As Kakashi predicted, Inoichi is there at the gates to greet them. "Kakashi!" the T&I head exclaims in relief the moment Kakashi opens the gate and steps beyond the wards. There's no chance of a mid-route abduction this time.

"Inoichi," Kakashi says, brightening slightly too. He nods at Fugaku, who has accompanied Inoichi with a number of police officers. "Fugaku-san. Thank you both for coming."

"Of course. We came here the moment we got word that you've been sighted," Inoichi sighs, his keen eyes flickering over Kakashi in clear concern. "Goodness, you look terrible. Where have you been? I don't believe one bit of what Danzou said about a mission."

"Let's talk about that later." Kakashi puts a hand on Kinoe's shoulder and pushes him gently forward. "This is my friend, Kinoe. Please protect him at all costs." Kinoe glances at Kakashi in shock but Kakashi is already waving the other two boys forward. "Kinoe helped protect these two." The boys look between Inoichi and Fugaku nervously. "Thanks for sending Hyuuga-san over."

"That's no problem. I'm sorry we couldn't get to all of you sooner." Inoichi turns around, signalling with his hand, and Kakashi's eyes widen as his ANBU team appears before them. "They volunteered to escort you and the kids."

"Taichou!" Yugao shouts, while the other two greet him with the casual salute that Kakashi himself always does, smiling.

"We won't let you get kidnapped again, taichou."

"Guys," Kakashi murmurs, his voice wavering slightly. He smiles back. "Thank you."

Inoichi grasps Kakashi's shoulder lightly. "Are we ready to go?"

Kakashi puts his hands in his pockets, his knuckles showing through the cloth as his hand closes over Snake's letter. "Yes."

The Council of Clans is assembled rapidly as the ROOT boys are escorted into the T&I's protective custody.

"You have to make sure that they're safe," Kakashi tells Inoichi again as he watches Fugaku's officers bring the youngest two boys away. Kinoe is still bombarding Fugaku with questions, his eyes wide as the Uchiha explains the situation. "Whatever safety precautions you're taking for me, do it for them too. They're targets now."

"Of course," Inoichi assures as they head towards the Hokage tower. "Ibiki will be holding fort at T&I. He won't spare an ounce of mercy if any assassins try to break in."

Kakashi nods, eyeing the ninja on the street around them. If there are any ROOT agents, they are well hidden.

"Let me help," Kinoe blurts out as he rushes up to Kakashi, catching his wrist in a tight grip. Kakashi suppresses a flinch but luckily the boy doesn't notice. "If... If you're going to take over ROOT, then I'll fight for you! I think you would lead ROOT well!" He looks up at his senpai imploringly.

Kakashi eye-smiles sadly. "Thank you Kinoe. Let see... How about you help Uchiha-san? I know this is difficult, but if all things go well, he will need someone to help him to navigate the estate fast."

Kinoe lets go of Kakashi and puts on a brave face. "I will give it my all, senpai."

"I'm sure you will," Kakashi murmurs, ruffling Kinoe's hair. The boy gives him a small smile.

The unsealing is an unsettling sight. Kakashi kneels in the middle of the scroll that the Ino-Shika-Chou had brought, dry heaving onto the floor of the Council's meeting room as Chouza and Shikaku channel chakra from each end of the scroll. Tsume's ninken whines softly in sympathy as ink and saliva drips from Kakashi's gasping mouth. The assembled clan heads and ghosts can't help but wince as well.

Chouza's and Shikaku's chakra, together with the fuinjutsu that they have inscribed into the scroll, are forcing the silencing seal to slowly unravel. Lines of arcane characters creep from Kakashi's tongue and out of his mouth, writhing as they crawl down his arms. They cling to his skin and his nails, like parasites reluctant to be parted from their host, but the chakra coursing through Kakashi forces them off onto the paper.

Kakashi would not have wanted such an audience before him - clan heads, ANBU, his team, and ghosts alike - but it is inevitable given the weighty accusations that he has levelled against Danzou.

Finally, it is done. Inoichi steadies Kakashi before he can collapse, pressing a handkerchief into his hand. Panting, Kakashi wipes at his mouth.

"So that was Danzou's seal?" Hiashi muses. "Nasty thing. It didn't want to leave."

"Looks like a species of curse seal," Shibi adds. There are several beetles on the table, their wings buzzing as they react to the surplus of chakra filling the room. "Hatake-dono, how do you feel?"

Kakashi looks up, squinting in exhaustion. "Terrible. But at least now I can say that—"

The door slams open and everyone's heads snap towards the sound. "Danzou-sama!" someone murmurs in surprise. The ANBU guards fade back into the shadows as Danzou glowers at them all, his gaze lingering especially on Kakashi's hunched form and the scroll. Kakashi keeps his gaze lowered.

"What is going on here?" Danzou demands coldly as he looks from one clan head to another. "Should I not have been informed about this meeting? Or have I been purposely excluded?"

"You've been excluded," Shikaku replies in a completely deadpan manner. Sakumo hides a smirk behind his hand and Rin nudges him with a small grin. "We're convening to determine whether the accusations against you are worth pursuing."

Danzou scoffs but there is a wary look in his eye. "What accusations?"

Kakashi stands and finally meets the elder's narrowed gaze. "My accusations," he says, quietly but firmly. "Shimura Danzou, as one of the members in this council, I hereby formally bring charges against you for running a private military organisation against Konoha's interests and using this organisation to assassinate key members of the village, to interfere with village politics, and to gain personal advantages. I also bring joint charges against Shimura Danzou and Orochimaru of the Sannin, for abduction, human trafficking, and illegal human experimentation." Kakashi's smile is edged with a snarl. "Is this clear enough?"

