Rotting Filth Exposed to the Sunlight

Now that we've come this far, some things are being analyzed in greater and greater depths, to the point that Yun Yan must be analyzed, because he won't feel at ease without it.

Finally, Yun Yan, somewhat excited, began his final questioning:

"That's the situation with your three disciples. Aside from that, there are some other miscellaneous things. After all, you've persecuted quite a few ninja clans and ordinary ninjas, but I don't know the specific details, so I won't ask. You know it all perfectly well yourself."

But the last thing, which I consider the most important, is something I absolutely must ask.

I'm sure you've noticed and realized it too. Yes, this matter concerns your grand-disciple, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze."

As he spoke, Yun Yan stared intently into Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes:

"Hiruzen Sarutobi, tell me the truth, the reason you chose Minato Namikaze as Hokage was because you thought he was strong enough, had enough prestige, and most importantly, was young and inexperienced enough that you could easily control him?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have nothing left to fear. He gritted his teeth and nodded painfully, simply admitting it outright.

Yun Yan nodded and continued:

"Then let me ask you again, after the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, how many elders did you still retain most of the power, instead of returning most of it to Minato Namikaze, and only letting Minato Namikaze handle trivial matters, treating him like a child's game?"

This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded repeatedly; he was practically frantic and outraged as he directly admitted it:

"That's right, that's exactly it. I'm so attached to power that even after I've stepped down, I still don't want to relinquish it and I'm unwilling to let go!"

"Very good, very good!"

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi so cooperative, Yun Yan continued:

"But power politics and the like are just minor tactics. Although they are ugly and shameless, their impact is ultimately not that great."

What I really want to ask is about that night, the Night of the Nine-Tails.

With such a huge commotion and Konoha in such a critical situation, Minato Namikaze took the initiative to mobilize, and you, after dawdling, followed suit.

Faced with such a dangerous scene and such a critical situation, based on my understanding of you, you absolutely do not want to sacrifice yourself.

When facing the Nine-Tails, did you shirk your responsibilities? Did you subtly pressure Minato Namikaze and his Kushina Uzumaki, forcing them to risk their lives to fight the Nine-Tails- Nine-Tails and seal it away?

Hiruzen Sarutobi was in such a frenzy of pain that he was tearing at his hair. He was extremely agitated and almost smashed the table, but he still had to face everything calmly and confront Yun Yan's questioning:

"That's right! That's exactly what happened! I was indeed afraid of dying back then! I was subtly pressuring Minato and Kushina to die together, to use their lives to fight the Nine-Tails!"

"Okay, why are you doing this? It's probably not just about not wanting to die, is it?"

"The reason is quite simple: after I served as the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze for a period of time, although I still held most of the power, I could no longer be in the public eye, and it wasn't as easy or as powerful as it used to be."

Moreover, Minato Namikaze was, after all, the Fourth Hokage. As time went by, he gradually took away the power in my hands. I really don't resent that at all. I scratch my head and rack my brains, I just can't stand it from the bottom of my heart!

So... so that night I saw what seemed like an opportunity, so I slowly pressured Minato, slowly forcing the couple to their deaths.

As long as that couple is gone, the Hokage Position will still be mine! I can still hold power over Konoha! I can still rule Konoha!"

After saying this, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly let out a long breath, as if he were having an asthma attack, exhaling a long breath and then inhaling it again.

After taking a few deep breaths, he seemed to have finally revealed the truth and completely lost his composure, leaning weakly against the chair.

Yun Yan over there had already started clapping, the crisp sound echoing in the quiet Hokage's office, seemingly a form of mockery.

While clapping, Yun Yan loudly mocked:

"Excellent! Excellent! Truly worthy of being the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi! Great! Excellent!"

I had suspected this all along.

I've been wondering for a long time: back on the Night of the Nine-Tails, why wasn't it the old and frail Third Hokage, who should have been retired, who used the Reaper Death Seal seal the Nine-Tails? Why was it the Fourth Hokage, who was in his prime and extremely important to Konoha?

