Danzo's Death

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply, his eyes revealing a complicated expression, filled with helplessness toward his old friend's stubborn obsession.

"That rebellion did happen, but it was properly resolved.

"Moreover, Danzo, the true culprit behind that rebellion was the Masked Man who had orchestrated the Nine-Tails Incident back then!

"It was his incitement and manipulation that lit the final fuse.

"If he was stirring up trouble from the shadows, then the Uchiha's unrest has a reasonable explanation instead."

He paused, his gaze sharpening.

"Even if the Masked Man had not fanned the flames within the Uchiha Clan Grounds, with his elusive abilities, if he had caused trouble elsewhere in the village, the result likely would have been no different."

Naturally, there was an element of conjecture in those words. With Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash, guarding the village, and the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan surveillance spread throughout Konoha, whether the Masked Man would have dared act so recklessly was indeed a huge question mark.

Hiruzen turned his gaze toward the window, seemingly looking in the village's direction. His voice carried an indescribable heaviness and self-reproach.

"What about the Uchiha? Danzo, think carefully... Why were they gathered at the edge of the village? Why were they isolated?

"Wasn't it us old men, you and me included, who pushed them away from the village center step by step?

"If the Uchiha Clan were still living peacefully in the village's core area, perhaps... perhaps the Masked Man's scheme would never have found an opening, and this tragedy could have been avoided."

Those words were both a reflection on the past and a challenge directed at Shimura Danzō.

"Hmph! That's just your wishful speculation! A weak and meaningless assumption!" Shimura Danzō snorted, turning his head aside and refusing to accept the blame aimed at him.

Hiruzen