Naruto: Pay-to-Win Ninja System

The [Sage Body] combined with the [Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan].

Shimoku estimated that his overall strength had already reached an upper-middle level among Kage-rank warriors.

Even compared to Hashirama and Lord Madara in their prime, he would still fall short.

Of course, if he were to face those two absolute monsters who dominated the Warring States period—veterans with unparalleled real combat experience and extraordinary dancing skills—there would still be quite a gap.

Even with equal power, a ten-year-old Shimoku likely wouldn't stand a chance against them.

This wasn't about belittling himself or boosting others' confidence.

It was simply telling it like it was.

Only by recognizing his own shortcomings could he better compensate for them and improve.

In any case, overall speaking, with his current strength, dominating the entire Ninja World should be more than enough.

Next,

he should take time to settle down and get a handle on his recent surge in power.

However, before settling in,

he'd gone through all that effort to stir up chaos in Konoha.

Letting the Akatsuki organization and other Hidden Villages take the blame for so many attacks...

He should ensure these attacks yielded tangible results.

This era needed more chaos—the Ninja World was still too peaceful!

And if his Hidden Village wanted to rise to power, he needed to stir up the entire Ninja World, disturb the calm waters,

so they could ride the storm and seize the opportunity.

He imagined Konoha must be furious and on high alert right now?

All it needed was one final push, and everything would erupt completely.

As for that last shove...

It should have already arrived at Konoha...

Exactly as Shimoku had predicted.

At this very moment, Konoha's situation was indeed grim.

A huge crowd of protesting villagers had gathered in front of the Hokage Tower,

demanding the truth be uncovered and the mastermind behind the Orphanage scandal severely punished!

Suddenly, the village's higher-ups found themselves under immense pressure.

Originally, if only the Orphanage scandal had broken out, the impact wouldn't have been so massive.

But coupled with: the murder of advisors, vault theft, Tailed Beast invasion... even attacks reaching their village gates.

These successive shocking events

had instantly put half of Konoha on edge, filled with fear and anxiety.

Everyone worried war might break out again at any moment.

And once war came,

people would die, and more orphans would be created.

With Konoha in its current state, if orphanages had become such hellholes, who would dare risk their lives on the battlefield?

Afraid their own children might suffer the same fate?

The offspring from powerful ninja clans were fine; after their parents' deaths, the clans could raise the orphans themselves.

But most ordinary civilian ninja didn't enjoy such treatment.

If they died, wouldn't their sons and daughters be sent directly into the [Orphanage], left to suffer bullying...

Didn't they see how even the once-revered Fourth Hokage Minato's son had been ostracized?

Therefore, in the eyes of ordinary ninja civilians,

"Uncovering the truth and punishing those responsible" naturally became their top priority!

Otherwise, how could they fight in wars without worries?

In response, numerous prominent ninja clans remained cautiously keeping a watchful distance.

After all, recent years had been...

The expansion of Konoha's Anbu and Root divisions, along with the oppression of many ninja families, had indeed gone too far.

The tragic destruction of the Uchiha Clan served as a clear warning.

Therefore, these powerful families didn't mind taking this opportunity to pressure the Konoha leadership and apply some much-needed stress.

...

At this moment,

Inside the Hokage's Office,

Sarutobi, the elderly Third Hokage, stood by the window, gazing down at the large crowd of protesting ninjas filled with anger below. He listened to the noisy chorus of accusations and curses.

"How many are there now?" Sarutobi asked with furrowed brows, clearly distressed.

This was the first large-scale protest since he became Hokage!

"Over seven hundred…"

An Anbu operative quickly replied.

"Hokage-sama, should we take action to disperse them?"

Sarutobi shook his head:

"No need. Their demands are reasonable after all. Regarding the [Orphanage] issue, we do owe them a proper explanation."

"Besides, this matter also involves Root and Anbu. If we step in directly, it will only intensify the conflict…"

Sarutobi still possessed basic judgment.

He refused to use violent force against these protestors,

Lest it spark an even larger riot.

In short, the current state of Konoha resembled a powder keg,

Unable to withstand any form of provocation.

"Hokage-sama, then what should we do?"

"Ahhh…" Sarutobi sighed heavily before giving orders.

"Summon the Hokage's Advisor at once."

"At once!"

The Anbu ninja immediately left to invite a certain Danzo-sama.

Clearly,

After the [Orphanage] scandal broke out, Sarutobi had found out immediately.

The hidden hand behind this must be none other than Danzo!

Only he had both the capability and opportunity—and the ruthlessness—to commit such a cruel act.

In the past, a small punishment would have sufficed.

But this time, the impact of the [Orphanage] incident was simply too great!

It had enraged the people!

Such widespread public fury couldn't be easily calmed down with simple measures.

Thus, Sarutobi had been hesitating just now.

Yet now it seemed clear—

To quell the public outrage, he had no choice but to severely punish Danzo and Root!

...

Soon enough,

Danzo, seated in his wheelchair, was wheeled into the Hokage's office.

Then, his guards respectfully stepped out and closed the door behind them.

Moments later, familiar arguing could once again be heard from inside the office.

"Danzo!"

"Hiruzen!"

The argument lasted almost ten minutes before finally subsiding.

And compared to past arguments,

Sarutobi was clearly much angrier this time.

If Danzo hadn't already been crippled and still healing from his wounds,

Sarutobi might've actually beaten him senseless.

After all, Danzo and his Root division had indeed taken care of many dirty tasks for the village in the past.

But look at recent events—

It was he who drove the Uchiha Clan to rebellion; 

he was also responsible for the deaths of dozens of elite Root ninjas; 

and most notably, it was he who secretly infiltrated the Orphanage, triggering this massive protest. 

At this point, Sarutobi could no longer protect him. 

"Danzo! This incident has gone too far. I can no longer tolerate your actions." 

"Effective immediately, you are officially removed from your position as Hokage's Advisor!" 

"But, Hiruzen, I—" 

Danzo trembled violently, clearly unwilling, and hurriedly tried to defend himself. 

But this time, Sarutobi stood resolute. 

He snapped directly: 

"Stop making excuses." 

"It's for your own good." 

"Also, those inhumane trainings within Root must stop immediately! And without my command, Root is forbidden from participating in any operation!" 

"I will personally oversee calming the villagers and rebuilding the Orphanage." 

"An official punishment statement regarding you will be issued to the entire village later." 

"Until then, you will remain confined at home and properly reflect on your actions!" 

In the end, Sarutobi was still the Hokage. 

As the Hokage, he held nearly absolute authority over Danzo, his advisor. 

Just a few words and simple orders were enough to strip Danzo of most of his real power. 

After all, Sarutobi knew very well: 

No punishment could hurt Danzo more than being stripped of his real authority. 

It was easy to foresee: 

Once deprived of the title of Hokage's Advisor and actual command of Root, 

for some time, Danzo would be like a bow without arrows — powerless and harmless. 

However, 

although this punishment was severe, it was also meant to help Danzo. 

Otherwise, those hundreds of furious protesters outside might very well tear him apart… 

Last night, Sarutobi had already lost Koharu; he had no wish to lose another comrade-in-arms.

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