The Third Hokage realized by now that Uchiha Ryosuke's constant accusations weren't random — they were calculated. Ryosuke was piling blame upon him, trying to crush his credibility and make the coming "trial" seem justified.
But even knowing this, Hiruzen couldn't provide perfect answers. Especially regarding Naruto's mistreatment… because deep down, he had allowed it.
"You make a point," Hiruzen finally admitted, trying to sound dignified.
"But I'm not a god — I can't account for everything. As for Naruto being hurt, that was a mistake of my ANBU. I deeply regret it."
Ryosuke scoffed.
"So once again — your excuse is incompetence? That doesn't absolve you. You're no different than the bullies who harmed him."
Hiruzen's chest tightened. He couldn't outright say he had turned a blind eye. The other clan heads watching also began to connect the dots — if the Jinchūriki had been pushed too far and lost control, Konoha could've been destroyed. Allowing Naruto's abuse wasn't just negligent, it was dangerous.
Ryosuke then struck another nerve.
"Let's talk about another 'mistake' — the White Fang, Hatake Sakumo."
"He was one of Konoha's strongest warriors, a hero of the Second Great War. And yet, he was driven to suicide by the village's scorn. Who allowed that? Shouldn't the Third Hokage take responsibility?"
The mention of Sakumo made Hiruzen's expression darken. Of course he remembered — Sakumo's fame had grown so great it rivaled his own. That kind of man was… threatening.
Still, he lashed back.
"That's not my fault! Sakumo failed an important mission because he saved his comrades. The villagers criticized him. He took his own life because he couldn't bear it. I never told anyone to mock him. His death was a tragedy to me as well!"
The other clan heads exchanged somber glances. Everyone remembered the scandal — the White Fang disgraced for abandoning a mission, shunned even by comrades he had saved. His suicide had been one of Konoha's darkest stains.
But Ryosuke pressed harder.
"Not your fault? Who else should take the blame then? You were Hokage — the leader. You allowed the villagers to scorn a hero until he killed himself. With White Fang's strength alongside the Fourth Hokage, do you think the Nine-Tails attack would've ended the same way? Do you think the Fourth would've died? The fault lies with you, Third Hokage."
Hiruzen's fists clenched.
"Nonsense! I already told you — Sakumo's death was by his own choice!"
Ryosuke sneered.
"So failing one mission means a man deserves endless ridicule? Tell me — which of the clan heads here hasn't failed a mission before? Should you all have been mocked until you killed yourselves?"
The words stung. Every clan head had missions that went wrong. If every failure meant public disgrace, none of them would be alive today.
Hiruzen tried another defense.
"The people have the right to speak their minds. I cannot control every word that comes from a villager's mouth."
Ryosuke barked a laugh.
"Free speech, is it? So you let the people spit on a hero who bled for the village? That's not freedom, that's negligence."
Then, Ryosuke twisted the knife even deeper.
"And since you brought up 'major failures'… let's revisit the death of the Second Hokage."
The room went still.
"On that mission to negotiate with the Cloud, Tobirama Senju sacrificed himself to let you and the others escape. You call that loyalty? You were his guards. Your duty was to protect him. Instead, he had to protect you."
"Tell me, Third Hokage — wasn't that the greatest disgrace of all? Shouldn't you have been the one to commit suicide out of shame?"
Hiruzen's face flushed with rage.
"That's a lie! It was the Second Hokage's decision. He ordered us to live, and we obeyed."
But Ryosuke shook his head.
"Obedience doesn't erase failure. Tobirama's survival meant far more to Konoha than yours ever did. Yet he died, and you lived — and somehow you call yourself Hokage? The village lost far more than it gained from you."
Fugaku, standing silently nearby, couldn't help but feel a pang of agreement. If Tobirama had lived, perhaps things would've been different. Perhaps the Uchiha wouldn't have been cornered and distrusted as they were.
The other clan leaders were stunned into silence. Ryosuke's accusations were brutal, but there was truth in them. The Second Hokage had been a genius, a master of forbidden jutsu. If he had been alive during the Nine-Tails' attack… maybe things really would have turned out differently.
And so, once again, the Third Hokage found himself cornered — not just by words, but by the weight of hindsight and guilt.