The atmosphere instantly became intense. Seeing that they couldn't stop the escalation, Shikaku Nara and the other two felt their hearts sink.
Fortunately, at that moment, a cold voice rang out.
"Advisor Zenshu is absolutely right."
Danzo Shimura, wrapped in bandages, walked slowly from behind with several ninjas in tow.
The Root ninjas instantly dispersed, making way.
Ordinary villagers might not know the identity of the Root leader. But the identity of the Hokage Assistant was different.
When they saw Danzo Shimura, the clamor from moments before instantly quieted.
"However, the way to protect the village is not only by rescuing villagers—but also by controlling dangerous individuals."
Danzo looked at the poorly-conditioned Zenshu with some surprise and doubt.
His subordinates had failed? But why would Zenshu come here? To look for him specifically?
Glancing at the Ino-Shika-Cho trio nearby, Danzo immediately dismissed this thought.
"Controlling dangerous individuals?" Zenshu's voice was measured. "Does Assistant Danzo mean there are dangerous individuals in the village who want to exploit the situation?"
When he reached this point, a hint of a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
Very brief. He instantly returned to his original expression.
"Taking precautions before they happen. This is exactly my responsibility." Danzo spoke indifferently.
His men had all been placed with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. It was absolutely impossible for them to leak his identity.
Even if caught, a mute who couldn't speak couldn't prove anything.
So he was very calm. Completely composed.
"Well said!"
A youthful shout rang out from the distance.
"Then this group who took advantage of the chaos to attack the Advisor's family members must be the dangerous elements you're talking about!"
Gojo Satoru took the lead, floating at the very front. A rope behind him bound thirteen ninjas.
They wore the same clothes as these Root ninjas. Their faces bore masks broken to varying degrees.
Danzo's face darkened. He hadn't expected this bunch of trash to actually be captured.
Without giving him a chance to speak, Gojo Satoru jumped forward and said loudly, "While we were being attacked, there were also ANBU ninjas who witnessed the whole thing clearly."
"They've already gone to report to Lord Hokage. You just need to find them to prove what I said."
The surrounding villagers and ninjas were in an uproar. One could clearly see the similarities between the two groups with just a glance.
"No way? Could this disaster really be the doing of ninjas within the village?"
"But he's the Hokage Assistant. Why would he do such a thing?"
"If it's not him, could it be Lord Third?"
"Impossible! Lord Third was just fighting the Nine-Tails to save us!"
"It must be them. This bunch of criminals."
"Damn one-eyed freak, give me back my wife..."
"My son! It's all because of you, you ugly monster..."
Some villagers and ninjas whose relatives had gone missing or died couldn't hold back anymore. They started cursing loudly.
This made Danzo's face even gloomier. Back when he'd used public opinion, these villagers had been very easy to manipulate.
Now that it was directed at him, he realized how hateful they could be.
Tap. Tap.
The wooden stick tapped against the stones underfoot, emitting a crisp sound.
A cold aura radiated. The people around gradually quieted, all turning their gazes to Zenshu.
If it were him from before, he wouldn't have possessed such prestige. But along the way, he'd saved hundreds—if not thousands—of residents and ninjas. And that didn't include those who were injured, unconscious, and sent to the hospital.
"These dangerous individuals haven't been interrogated yet. Don't jump to conclusions." Zenshu spoke slowly.
Gojo Satoru looked at Danzo with a cold sneer and immediately chimed in. "That's right. Moreover, the Clan Head is an expert at interrogation. As long as he asks, the truth will immediately come to light."
After speaking, he dragged the thirteen ninjas and began walking toward Zenshu.
"No."
A cold voice rang out. Everyone looked over.
Danzo gripped his cane tightly with one hand. A hint of impatience flashed through him.
"Interrogating enemies is the duty of the ANBU. Even an Advisor has no right to interfere."
He instantly found an excuse and spoke expressionlessly.
With such a huge commotion here, the Uchiha clan naturally wouldn't turn a blind eye.
Fugaku Uchiha hurried over, bringing several elders and a group of clan elites.
And then they witnessed this wonderful scene.
Setsuna Uchiha, standing beside him, had a slight gleam in his sinister eyes. He stepped forward without hesitation.
"Then this matter should be handed over to the Police Force."
"Hmph."
BANG.
This sentence directly provoked Danzo. He raised his cane and smashed it down fiercely.
The killing intent on his body was hardly concealed. The atmosphere immediately became tense.
"Does Captain Fugaku think so too?"
Fugaku's heart sank. He hadn't wanted to confront Danzo directly to begin with. But Setsuna Uchiha, as an elder, had already spoken.
Whether to show clan unity or to protect the little power remaining in the Police Force's hands, he couldn't deny this point.
"It's unclear whether these ANBU ninjas are real or fake. Having the Police Force interrogate them isn't a bad idea."
This scene made Zenshu feel somewhat surprised. But after recalling the original plot, he wasn't surprised anymore.
The reason Fugaku Uchiha was considered a hawk by both the village and the clan in the original story was that he dared to protest when targeted—and dared to resist when left with no choice.
But the reason he was ultimately called a capitulator was that he wasn't persistent enough. Or rather, this person simply didn't have the word "persistence" in his vocabulary.
No matter what kind of targeting or suppression, after his initial resistance, as long as he was given a passable explanation, he would soften on his own. Or stop persisting and choose to submit to adversity.
And this kind of resisting a bit and then acting weak was like provoking a bit and then showing weakness.
Instead of deterring opponents, it made people like Danzo believe he was easy to bully—thereby pushing their luck.
This underlying personality trait was disastrous for the Uchiha clan.
Because essentially, Fugaku feared heavy responsibilities. He couldn't shoulder the burden.
The years of hesitation before the night of the massacre were proof of this.
At a time like this, if another option appeared, he would unhesitatingly push responsibility away and choose to let someone else bear it.
Even if the price was the lives of his clan.
"What are you doing?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's shout was loud.
A large number of ANBU ninjas followed behind him. The remains of the Fourth Hokage and his wife were carried on stretchers.
The infant Naruto Uzumaki was held in the arms of a female ninja, sleeping soundly.
A sorrowful mood surrounded them. Hiruzen looked at this confronting group with an ugly expression. His heart was extremely angry.
"Lord Third arrived just in time." Zenshu spoke expressionlessly. "Just now, my family members were attacked by this group of ninjas."
"I suspect they're in cahoots with the person who released the Nine-Tails. That they're traitors within the village. I strongly suspect they have a complete organization operating secretly, plotting plans to harm Konoha."
"Therefore, I need to personally interrogate them. But Assistant Danzo stopped me, saying I have no right."
"The Police Force said they have jurisdiction and want to conduct the interrogation. But the Hokage Assistant doesn't seem to agree."
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