Chapter 79 (Patreon)

Konoha.

Atop the Hokage Residence, a large number of shinobi from the village’s major clans had gathered.

Every clan present was well known within Konoha.

Yujiro slowly walked to the edge of the trial platform. His gaze swept over the crowd before his voice rang out clearly.

“Everyone, please be quiet.”

The murmurs gradually faded.

Yujiro looked down at them and continued.

“Next, I will release every detailed mission report related to last night’s Nine-Tails incident.”

After he finished speaking, Yujiro gave Shisui and Kakashi a slight nod.

The two immediately understood. They stepped forward and began distributing the documents they had prepared in advance.

At the same time, on the high platform, Shimura Danzō, who had already arrived, narrowed his eye with a displeased expression.

When they had been summoned here, no one had mentioned anything about this.

Wasn’t today supposed to be Sarutobi Hiruzen’s trial?

A faint sense of unease rose in Danzō’s heart.

“Koharu. Homura. Do either of you know what this is about?”

Shimura Danzō turned his head and looked toward Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, who were seated beside him.

“I don’t know.”

The two exchanged a glance and could only smile bitterly.

“I see.”

Danzō nodded, but his expression did not ease.

For now, he could only take things one step at a time.

At the same time, he was also curious.

How exactly did Yujiro intend to deal with Sarutobi Hiruzen?

Below the platform, the crowd had already begun passing the documents around in a hurry.

Yujiro did not rush them.

He simply stood there quietly and waited.

Ten minutes later, someone in the crowd finally raised a question.

“Lord Yujiro, this mission report says that the Third Hokage personally led Root shinobi to attack the ANBU?”

“How is that possible?!”

“Yes! Even if he is no longer the Hokage, would the Third really do something so terrible?”

On the trial platform, Yujiro smiled faintly.

“I knew everyone would have this question. In fact, I had the same question myself.”

After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen had once been Hokage.

How could he have done something so monstrous?

Yujiro’s eyes turned calm and sharp.

“That is why today’s trial will be fair, just, and open. Everyone present will judge Sarutobi Hiruzen with their own eyes and ears.”

As soon as he finished speaking, several ANBU brought Sarutobi Hiruzen onto the trial platform.

His hands were bound.

The moment Shimura Danzō saw Hiruzen, his expression darkened.

He could tell.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was under a genjutsu.

In his current state, he would answer almost anything he was asked.

No.

If this continued, wouldn’t his own secrets be exposed as well?

Just as Shimura Danzō was about to rise from his seat, a figure appeared behind him.

“Shimura Danzō, your role today is to listen. Please remain seated.”

Uchiha Fugaku’s quiet voice reached him from behind.

An invisible pressure fell over Danzō like a blade pressed against the back of his neck.

Danzō lowered his gaze slightly.

After a moment, he slowly sat back down.

For now, he could only endure and see how things played out.

He could only hope that Sarutobi Hiruzen would not drag him down with him.

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen was pushed to the edge of the trial platform.

His eyes were empty, and his body trembled faintly.

Shisui quickly came to Yujiro’s side and waited for his instruction.

“Begin.”

“Yes.”

Shisui nodded.

He stepped beside Sarutobi Hiruzen and cast another genjutsu on him.

After confirming it had taken effect, Shisui stood up straight and spoke loudly to the crowd.

“Everyone, from this moment on, Sarutobi Hiruzen will answer whatever he is asked.”

“If you have any doubts about this mission, you may ask him directly.”

“And there is no need to worry about whether I have done anything improper. Konoha has its own Torture and Interrogation Force, as well as the Yamanaka Clan’s mind-reading shinobi.”

“They will be able to tell whether the genjutsu has been tampered with.”

Afterward, members of Konoha’s Torture and Interrogation Force and several shinobi from the Yamanaka Clan came forward.

After confirming there was no problem, they stepped back.

A long silence followed.

Then someone in the crowd finally asked the first question.

“Excuse me, Third Hokage! Did you truly lead your people to attack the ANBU last night?”

Sarutobi Hiruzen answered blankly.

“I did.”

“What?!”

The moment those words came from Sarutobi Hiruzen’s own mouth, the crowd below erupted.

Everyone’s expression changed.

“Excuse me, Third Hokage. According to the report, the Root shinobi belong to the force under Lord Danzō’s command.”

“Even the Hokage has no authority to mobilize them without permission!”

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, “That matter was carried out through cooperation between myself and the leader of Root. Naturally, I was able to mobilize Root’s shinobi.”

“Third Hokage! Why did you do this?!”

Someone finally roared.

After hearing that question, a cruel smile slowly appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen’s face.

“Why?”

His voice became low and chilling.

“Of course, it was to kill every ANBU in Konoha.”

“After that, I would kill Minato and Yujiro as well.”

“If not for those two, I would still be Hokage!”

“Minato? Hahaha! He was the Hokage I raised with my own hands. And yet now, he has escaped my control!”

“A weapon that can no longer be controlled must be destroyed.”

“Once they were dead, I would have Root shinobi fill the empty positions in ANBU as quickly as possible.”

