Chapter 275: The Team Fight Can Be Lost, but Danzō Must Die!

Seeing everyone's reaction, Uchiha Ren realized they might have misunderstood something. He smiled faintly and began to explain:

"Everyone, you should all be aware of the situation the Uchiha clan has been in within the village. As the saying goes—when circumstances grow desperate, people begin to seek change."

"So recently, in order to improve our clan's situation, we've indeed done several things that might seem surprising… such as cooperating with Shimura Danzō."

At this point, Ren paused. Only after everyone's attention focused on him did he continue.

"Danzō wanted to become the Fourth Hokage, while the Uchiha clan needed an opportunity… an opportunity to better integrate into the village."

"Our cooperation was nothing more than mutual benefit."

"Of course, even if we want to integrate into Konoha, the Uchiha clan would never fall so low as to sell out our own interests and become Danzō's dogs."

"We truly had no knowledge of where Danzō learned the technique Izanagi, nor where he obtained those Sharingan."

"But no matter where he learned Izanagi or where those Sharingan came from, one thing is certain—"

"He laid hands on members of the Uchiha clan."

"Even if Shimura Danzō is an elder of the village, attacking fellow villagers is absolutely intolerable."

"So Shimura Danzō must die."

Ren's words left complicated expressions on everyone's faces.

However, they did believe one thing—his claim that the Uchiha clan's relationship with Danzō was merely a temporary alliance of interests.

After all, the long-standing hostility between the Uchiha clan and Danzō was well known throughout Konoha.

If the Uchiha clan suddenly became inseparable allies with Danzō, that would be far stranger.

Shikaku Nara  spoke with a meaningful tone.

"For the Uchiha clan to temporarily put aside its grievances… it seems the conditions Elder Danzō offered were more than simply 'integrating into the village.'"

Ren shrugged.

"If we can integrate into the village, then everyone benefits."

"And if we can also contribute to the village's prosperity while doing so… there's nothing wrong with that either."

After a brief pause, Ren didn't linger on the topic and steered the conversation back to the main point.

"Everyone here knows exactly what kind of person Shimura Danzō is."

"In recent years, Konoha has already suffered significant internal losses because of him."

"So if Danzō disappears, it would actually be good for everyone."

"This time, the Uchiha clan finally caught him red-handed."

"We're willing to be the ones who step forward."

"All we need now… is for you all to state your positions."

Ren didn't want to miss this rare opportunity. So he simply laid everything out in the open.

Shikaku Nara and the others showed clear signs of contemplation.

Just as Ren had said—

None of them had any real fondness for Shimura Danzō.

As clan leaders, who would feel comfortable with a hyena constantly watching their clans—either eyeing their talented descendants or coveting their secret techniques and bloodline abilities?

"I, the Hyūga clan, have no objections."

At that moment, Hiashi Hyūga  broke the silence and spoke first.

Shikaku Nara and the others were momentarily stunned, turning toward him with surprise.

Only then did they belatedly realize that the relationship between the Hyūga clan and the Uchiha clan had quietly changed.

In the past, although there had been no major conflicts between the two clans, the Hyūga—also a prestigious clan—had never been particularly fond of the Uchiha, who were widely known as the strongest clan in Konoha.

After all—

Who enjoyed being eternal second place?

The Uchiha were famously proud as well. Naturally, they wouldn't look kindly upon another clan constantly watching their position.

Thus, the two clans had long maintained a relationship of mutual disdain.

But now…

It seemed the Hyūga and Uchiha had formed some kind of alliance.

And unlike the simple exchange of interests between the Uchiha and Danzō, this felt more like the two clans had truly boarded the same ship.

Seeing everyone's gaze fall upon him, Hiashi Hyūga  spoke expressionlessly.

"Other matters aside."

"But regarding Shimura Danzō, the Hyūga clan stands firmly with the Uchiha clan."

"When our clan joined Konoha, it was to better protect our people."

"We enjoy the benefits of the village, and naturally we are willing to contribute in return."

"But stealing bloodline abilities and secretly seizing clan techniques…"

"Shimura Danzō has crossed the line."

Shikaku Nara and the others fell into thought.

Looking at the situation objectively—

Danzō had indeed gone too far this time.

"I, the Kurama clan, also have no objections."

At that moment, Kurama Sōun, the head of the Kurama clan, spoke up.

"If it weren't for Shimura Danzō, our clan would never have fallen into its current state."

"So no matter who it is—if they are opposing Danzō, the Kurama clan will support them to the end."

His words caused Shikaku and the others to glance at him in surprise.

When the Kurama clan first joined Konoha, they had been considered a powerful clan—second only to the Uchiha and Hyūga.

Over the decades, they had produced many chūnin and jōnin for the village.

Their unique kekkei genkai was extremely formidable. It allowed them to manipulate a target's five senses, and even cause injuries inflicted within a genjutsu to manifest in reality.

However, in recent years, no member of the Kurama clan had awakened this bloodline ability.

Gradually, the clan declined.

But from Sōun's words, it seemed there was more to the story behind their downfall.

Feeling everyone's gaze, Kurama Sōun explained:

"Even though no one in our clan awakened the kekkei genkai for twenty or thirty years, the Kurama clan wouldn't have declined this quickly…"

"Not unless our chūnin and jōnin had mysteriously suffered heavy casualties."

The others immediately understood the implication.

Although a kekkei genkai could bring prosperity to a clan, the true measure of a clan's strength was still the number and quality of its shinobi.

When the Kurama clan first joined Konoha, they had dozens of jōnin and hundreds of lower-ranking shinobi.

Now?

They had fewer than ten jōnin and less than a hundred other ninja.

Their vitality had been severely damaged.

And the "mysterious" losses Kurama Sōun mentioned clearly suggested one thing—

Shimura Danzō's involvement.

After a moment of contemplation, Shikaku Nara  sighed softly.

"The Ino–Shika–Chō alliance has no objections."

At that moment, he spoke not as the Commander of Konoha's jōnin forces, but as the head of the Nara clan.

And given the close relationship between the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans, he could naturally represent the absent Inoichi Yamanaka  and Chōza Akimichi .

"I, the Inuzuka clan, have no objections."

"The Aburame clan has no objections."

"The Morino clan has no objections."

…

One clan head after another voiced their support.

A smile slowly spread across Uchiha Ren's face.

Today—

Shimura Danzō was doomed to die.

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