"Compared to extermination, you've done far worse, Sarutobi Hiruzen." Kirito's tone was calm yet biting. "Time is limited, so let me highlight a few examples. After all, it seems there are several victims' families present today."
Kirito turned to Kakashi first. "The first victim's family is yours, Kakashi. Long ago, your father, Sakumo Hatake—Konoha's White Fang—rose to great prestige, overshadowing even the Hokage. This made him a threat to the Third Hokage's position. Sarutobi allowed Danzo to spread rumors and slander about Sakumo, isolating him from the village. In the end, Sakumo was driven to take his own life."
Kirito paused, his eyes narrowing. "Kakashi, I've told you this before. But you refuse to believe it—or perhaps you simply don't want to face the truth. You'd rather let go of your hatred for Konoha's sake. A commendable decision, but it doesn't change the facts."
Kakashi's fists clenched, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground.
Kirito's focus shifted to Hyuga Neji. "The second victim's family is yours, Neji."
Neji froze, caught off guard. "Me? What do you mean?"
"Yes, you," Kirito confirmed. "I imagine you still harbor hatred toward the Hyuga main family for the death of your father, Hyuga Hizashi. But the truth is, you've been blaming the wrong person all along. It wasn't Hyuga Hiashi who caused your father's death."
"Shut up!" Sarutobi Hiruzen barked, his voice laced with anger and desperation.
But Kirito merely smirked, unfazed by the Hokage's outburst. "What's the matter, old man? Feeling ashamed? Angry? Or are you afraid I'll unravel the perfect façade you've spent decades cultivating?"
With a flick of his wrist, Sarutobi launched a barrage of shurikens, using the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique to multiply their numbers. The deadly projectiles flew toward Kirito, but they passed through his body harmlessly, as though he were a ghost.
"You're wasting your energy, Sarutobi," Kirito said mockingly. "Nothing short of the Mangekyō Sharingan can touch me. You, the so-called 'strongest Hokage,' are powerless against me."
Revealing the Truth
Kirito turned back to Neji, ignoring the Third Hokage entirely. "Allow me to tell you the truth, Neji. Years ago, Konoha and Kumogakure signed a peace treaty. On the day of the signing, a Kumogakure ninja attempted to kidnap the Hyuga heiress, Hinata Hyuga. But the culprit was killed by Hyuga Hiashi before he could escape."
Kirito's voice grew sharper. "Kumogakure, of course, feigned outrage. They accused Konoha of murdering their envoy and demanded reparations—specifically, the life of the 'murderer.' But Kumogakure was bluffing. They had no intention of going to war, especially after the toll of the Third Shinobi World War. They were simply testing Konoha's resolve."
Kirito's gaze bore into Neji. "And what did Sarutobi Hiruzen do? He folded like a house of cards. He agreed to their demands and ordered Hiashi's execution. Your father, Hizashi, offered to take his brother's place—not for the sake of the Hyuga clan, but because he wanted to protect his twin brother."
Neji's fists trembled, his pale eyes filled with conflicting emotions. "Hokage-sama… is this true?" His voice was barely above a whisper.
Hiruzen hesitated for a moment before adopting his most grandfatherly tone. "Neji, don't let this traitor's lies deceive you. Your father sacrificed himself for the peace of Konoha. He's a hero—a hero of the village."
Kirito scoffed. "A hero? That's rich coming from you. Every so-called 'hero' in this village ends up dead, sacrificed for your schemes. Let's not forget your famous mantra, Sarutobi: 'Where the leaves of Konoha flutter, the fire burns bright, illuminating the village and helping new leaves grow.'"
Kirito's voice dripped with venom. "But in reality, you've been draining the life out of this village to feed your Sarutobi clan. Other clans—like the Uchiha, the Senju, and even the Hyuga—have withered over the years. Meanwhile, your clan grew stronger and more numerous."
The Sarutobi Clan's Dark Secret
Kirito's smirk widened. "Do you want to know how many Sarutobi ninjas I encountered during my so-called 'massacre'? Over 2,000. That's more than the combined peak strength of the Uchiha and Senju clans. Where were these ninjas during the Nine-Tails' attack? Where were they during Konoha's greatest crises?"
He didn't wait for an answer. "Hiding in the shadows, like Danzo's Root operatives. Instead of defending the village, they hoarded their strength to secure their power."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned red with fury. "Shut your mouth!" he roared, extending the Adamantine Staff in a desperate attempt to strike Kirito. But as before, the attack passed through him without effect.
Kirito laughed. "Getting angry, old man? I must have hit a nerve. But don't worry—I'm almost done. Let's talk about another reason I left this wretched village, shall we?"
Naruto's Silent Struggle
Kirito's gaze shifted to Naruto, his expression softening. "Naruto, earlier you asked me why I defected. Let me tell you one of the reasons."
He gestured toward Sarutobi Hiruzen. "This man—this 'esteemed' Hokage—has spent decades using and discarding people like tools. He lets his allies die for his ambitions, while he remains safe and secure in his position. If he were allowed to continue unchecked, Konoha wouldn't survive another generation. It would rot from within and become Sarutobi Village."
Naruto's head hung low, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His eyes were shadowed, and tears threatened to spill over. But he didn't cry for himself—he cried for Kirito, for the pain and betrayal his former friend must have endured.
"Naruto," Kirito said softly, "you're one of the few lights left in this dark village. Don't let them snuff it out."
(End of Chapter)
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