."
"Heh…", Rengoku let out a cold laugh.
''Deliberately targeting' that's a nice way to put it.'
'Deliberately targeting= Attempted genocide right?'
Fugaku also looked gloomy, and the other clan leaders had expressionless faces.
No wonder these people could be politicians, they really knew how to hide their emotions.
But the Third Hokage acted as if he didn't see Rengoku and Fugaku's reactions and continued speaking.
"And sent Root members out to ambush and kill Uchiha clan members."
"Shimura Danzo's actions were extremely vile, with enormous impact."
"Hereby, he is removed from the position of Hokage Advisor, stripped of his council elder status, and the Root organization is dissolved."
After the Third Hokage finished speaking, he looked toward Fugaku and Rengoku.
The others also looked at the two of them.
This was Konoha's first time yielding to a shinobi clan, and now it was clearly testing the Uchiha's bottom line.
Fugaku's eyes were filled with obvious anger, but after glancing at Rengoku, he held back and said nothing.
Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!
Rengoku tapped the table with four fingers in turn, making a series of sounds.
"So, Konoha wants to continue shielding Shimura Danzo?", Rengoku spoke indifferently, as if not caring about Hiruzen's probing.
Utatane Koharu narrowed her eyes slightly, her old voice still forceful, "This time Danzo was indeed at fault, but considering your Uchiha suffered little loss, demoting Danzo to civilian status and dissolving Root is a reasonable punishment."
Just as everyone was preparing for the Uchiha to erupt in fury, prompting the Third Hokage to come smooth things over—
Uchiha Rengoku, however, smiled slightly, "Understood. Third Hokage, please continue."
Utatane Koharu suddenly got stuck, not expecting the Uchiha to accept it so abruptly?
Seeing Rengoku's smiling face, she and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance, hearts slightly sinking.
'That normally dull-brained Uchiha suddenly developed political shrewdness?'
'Something's off. If it's not a trap, it's a double trap.'
The Third Hokage also gave Fugaku and Rengoku a meaningful look.
Obviously Rengoku was the real brain of the Uchiha now.
The explanations that had been prepared earlier with Utatane Koharu were now completely useless.
The Third Hokage could only move on to other matters, "This time Konoha was rigged with a large number of explosive tags, causing severe losses. Over three hundred will permanently withdraw from the combat ranks."
"The Hyuga clan, who were in charge of surveillance, must be held responsible."
Hyuga Hiashi had already known they would be dealt with today, and now spoke in a deep voice, "All those in charge of surveillance were members of our branch house. All subordinates had reported the situation to Hyuga Koshin."
"But Koshin intercepted it without authorization, unrelated to our main house."
The Third Hokage had long expected Hiashi's response, "Information obtained before Hyuga Koshin's death has already indicated that it was your main house who suppressed the news."
Hiashi frowned and said, "That was just Koshin's attempt to sow discord."
But everyone knew, whether that was said or not didn't matter.
Both sides already had a record, and coupled with Koshin's words that hit the heart, there was no room left for turning back.
Koshin's move was truly an open scheme.
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