Chapter 70: Third Hokage, Danzō Lives On, Justice Remains Out of Reach

Uchiha Iizumi’s voice wasn’t loud, but every person present could hear it clearly.

“Besides Uchiha Shisui… Hatake Shūmatsu was also indirectly killed by Danzō?”

A veteran Leaf Village jonin, older and weathered, blinked in surprise. He had once worked alongside Hatake Shūmatsu, but all he’d known was that the man had endured relentless verbal abuse back then.

He had no idea someone had orchestrated the smear campaign behind the scenes.

Wait—could that negative tide have been stirred up by Danzō himself?

At that moment…

A few Anbu Ninjas couldn’t help but glance toward Hatake Kakashi. As the commander of the Anbu division, Kakashi’s father was none other than Hatake Shūmatsu.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s gaze darkened. He shot a cold, piercing glare at Danzō before turning to look at Kakashi, positioned to his right rear.

The Third Hokage saw Kakashi—normally listless and indifferent—clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles had turned white.

“Kakashi!” Hiruzen snapped sharply.

The situation was already chaotic enough. If Kakashi lost control of his rage, things would spiral further out of hand.

“…Hokage-sama. I’m calm.”

Kakashi paused half a second before replying, only those words.

No one saw the expression beneath his Anbu mask.

Hiruzen sighed inwardly.

Even he could hear the tremor in Kakashi’s voice.

How could he be calm?

Uchiha Iizumi’s public revelation of Danzō’s past crimes was something Hiruzen hadn’t anticipated.

Couldn’t Iizumi at least consider the village’s stability?

Putting Danzō on trial like this… once the fire started, there’d be no way to stop it.

…

“Years ago, in pursuit of studying the First Hokage’s Wood Release Cells, you conducted extreme experiments alongside Orochimaru—killing countless volunteers. When the research was shut down, you continued secretly, abducting infants and conducting cruel tests. Sixty-seven innocent babies died—directly or indirectly as a result.”

Uchiha Iizumi spoke as if reading from an invisible scroll, his tone unnervingly calm, like he could see through every hidden sin.

“How do you explain this?”

“And…”

“ENOUGH!!”

Danzō roared, his eyes blazing with fury. “This is nothing but the twisted lies of a wicked child! Uchiha Iizumi! What proof do you have that you can see Past and Future Evil? What proof do you have that you’re telling the truth?”

His interruption was abrupt, too sharp—revealing his unease.

Because he could feel it—the weight of dozens of eyes upon him.

Judgment. Anger. Suspicion.

Every gaze fixed on him like a blade.

The chilling sensation of being utterly isolated.

His skin crawled.

He turned to the crowd, voice rising in desperation.

“Are you really going to believe the word of a child? Don’t you question whether this is all lies? I’ve given my life to the Leaf Village! You don’t trust me… but you trust him?”

“Iizumi-sama never lies!”

A sudden, defiant voice shattered the tension—making Danzō’s eyelids twitch.

He turned to see the source: another young Uchiha.

Izumi, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward, teeth gritted, facing Danzō head-on.

“Iizumi-sama has never misjudged a single evil act! You don’t get to slander him with a few cheap words!”

Danzō’s fury flared.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Iizumi challenging him? He could grit his teeth and endure.

But this child—barely out of his teens—daring to stand before him like this?

“Fugaku,” Danzō snapped, “keep your clan in check!”

He saw it as a degradation to even respond to Iizumi.

Uchiha brats were all insolent, disrespectful.

“Danzō,” Hiruzen Sarutobi replied coldly, “you’re the one who needs to be controlled.”

Danzō’s face darkened.

“Monkey… you—”

Before he could finish, Hiruzen turned his stern face away and asked Uchiha Iizumi:

“Iizumi… can you confirm this? Did Shisui and Shūmatsu both die because of Danzō?”

“Third Hokage,” Iizumi countered without flinching, “are you deliberately cutting me off?”

“Interrupting me before I reveal more of Shimura Danzō’s past sins… is that really your best effort to protect him? Isn’t that exactly what you’re trying to do?”

Hiruzen froze. A subtle twitch flickered at the corner of his eye.

“You misunderstand me,” he said, voice strained.

He only wanted to end this conflict peacefully. Not let it escalate into open war.

But Iizumi refused to cooperate.

And the worst part?

Some of Danzō’s actions… Hiruzen knew about.

He’d even allowed them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in the sunlight as Hokage.

Danzō operated in the shadows—Root, the hidden foundation of the Leaf.

They were two sides of the same coin.

Without Danzō’s ruthlessness, the village wouldn’t be as strong.

But if Danzō’s crimes tied back to Hiruzen…

A shadow flickered deep in his eyes—so faint, no one else noticed.

Iizumi glanced at him, seeing the faint displeasure on the Third Hokage’s face.

But he didn’t care.

His voice remained icy as he continued:

“Three years ago…”

One at a time, the dark deeds linked to Danzō spilled from his lips.

The Leaf ninjas listened in horror.

Hiruzen’s expression grew heavier with every word.

And Danzō—his mind cracking under the weight—could no longer deny it.

Even if he screamed “liar!” until he was hoarse, he couldn’t ignore the truth.

Some memories, even he had forgotten…

But Iizumi recited them with perfect clarity—forcing them back into his mind.

He felt the eyes of his fellow ninjas now.

Not respect. Not loyalty.

Just disgust.

Like he was a filth-stained wretch from the sewers.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

How could this happen?!

…

“Then, Third Hokage…”

Iizumi suddenly stopped.

He turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, his expression unreadable, voice soft yet grave.

“What will you do about Shimura Danzō?”

Hiruzen remained silent, his face carved from stone.

“Third Hokage… Danzō lives. Justice cannot be done. Are you, Hokage-sama, truly willing to protect this monster—this criminal deserving of a thousand deaths?”

“Or is Justice… just a tool for your politics? Something you can use when convenient… and discard when it no longer serves you?”

Hiruzen’s breath hitched.

He understood now.

Iizumi wasn’t just exposing Danzō.

He was exposing him.

The Third Hokage.

He was being burned alive on the same pyre.

He felt it—the shift in the crowd.

All the eyes once aimed at Danzō now turned to him.

The Hokage had to answer.

“…Monkey.”

Danzō glared at Hiruzen, fury burning in his veins.

…

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end