The eyes of Danzo became moist.
"There's never been a peaceful time, it's just that someone bears the burden for you," he muttered, two lines of turbid tears streaming down his face.
This sentence perfectly portrays the sacrifices of the roots of Konoha.
If it were possible, who would willingly stay in the darkness?
"It's precisely because one is in darkness that there's a yearning for light, an attempt to transform into that light," Danzo spoke with tears streaming down, his voice a whisper.
"Yes, I do indeed aspire to become the Hokage." At that moment, Danzo's hunched figure stood tall, his serious gaze sweeping over everyone, finally resting on his old comrade, the Third Hokage.
His face, wrinkled and lined, bore traces of tears.
"I, Shimura Danzo, am not a good person," Danzo spoke, his voice hoarse.
All the ninjas tensed, fearing Danzo might attack.
"But, I haven't stooped so low as to harm my own Konoha," Danzo's voice was firm and resolute, word by word.
He locked eyes with the Third, his gaze intense and assertive.
"Monkey, you understand me. I'm not someone who schemes against Konoha."
"When Konoha faces trouble, I, Danzo, will unquestionably be the first to rush to its aid!!"
Hearing Danzo's heartfelt words, everyone was moved.
Inside the Third, a sense of misunderstanding and guilt towards Danzo arose.
"Danzo loves Konoha deeply, and yet I misunderstood him. I'm not worthy. These images have made me too suspicious," flashed a thought through the Third's mind.
But he quickly regained his composure.
To become the Hokage, he naturally had some level of shrewdness; he couldn't be easily swayed by a few words.
Everyone here was an adult and knew when to be discreet.
Moreover, he was a politician himself.
Seeing the slightly moved gazes of the ninjas below, the Third knew he had to do something.
He cleared his throat, drawing attention, and slowly said, "You've dedicated yourself to Konoha for so many years, and I must believe in you. However, my thoughts aren't important. What matters is how the villagers view you. Let's continue observing, see what else these images reveal. That way, we can devise a better plan to reassure the people." The Third deflected everything onto the villagers, hiding his true thoughts.
Danzo's expression darkened, hoping the images wouldn't expose more truths.
[Danzo had his heart set on becoming the Hokage. For this position, he didn't hesitate to plan the Uchiha massacre and the downfall of Konoha. Even when Konoha faced a crisis in the future, he chose to stand idly by.]
[But in this moment, a glimmer of warmth unexpectedly pierced his cold heart. Yet, it was this ray of light that would consume everything.]
"Hiss." Everyone's gaze shifted once again.
What a ruthless person.
Whoever claims Danzo loves Konoha, step forward. I promise not to chop you down.
Hiss, did Danzo say that himself?
Such shameless politicians.
"No, this image is defaming me. No, I am not the same as the one in there," Danzo's face flushed as he vehemently argued.
[On the night of the Uchiha massacre, Danzo obtained countless Sharingan and transplanted them into his own arm, which was wrapped in bandages, covered in Sharingan.]
All eyes focused on the bandaged arm.
"Danzo, explain this," the Third's tone gradually turned hostile.
Upon closer inspection, Danzo's arm had been bandaged for who knows how long, never unwrapped.
Initially thought to be a side effect of some ninjutsu, it now seemed worthy of deeper consideration.
"I..." Danzo suddenly faltered, his lips trembling.
Ninjas surrounded him, the Third showing signs of displeasure.
"Fine, it was all for Konoha," Danzo reluctantly admitted. "The Uchiha clan's ambition, though extinguished, shouldn't let the precious bloodline of the Sharingan disappear."
"After obtaining the Sharingan, my power could become stronger, even becoming a trump card for Konoha. The risk of transplanting the Sharingan was high, but I staked my life to protect Konoha."
[From the Uchiha massacre, it's evident that Danzo could commit inhumane acts for his selfish desires.]
The Third's gaze shifted and shifted again.
Danzo's lips twitched uncontrollably.
Cursing the images in his heart repeatedly.
"Old man, I am different from the Danzo in this world."
[Danzo is an incredibly interesting character; in any parallel world, they're always sly and ambitiously driven.]
