Jiraiya flipped through the thick stack of Root personnel files in his hands. The more he read, the more alarmed-and speechless-he became.
The files clearly recorded every member's background.
Countless people had been forcibly conscripted, coerced, or abducted into Root.
Some clans had even refused to hand over their people, only for Danzo to pin crimes on them and deliberately suppress them.
The most outrageous part was-
The Third had known about every last one of these things, yet he had condoned them from beginning to end, turning a blind eye!
Reading it all left Jiraiya exhausted.
No wonder Tsunade had been so furious.
How was this governing a village?
They had practically treated Konoha as the private property of their little F4 clique!
Seeing the clan heads before him, their faces full of hope and their eyes brimming with tears, Jiraiya could hardly bear it. He nodded firmly and gave them his answer in front of everyone.
"Rest assured."
"Tsunade has already issued her orders."
"From now on, no one will be oppressed."
"All Root members will be free to go wherever they wish."
"Anyone who wants to return to their clan and an ordinary life will be allowed to leave. No one will stop them."
"Those who haven't decided yet, or who wish to continue serving the village, will be transferred to the Anbu."
"Go home and wait with peace of mind. I'll have everything settled within the next two days. Your clansmen will all be able to come home."
As soon as he finished speaking!
Every clan head present grew misty-eyed, thanking him over and over.
How many years had it been!
Years of separation from their loved ones, of swallowing grievances, of utter helplessness!
Under the old leadership's dark rule, they had seethed in silence, afraid