Chapter 234: The Time for Judgment

Natsuro observed the crowd's reactions and felt satisfied.

This was the power of first impressions. Danzō's habit of wrapping parts of his body in white bandages had always given him a harsh and untrustworthy appearance.

Now, with his arm full of Sharingan exposed, no matter what Danzō tried to say, he would leave a bad impression on everyone.

And with Natsuro having "muted" him, Danzō couldn't even defend himself verbally.

As for whether Danzō could remove the Sharingan from his arm in advance?

That was impossible. Someone as cautious and self-preserving as Danzō would never willingly remove those eyes.

Moreover, even if he wanted to, where would he find someone to reattach them later?

While implanting a Sharingan into the eye socket was relatively straightforward in the world of Naruto, given the natural connections and pathways, a grafted arm like Danzō's required complex considerations, such as nutrient supply and integration with the body.

Seeing that the timing was right, Natsuro began introducing Danzō's identity.

"Shimura Danzō, leader of Konoha's Root organization, holds a status equivalent to that of a Hokage advisor. He has always advocated for protecting Konoha through hardline methods."

As Natsuro spoke, he couldn't help but reflect on Danzō's position. On paper, even the head of the ANBU was ranked lower than a Hokage advisor, as advisors could influence the Hokage's decisions, whereas the ANBU head was directly subordinate to the Hokage and had to follow orders unconditionally.

Root, officially just a training branch of the ANBU, gave Danzō a platform to wield significant influence, a privilege granted largely thanks to the Third Hokage.

Natsuro then explained the true nature of Root to the crowd.

Because after today, this shadowy organization hidden in Konoha's depths would cease to exist.

Natsuro continued, "Danzō's personality is deeply distrustful, cautious, ruthless, and manipulative. He tolerates no mistakes and insists on absolute control according to his own vision.

He often preaches the mantra that 'a ninja must be self-sacrificing' and claims to be the shadow that protects Konoha's foundation. But his actions contradict his words.

He has never sacrificed himself, only demanded sacrifices from his subordinates. He claims to protect Konoha but has sold its secrets, looted its warehouses for his own gain, and acted entirely in his self-interest, disregarding the village's welfare."

Natsuro glanced at Danzō, whose expression grew darker with every word. Natsuro had expected Danzō to lose control and attack, but surprisingly, he held back.

The crowd below was already turning against Danzō. His identity and personality alone had drawn their disdain.

Natsuro pressed on, "Now, let's move on to Danzō's crimes, which have been jointly confirmed by myself, the Fifth Hokage, the Third Hokage, and Advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado."

The two advisors exchanged uneasy glances. They could feel Danzō's seething hatred directed at them.

But they also understood that Natsuro's public statements distancing them from Danzō were ultimately beneficial to their futures.

While it pained them to sever ties with an old ally, safeguarding their own interests took precedence.

The Third Hokage sighed deeply, avoiding Danzō's furious gaze and retreating to the Sarutobi clan's area.

"Old man, don't get involved in this anymore," Asuma Sarutobi said, noticing the conflict on his father's face.

The Third Hokage was startled. He glanced at Asuma, then at the other family members, who all nodded in agreement. Reluctantly, he gave a bitter smile and nodded.

"I've already promised Natsuro I wouldn't interfere."

"Good," Asuma replied. "I also promised him that if he ever wanted to become Hokage, I would fully support him."

The Third Hokage blinked in surprise before chuckling bitterly. It seemed not only the prominent clans but even his own family had quietly aligned themselves with Natsuro.

Looking at Natsuro on the balcony, the Third thought to himself, The younger generation is truly formidable.

"I approached Natsuro after the Orochimaru incident," Asuma explained. "He didn't ask for my support, but I believe in showing gratitude, so I offered it anyway."

The Third Hokage said nothing, but his expression softened. He understood who Asuma's actions were for, and he nodded approvingly.

"You did the right thing."