"It's over, Barbie q-ed." Seeing the Konoha ninjas surrounding him, Danzo's expression turned completely cold.
"Monkey, are you really going to do this?"
"Danzo, did you really do all that?" the Third countered.
Danzo didn't answer, but his actions spoke volumes.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Blade," he initiated a wind style technique, attempting to escape the circle of Konoha ninjas.
"Capture Elder Shimura Danzo alive!" the Third shouted loudly.
At this moment, the footage continued at its unhurried pace.
[After being moved by Naruto, Danzo, without even realizing it himself, had begun to trust Naruto.]
[Following a series of missions from the Root, Naruto delivered a perfect performance.]
The following scenes showcased missions like the Land of Ghosts conducted at high speed, revealing Naruto's strength and shrewdness in these tasks.
And the plan he had always wanted to execute.
No one knew what the true plan was, but it was sure to shake Konoha.
The scene shifted to Danzo's conclusion.
[Danzo's curtain call.]
[In a clash with Itachi, due to Naruto instantly deciphering the Tsukuyomi, drawing attention from all the higher-ups in Konoha, under "compelled pressure," Danzo decided to study Naruto's cells, to give an explanation to Konoha.]
[But he didn't know, all of this was Naruto's plan. Once he began the research, the path to the Shinigami was not far off.]
[Inside the Root's base, Danzo began ordering researchers to study Naruto's cells.]
[Ultimately, a terrifying conclusion was reached: Naruto's cells had a certain connection to the Hollows. Upon reaching this conclusion, Danzo felt his entire body covered in goosebumps.]
"Naruto has conspired with Orochimaru, researching reiatsu and Hollows together. His rapid advancement in power at this age from a Chunin to a Kage-level is all due to Orochimaru's research. He didn't report everything because he long had the intention to betray Konoha!"
"What he did and said were all just what we wanted to see and hear."
In the footage, when Danzo and the researchers arrived at a conclusion that, while not entirely accurate, was largely correct, applause echoed in the room. Subsequently, everyone saw a figure gracefully entering the laboratory.
"Excellent analysis, it seems I underestimated the Root's research capabilities," Naruto's voice in the footage was as magnetic and gentle as ever.
Hearing this voice, Danzo immediately shouted in anger, "Naruto!"
How could he be mistaken? This iconic voice belonged to his beloved disciple, the one who once said, "There's never been a peaceful time, it's just that someone bears the burden for you," Naruto!
As the figure emerged from the darkness, revealing bright, golden hair akin to sunshine and a pair of pure blue eyes.
It was none other than Naruto Uzumaki!!!
[Danzo's chakra erupted within, the pressure surging towards Naruto, but Naruto elegantly bowed, polite and composed.]
["Danzo-sensei, I owe you an apology.
"Both Orochimaru and I considered Root's research capabilities as trash. Now, you've proven yourselves through action."]
Everyone watched as Naruto in the footage approached with a relaxed, confident stride.
Internally, they all harbored the same doubts as the image of Danzo.
This was the Root's main stronghold!
The elite shinobi of the Root were here, and countless high-ranking ninjas were outside.
Even if Naruto possessed S-rank abilities, what did that matter?
Danzo had a whole arm of Sharingan. How could Naruto compete?
Wait?! Suddenly, a ninja noticed something was amiss.
It had been several tens of seconds since Naruto appeared, yet none of the ninjas in the base had moved?
The Root's ninja were undoubtedly no less capable than ANBU!
Could it be... A horrifying speculation began to form in their minds.
And Naruto's response confirmed their suspicion.
["To express my apology, I'll have you all perish."]
The whole ninja world erupted in chaos.
Naruto had directly challenged the Root!! Did he realize who he was facing?!
Even the fighting between Danzo and the Leaf ninjas momentarily paused, both sides shocked.
"How is this possible? Naruto initiated combat directly?" The Third had an incredulous look.
Indeed, Naruto had previously demonstrated immense potential and strength, but was that enough to confront the Root directly?
"I might actually die here." Danzo's expression turned ice-cold to the extreme, a warning bell ringing in his mind.
"The guards of the Root base haven't arrived even a minute after Naruto's appearance. This indicates... they might already be dead."
Naruto silently eliminated the Root ninjas.
