With just one stomp, the ground quaked like a massive earthquake.
All around, ninjas lost their balance and fell hard, unable to even stand.
In the blink of an eye, the entire Uchiha district collapsed into rubble — every building turned to dust. Only the ground remained untouched.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was frozen in shock.
Shimura Danzo's eyes widened; even his eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
The man behind the Madara mask stiffened and instinctively took a step back.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen," Naruto said calmly, his voice carrying deadly weight, "for the sake of Konoha Village, think very carefully about your next words. I know you've sacrificed plenty for this village. Now, it's time to sacrifice something else."
Naruto didn't even glance at Danzo.
After all, that was only a clone — killing it meant nothing.
Sarutobi swallowed hard, sweat beading on his wrinkled face. Then, after a long pause, he raised his voice.
"As the Third Hokage," he declared, "I hereby state that Shimura Danzo has committed unforgivable crimes—"
Naruto suddenly interrupted.
"Who was behind the Uchiha clan's massacre?"
Sarutobi's voice trembled.
"Shimura Danzo... secretly murdered Uchiha Shisui of the village, killed countless members of the Uchiha clan out of hatred, and—"
"Anything else?" Naruto pressed.
"Danzo also collaborated with Orochimaru, using Konoha's citizens as human test subjects… an act of monstrous cruelty!"
Sarutobi's tone hardened with each word.
"He defied Hokage orders, interfered in foreign affairs, carried out assassinations, and—"
"He even ordered Root members to assassinate me, the Third Hokage!"
The last words burst out like a thunderclap.
Under Naruto's cold stare, Sarutobi Hiruzen confessed one dark secret after another — not just the Uchiha genocide, but countless hidden crimes buried deep in Konoha's history.
It was clear now.
Hiruzen had known all of this for years. But because of his lifelong friendship with Danzo, he'd turned a blind eye — until now.
But with Naruto's overwhelming power pressing down on him, the old Hokage realized something: to protect Konoha, sacrificing Danzo was easy.
And with Danzo's long list of sins, no one could say it wasn't deserved.
"Based on these crimes," Hiruzen announced solemnly, "I, as Third Hokage, declare Shimura Danzo a traitor to Konoha Village. He is hereby placed on the wanted list. Any Konoha shinobi who encounters him is authorized to kill on sight!"
Gasps erupted across the courtyard.
The gathered ninjas were stunned — some horrified, others furious.
Even Root operatives, drilled for loyalty, felt their faith waver.
They weren't children; they could see the truth.
The Uchiha massacre confession might have been forced, but the rest — Shisui's murder, the experiments, the assassinations — those weren't fed to Hiruzen by Naruto. He knew them. He'd known them for years.
And only now, cornered by fear and guilt, did he speak them aloud.
"Danzo's done all this, and Lord Hokage knew?" a jōnin muttered bitterly. "Then why wasn't he punished long ago?"
"All that talk about the 'Will of Fire'… is this what it really meant? What a joke!"
Murmurs turned to outrage.
The faith that many ninjas held in the Hokage's ideals was crumbling before their eyes.
Even the most loyal Konoha shinobi couldn't ignore the hypocrisy anymore.
If Hiruzen could list Danzo's crimes one after another so easily, it meant he'd known all along — and stayed silent.
So was Danzo really the only one at fault?
Or just the scapegoat?
The name "Shadow Hokage" had never felt more ironic.
Danzo's lips trembled. "Hiruzen, you—"
But Hiruzen cut him off coldly.
"Danzo, you made an oath long ago—to carry Konoha's darkness. So carry it well. For the sake of the village, you will bear the title of traitor. From this moment on, you are exiled. Root will no longer obey your command. Anbu will hunt you down. Run, if you wish. That's all that's left for you."
His tone was frigid, detached — the words of a man cutting off his own limb.
Danzo's eyes flickered with hatred.
"Fine, Hiruzen. Remember your words."
Then he turned his glare toward Naruto, fury burning in his veins.
"Red Sun Society's Kira... don't get cocky. I'll be back for you!"
That hatred was sharp enough to cut steel.
To Danzo, physical death wasn't terrifying — but losing his place in Konoha, his life's foundation, his reputation — that was true destruction.
He, Shimura Danzo, who claimed to love Konoha the most…
was now branded its traitor.
The irony was unbearable.
Boom!
A cloud of white smoke burst forth — the Danzo standing there vanished. A clone.
Sarutobi's face hardened.
"Attention, all forces!" he barked. "Shimura Danzo has been declared a Konoha traitor. Root is hereby disbanded. Any member who encounters him is ordered to treat him as an enemy and eliminate him immediately!"
The Anbu straightened, their faces grim.
Hiruzen exhaled slowly. He had done what he could.
As for whether Danzo would escape?
Most likely, yes.
After all, he was the deepest shadow of Konoha — the root buried beneath its light.
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