Hiruzen Sarutobi's face completely darkened.
Ren's words just now have brought Konoha's most ugly old accounts over the years to the table.
Kushina was kidnapped, Orochimaru was subjected to human experimentation, Hinata Hyuga was almost taken away by Kumogakure, and now it's Uchiha Yaonai's turn.
One could even be called an accident.
Two of them can be said to be cunning enemies.
But with so many things connected together, who would dare to pat their chest and say that Konoha's security is fine?
In the conference room, those Jonin who originally wanted to maintain the dignity of Hokage also shut their mouths at this moment.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knows very well that he cannot continue to be silent.
If Ren continues talking, Hokage Building's prestige accumulated over decades will be ripped open on the spot.
He took a slow breath and kept his voice steady.
"Ren, the village has never denied that there were any omissions in the things you mentioned."
"But you should also understand what Konoha has been through these years."
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at everyone in the conference room and spoke in a heavy tone.
"First Shinobi World War, Second Shinobi World War, Third Shinobi World War, Konoha were dragged into the war again and again."
"ANBU, Barrier Team, Sensory Unit, Patrol troops will lose a large number of elites in every war."
"Many people died on the battlefield not because they didn't want to defend the village."
"Nine-Tails' Attack That night, Konoha was even hit hard."
Having said this, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused deliberately.
His eyes swept over the pair of Ren and Mangekyō Sharingan, and his tone became lower.
"The Nine-Tails back then was not an ordinary runaway."
"It was controlled by a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, and then suddenly attacked Konoha."
After saying these words, the eyes in the conference room changed instantly.
Many Jonin looked at Ren subconsciously.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Clan.
Nine-Tails' Attack.
These words are connected together, and even if Hiruzen Sarutobi is not named directly, the meaning is obvious enough.
Jonin, a Sarutobi clan, immediately seized the opportunity and said in a deep voice, "Yes, after Nine-Tails' Attack, the ANBU system was almost rebuilt, and many of the village's defense lines were shattered. If not for that disaster, Konoha would never have left so many loopholes."
Mitokado Homura also continued, "Rebuilding after a war takes time and manpower. Spies in enemy villages seize the opportunity to sneak in. Hokage alone cannot completely avoid it."
Utatane Koharu looked at Ren coldly.
"Uchiha Ren, you can't just look at the results and blame all the problems on Hiruzen."
"Konoha has not been able to survive these decades through just a few questions."
Many Jonin's expressions softened a little.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's words indeed gave them a reason.
War takes its toll.
Nine-Tails' Attack caused unrest.
ANBU is short of manpower, Barrier is difficult to rebuild, and Patrol has loopholes in the system.
These explanations do not sound completely unreasonable.
But Ren was sitting there, with no wavering on his face.
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and suddenly laughed.
"That's beautifully said."
Everyone in the conference room felt their hearts tighten again.
Ren slowly stood up, the black Divine Robe dropped down, and his voice was colder than before.
"Third, Shinobi World died in the battle, I admit it."
"Nine-Tails' Attack severely injured Konoha, I agree."
"ANBU's combat power has been severely reduced and its manpower is lacking, resulting in occasional loopholes in patrols. I can accept all of these."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes darkened slightly.
Ren The topic changed.
"But these explanations can only explain part of the accident."
"It cannot be explained that every time a key figure is targeted, the enemy can accurately avoid the inspection route."
"I can't explain why Kumogakure Delegation can figure out Uchiha's guard rotation."
"It is inexplicable that after Yaonai disappeared, all traces were cleaned up, and even the residue of Chakra was broken as if it had been repeatedly processed by professional ANBU."
"Can't even explain Orochimaru."
As soon as the three words Orochimaru came out, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression finally changed.
Ren's voice didn't stop.
"Orochimaru secretly captured children inside Konoha and conducted human experiments."
"That's not a day or two."
"Not once or twice."
"He can dig out a laboratory in the village, bring children in, make living people disappear from Konoha, and erase the traces over and over again."
"Is this called war leading to a shortage of manpower?"
"Is this called Nine-Tails' Attack leaving a loophole?"
Ren raised his hand and pointed to the Konoha map on the desktop.
"Foreign enemies can be cunning, they can sneak in, and they can happen to avoid an inspection."
"But it is impossible for foreign enemies to know how ANBU moves every time, and it is impossible for foreign enemies to know where Barrier is weak every time, and it is even less possible for foreign enemies to clean up the traces afterwards to look like someone from the village has done something about it."
"So there is only one answer."
"Konoha Someone opened the door inside."
This sentence was like a knife, thrust directly into the center of the conference room.
Shikaku Nara's face completely darkened.
Inoichi Yamanaka's breathing became lighter, and the Military Police Force route, ANBU inspection, and Barrier Team records were already linked up in his mind.
Choza Akimichi Clenched his fists, veins stretched out on the thick backs of his hands.
Hyuga Hiashi has a cold face.
He knew better than anyone that Kumogakure would not be able to freely come and go between Konoha's wealthy mansions without the cooperation of anyone else.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice, "Ren, there must be evidence for this kind of accusation."
"Evidence?"
Ren turned his head, looked across the long table, and landed on Shimura Danzō in the corner.
Danzo has been sitting there, half of his face wrapped in bandages, his right arm hidden in his sleeve, leaning on a cane, saying nothing.
But the moment Ren looked at him, everyone turned their heads.
Ren said word by word, "Shimura Danzō."
In the conference room, many people's backs instantly felt cold.
What this name represents, no one present has any idea.
root.
Konoha The knife buried in the ground.
A dark organization that is not exposed to sunlight but can bypass many normal rules.
Danzo's fingers pressed on the crutches, and his one eye looked at Ren coldly.
"Uchiha Ren, do you want to pour dirty water on me?"
Ren said coldly, "Dirty water?"
"When Danzo, Orochimaru was conducting human experiments on Konoha, who covered up his traces?"
"Who helped screen the children who were taken away?"
"Who provided the experimental materials, blocked locations, inspection gaps, and ANBU blind spots?"
Danzo's face did not change, but the fingers holding the crutches tightened slightly.
Ren continued, "This time Yaonai is missing, Kumogakure Delegation is just the one holding the knife."
"The person who really opens the internal routes of Konoha for them, clears away the traces of evacuation, and erases the remaining remains of Chakra is not Kumogakure."
"It's the root."
With a bang, the conference room completely exploded.
"Roots?"
"Danzo Master?"
"He assisted Orochimaru in human experiments? He also helped Kumogakure kidnap Konoha's children?"
"This is impossible..."
"But if it is the root, it can indeed master the ANBU route and clean up the traces..."
The whispers quickly turned into suppressed murmurs.
The Jonins who were still questioning Uchiha just now all looked uglier than the last.
If it is a foreign enemy, they can also say that the enemy is cunning.
But if Root is involved, it is not a security vulnerability.
That was Konoha's knife, which was used to cut one's own throat.