Jiraiya was furious and anxious, but he had no answer.
Danzo's words made sense. Root was powerful, but directly commanding the Uchiha? That was a pipe dream.
The crowd's murmurs swelled into an uproar.
Danzo did not stop. He dropped another bombshell.
"Root's Human Experiments."
"We did abduct quite a few civilians and children from Konoha."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi knew about it too."
"Konoha needed Wood Release. It needed powerful bloodline abilities!"
"When the experiments produced nothing, he pinned the blame on Orochimaru and me."
Civilians gasped. Those who had once lost family members went pale.
Danzo dropped another bombshell.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi was no 'Strongest Hokage.'"
"He was the most rotten Hokage."
"For the sake of his rule and his own interests, he crushed his own people and gave in to outsiders!"
"Take Hizashi Hyuga's death, for example."
"The Kumogakure shinobi started it, but Hiruzen Sarutobi hinted that I should pressure the Hyuga Clan."
"He didn't want a war with Kumogakure."
"So he forced Hizashi Hyuga to die."
The hall fell utterly silent.
So silent that the Hyuga Clan's ragged breathing could be heard.
Danzo knelt on the floor, his single eye sweeping over the frozen faces below the platform. A dry smile spread from his mouth to the corners of his eye, carrying a satisfaction that seemed to seep from his bones.
The hall remained silent for three full breaths.
Then the crowd erupted.
From east to west, front to back, outrage rolled through the hall in waves. Some cursed at the top of their lungs. Others shook their fists in anger. Still others turned to argue loudly with their neighbors.
At the very back of the crowd, near the entrance, stood an old man in a gray cotton kimono.
He had an utterly ordinary face, drooping eyelids, a downturned