“Then I would reclaim the Hokage seat.”

“That was my purpose.”

Under the control of Shisui’s genjutsu, Sarutobi Hiruzen revealed everything without hesitation.

The moment he finished speaking, the crowd below fell into complete chaos.

Angry shouts and curses rose one after another.

“Third Hokage! Even if you killed them, how were you planning to clear your own name?!”

Someone shouted furiously.

“Clear my name? Isn’t that simple?”

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed.

“I would let them struggle against the Nine-Tails first. Then I would step in and suppress the Nine-Tails myself.”

“When the time came, I would put the blame on Yujiro and say he was the one who released the Nine-Tails.”

“His reason for approaching Minato would become simple.”

“He wanted to release the Nine-Tails and destroy Konoha!”

“When that happened, I would control public opinion myself. Do you think the ignorant villagers of Konoha would still care about the truth? Hahaha!”

“Enough!”

At that moment, Shimura Danzō finally could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen continued talking, Root would be in danger as well.

Just as Danzō shouted, Uchiha Fugaku, who stood behind him, slowly opened his eyes.

A pair of scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan turned silently.

There were even faint, subtle changes beginning to appear within the tomoe.

Clearly, if Shimura Danzō dared to make any reckless move, Uchiha Fugaku would activate his Mangekyō Sharingan without hesitation and subdue him on the spot.

“It’s fine.”

Yujiro’s calm voice drifted over.

“Let him come forward and confront Sarutobi Hiruzen.”

Only then did Uchiha Fugaku slowly close his Sharingan.

Shimura Danzō walked to the edge of the trial platform with an enraged expression.

“Everyone, do not believe Sarutobi Hiruzen’s words!”

“I, Shimura Danzō, have only ever acted for the sake of Konoha!”

Someone below immediately shouted back.

“For our sake? Then what about the records of your previous contact with Orochimaru?!”

When Sarutobi Hiruzen heard that, he continued speaking.

“That is because Orochimaru’s human experimentation was carried out with my tacit approval.”

“Also, Orochimaru alone could not have completed such a massive workload. That is why I informed Shimura Danzō as well.”

“What?! The human experiments were actually approved by the Third Hokage?! And Shimura Danzō was involved too?!”

The villagers below were instantly furious.

Everyone lowered their heads and stared at the documents in their hands.

Those documents recorded what Orochimaru had done over the years.

They also recorded what Shimura Danzō had done.

Every piece of evidence was listed clearly.

Every incident could be traced.

“So we’ve been fooled by Konoha’s higher-ups this whole time?!”

“They are not worthy of leading Konoha!”

“That’s right! Sarutobi Hiruzen isn’t worthy at all!”

“Shimura Danzō isn’t worthy either! Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura secretly supported them too! None of them deserve their positions!”

In an instant, the voices below grew louder and louder.

The anger in everyone’s hearts had been completely ignited.

Yujiro gave Shisui a slight nod.

Shisui understood at once and released the genjutsu on Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s body swayed slightly.

His eyes gradually regained focus, but soon, a defeated look appeared on his face.

The genjutsu from earlier had still left a faint trace of his consciousness intact.

He knew exactly what had just happened.

“Sarutobi Hiruzen! Shimura Danzō!”

“You rotten old men of Konoha! Pay for the lives of our fallen comrades!”

The curses below grew uglier and harsher.

On the trial platform, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s face turned extremely gloomy.

Shimura Danzō’s expression was no better.

At that moment, a flash of golden light suddenly appeared beside Yujiro.

“All the shinobi deployed around the area have been captured!”

Minato’s voice was not concealed at all.

He announced it loudly enough for everyone to hear.

The instant the villagers below heard those words, the entire crowd erupted again.

“Shimura Danzō! You bastard! Were you planning to kill us too?!”

“Sarutobi Hiruzen! You so-called higher-ups are all working together! Kill them!”

“That’s right! A life for a life!”

“A life for a life!”

“A life for a life!”

“A life for a life!”

The voices below grew louder and louder, rising like a wave.

The corner of Yujiro’s mouth lifted slightly.

He tilted his head, looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō, and smiled faintly.

“How does it feel, you two?”

His voice was calm, but every word carried a blade’s edge.

“Does it feel good?”

Shimura Danzō nearly spat blood from rage.

Right now, he truly wanted to kill Yujiro.

But he was afraid Minato would save him in an instant, so he could only endure a little longer.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, finally snapped.

“Hahahahaha!”

“You ignorant villagers!”

“I am the Third Hokage!”

“When you see me, you should kneel!”

“Yujiro! Since you have exposed my secrets, then there is no reason to hold back anymore!”

“I will drag you down to hell with me!”

Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed madly and began forming hand seals at a frightening speed.

And the moment he moved, he unleashed his strongest Five-Style Ninjutsu.

“Lord Yujiro! Be careful!”

The shinobi below, the surrounding ANBU, and the members of the major clans all shouted at once.

Yujiro only smiled faintly.

His right hand slowly closed around the hilt of his black blade.

“Ittōryū…”

His eyes sharpened.

“Shura.”