Chapter 116: Performance of the Konoha Elders

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At the graveside, Shimura Danzo's face turned ashen upon hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's call.

Fortunately, his head was bowed.

Shimura Danzo gazed at the ground, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into at that moment!

He was already feeling extremely uncomfortable at White Fang's funeral, and now Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted him to go over and explain...

Explain what the hell!

How was he supposed to know why White Fang committed suicide?

The previous rumors were only meant to prevent White Fang from becoming a candidate for Hokage!

Who knew that Hatake Sakumo was so stubborn that he would commit suicide over a disagreement?

Thinking about having to say such embarrassing things in front of so many people, Shimura Danzo felt extremely uncomfortable about the impending moment when he would have to take the blame. He felt as though his path to becoming Hokage was becoming increasingly difficult...

"Danzo, come over here quickly!"

Just then, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, shouted again!

What an unpleasant voice!

What's the hurry?

Shimura Danzo suppressed his anger and displeasure, and a look of sorrow appeared on his face as if he were about to cry.

After adjusting his expression, he raised his head and moved forward slowly, as if his feet were made of iron.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't stand his old friend's slow pace, so he went over and grabbed him by the arm!

"Come on, stand here, Danzo."

"It's okay, just explain it to everyone clearly."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke to Shimura Danzo with a gentle expression before looking at the others who had come to the funeral and saying in a deep voice:

"Everyone, you must learn to distinguish right from wrong and not believe rumors lightly!"

"Danzo will explain this matter."

Then, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped into the crowd, giving up his place to Shimura Danzo.

"..."

Shimura Danzo felt like a monkey being watched by nearly a hundred pairs of curious or mocking eyes.

He had never made a speech in front of so many influential people before.

He had thought that his first time would be at the Hokage inheritance ceremony, but he never expected that his first time would be at the funeral of Konoha's White Fang!

However, since things had come to this, Shimura Danzo could only bite the bullet and speak in a regretful tone:

"Sakumo's death was unexpected!"

"Just as Hiruzen said earlier, Sakumo was our hero from Konoha! He was an indispensable comrade to everyone!"

"I am deeply saddened by his passing!"

This was a draft that several high-ranking Konoha officials had written overnight, which he had spent the whole night memorizing.

Shimura Danzo silently recited the draft in his mind while simultaneously showing a look of indignation on his face:

"Regarding the information published in that newspaper earlier, most of it is actually rumor!"

"When I saw the newspaper, I felt a chill down my spine!"

"When did the ninja world become so filthy? How could such nonsense be spread so easily?"

Shimura Danzo waved his hand forcefully, his eyes filled with grievance, as if to express his anger:

"As everyone knows, I, Shimura Danzo, have never eaten children!"

"Pfft~"

The Uchiha clan leader couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Hahahaha..."

After someone started, many others around couldn't help but laugh.

The Hyuga clan leader, the Nara clan leader, and the Akimichi clan leader covered their mouths tightly, but the laughter could still be seen clearly in their eyes.

Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya also couldn't help but laugh.

Uzumaki Kushina, who had attended the funeral with Namikaze Minato, laughed louder and louder.

Suzuki stood at the back of the crowd with Mifune, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"..."

Shimura Danzo's waving arm froze in mid-air, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

He listened to the occasional laughter from the crowd and wished he could kill all of them on the spot!

The anger on Shimura Danzo's face turned genuine for a moment.

He glanced casually at the Uchiha clan leader, who had been the first to laugh, and felt extreme disgust towards him!

As expected, all Uchihas deserved to die!!!

Just when Shimura Danzo didn't know how to continue, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood up and said in a deep voice:

"Silence, silence!"

"Stop laughing, everyone, and listen to Danzo's explanation!"

The Hokage spoke, and the laughter in the crowd immediately stopped, and the graveyard became instantly silent.

Seeing this scene, Shimura Danzo became even more enthusiastic about the position of Hokage!

He also felt a deep sense of jealousy and even resentment towards his old friend, Sarutobi Hiruzen, for his prestige!

However, the explanation was not over yet...

Shimura Danzo took a deep breath, suppressed all sorts of thoughts, and continued to recite the draft in his mind:

"Sakumo's matter is the same!"

"That so-called Ninja World News, anyone can tell that it was deliberately created by other ninja villages as a conspiracy!"

"The purpose is to create chaos within our Konoha!"

"Although I don't have much contact with Sakumo, I have always admired him!"

"Whether it's his achievements on the battlefield or his character in daily life, he is like the morning sun, guarding our village."

"I came to the village when Konoha was first established, and I was still very young at that time..."

Shimura Danzo began to talk about his past while showing off his achievements and playing the victim.

As he spoke, he didn't know whether it was genuine or fake, but tears actually flowed from his eyes...

"All these scars on my body were left behind for Konoha!"

"This village is like my home, and I have accompanied it as it has grown bit by bit."

"Everyone in the village is my family!"

"..."

The expressions of the crowd suddenly became strange. No one mocked him or said anything.

Shimura Danzo raised his arm to wipe away his tears, and then a look of guilt appeared on his face:

"Before, I did have people guarding White Fang's residence."

"But that was because Sakumo often had to go out on missions, and my intention was to prevent anyone from harming his family!"

"After all, White Fang's reputation in the ninja world is so great, and in the previous wars, Sakumo offended many enemies for Konoha!"

"However, what I didn't expect was that someone would use this kind of thing to frame me and even slander Konoha!"

"I feel strong anger and dissatisfaction about this!"

"Those who are eyeing our village will stop at nothing!"

"We must..."

Shimura Danzo found a simple reason to explain his surveillance of White Fang, and then turned the topic to a deeper level of external enemies.

"Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure are all eyeing us covetously!"

"We must unite! We must not fall for their schemes!"

"The Will of Fire is..."

"..."

The crowd looked at Shimura Danzo, who was putting on a performance, with doubt. Some ninjas were even fooled by him, and their eyes showed anger towards the other ninja villages.

Towards the end, Shimura Danzo's hands trembled, and he continued to recite as if his heart was bleeding:

"However, in order to prevent Konoha from being misunderstood along with me, and since I did make some mistakes in this matter..."

"Therefore, I voluntarily resign from the position of Hokage's advisor!"

"May Konoha enjoy lasting peace and stability!"

"..."

There was no applause or laughter, and the graveyard was silent as if everyone had fallen into silence.

"Well said! Well said!"

"May Konoha enjoy lasting peace and stability!"

"This must also be Sakumo's dream, sigh~"

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was the first to applaud, expressing his approval of Shimura Danzo's speech!

He was immediately followed by Mito Menyan and Koharu Utatane, and then many other ninjas in the crowd began to applaud as well.

For a moment, the funeral seemed to have become a joyous occasion~

Soon after, since the funeral and the performance were over, many ninjas began to leave one after another.

"Heh, what a good show!"

Suzuki had watched the entire performance.

(End of chapter)