Framing (Please Follow)

"What happened?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was certain that Naruto did not know Shimura Danzō. Naruto had grown up under his supervision from childhood to adulthood, and even now, Uzuki Yugao monitored and listened in on him every day.

Yet Naruto had spoken Shimura Danzō's name.

He had even said that Minato believed Shimura Danzō was the mastermind behind both the Nine-Tails' Attack and today's upheaval.

Those words shocked everyone present.

Everyone turned to Naruto in unison, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Naruto weakly raised an arm and opened his palm. A small piece of white flesh, still actively pulsing, appeared in his hand.

"This is a small piece of flesh I cut from the right hand of the masked man who fought me—the one who helped Itachi Uchiha slaughter the Uchiha Clan."

"That person said..."

"This is called Hashirama Cells."

The appearance of that tiny piece of flesh sent towering waves crashing through everyone's hearts. Amid their stunned gazes—

Naruto fabricated a story that was half true and half false.

He said that, because he suspected someone intended to harm Mikoto Uchiha, he had done many things today. Disguised as Izumi Uchiha, he had followed the suspicious target all the way to the Uchiha Clan's compound.

Then he had seen Itachi Uchiha kill Fugaku Uchiha and prepare to kill Sasuke Uchiha. Right afterward, while Naruto was fighting Itachi Uchiha, a masked man with only a right eye had appeared.

That man's eye had been a Sharingan.

While fighting Naruto, the person hidden inside Naruto had recognized him. He was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' Attack years ago, the one who had seized the opportunity to release the Nine-Tails and kill countless people.

And he was Shimura Danzō.

Why was he certain it was Shimura Danzō?

Naruto said that the person he had met had given him the reason. Before his death, that person had discovered that someone named Shimura Danzō and someone named Orochimaru had been conducting experiments on human bodies.

One of those projects had been the mass production of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju's cells. After successfully creating them, Shimura Danzō had fitted his right arm with a new arm made from Hashirama Cells.

Because that person had other matters to attend to, he had not pursued the issue immediately. In the end, Shimura Danzō had acted first.

To avoid being punished by him, Shimura Danzō had killed an Uchiha and stolen his Sharingan. He had then killed many ANBU members and released and controlled the Nine-Tails while the previous Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was giving birth. He had intended to kill both the Third Hokage and the Fourth Hokage, then become Hokage himself.

Then, the Fourth Hokage had risked his life and successfully stopped his scheme.

Yet today, he had once again seen someone with a Sharingan in one eye and a prosthetic right arm modified with Hashirama Cells. That person could be certain—it was absolutely the same man.

When Naruto finished speaking, everyone was dumbfounded.

Inoichi Yamanaka said, "Th-This... how is that possible?"

Choza Akimichi said, "It's fake, right?!"

Shikaku Nara's voice trembled as he asked, "What did the person who told you everything look like? Did he have blond hair and azure-blue eyes?"

Naruto nodded.

Hiss—!

It was confirmed. That was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze—Naruto's father.

Shikaku Nara immediately dropped to one knee and pleaded, "Third Hokage, please deal with Shimura Danzō severely!"

Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, Hyuga Hiashi, Tsume Inuzuka, and the others also immediately dropped to one knee.

Only Mikoto Uchiha remained frozen where she stood. Ever since hearing that Itachi Uchiha had killed Fugaku Uchiha and was planning to hunt down Sasuke Uchiha, she had been like this.

Then...

Tears slid down Mikoto Uchiha's face.

Naruto raised a hand, wiped away her tears, and said gently, "Mom, don't cry. I'm here!"

Seeing Naruto's obedient appearance, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that Naruto truly did not seem to be lying. Yet he simply could not believe that the old friend he had trusted for so many years was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' Attack.

And that he had caused the Fourth Hokage's death, wanted to kill him, and take the position of Hokage.

But everything else Naruto had said lined up—for example, Danzo's desire to become Hokage, and Orochimaru's human experiments...

"Naruto... ask the person who told you. Could he have made a mistake?"

Naruto had long anticipated Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude.

So he added, "That person was really smart. He had already expected you to say that. He said it was precisely because you were too weak and too softhearted toward those around you that telling you might cause you to ruin everything. That was why he never told you what he had discovered before he died."

"He said that if you doubt whether it's true, you can personally check whether Shimura Danzō's right eye is a Sharingan and whether his right arm is a prosthetic made from Hashirama Cells."

