"Don't spout nonsense! I've worked diligently for so many years, devoted wholeheartedly to the village, willing to become the root hidden within Konoha. How could I possibly have anything to do with the Akatsuki?!"
Hawking's damning words immediately enraged Danzo.
It was true that he had always been colluding with Orochimaru, but claiming he had ties to the Akatsuki was nothing but slander.
"Then please explain the Sharingan on your body."
Jiraiya stood up as well.
He had always been suspicious of Danzo and Root, and had repeatedly warned Tsunade to be wary of Danzo.
Danzo swept his gaze over the crowd while wrapped in bandages. Knowing the situation, he could only abandon the lesser to preserve the greater.
"I have no connection to the Akatsuki, no connection to Uchiha Itachi, and even less connection to the Uchiha Clan massacre all those years ago.
Back then, while gathering the Uchiha Clan's bodies, I merely felt it would be too wasteful to bury the Sharingan along with them. That was why I removed them and implanted them into my own body.
My purpose was simply to increase my strength and better protect Konoha.
Furthermore, the Third Hokage approved of this matter at the time.
You all know why Root exists. If it can strengthen the forces protecting the village, then it is worth doing!"
"How could my teacher possibly have agreed to something like that? Danzo, stop trying to shirk responsibility."
Tsunade smashed the conference table apart with a single punch.
Although she sometimes disagreed with some of the Third Hokage's actions, he was still the teacher she respected in her heart. She refused to believe that he would have allowed Danzo to implant the Sharingan of dead Uchiha into his own body.
"Danzo, do you have any proof of that?"