Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt somewhat reassured, but then he gave another bitter laugh, his eyes filled with frustration and resentment.
"But the reputation I've built over my lifetime is utterly ruined."
"It's all Danzo's fault!"
"For all these years, he hid in the shadows, scheming as he pleased, manipulating people, framing whoever he wanted, and committing every kind of filthy, underhanded act. In the end, all the blame and disgrace fell on me."
"By now, the entire Shinobi World is probably saying I tolerated or even participated in Minato and his wife's deaths and all those tragedies in Konoha. There's no way I can defend myself!"
Tsunade shook her head and refuted him without mercy. Every word rang true, shattering his last hope of escaping blame.
"You brought this on yourself."
"Everyone knew Danzo was sinister, wildly ambitious, and willing to use filthy methods. You knew it perfectly well, yet you indulged him time and again, let him off the hook, and allowed him to gain power and grow stronger."
"You were softhearted, clung to old ties, and wanted to preserve the village's balance. You didn't dare deal with him once and for all. In the end, you nurtured a threat that caused countless tragedies and left your reputation in ruins. You can't blame anyone else, only your own indecision."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was left speechless by her rebuke. After a long silence, genuine, profound regret welled up in his heart.
If he had been more decisive and ruthless back then, suppressed Danzo early, and purged Konoha's darkness, the village would never have accumulated so many grievances and wrongs. Nor would his reputation have crumbled in his twilight years, leaving him condemned by the entire Shinobi World.
The atmosphere in the office grew increasingly heavy and oppressive.
Just then, Jiraiya