The Root members on site were looking at the sheets of paper in their hands. These were the mission guides they had just received from Aoba. Their task was to spread the contents of these papers, causing uproar throughout Konoha Village. It was a straightforward mission.
However, upon seeing the contents of the mission guide, they felt their tongues tie up.
Because many of the things mentioned had indeed happened, and they were actions undertaken by Lord Danzo. As Root members who had executed these missions, they were well aware of the authenticity of these matters.
Is this something we can speak about? We all have the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on us! We cannot disclose anything about Lord Danzo, or the seals on our tongues will activate. Yet, the contents of these papers are almost entirely about Lord Danzo's dark deeds.
This doesn't seem right! The Root members present lifted their heads, their eyes meeting Aoba's through the eye holes of their masks. Each of their gazes conveyed confusion and bewilderment, raising a big question about this mission.
"This is your last chance."
Aoba spoke indifferently, seeming to have anticipated the Root members' doubts, but his tone was colder than their confusion.
"According to Lord Danzo's original plan, these missions weren't meant for you!"
Aoba's stern voice echoed again, his cold and indifferent gaze sweeping over each Root member present. The sharpness in his words was palpable.
"These missions could have been given to others."
"The reason you have them now is because you returned here on your own, seeking redemption."
"In that case, you better show some proper attitude."
"If you think you can't do it..."
"Then you can put down the mission guide now and leave. Lord Danzo won't trouble you!"
Aoba's words reached everyone's ears, quickly stirring the emotions of the Root members, making their faces behind the masks tense.
It wasn't that they were unwilling to perform the mission, but this mission seemed very strange to them.
Typically, Lord Danzo had placed seals on them to prevent them from speaking out, yet this mission required them to spread these matters, creating an unusual and unexpected task.
This strangeness made them feel something was very peculiar like something was off.
"If you think carefully about this mission and are unwilling to do it, you can leave the Root and never come back."
Aoba's cold voice continued. He didn't necessarily need the Root members to complete this task; he could have done it himself. However, the information would seem more authentic if the Root members carried out the mission.
After all, these things were being disclosed by the Root members themselves.
If Root members divulge their deeds, the issues become glaringly apparent, making it easier for more people to believe and causing a more substantial impact.
For a moment, the Root members fell silent.
They realized this was their last chance.
If they missed this opportunity, they would never be able to be Root members again. In theory, it was that simple, but they felt something was wrong practically. Should they disclose such things?
"I have a question!"
At that moment, one of the Root members stepped forward, voicing their questions. Although he hadn't spoken yet, the Root members already knew the question, as they all shared the same doubts about this mission.
Finally, someone had stepped forward to ask on their behalf, which they thought was good.
Almost immediately, everyone's expressions grew tense.
"Do you have the right to ask questions?"
Aoba's voice became even colder, his gaze sharp and authoritative as it settled on the Root member who had stepped forward to question him.
"You only need to complete the mission. You don't need to ask why. Haven't you been Root members for years?"
"This time, you're facing me, so I'm giving you a chance!"
"If you were to ask Lord Danzo, it would be a different story!"
"Go do your mission!"
Aoba had no intention of explaining, nor did he need to, because Root members didn't need to know more when completing missions.
This was always the way of root members; they had no self or name, just machines completing missions without questioning why.
"Yes."
The Root members responded in unison, understanding that Aoba was right. They shouldn't have questioned anything. They needed to complete the mission since Lord Danzo had reassigned it.
If Lord Danzo arranged it, there was a reason to stir up Konoha Village.
Regardless, it wasn't their concern. They just needed to complete the task.
With this understanding, each Root member grasped their papers tighter. The contents of these papers now represented their lives.
None of them feared death. They didn't mind dying in battle but didn't want to die in disgrace for failing a mission.
The Root members turned and left, understanding that no matter how many doubts they had, they still had to complete the mission. Doubts weren't an excuse but rather their failure. They shouldn't have doubts while executing missions.
The scene fell silent.
Every Root member had lingering questions, but their thoughts were somewhat connected.
Lord Danzo probably used the papers to avoid the seal problem.They had to complete the mission, or they'd have to leave Root.This might all be part of Lord Danzo's plan, so they didn't need to worry; he must have thought it through.
Considering these points, the Root members stopped questioning and began their tasks.
They were taught not to question orders from the moment they entered Root. They had experienced many situations they didn't understand, like the assassination attempt on Minato Namikaze. It made sense if Lord Danzo had a reason for these actions.
With this understanding, they dispersed to complete their missions.
Aoba watched them leave, a slight smile on his lips. Everything was going according to his plan. Once this dark information spread, it would be explosive for Konoha.
He could guarantee the authenticity because he had read Danzo's memories, witnessing these events firsthand.
He could see the whole picture, not just fragments, thanks to his mind-reading ability. The papers contained the dark deeds of Danzo and the Third Hokage over the years, each a sharp knife aimed at the Third's heart.
Half a day later.
Rumors began to spread in Konoha.
Many old speculations resurfaced.
As Aoba had anticipated, the Root members couldn't speak directly but could show the papers to others, letting them spread the information.
Strange cases began to appear.
Missing persons in Konoha!
Deaths in the prison! And various old cases.
Uchiha Kagami's death! The destruction of the Uzumaki clan!
Even suspicions about the Senju clan!
Like old case files, these matters suddenly found leads and spread through Konoha like wildfire.
Public opinion exploded, with fingers pointing at the Third Hokage. No one believed Danzo acted without the Third's knowledge, suspecting the Third orchestrated everything.
Rumors flew, and the Third's image crumbled. Everyone discussed these matters, creating various versions of the truth, each more scandalous than the last.
After the Third Shinobi World War, people had suppressed their emotions for too long. Now that the war was over, someone had to take the blame.
The Third's actions made him a target, and as Hokage, he was already under scrutiny. Post-war, he became the subject of jokes and criticisms.
These events, though factual, spread like wildfire, turning into even more outlandish tales. The Third couldn't clear his name even if they were baseless accusations.
At Ichiraku Ramen.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki sat side by side, enjoying their meal. Minato had missed the taste while in Mount Myoboku and wanted to eat here daily now that they were back in Konoha.
"Minato, have you heard about the Third?"
Teuchi, the owner of the ramen shop, smiled as he spoke. His shop was a mini intelligence hub where he heard all the village gossip.
"I've heard some things, like old secrets being uncovered. I wonder who's behind it," Minato replied calmly. He hadn't expected the Third to expose such things, seemingly paving the way for him to become Hokage.
"It's the downfall of the mighty," Teuchi said with a knowing smile. "It seems like just the beginning. These revelations might be just the start, with worse to come."
As he cooked, Teuchi shared his thoughts. He even felt more revelations coming, as the current ones hadn't caused substantial damage yet.
With further actions, the mission might succeed. The Third might dismiss these as rumors, and things would settle down.
So, Teuchi believed more was to come.