"Everyone!"
Danzo's voice was like a broken drum beating in a dead conference room, hoarse, but with unquestionable strength.
He slowly stood up from his seat, and pressed his unbandaged hand heavily on the long table, making a muffled sound. It was as if he was putting all his weight on this card game that would determine Konoha's future.
"Fourth sacrificed his purpose. I am deeply saddened. But the deceased is gone, and the living must bear the burden and move forward!" Danzo's one eye swept over everyone present. The gaze was as sharp as a falcon, with a kind of scrutiny and oppression. "Last night's chaos has sounded the alarm to all of us! Now Konoha is too comfortable and too weak!"
His gaze swept over Hiruzen Sarutobi's face in a vague way.
"When Teacher Tobirama was alive, he once emphasized that the survival of the Ninja Village must be based on iron fist and order! Internally, all unstable factors must be eradicated; externally, it must show a power that can intimidate all the villains!"
"Over the years, I have been in charge of Root. How many dirty jobs have I secretly handled for Konoha? How much infamy have I been saddled with? I never defend myself! Because I know that all this is to protect this big tree in the village and allow it to thrive!"
Good guy, Senju Chen, just call him good guy. With this state and acting skills, it would be a waste of talent if he didn't win an Oscar.
Senju Chen's eyes were lowered, but he was already applauding in his heart.
Look at this passionate speech, this awe-inspiring demeanor, and this just-right pause. Those who don't know, would think that Konoha was founded by you Shimura Danzō, and everyone here is just a helper for you.
It is a pity not to engage in pyramid schemes because of the ability to confuse right and wrong by describing "eliminating dissidents" as "eliminating unstable factors" and "assassination to seize power" as "bearing infamy".
Senju Chen can even imagine that Danzo's inner monologue at this moment is probably: Hiruzen ah Hiruzen, look at you, your wife is dead and your disciple has defected, what qualifications do you have to sit here? Let me lead Konoha to "brilliance"!
Hearing that Danzo had moved out of Tobirama Senju, the faces of Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura also showed a little emotion.
They were not happy with Danzo's methods. But they also had to admit that in the current mess of internal and external troubles and leaderlessness, the "toughness" and "decision" shown by Danzo were indeed what Konoha needed most at this moment.
A person who can be ruthless and dare to be ruthless can quickly clean up the mess and stabilize people's hearts.
"What Danzo said... makes some sense." Mitokado Homura pondered for a moment and finally spoke, breaking the silence, "The village really needs a strong leader now."
Utatane Koharu also nodded and agreed, "From the perspective of qualifications and abilities, Danzo is indeed the most suitable candidate at the moment. However, Hokage's successor is a big deal, and a hasty decision may not be able to convince the public. I think that we should wait at least a month after the village has initially stabilized before discussing."
Her words not only gave Danzo a step up, but also left room for herself.
A month is enough time for a lot of things to happen.
Danzo's brows furrowed slightly.
One month? Long nights and many dreams! What he wants is now, immediately, immediately!
He was about to speak again, overwhelming all objections with greater force.
"Ahem."
A slight cough, not loud, but clearly reached everyone's ears.
Everyone's eyes instantly focused on the young man who had been silent since the beginning of the meeting, as if he was staying out of the incident.
Senju Chen put down the tea cup, and the bottom of the cup made contact with the tabletop, making a crisp and soft sound.
He raised his head, his calm eyes swept over everyone, and finally landed on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face filled with exhaustion.
"Lord Third, elders." Senju Chen's tone was very calm, and there was no hint of emotion or anger. "Before discussing the ownership of the next Hokage, I think we should probably look at something first."
Danzo's one eye narrowed, and an ominous premonition filled his heart.
This kid has been silent since just now. What does he want to do?
"What?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked hoarsely.
Senju Chen did not answer, but turned his head, faced the door of the conference room, and said lightly, "Please come in."
The words just fell.
"Squeak--"
The heavy wooden door was pushed open from the outside.
A Uchiha tribesman wearing Konoha Military Police Force clothing and a solemn expression strode in. Behind him, there was a large group of people accompanying him.
They did not speak, but silently and efficiently placed several stretchers covered with white cloth in the center of the conference room.
Several villagers with pale faces and trembling bodies came in with them, as well as a few Konoha Ninja who were obviously elites.
For a time, the oppressive political atmosphere in the conference room was completely washed away by the strong smell of blood and death.
"This is..." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at those stretchers and frowned.
"Little Chen, what does this mean?" Mitokado Homura's face also darkened.
Danzo's heart skipped a beat and sank to the bottom the moment he saw those stretchers.
"Everyone, please take a look."
Senju Chen stood up, walked to a stretcher, stretched out his hand, and suddenly opened the white cloth on it!
A corpse wearing black clothing and a faceless mask was exposed in front of everyone. The fatal wound was on the chest, and he was killed with a single knife.
"Poof!"
Among the villagers who were brought, a middle-aged man's legs weakened the moment he saw the corpse, and he collapsed directly to the ground. He pointed at the corpse and his voice was trembling. "It's... it's him! Last night... he was the one who wanted to kill our whole family last night!"
Senju Chen ignored the villager and opened several other pieces of white cloth one after another.
Every corpse has the same clothing and the same fatal injuries.
"These are the assassins who took advantage of Nine-Tails's riot last night and took advantage of the chaos to commit murder in the village, trying to assassinate Konoha High Command's family." Senju Chen's voice, in the silent conference room, was like ice beads falling on a jade plate, and every word was clear.
He walked up to the surviving villagers, pointed at them, and said to Council of Elders, "And these are the family of supervisor Logistics Department Morino, the family of squad leader Barrier Team Kurogane, and... the two elders of the Aburame Clan."
Boom!
The entire conference room felt as if a heavy bomb had been dropped.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's body trembled violently, not because of sadness, but because of extreme anger! His turbid eyes were ignited with blazing fire, and he stared at the corpses of the assassins.
He thought of his dead wife Biwako!
The attacker was able to bypass everyone, quietly sneak into the delivery room guarded by four layers of barriers, and kill his wife. This fact itself is full of doubts! Now it seems... this is very likely to be a conspiracy inside and outside!