Crimes Punishable by Death

"What do you mean?!" Shimura Danzō's one exposed eye widened as he glared at Minato Namikaze.

The Third Hokage and the two advisors were also startled. They had not expected Minato Namikaze to choose this moment to strike at Shimura Danzō.

Setting aside their good relationship with Shimura Danzō, the Nine-Tails Incident had only just ended, and Konoha was still recovering internally. Was this really the time to deal with such matters?

"Shimura Danzō, as the leader of Root, surely you are aware of Root's performance during the Nine-Tails Incident?" Minato Namikaze asked, glancing at the Captain Commander of the Anbu beside him.

The Captain Commander naturally understood what he needed to do. He spread an enormous scroll across the massive conference table.

"This contains records of every villager's experiences during the Nine-Tails Incident. Many were saved by Anbu, many more by ordinary logistical ninja, and even young ninja took part in evacuating the crowds. Yet nowhere was there any sign of Root ninja." Minato Namikaze looked at Shimura Danzō as he spoke.

"May I ask, Shimura Danzō, can you explain this?"

Shimura Danzō's expression darkened. At the time, he naturally could not have sent his subordinates over to waste their lives for nothing. What did the lives of a few villagers matter?

That was what he thought inwardly, but he could not possibly say it now.

"That's right. During this upheaval, our Uchiha Clan also lost a great number of clansmen. I imagine the Hyuga Clan was the same. May I ask where Lord Danzo was at that time?" Fugaku Uchiha could not help joining in.

After a moment of silence, Hyuga Hiashi nodded as well. They had not only lost quite a few branch family ninja; even a member of the main family had been abducted by outsiders