Danzou is trembling with fury. "I will not stand for this kind of slander. Kakashi," he says, turning towards the rest of the council, "is unwell. He has a history of mental instability—"

The ink-stained handkerchief in Kakashi's hand crumples further as he clenches his fist. "Inoichi-san," Kakashi interrupts, lifting his eyes to the man standing beside him. "Please examine my mind to confirm that my case is supported by my memories."

Looking equally displeased at Danzou's insinuations, Inoichi drags out a chair and sets it against a wall. "In that case, please take a seat first. Comfortable?"

"It's fine."

With a brief nod, Inoichi places his hand on Kakashi's head.

Danzou begins muttering angrily about conspiracies as they close their eyes and begin the mind jutsu, but under the watchful gaze of the other clan heads, he does not dare to do anything. Instead, he takes his seat and crosses his arms, making his displeasure a display and meeting anyone's glances with twice the challenge.

Fugaku's eyes are bright with anticipation, however. Sakumo can see the beginnings of a smirk lifting a corner of his mouth. The Uchiha trades a silent look with Hiashi— the two largest clans already beginning to divide up the power gap that Danzou's downfall will bring. The newest member of their council, Tsume, is watching everyone carefully, no doubt picking up more information from their scents. Beside her, Shibi is doing the same with his kikaichuu.

With the unsealing complete, Shikaku rolls up the scroll and brings out a box of papers. Setting it on the table, he begins looking through it with Chouza. "I'll get Shikaru to start drafting the latest affidavit," he whispers, and his teammate nods.

Danzou sneers. "Are you his lawyers now? Akimichi-dono, you should not be chairing this meeting if you're an interested party."

"You need not worry, Shimura-dono," Shibi says. "Why? Akimichi-dono has recused himself for the same reasons that you have mentioned. Until this matter is concluded, I will be chairing the Council."

Chouza gives Shibi a nod of thanks as Danzou falls into a sullen silence again.

"...we're done." Stepping away from Kakashi, Inoichi rubs at his temples. He takes a moment before he faces the expectant faces in the room, his expression somber. Kakashi's unreadable grey eye is fixed on his back. "I place my name in support of Hatake-dono's case against Shimura-dono and Orochimaru of the Sannin," Inoichi says simply. "There is sufficient evidence to make out a case."

There is a heartbeat's worth of silence.

Danzou's hand slams down on the table with a bang and he leaps to his feet, thrusting an accusing finger at Inoichi. "You are in league with him! Speaking as if there is any evidence at all when all of it is dependent on Hatake's word and yours!"

Inoichi is unmoved but Chouza comes to stand between them. "I vouch for Inoichi's character. If he says that there is sufficient evidence, then I am willing to place my name in support of his words."

"Well said Chouza," Shikaku says, his eyes hard. "Consider me in support as well."

"Ludicrous!" Danzou growls, his killing intent flaring dangerously.

"Shimura-dono, calm yourself." Shibi's voice rings out, louder than Sakumo has ever heard him before, forcing even Danzou's rage into quietness. There is a low, dangerous buzzing in the air. "There will still be a trial. You may defend yourself then. For now, we will decide whether the case shall be heard in court. Fellow clan heads, we shall have a vote."

Fugaku raises his hand. "Aburame-dono, may I first propose a resolution to detain and investigate Shimura-san, all potential ROOT agents, and enter the Shimura estate for such purposes. We have to act quickly if these accusations are true."

"That would be wise," Shibi agrees. "Everyone, a vote for Fugaku-dono's proposal first."

Danzou splutters but a unanimous decision is quickly made against him. "Very well," Shibi declares, "Uchiha-dono, consider the Uchiha Police Forces and the T&I jointly empowered to act—"

Danzou turns to leave.

"Shimura-dono!"

"Shimura-san!"

Shikaku's shadows snap out along the ground and Danzou's angry stride comes to a sudden stop. His snarl is frozen on his face as the elder struggles to glare back at the Nara. "Pardon the disrespect," Shikaku murmurs, sweat beading on his face as his chakra surges against Danzou's. The old man is strong, despite his cane and his "impaired" arm, and Shikaku's shadow jutsu is unravelling at the edges. "But allow the ANBU to escort you, please. You are under detention as of now."

Fugaku produces a set of chakra-suppressing cuffs and tosses it at the nearest ANBU, who materialises and fastens both cuffs around Danzou's single wrist. Hiashi gives Fugaku a look of wry amusement—the Uchiha is too well-prepared. Fugaku ignores him.

With the elder secure, Shikaku lets go of the shadow jutsu with a deep exhale. "Shimura-dono, it will be in your favour if you cooperate."

Danzou gives a single bark of laughter. The ANBU tries to escort him away but he twists away, turning back to sneer at the assembled council instead. "To think that all of you are so ungrateful as to humiliate me in this way when I have served Konoha for decades more than each of you. You will live to regret it, I promise all of you."

His dark eye flickers to Kakashi and the heat of his anger drains away into a coldness that makes Sakumo shudder.

"Hatake Kakashi, I'd like to see how long you can continue twisting the facts to suit yourself. Everything I have done I have done for Konoha."

Kakashi stares back, emotionless, as Danzou draws himself up to his full height and leaves the room under his own power.