"Hiruzen Sarutobi, the evidence is undeniable now! What do you have to say for yourself?!"
"Still trying to deny it?"
Furious villagers and ninja stormed into the academy, surrounding Hiruzen with a barrage of condemnation and interrogation.
From their eyes, their mouths, and their expressions, Hiruzen couldn't sense the slightest shred of respect—only boundless rage, scorn, and loathing.
Those cold, hateful glares chilled him to the bone, pushing him toward despair. This... this isn't the Konoha I once knew. He closed his eyes in anguish, unwilling to believe the scene unfolding before him.
If this is a dream, let me wake up—please...
But reality was cruel.
What greeted him were villagers twisted by hatred.
"Say something!"
"What? You can do it but can't admit it?"
"Tell us! Were you the one behind the human experimentation?!"
"Was it you who drove the Senju Clan, the Uzumaki Clan, and Sakumo Hatake to their deaths?!"
Rotten eggs, spoiled vegetables, and even excrement were hurled mercilessly at Hiruzen's face.
He instinctively raised his chakra to block the projectiles.
But what followed was a wave of ridicule.
"Oh, so you do care about saving face, Hiruzen?"
"If you cared so much about dignity, why did you do those things?"
Hiruzen was speechless before the barrage of villagers and shinobi.
He hated himself for acting too late and losing the initiative, and he hated Danzo even more—for leaking Konoha's darkest secrets.
"Guards! Hold them back!" Hiruzen shouted in agony, eyes still closed. He knew that facing these enraged villagers, no explanation would matter.
It was all meaningless.
He understood now: it takes months to build a structure, but only days to tear it down.
Just like his reputation—one whisper from Danzo was all it took to erase years of service.
After all, no one knew him better than Shimura Danzo.
Every dark deed he'd done over the years... Danzo had likely revealed them all.
And he didn't need to prove each one. As long as even one of ten accusations was true, the villagers would assume the other nine were as well.
Among the ANBU helping maintain order, Itachi Uchiha, masked and composed, subtly allowed a few of the more unhinged individuals to slip past.
He gave them a chance—to shout, insult, and strike at Hiruzen.
Let him taste the cruelty of words.
For years, the Uchiha had kept Konoha safe, working tirelessly as the backbone of its law and order.
And what did they get in return?
Endless slander.
This was nothing more than poetic justice.
After all, until you've endured another's suffering, don't preach virtue.
Even Nagato had said it: Only through pain can one truly understand pain.
So, Hiruzen Sarutobi—feel pain. Experience pain. Accept pain. Understand pain.
Only then would he begin to grasp the agony of the Uchiha... and of Sakumo Hatake. Only then would he comprehend the terrifying weight of rumors, public shaming, and online condemnation.
Even Yamato was starting to panic. He had merely used a Wood Release technique—how had that led to such explosive hatred toward the Third Hokage?
"I think you've got the wrong person!"
"It was Orochimaru and Lord Danzo who conducted the experiments!"
"This has nothing to do with the Third!" Yamato shouted as he constructed wooden barriers to hold back the mob, defending Hiruzen loudly.
"Shut up! We're standing up for you, and you're defending your enemy? Are you stupid or just brainwashed by Hiruzen?"
"Are you seriously saying Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't initiate the Hashirama cell experiments?"
"Now that everything's out in the open, you want to pin it on someone else, huh?"
"Disgusting!"
"As Hokage, he can't evade responsibility! These experiments with Hashirama's cells went on for decades—from Lady Tsunade's childhood until now. How many innocent lives were lost? How many souls turned into vengeful spirits? And you think we'll just let it go? No way!"
"If not for his protection and cover-ups, do you think these experiments could've continued?"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi—are you even human?! Doesn't your conscience hurt? Before the experiments succeeded, why didn't you use monkeys or rats? Why people?! Were you doing it on purpose?!"
As the insults flew, Hiruzen took a deep breath, fighting the rage and disappointment that surged within him.
Don't push me. Don't push me... he kept repeating in his heart.
"Oh, closing your eyes? Think that'll make us go away?"
"You think closing your eyes means you don't have to face the spirits of the dead?"
"Too bad! As long as you're alive, those spirits will haunt you! Even the Pure Land can't save you!"
"Oh, what's the matter? You thinking about killing me now? Dragging me off to ANBU for some bogus interrogation and a trumped-up charge?"
"I dare you—Hiruzen Sarutobi! Swear on your soul and make a chakra hand seal, proclaiming the Hashirama cell experiments had nothing to do with you. If you do, I'll kneel, admit I was wrong, and kill myself on the spot!"
"But you won't. Will you?"
Hiruzen took another deep breath.
He wouldn't—because it was his doing.
"Heh... See? You don't dare. Coward!"
"No—scratch that. You're a Saru. A monkey. You're not even human. Calling you a man gives you too much credit. You are what your name says you are. Filth!"
"Monster!"
Those words made Hiruzen open his eyes—filled with killing intent—and glare at the speaker.
He couldn't hold back anymore.
He wanted to kill that person on the spot.
He had never felt so humiliated—never in his entire life.
You forced this on me!
The less someone knows, the more absolute their beliefs become. They cling to them with blind courage and misplaced pride—never having heard a dissenting view.
The less educated someone is, the more maliciously narrow their perspective becomes.
And when they can't find a flaw—they invent one.
Because tearing down a god requires no qualifications.
No intelligence—just a lying mouth.
No critical thinking—just loud, baseless shouting.
That's what makes a mob terrifying.
To them, nothing is more satisfying than dragging down someone who once stood high above.
They feel joy when others suffer.
And so, the reputations of good people are desecrated by malicious slander.
Some—like Sakumo Hatake—never recover, even in death.
Did those who once cursed him regret it?
I doubt it.
When people see a hero fall, they're the first to throw stones. The crowd swells with excitement.
They don't care what you did. They care only about your mistakes. Once found, they'll spread them like wildfire. They'll drown you in their spit.
They never think they're wrong. They just look for their next victim.
Yesterday, it was the Uchiha.
Today, it's Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Words can kill—never forget that."
"Danzo... I'll admit it. This time, you've won."
"But don't forget—"
"I am the Hokage of this village!"
"Everything I've done has been for Konoha!"
"Why should I explain myself to you?"
"Let history judge me. I say I'm not wrong—so I'm not wrong!"
Turning to Itachi and Yamato, Hiruzen gave the order:
"Yamato, subdue these unruly villagers!"
"These are extraordinary times—we use extraordinary measures!"
"Arrest the Root members and the rogue shinobi leading them!"
"If they resist—kill them on the spot!"
"Let's see who dares to threaten Konoha's peace!"
"Let's see who stands with traitors!"
"Let's see who sells their soul to protect criminals!"
Hiruzen barked out the commands.
Danzo... did you really think a few fanatics could bring me down?
Did you think I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, am too old to wield a blade?
Yamato hesitated. "This..."
A Root operative sneered, "Go ahead, Sarutobi. Touch me—see what happens."
"Disrespecting the Hokage is treason! Punishable by death!"
Itachi moved without hesitation.
In a flash, he unsheathed his blade.
Blood sprayed.
The Root member's head hit the ground before his body.
One strike. One death.
Try it—and you die.
The villagers and low-ranking shinobi were stunned.
They never thought the ANBU would actually strike.