Hiruzen Sarutobi had not assigned any Anbu, mobilized any elite Jonin, or activated any emergency protocols.
Outside the Sky Screen, the entire Shinobi World had already seen everything clearly, and erupted once more!
"My god! This is incredible! A showdown between the top brass!"
"The Third played that brilliantly! Using someone else to do his dirty work, turning another man's strength to his advantage, and clearing himself of all suspicion!"
"He made Danzo plan it and take the blame, kept his own virtuous image intact, and even blocked Danzo from claiming the credit!"
"Danzo was a pawn under the Third's thumb from start to finish!"
"Neither of them is any good! One is vicious and evil, and the other is a hypocrite who lets it happen!"
The more everyone watched, the more clearly they understood.
Danzo was the evil out in the open, brazen and willing to use any means.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was the evil in the shadows. He seemed mild, but no one was better at weighing the odds, shifting the blame, and reaping every benefit without getting his hands dirty.
"No wonder everyone cursed Danzo afterward, and nobody blamed the Third!"
"So Danzo took all the blame, while the Third kept all the dignity!"
"Poor Kushina! She's so young, and those two senior officials keep scheming against her. Her fate is entirely in someone else's hands!"
On the rooftop of the Hokage Building, the wind grew colder, but the tension was close to bursting.
Danzo stared hard at the utterly unruffled Hiruzen Sarutobi, a bitter fury lodged in his chest that he simply could not swallow.
He had been completely played, yet he could not even lash out. All he could do was grit his teeth and demand in a low voice.
"If you knew all along and