Chapter 260: The Trial

The Trial Stand!

What… what is this?

Hiruzen Sarutobi was confused. He had never heard of such a thing.

Since when did Konoha have something like this? Did Kakashi start it after becoming Hokage?

As a ninja, is it really necessary to engage in such nonsense?

Of course, judging by the name, it was obvious—they were planning to put him on trial.

Hiruzen felt a sense of absurdity.

He was the Hokage!

Even if he no longer held the position, he was still one of the most respected figures in Konoha.

After everything he had done for the village, were these ungrateful wolves really going to put him on trial?

How laughable!

"What's the matter, Hiruzen Sarutobi? Not happy?" Kakashi called him by name without hesitation.

"Kakashi Hatake!" Hiruzen shouted in anger. "I am the Hokage—"

"You were. You're not anymore."

Hiruzen's rising momentum was instantly cut off.

In that moment, he thought of someone—Itsuki Uchiha! Damn it!

This kid was definitely involved with him!

There was no doubt now! Whenever he speaks, he just makes you angrier!

Hiruzen gritted his teeth in frustration.

He had never hated anyone more in his entire life.

"Fine, I *was* the Hokage, but just because I'm not anymore, does that mean you can erase all my contributions? I've done so much for Konoha—"

"You're absolutely right!"

Kakashi cut him off again. "Konoha wouldn't be what it is today without your contributions. Should we give you an award for it?"

Hiruzen's mention of being Hokage caused a stir among the crowd below. 

No matter how much they justified their actions, deep down they knew they were challenging someone who had been their superior. That lingering anxiety never left them.

But after hearing Kakashi's words, a wave of resentment surged.

Yeah!

If not for Hiruzen Sarutobi, how would Konoha have ended up like this?

Not long ago, he had even attacked Danzo, making it seem like he was cleaning up the dark side of Konoha. 

Who would have thought it was just to cover up his own past actions?

Because of his selfishness, Konoha was once again engulfed in war.

Barely a few days of peace, and now, who knows how many more would die.

The families of those who had lost loved ones on the battlefield were ready to explode in rage.

"And furthermore…" Kakashi continued, "You say you've made countless contributions to Konoha, but tell me, who here hasn't contributed? Some people have lost their entire families on the battlefield."

"Death doesn't prove anything, but it does raise a lot of questions, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Tell me, how many of your family members died on the battlefield?"

Because of Uchiha Itsuki's interference, Sarutobi's son, Asuma Sarutobi, who was supposed to die, was still alive.

So, only one person in Hiruzen's family had ever died—his wife, Biwako Sarutobi. And even then, she died during the Nine-Tails attack, inside the village, not on a battlefield.

Hiruzen fell silent.

What could he say?

The more he spoke, the more shameful it would be.

Others had lost their entire families, yet his family remained untouched.

What was this?

Did his family have divine protection?

It wasn't about wanting his family to die, but when you really looked at it, not a single one of his family members had truly fought on the front lines.

Asuma had been part of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, protecting the feudal lord, not Konoha itself.

So, none of them had truly fought!

And even those who did were assigned to unimportant places.

Kakashi understood this all too well.

As Hokage, he too would look out for his people, placing those close to him in relatively safer positions.

It's a basic human instinct, one no one could avoid.

But!

When something like this is brought out into the open, it becomes glaringly obvious.

It was humiliating!

No matter how thick-skinned he was, even Hiruzen couldn't bear it.

"So, step forward, Hiruzen Sarutobi!" Kakashi sighed. "Come up here and explain everything. You still have a chance."

"Alright," Hiruzen sighed deeply.

His already aged face seemed even older now.

At that moment, even his hair seemed to lose its luster, as if all life had drained from it.

He walked toward the trial stand, his expression calm. "I want to know exactly what I did that warrants this public trial. A trial for a former Hokage."

Kakashi didn't back down, pulling out a set of "evidence." He said, "We're putting you on trial for this. Now, what do you have to say about the contents of this scroll?"

"What is this?" Hiruzen frowned as he took the scroll. 

As soon as he glanced at it, his first instinct was to destroy it.

Halfway through tearing it, he stopped.

His face turned pale.

Damn it. He couldn't be blamed for his reflexes—the contents of the scroll were too horrifying.

If everything in that scroll were proven true, then he...

Wait a minute.

In an instant, Hiruzen understood why people around him were giving him those strange looks.

Even Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had unusual expressions.

Kakashi chuckled. "No need to get so tense, and don't even think about destroying that scroll. Everyone already knows what's in it. Now, do you have anything to say, Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?"

Kakashi's cold gaze locked onto Hiruzen.

He laid out all the evidence of Hiruzen's crimes before the crowd.

He wanted this scumbag dead!

He wanted Hiruzen Sarutobi to die humiliated, condemned by the people.

For a former Hokage, this was enough to make his name infamous across the entire ninja world!

Kakashi's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Father, do you see this?

I'm avenging you!

I'm going to ruin this man's reputation, make him the most disgraced Kage in history.

"It's all fake, every bit of it!" Hiruzen threw the scroll to the ground in contempt. "Kakashi, as the Fifth Hokage, you believe this nonsense?"

He was flustered.

Now, he was pinning his hopes on others.

Maybe Kakashi.

He was the current Hokage, the leader of Konoha. If Kakashi helped him, maybe he could still get out of this.

But in his panic, Hiruzen had missed all the signs of Kakashi's hostility.

This was ridiculous!

How could you still not suspect me by now?

Kakashi shook his head. "Hiruzen Sarutobi, stop dreaming. Even if we haven't verified everything, we've confirmed some parts. For example…"

"The death of Sakumo Hatake. You had a big hand in that."