Now it seems the mystery is solved! You... I don't even want to comment on you anymore."

After mocking and applauding, Yun Yan became serious again and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi once more:

"There's one last thing I need to ask."

"Besides?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Yun Yan in disbelief and disbelief.

Yun Yan's expression was matter-of-fact and self-righteous:

"Of course there's more. There's one last, most important ideological matter I need to clarify; I need to confront the filth within it."

"In terms of ideology?"

"Don't play dumb with me. With your intelligence, I believe you should be able to guess what I'm going to ask you."

Forget it, I'm too lazy to keep up this act. I don't care what you're really thinking or whether you're willing to face these things. I'll just ask you directly.

The question was very simple; it was about that damned, nonsensical Will of Fire.

The Will of Fire is basically about leaves, fire, burning, and stuff like that, but I don't care about the details.

The core idea behind all this chaos is just one thing: sacrifice, right?

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a gloomy face.

Yun Yan continued to ask:

"In other words, the core ideology of the Will of Fire is sacrifice, specifically sacrifice for others and for the village."

Hmm... I won't comment on whether this idea is right or wrong, because I myself am a person with distorted thinking, and I have no right to judge whether the idea of sacrificing oneself is right or wrong.

I just want to ask, you guys keep talking about the Will of Fire the time, it's almost like brainwashing them into sacrificing themselves for Konoha, for you guys, for others...

From beginning to end, did you, as Hokage, ever sacrifice yourself? Not even once? Not even the slightest thing?

When Yun Yan asked him this question, Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless.

The old man scratched his messy hair, his expression somewhat frightened as he began to carefully recall the events. The more he recalled, the more terrified he became.

There was no need for Hiruzen Sarutobi to explain; Yun Yan simply rolled his eyes.

"It seems there hasn't been a single sacrifice. It seems that you don't really have the option of sacrifice in your hearts."

I understand now. Your so-called Will of Fire and sacrifice are, in essence, about making others sacrifice themselves to achieve your own ends.

Or to put it more bluntly, you are using the Will of Fire to brainwash the civilians and ninjas of Konoha, making them control you, making them willingly sacrifice themselves, while you simply reap the benefits."

Having said all that and made that definition, Yun Yan gave an undisguised, cold laugh of mockery:

"Ha, this is your Will of Fire? It's an insult to the very name 'Will of Fire'."

Sacrificing others for your sake, what a fine Will of Fire!

Hiruzen Sarutobi was utterly powerless. He opened his mouth wide and breathed rapidly, feeling as if someone had used a scalpel to blatantly cut open his heart, exposing the rotten parts inside to the sunlight without reservation.

After a moment of silence, Yun Yan suddenly turned his head and said to the empty walls of the Hokage's office:

"Brothers, don't worry. If Hiruzen Sarutobi tries to silence you afterward, just come to me and ask for my protection. I won't stand by and watch you die."

As for what you saw and heard today, you can judge for yourselves. Whether you keep it a secret or tell others is fine with you.

"Oh, right, even if I tell others, I should only tell the ninjas. At most, let these things circulate within the ninja community. I shouldn't let the common people know, otherwise Konoha will be in chaos, and that won't do me any good."

Without a doubt, Yun Yan n't talking to the wall; he was speaking to several Anbu Ninja secretly guarding the area.

Yes, don't forget, although there may only be Yun Yan and Hiruzen Sarutobi in the Hokage's office, there are actually quite a few Anbu hiding around guarding it.

From beginning to end, everything that happened and the conversations that took place in the Hokage's office were heard and seen by these Anbu.

To be honest, when these things were presented to them in such a blatant way, the impact on them was immense. They never imagined that their dignified Third Lord Hokage would be so... filthy and dark.

Others may say it's bad, but at least for these Anbu Ninja, they have completely come to understand Hiruzen Sarutobi and no longer have any aspirations towards Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Even the light that these Anbu agents once held has been extinguished by the harsh reality of today.