His power is even more terrifying than I thought.
Everything in the footage matched Danzo's conjecture.
The entire Root base was soaked in blood, bodies strewn everywhere.
Every corpse bore a natural expression, devoid of pain or surprise.
This indicated they hadn't noticed anyone approaching until their deaths.
The entire base reeked of blood.
Many residents, upon seeing this footage, directly bent over and vomited.
They even regurgitated their dinner.
[Danzo couldn't understand Naruto's actions. In his view, someone who could speak of peaceful times could not possibly be so deranged.
Danzo felt anger and pain from being betrayed.
Especially by someone who completely understood him.]
[Danzo initially believed that Naruto and the Leaf higher-ups joined forces to eliminate the Root, aiming to have complete control over the Leaf.]
[But facing Danzo's self-righteous analysis, Naruto merely laughed and killed several researchers.]
In the footage, Naruto moved calmly, gracefully slashing the researchers' necks, blood splattering all around.
Danzo dared not move, still attempting a verbal jutsu.
["Tsunade swiftly took control of the Leaf's ANBU within a short tenure. The authority of the Hokage was completely stripped away. With Jiraiya's help, Tsunade has taken control of the Leaf, and to her, the Root was the biggest obstacle.
"So, they brandished their swords against the Root. This is the darkness of the Leaf. Haven't you seen it clearly, Naruto? For power, they won't hesitate to strike their own comrades. This is what a Hokage is now!"]
[Danzo pleaded passionately, hoping to persuade Naruto to turn against him because ultimately, he lacked the confidence to defeat Naruto.]
Naruto remained unmoved and instead said, "The Naruto you know never existed. Not to you, not to the Hokage, nor to any other ninja."
In the footage, Naruto, at a speed unperceivable to the naked eye, closed in on Danzo, lightly crushing his shoulder.
Danzo screamed in the footage, rapidly retreating.
[Danzo glared furiously at Naruto, clearly not expecting Naruto to possess a speed that even he couldn't react to.]
If Naruto's attack had aimed at his head earlier, perhaps he would be dead by now.
"I made you all believe that I loved Konoha. I made you all believe I was the inheritor of the Will of Fire.
"I became everyone's sun, but I can also be the sun that burns everything~"]
Naruto's mocking words echoed in the footage.
Subsequently, Naruto revealed his true purpose.
"Leaf has always been known as the foremost ninja village in the world," Naruto continued unhurriedly.
"Numerous geniuses have been born in the Leaf, but regardless, their scope has always been confined within the Leaf itself."
"My goal has always been one, to break through all limitations and glimpse the highest power."
"For this purpose, I'll flatten the entire ninja world, establish a singular rule, allowing everyone the right to become stronger."
"Only then will there be enough geniuses to serve as stepping stones for me to reach the top."
[Danzo finally comprehended that the Naruto he knew didn't exist from the start.]
[Naruto had darkened a long time ago.]
With that, the entire ninja world fell into silence. The words Naruto spoke lingered in their minds repeatedly.
Turns out, Naruto was far more terrifying than they had ever imagined.
His ambition had surpassed everyone.
His objective wasn't betraying the Leaf; instead, it was to facilitate the birth of more prodigies.
Upon careful consideration, Naruto had always encouraged Sasuke and Rock Lee, helping both become more powerful among their peers.
And neither Lee nor Sasuke disappointed Naruto, displaying exceptional talents and abilities among their peers.
"He doesn't harbor hatred towards the Leaf. All he wants is to foster the birth of geniuses."
"For him, the Leaf, even all the ninja villages, have become complete obstacles to nurturing geniuses. Hence, he'll be in opposition to the entire ninja world." When this conclusion was reached, everyone involuntarily gasped in shock.
The Naruto in the footage was too confident, too arrogant.
But on second thought, at just 13 years old, Naruto already possessed the abilities of a high-ranking ninja. His future was limitless.
"Is this another version of me?" The Naruto from parallel worlds trembled; for the first time in their lives, they anticipated their own futures.
If they too possessed the same talent, could they carve out a new path after losing the restraint of Ashura Chakra?
They dared not think about it, fearing it might bring about changes that would lead them away from the Leaf.