Watching the curses rise from below the platform, with some public-spirited individuals even beginning to hurl obscenities at Konoha High Command, Hiruzen Sarutobi merely smiled faintly in the face of these extreme actions, not panicking in the slightest.
An Anbu member beside him said worriedly, "Lord Hokage, please say something reassuring to soothe the people. Otherwise, I'm afraid the villagers will lose their trust in Konoha High Command."
"It's fine..." Hiruzen Sarutobi replied softly. "Let them vent their feelings. After all, the high command was at fault first. This is a deserved punishment."
"...All right, I understand, Lord Hokage." Helpless, the Anbu member could only step back.
Below the platform, the ugly abuse continued without end. They had practically cursed all eighteen generations of Danzo's ancestors and voiced every grievance they had against the high command.
Those grating curses kept pouring into Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears. In truth, he was very unwilling to listen to them, but at that moment, he felt utterly relaxed.
Because this "Danzo" case was finally over.
He had extricated himself perfectly from all the charges.
He truly had not known the cause of Shisui Uchiha's death.
He truly had not known about the Hashirama cells, either.
But he had known about the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
Now, however, because Danzo was dead and could no longer testify, Hiruzen Sarutobi could naturally pin all the blame for the Uchiha Clan Massacre on Danzo, keeping himself safe while even earning a good reputation.
That good reputation would come from the "Self-Criticism Edict" he was about to perform...
On the platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi waved at the clamoring crowd, signaling for everyone to quiet down. Then, his face full of guilt and self-reproach, he said:
"Danzo was the Senior Advisor at my side. He committed so many crimes right under