Chapter 18: Pandora's Box

"Sasuke, I, an old man, promise you. If what you said is true and this crystal ball has all the records, I promise to give the Uchiha clan an explanation for this matter."

Sasuke looked at the Third Hokage. He wasn't a bad guy and was the only one among the Konoha higher-ups who supported the peaceful development between the village and the Uchiha clan.

Moreover, Sasuke had a backup plan.

Frowning and pondering again and again, finally, under everyone's gaze, he handed the crystal ball in his hand to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen looked at the crystal ball in his hand. This might be Pandora's box. Opening it means releasing hope, but at the same time, despair will accompany it.

"Sarutobi, give me that crystal ball!"

Tanzō saw the hesitation in the Third Hokage's heart. No! If what he had said and done before was made public in front of everyone, how could he still stand in Konoha from now on?

Not only that, he would become a laughingstock in the entire ninja world, which he absolutely couldn't tolerate.

Seeing that the Third Hokage, who was tightly holding the crystal ball in his hand, didn't move, he urged again.

"Sarutobi, you should understand that some things shouldn't see the light of day. It's not good for anyone."

"Not good for anyone?"

He looked up at the young ninjas of the Uchiha clan.

As the Hokage, he should think for the village and everyone in it. The Uchiha clan was also a part of the village. Looking at the angry and hostile expressions on these young people's faces, it was the result of years of injustice towards them.

The village really owed them justice.

He squeezed the crystal ball in his hand tightly and finally made up his mind to play the content recorded in the crystal ball in front of everyone.

"Sarutobi!"

Tanzō roared in a fit of rage. His already battered body coughed violently. His eyes were like a poisonous snake, but there was not a trace of remorse in them.

As the scenes recorded in the crystal ball continued to play, the matter became clear. Tanzō had called Shisui Uchiha out alone and tried to kill him, but Naruto and Sasuke, who were playing nearby, had saved him.

Seeing that the matter was about to be exposed, Tanzō went crazy and wanted to kill all three of them. At the critical moment of life and death, the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra in Naruto's body accidentally leaked out, leading to today's situation.

"How could it be? How could Lord Tanzō do such a thing?"

There were even people in the crowd trying to excuse him!

"Why not? When the Fourth Hokage was being elected, he recommended Orochimaru. What happened? Orochimaru defected! They were colluding back then. Now that I think about it, he can control so many Sharingan eyes. Presumably, many of them are Orochimaru's doing. That gloomy and terrifying man just loves doing these experiments, doesn't he?"

Tanzō was simply too terrifying. For those he didn't trust, he would eliminate them all. Facing such a person, anyone would be suspicious. If they did something suspicious, would the next one to be eliminated be themselves?

"Lord Hokage, everyone in Konoha, now the matter couldn't be clearer. According to the village's regulations, Tanzō, who plotted against fellow ninjas in the village and even tried to kill innocent children mercilessly, should be executed immediately!"

"Hey, Lord Hokage, give the order to execute Tanzō right now!"

The young people behind Fugaku were filled with indignation. How many clan members of the Uchiha did he kill to acquire so many Sharingan? This scumbag right in front of them absolutely didn't deserve forgiveness.

The Uchiha finally raised their heads in front of everyone. They were no longer accused of being the cowards who shrank back during the village's critical moments, like turtles hiding in their shells.

Only Tanzō's death could console them for all the humiliation they had endured over the years.

"Lord Hokage, please give me, and the Uchiha clan, an answer."

Hiruzen looked at Tanzō, who showed no sign of remorse even when facing death. Then he glanced at the unease in the eyes of the leaders of various clans. The Third Hokage let out a deep sigh and bowed low to Fugaku Uchiha.

"I'm truly sorry. Over these years, my weakness made me ignore Tanzō's actions, and that's how we ended up in this mess. As the Hokage, I bear inescapable responsibility. I sincerely apologize to everyone in the Uchiha clan. However, please spare his life, considering his years of service to the village."

"Lord Hokage!"

No one expected this outcome. He, the Hokage, the most powerful and influential man in the village, was actually bowing and apologizing to them. Even the deepest grievances in their hearts subsided a little.

"Lord Hokage, you don't have to do this. I've heard from Shisui and Itachi that you, like us, hope for peaceful coexistence. The root cause of all this is Tanzō. It's him who deserves to die. You don't have to apologize for his actions."

Obviously, Fugaku wasn't going to let this matter slide just because of Hiruzen's apology. Putting aside the long - term oppression, his son, the most talented young man in the clan, had almost been killed by that old villain, Tanzō. How could he let this debt go unpaid?

Hiruzen didn't straighten up. Instead, he spoke even more sincerely.

"Putting aside my position as the Hokage, I've been his friend for decades. Failing to notice what he did is my dereliction of duty as a friend and as the Hokage. I'm not so shameless as to ask the Uchiha clan to forgive him easily. However, I sincerely beg you to consider his contributions to the village over the decades. Please spare his life and let him spend his remaining years in prison."

The Third Hokage bowed even lower.

"Hiruzen! You're such a disgrace! You're the Hokage! How can you bow and apologize to your subordinates? Lift your head up!"

Tanzō glared at Hiruzen's hunched back, gritting his teeth. His fingers dug deep into the soil, and blood seeped out from under his nails, but he felt no pain.

He had never liked Hiruzen.

Compared to himself, Hiruzen was more sincere, more outstanding, and more trusted by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. That's why he became the Hokage.

It was a position Tanzō had longed for but could never attain. He didn't want to be just a backdrop, just the man behind Hiruzen. That's why he took the risk to seize the eye that could change everyone's minds.

Only then did he feel closer to the Hokage's seat.

But at this moment, he realized he was wrong. That seat had never belonged to him, and it never would. 

Even so, he wasn't willing to admit defeat. So what if he was condemned by thousands of people?

Hadn't he borne enough infamy over the years? Hadn't he done enough dirty deeds? Yet he still stood at the top!

Those who once cursed and spat on him probably don't even have a single speck of ashes left, while he, Tanzō, remains the one who controls Konoha from behind the scenes!

No one can defeat him!