"Just compare this piece of flesh with his right arm, and you'll know whether it's real."

(Obito Uchiha and Danzo's traits had a similarity rate of 90%.)

(Both had a Sharingan in their right eye + Hashirama Cells on the right side of their bodies.)

Naruto secretly laughed. Obito Uchiha and Shimura Danzō were so similar that it would be difficult for the framing to fail.

Both had a Sharingan in their right eye, and both had Hashirama Cells on their right side.

This is hilarious!

[Even if the framing succeeds, won't the host be exposed once Obito Uchiha appears again?]

[What will you do then?]

What else could he do?

I'll apologize to him then. Besides, I wasn't the one who suspected him—it was Minato Namikaze.

It was Minato Namikaze's mistake. What the hell does that have to do with me?!

"I understand..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time before finally giving that response.

He sighed and looked out the window at Hokage Rock.

Minato, did you really see me as a weak and incompetent man?

It really is...

Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled the past.

It was my reluctance to act that let Orochimaru escape. If you had handled it back then, he definitely would not have been able to get away.

The relationship between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha would not have become so bad under Danzo's provocation either.

Today, I will be firm.

Elsewhere.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had previously sent Kakashi Hatake to confront Shimura Danzō. Before long, Kakashi arrived at Root with a group of ANBU members.

Shimura Danzō had only just returned. Almost the moment he entered, Kakashi Hatake led his people inside.

Despite Danzo being Konoha's highest-ranking official beneath the Hokage, Kakashi still treated him with great respect and used honorifics when speaking.

"Lord Danzo, the Hokage requests that you go to Konoha Hospital immediately. He wishes to see you."

Upon hearing those words, Shimura Danzō could not help feeling irritated.

Not only had he failed to wipe out the Uchiha Clan today, but he had also failed to obtain the large number of Sharingan he had originally planned for. The entire Hashirama Cells arm he had attached in order to transplant numerous Sharingan had instantly lost its purpose.

Furthermore, he would likely face punishment from Hiruzen Sarutobi next.

For Shimura Danzō, this outcome could not have been worse.

It was all that useless Itachi Uchiha's fault...

And...

That brat, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. If he had not interfered today, it should have succeeded.

Shimura Danzō thought that sooner or later, he would make the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki pay for what he had done today.

But for now, he needed to get through the immediate crisis first.

Taking a deep breath and suppressing all the anger in his heart, Shimura Danzō nodded. "I understand. Let's go!"

"Yes!"

Kakashi Hatake led the way in front, while Shimura Danzō followed behind. As they neared Konoha Hospital, Shimura Danzō had already worked out his likely fate.

Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's temperament—

He probably would not punish him too harshly. That man was too weak and too much of a softhearted fool.

Furthermore, from Hiruzen Sarutobi's perspective, he had not eliminated the Uchiha Clan out of selfish motives. It had been for Konoha's peace.

His methods had merely been too extreme and aggressive.

So, at worst, he would probably only be stripped of all his positions.

Hmph—!

Though there was no real danger, Shimura Danzō was still deeply displeased.

Jinchūriki brat, just wait. You ruined my plans today. I won't let you off easily.

Only after entering Konoha Hospital did Shimura Danzō realize that the atmosphere seemed somewhat wrong.

The moment he stepped inside, Mikoto Uchiha—the surviving remnant of the Uchiha Clan—along with Choza Akimichi and Shikaku Nara blocked the path behind him.

Hyuga Hiashi, Tsume Inuzuka, and Inoichi Yamanaka stood in front of him as well, completely surrounding Danzo.

But Danzo did not panic, because Hiruzen Sarutobi was there too. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was extremely stern at that moment, his presence allowed Shimura Danzō, who had known him for many years, to walk forward without any psychological pressure.

"What do you want with me, Hiruzen?"

The next second.

Without any warning, Hiruzen Sarutobi struck. Before Shimura Danzō could react at all, he tore the bandages from Danzo's face, revealing the hidden Sharingan.

The instant he saw that eye—

Hiruzen Sarutobi flew into a rage.

Then he struck again and directly gouged the Sharingan out of Shimura Danzō's right eye.

"Hiruzen, what are you doing?!"

PS: Dear handsome, dashing, and charming readers, this humble author kneels and begs for you to keep following tomorrow's chapter. Please!

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