Inside a small inn.
"Lord Akaboshi, everything in the dueling arena is normal, and the surrounding guards haven't noticed a thing."
"Reporting to you, my lord, the number of Konoha's outer patrolmen has not decreased, and there has been no movement from the Hokage's office."
Listening to his subordinates' reports, Akaboshi said, "Very well, it seems Danzo Shimura is indeed willing to cooperate. Then I shall await his news here."
Akaboshi paused and then asked, "Is that woman Natsu Hoshi still hiding in the dueling arena, afraid to come out?"
"Reporting to you, my lord, the target is no longer in the dueling arena. We don't know where she went."
"Useless! You..." Akaboshi was about to scold them when a whistling sound came from outside. He quickly dodged, and a kunai shot in through the window, embedding itself in the table in front of him. A ninja forehead protector and a small slip of paper were tied to its handle.
"A Hoshinin forehead protector... has Danzo already succeeded?"
A faint feminine scent lingered on the forehead protector. Akaboshi laughed heartily, "Natsu Hoshi, Natsu Hoshi, in the end, you still couldn't escape my grasp."
"As expected of Danzo Shimura of Konoha, truly living up to his reputation. Ruthless and decisive."
Akaboshi opened the paper. It contained an address. Flames rose from his hand, burning the paper to ashes.
"Gather all our forces! The era of the Hoshikage is about to begin!"
...
In a secluded, dilapidated hut far from human habitation, a young man with long, disheveled red hair walked in.
"Danzo, I'm here. If you don't want that incident to be known to outsiders, then hand over one hundred million ryo for silence, and be quick about it."
The room was pitch black. Seeing that Danzo was slow to emerge, Lin Yu seemed anxious and shouted, "Stop hiding in the shadows! If that incident gets out, you know the consequences. You, Danzo Shimura, will be utterly disgraced!"
Seeing Lin Yu fabricating things out of thin air and spouting nonsense, Danzo, who was hiding in the dark, turned as black as the bottom of a pot. This brat spoke as if it were true. How could I, Danzo, ever leave a handle for others to hold!
"Hiruzen, don't believe him. I'm a good person!" Danzo explained to himself internally: At least I'm genuinely good to Hiruzen!
"Hmm, I believe you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi outwardly believed him, but inwardly he grumbled, "What kind of person you are, you old scoundrel, I know perfectly well. I don't believe a word you say. Danzo, you're very wicked!"
However, Akaboshi, lurking in the shadows, knew none of this.
"So Danzo has something on this brat, no wonder he wants me to get rid of him."
Akaboshi's eyes rolled. Why not extract this information before killing Lin Yu? That way, wouldn't he have a trump card to control Danzo?
Indeed, heaven, earth, and man were all on his side, Akaboshi. Even the heavens wanted to help him!
*Bang!*
Akaboshi transformed into Danzo's appearance. Although there were flaws, Akaboshi felt it would be enough to deal with the young man before him. Judging by the latter's appearance, his strength was at most special jonin level, not worth mentioning.
"One hundred million ryo is too much. That incident isn't worth that price at all."
Akaboshi instructed his subordinates to remain still and walked out of the shadows himself.
"Danzo, you've finally decided to come out."
Lin Yu appeared arrogant and overbearing, but inwardly he felt a bit bored. This kind of supporting character could be subdued with a few moves. Elder Sarutobi was too cautious, insisting on confirming that there were no other stragglers in the village before acting.
Old people were indeed afraid of unexpected events.
Akaboshi, impersonating Danzo, said with a stern face, "Lin Yu Uzumaki, you know my principles, Danzo. Are you sure you want to go against me?"
Lin Yu crossed his arms, disdainfully saying, "So what? If you dare to lay a hand on me, I guarantee that incident will spread throughout Konoha tomorrow! By then, you, Danzo, will be a rat crossing the street!"
"What exactly is this incident that can have such a big impact on Danzo?" Akaboshi mused inwardly, while outwardly he said in a deep voice, "Do you think I, Danzo, am afraid of you? Even if that incident gets out, I, Danzo, can suppress it in minutes!"
Suppression my ass! Danzo, hiding in the shadows, gritted his teeth. Akaboshi was using his face to spout such nonsense. His name, Danzo, might have terrified the children of Konoha twenty years ago, but today, who the hell...
"Then, leave no one alive!" Danzo was extremely enraged at this moment. Those Hoshinin must have heard Lin Yu's words too. They must all be wiped out!
"Wait a moment, Danzo. You're always so hasty. There's no need to kill them. We can capture them and hand them over to the Hoshinin Village for their judgment," Hiruzen said with a frown.
"The guy below is the Hoshikage. Do you think handing him over to the Hoshinin Village would be useful?"
"This..." Now it was Hiruzen's turn to fall silent. Danzo had a point. Besides, they didn't know the current situation of the Hoshinin Village, or if Akaboshi had already taken control of it.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Danzo. He said expressionlessly, "How about this? We don't have to kill them, but Hiruzen, you'll have to lend me your crystal ball for a few days."
"Crystal ball? What do you need that for?" Hiruzen asked, puzzled.
"For experiments."
"Alright." Using the crystal ball for experiments was better than Danzo using other bizarre things for experiments. Hiruzen readily agreed.
Immediately, Hiruzen gave a signal and, like a monkey, pounced towards the other Hoshinin.
Danzo's gaze fell upon Akaboshi below. Daring to impersonate him, Danzo, was truly courting death. However, someone was faster than him.
"Akaboshi, you killed the Third Hoshikage and forcibly cultivated the village children by taking the stars. Today, I will eliminate you, traitor!"
Natsu Hoshi emerged from the shadows, her beautiful eyes filled with malice. It was this scoundrel, Akaboshi, who had expelled her from the Hoshinin Village. Today, she would get her revenge, with interest.
"Natsu Hoshi? Aren't you supposed to be dead?"
Seeing Natsu Hoshi, Akaboshi clearly panicked, even dispelling his transformation jutsu. He heard the screams of his subordinates and immediately realized he had been tricked.
"You, you're working together! Danzo, you old dog, come out!"
Akaboshi roared in rage at his surroundings.
"Tsk, what an idiot. Do you really think you have the qualifications to cooperate with me, Danzo?" Danzo snorted disdainfully and continued to subdue the Hoshinin with Hiruzen.
"Today is your end, Akaboshi! Peacock Dharma - Beast!"
Natsu Hoshi formed a hand seal, and chakra surged from her body, coalescing above her head into the form of a ferocious giant beast.
"You think you're the only one? Peacock Dharma - Beast."
Akaboshi also used the Peacock Dharma, but the size of the beast he conjured was incomparable to Natsu Hoshi's. It was like the difference between a gecko and a dragon.
*Splat!*
In a single exchange, Akaboshi was sent flying, rolling into the distance, blood spilling from his mouth, his face filled with unwillingness.
"Why! Why!"
Akaboshi roared, "I did all this for the Hoshinin Village! Why are you people unwilling to cooperate with me? Why are you unwilling to obediently die!"
"This is all your greed. You are not worthy of mentioning the Hoshinin Village at all." Natsu Hoshi's eyes were sharp. The chakra beast coalescing above her head lunged at Akaboshi again.
Akaboshi's expression turned ferocious. He took out a box containing a meteorite from his怀 and laughed maniacally, "Since that's the case, let me show you the true power of the stars!"