Perhaps out of curiosity, or as if they'd just realized something, the surrounding ninja and villagers began to gather. It felt like something important was about to happen.
The wooden stake had already been erected by Yamato. Without hesitation, Shisui pressed Danzō down onto it. Chains coiled tightly around his body, binding him completely as he remained trapped in genjutsu.
"You may speak now."
Standing before Danzō Shimura, Hakken planted his Zanpakutō into the ground and turned to Shisui.
Danzō Shimura.
At first, his purpose in establishing Root Division had indeed been noble—concealing himself within the shadows to serve the village. It was also his way of proving that he was no less than Hiruzen Sarutobi. And truly, a village did need a department to handle matters unfit for daylight.
But over time, his path strayed further and further from its origin.
During the Second Shinobi World War, he disguised himself as a corpse to acquire critical intelligence, triggering civil conflict within the Land of Rain. And now, his obsession with the Hokage's seat had completely blinded him.
He was a man born of darkness, one who had long since lost sight of the light. He had become the very Root itself—corrupted beyond redemption.
Yet Danzō's fall was not his alone to bear. It was also the result of a legacy—the teachings of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
Tobirama had possessed all the makings of an exceptional Hokage, a true political genius. Though he delved into forbidden techniques, his vision for the village's growth was unmatched.
Where there is light, there will always be shadow.
In dealing with his people, he taught that one could be merciful—or ruthless.
Hiruzen inherited Tobirama's benevolence. Danzō inherited his ruthlessness, the belief that any means were justified for the village's sake.
Hiruzen was the ever-kind Hokage who stood in the sunlight. Danzō was the cold, decisive Root that struck from the dark.
But neither disciple had truly learned their master's balance.
One, in his kindness, turned a blind eye as his old comrade endangered Konoha—so merciful he even allowed Orochimaru, who had slaughtered over sixty innocent children, to escape unpunished.
The other, in his cruelty, plotted against the last remaining heir of the Senju clan—just to preserve Konoha's stability.
That was his teacher's clan, the descendants of Hashirama Senju, founder of the village and bringer of peace to the warring era. Yet even that bloodline, if deemed a threat to Konoha's order, was not spared from his hand.
The fall of the Senju clan was the prelude to the tragedy that would later befall the Uchiha.
The Senju had risen too high.
Two generations of Hokage, with unmatched achievements, had elevated their clan's prestige to heights that drew envy and fear. Even within the clan, resentment brewed over the Hokage title no longer being passed through Senju blood.
It was human nature.
To eradicate the potential for conflict, Danzō made his choice—and the Senju clan disappeared from history.
Even later, Hatake Sakumo, who had brought great honor to Konoha and led its forces during the Second Shinobi World War, was driven to suicide for a single failed mission.
And beyond these were countless other deeds too shameful to ever be spoken of.
When Shisui stood before the crowd and revealed the truth he had overheard at Root's entrance, the entire plaza fell silent.
Everyone was stunned.
The weight of his words left no one unmoved. Such things were beyond comprehension—beyond forgiveness.
Could the downfall of the Senju clan truly have been caused by those among Konoha's own leadership?
Had the rogue Orochimaru really maintained ties with Danzō?
Had Danzō known about the attack on Konoha from the very beginning—and not only stayed silent, but even sent Root operatives to aid the invaders?
Could such a man still be called human?
The silence that followed was broken only by the slow rise of seething fury.
A single weary sigh escaped from Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips.
He hadn't expected things to spiral this far.
Shisui had revealed everything.
Was it really right to make such matters public?
Minato—no, not Minato. Hakken.
Hiruzen gave a bitter smile as he looked at the not-so-tall figure before him.
The Wall of Honor and the Pillars of Shame... that truly suited Hakken's nature.
Wouldn't it have been better to take Danzō away and interrogate him quietly? Why say such things in front of everyone?
Hiruzen could never understand Hakken's mindset—nor could he even attempt to. Perhaps for him, maintaining the illusion of Konoha's stability was enough.
But Hakken knew the truth. The Nine-Tails' chaos might have ended, yet the villagers and shinobi needed someone to vent their rage upon.
Just like Naruto in the original tale.
In every tragedy, someone must bear the hatred left behind.
If you claim to be darkness, then you must carry that hatred yourself.
But do you have the resolve—the strength—to bear it?
Naruto had it. Despite the world expecting him to fall into darkness, he never did. That kind of spirit was something to admire.
And Danzō? Was he worthy of such comparison?
The so-called "darkness of the shinobi world"? He acted as if people like Obito and Black Zetsu were beneath him.
But beyond his known sins, there were deeds that would soon ignite even greater fury.
Drawing his Zanpakutō, Hakken strode toward Danzō Shimura, the villagers and shinobi glaring with outrage all around him.
He raised the blade high—and brought it down hard.
With a harsh rip, the bandages wrapped around Danzō's body fell away.
Along with them came his severed arm.
On that arm, Hashirama Senju's unstable cells writhed grotesquely, pulsing as if alive.
That arm was the result of Orochimaru's modification before he left Konoha. For now, it bore no rows of Sharingan eyes, yet without their suppressive power, the cells occasionally sprouted tiny shoots of wood.
The First Hokage's Wood Release—mutating uncontrollably.
Still trapped in genjutsu, Danzō couldn't suppress the rampaging cells.
The Uchiha clan still lived, and he lacked the necessary Sharingan to invoke Izanagi.
That arm had come from Orochimaru's test subject, Shin Uchiha—a small experiment at best. Yet even so, the sight of those writhing Hashirama cells made every shinobi's blood boil with fury.
Using the First Hokage's remains for experimentation—no one could ever forgive that.
Anyone with eyes could see now that what Shisui said was true: Danzō had indeed maintained contact with the rogue ninja Orochimaru.
And the fury didn't stop there.
When the bandages covering Danzō's right eye fell away, a single three-tomoe Sharingan glared vividly back at them.
Fugaku's fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.
Every clan member who had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan was recorded. Aside from Kakashi inheriting Obito's eye, there had been no losses reported.
The only explanation—Danzō had desecrated their graves.
What else was this man hiding on his body?
"Uchiha shinobi are present," Hakken said coldly. "But it seems we're still missing a witness from the Senju clan."
With a few clean swings of the Zanpakutō, Danzō's remaining arm and legs were severed.
The agony and torrent of blood snapped him out of the genjutsu.
But the moment his eyes focused, despair consumed him.
The Soul Devouring effect of the Zanpakutō's normal strikes began gnawing at his spirit. With his chakra disrupted, even his remaining three-tomoe Sharingan couldn't activate Izanagi.
"Take your time and enjoy it before my blade returns."
"Those who walk in darkness must be ready to endure its weight. I wonder if you are."
Resting the Zanpakutō on his shoulder, Hakken yawned and turned to leave.
After everything that had happened today, he needed rest—to regain his strength.
The chaos was over.
But the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' rampage was only just beginning.
There was still much to do.
For one, every last attacker who had dared to assault Konoha would pay the price.
"This eye doesn't belong to you."
Ignoring the eyes on him, Fugaku stepped forward and, without hesitation, gouged the three-tomoe Sharingan from Danzō's socket.
In the original tale, it was this very Sharingan that had allowed Danzō to activate Izanagi, turning the tide and stealing Shisui's eye.
Now, the furious stares of the villagers and shinobi closed in from all sides.
Danzō's heart pounded violently in his chest.
He knew what was coming.
Retribution had finally arrived.
Now it was time to face the consequences of his own sins.
...
NEW FIC: Parallel Ninja World: Which Naruto Will Leap Through Time Today?