After Nagato finished speaking, the Elder Council led by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—including Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura—all lowered their heads in shame.
The main reason was that they could not escape responsibility for all the dirty things Danzo had done.
Although Danzo often acted on his own accord, wasn't all of it the result of their indulgence?
If they had not habitually turned a blind eye to some of Danzo's actions, how could there be a darkened Nagato today?
Or rather, if not for Danzo, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko would certainly have maintained a good relationship with Konoha because of Jiraiya.
It would not even have been an exaggeration to call them half-Konoha people!
Unfortunately, Danzo had destroyed all of it.
Back then, Danzo held far too much power in Konoha!
In truth, although the Third Hokage had immediately assumed office after the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, died—
His rule had not been stable.
After all, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had relied on his personal prestige to forcibly designate his disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Third Hokage's successor.
In the process, he had directly bypassed the vote of confidence from the daimyo and jonin.
This resulted in controversy among the lower ranks over whether the Third Hokage should have inherited the position during the early days of his rule over Konoha.
Faced with such a situation, the Third Hokage had no choice. In order to stabilize his position as Hokage, he could only rely on the strength of his companions.
That was Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu, as well as the shinobi clans behind them.
Thus, Konoha's F4 was established.
With the support of his three companions and their clans, the Third Hokage gradually weathered the unstable period following his succession.
However, this also brought about