With just that one sentence, Hiruzen's entire body went cold.

He stared at Kakashi, stunned, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

Sakumo Hatake?

How did this suddenly involve Sakumo?

And… Kakashi, were you serious just now?

In his muddled mind, Hiruzen finally sensed something wrong.

"Kakashi!"

Hiruzen stared blankly at him. "Do you believe… that your father's death is my fault?"

"I'll tell you!" Kakashi answered coldly. "When Danzo spread rumors about my father, what did you do as Hokage? Or rather, what didn't you do?"

Hiruzen's lips trembled, trying to say something.

"I'll tell you!" Kakashi interrupted. "You did nothing! You stood by and let my father be slandered by Danzo. As Hokage, that was your attitude. Danzo was just carrying out your will, wasn't he?"

"No, it wasn't like that!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly shouted, "Sakumo Hatake is the White Fang of the Leaf, the sharpest blade of Konoha. How could I ever want to sacrifice him? Danzo, it was all Danzo! Everything was his fault. He's the reason Sakumo had to die."

"I've told you, your every action proves your intent," Kakashi said calmly. "At that time, if you had even said one word in my father's defense, he wouldn't have been killed by Danzo's rumors."

"That would have been supporting Danzo," Kakashi continued. "Danzo and you—you both caused my father's death."

Human nature always seeks to avoid harm and pursue benefit. So, Kakashi pushed all the blame onto Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo. This reduced the guilt felt by others and led them to increase their attacks on Hiruzen.

Feeling guilty, they wanted to do something to distract themselves. Hearing Kakashi's words, the people around were overtaken by their emotions. They started to lash out wildly. They pinned all the blame on Hiruzen and Danzo.

One was the Hokage.

The other was the shadow of the village.

They were the perfect scapegoats.

No need to think about it anymore—it was their fault.

Faced with the furious villagers, Hiruzen trembled. He looked at Kakashi in fear. Him? Was it all because of him? Damn it! Was he seeking revenge for his father? When did this start? Could it be that when Kakashi became Hokage...?

No, it must have started even earlier. He had been planning this all along.

Kakashi Hatake's schemes weren't any less than Itachi Uchiha's.

Hiruzen's body felt cold, drained of warmth.

"Looks like you're not willing to admit anything?" Kakashi looked at Hiruzen, his expression still calm. "Not that it's surprising. After all, we don't have solid proof, just speculation. So, can you answer this next question?"

"Danzo was conducting forbidden experiments. He admitted it himself. You knew about it and gave him significant support."

"Oh, don't deny it, Third Hokage," Kakashi said with a slight smile. "Based on the evidence Danzo provided, we found several expenditures you signed off on. Care to explain that?"

Once again, Hiruzen fell silent.

Explain? Explain what? The money had indeed gone to Danzo, and it was used for human experiments.

"Kakashi!" Hiruzen's voice suddenly steadied. "Can you tell me where this scroll came from?"

"Of course, Lord Hokage," Kakashi replied indifferently. "It was provided by Danzo."

"As expected!" Hiruzen chuckled bitterly. He had killed Danzo with his own hands, but Danzo had struck back just as hard. When? Maybe Danzo had decided as much when he fled Konoha. It didn't matter anymore. It truly didn't matter anymore.

When Danzo handed over his secrets to Konoha, everything was already over.

Sigh.

Hiruzen let out a long breath. "Kakashi, tell me, how do you plan to deal with me?"

Kakashi looked at Hiruzen deeply and said indifferently, "The evidence is irrefutable, Third Hokage. If you have any dignity left, you should take your own life."

"Haha!" Hiruzen chuckled softly, which soon turned into uncontrollable laughter. He stared at Kakashi with crazed eyes. "No way!"

"I can die, but I will never take my own life!"

"Hatake Kakashi!" Hiruzen said coldly, "Do you want revenge for your father?"

"Yes!" Kakashi replied without hesitation.

"Then do it! Kill me with your own hands!" Hiruzen stood tall, shedding his robe to reveal his battle gear underneath.

Kakashi looked at him indifferently. "Lord Hokage, if you wish, we can—"

"Enough! Stop talking!" Hiruzen interrupted coldly. "I admit everything on that scroll. Now, hurry up and kill me!"

"Lord Hiruzen!" "What the hell are you babbling about?" Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were furious.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you admit to everything?" they yelled. "Have you even read the scroll? You're dragging us down with you!"

The scroll implicated them in many ways. With Hiruzen's confession, they were caught up in the mess too.

The Four Great Guardians of Konoha were about to be taken down in one fell swoop.

"What?" Hiruzen was stunned. For the first time, he saw Koharu and Homura this angry. Were they out of their minds? Or maybe, seeing him fall, they wanted to kick him while he was down. Trying to make themselves look better? It didn't matter anymore!

Hiruzen snorted coldly, "I've admitted what I've done. As for you—"

"Shut up!" Koharu was furious. Wasn't it bad enough already? Did he want to drag them even deeper?

Kakashi, however, smiled. It was a double victory! With Danzo dealt with and Hiruzen cornered, he had thought he'd have to slow down and deal with Koharu and Homura later to avoid disturbing the village's balance. But now, there was no need for hesitation.

Kakashi waved his hand, and the Anbu immediately stepped forward to detain the two elders.

"Both of you, come with us," they said quietly, but the threat was clear.

Koharu and Homura panicked, shouting, "Kakashi! We have nothing to do with this! It was all Danzo and Hiruzen! You have to believe us!"

But no matter what they said, they were dragged away.

Hiruzen stood there, dumbfounded. What just happened? He confessed, and somehow his two old companions got roped into it too.

(End of the chapter)