Meanwhile, Natsuro began listing Danzō's crimes.

With such a lineup of respected figures supporting his claims, who would dare doubt the authenticity of the charges?

The Third Hokage glanced at the crowd. Seeing their indignant and outraged expressions, he knew that Danzō's fate was sealed. His old friend had reached the end of his road.

The Third Hokage had originally intended to leave, but he stopped in his tracks. He felt it was his duty to witness Danzō's final moments.

Natsuro finished recounting Danzō's crimes, a substantial list that left no room for defense.

First charge: Harming Konoha's own people and implanting Sharingan.

Danzō's arm, embedded with ten Sharingan, was the best evidence for this charge.

Of course, Natsuro had ensured Danzō was silenced before presenting this accusation. Otherwise, Danzō would inevitably bring up the Uchiha's attempted coup.

Now that Danzō couldn't speak, Natsuro avoided the complications that would arise. While it was true that the Uchiha had planned a coup at the time, they were wiped out before they could act.

Most people had no knowledge of their plans. All they remembered was the tension between the Uchiha and the village and, ultimately, the tragedy of their annihilation.

Humans tend to romanticize the past, and many had since idealized the Uchiha in their memories. This made the first charge an easy point to drive home.

Second charge: Illegally implanting the cells of the First Hokage into his body, resulting in his grotesque pale arm, a blatant insult to the legacy of the First Hokage.

This accusation needed no further explanation. The mere mention of the First Hokage's name was enough to garner universal condemnation.

Third charge: Selling information about Konoha to the Akatsuki, a criminal organization, which resulted in a trap set for Natsuro during his mission to rescue the Kazekage. Had Natsuro not been strong enough, he would have perished there.

As soon as Natsuro mentioned this, the crowd erupted in outrage. While the Uchiha and First Hokage charges might have felt distant, this one hit close to home.

Natsuro was already regarded as their Sixth Hokage, their leader and protector. For Danzō to betray the Hokage by selling him out to the enemy was an unforgivable act.

Cries for Danzō's execution began to echo through the crowd, but Natsuro wasn't finished listing his crimes.

Fourth charge: Using Sharingan to manipulate the warehouse managers of Konoha, stealing half of the village's resources, and trading them with enemies in exchange for their assistance—specifically, assistance in assassinating Natsuro.

As Natsuro revealed this, the outrage among the crowd boiled over.

These were Konoha's resources! They were vital not only for the welfare of the ninja but also for the livelihood of ordinary families. Farmers, workers, and civilians alike relied on these resources.

By stealing them, Danzō had directly impacted everyone's welfare, causing harm to their livelihoods.

When personal interests are threatened, no one remains indifferent. The cries for Danzō's death grew even louder and more unified.

Natsuro continued with a calm smile, detailing Danzō's other crimes, including using Root to abduct infants and children for human experiments. He also mentioned several other allegations that lacked definitive evidence but which Natsuro was confident Danzō was guilty of.

By now, anything Natsuro said about Danzō was taken at face value. No one doubted his words.

Listening to the deafening chorus of voices calling for Danzō's execution, Natsuro's smile deepened.

Some might wonder why Natsuro didn't simply execute Danzō outright, it would have been quicker and might even have earned the favor of the two advisors.

But this wasn't about efficiency. Natsuro wanted to make a point, to crush Danzō's spirit utterly and completely.

Natsuro turned his gaze to Danzō, who now sat motionless, as if all will to resist had been drained from him.

Do you hear it, Danzō? Natsuro's eyes seemed to ask. The voices of the people, rejecting you.

You wanted to be Hokage. You claimed to protect Konoha from the shadows.

But Natsuro's actions ensured that Danzō's hopes were thoroughly shattered, his reputation in ruins, and his name cursed by the people of Konoha.

"Hokage? You'll never be one. And Konoha doesn't need your so-called protection," Natsuro said, his voice calm but piercing as he smiled at Danzō.

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