Counting Sarutobi Hiruzen's Sins!
As the cheers from the audience echoed, White Fang took a deep breath and continued:
"There are five major transgressions of Sarutobi Hiruzen!"
"First: Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, made questionable decisions that put the village at risk, such as allowing the Uchiha clan to grow increasingly isolated and suspicious, which ultimately led to the Uchiha massacre. He failed to see the danger brewing under his own roof."
"Second: Sarutobi Hiruzen allowed the tragic death of the legendary Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, and the situation surrounding the village's protection during the Nine-Tails attack. Minato's death was not just the result of an attack, but of leadership that lacked foresight and action."
"Third: During Sarutobi Hiruzen's reign, there were multiple instances of mismanagement in the village's resources, and although he was beloved, there was often a gap between the needs of the people and his ability to provide for them. His handling of the village's finances and allocation of resources was sometimes suspect."
"Fourth: During Sarutobi Hiruzen's time as Hokage, he failed to rein in the power of certain clans, including his own, while allowing corruption to flourish within Konoha's system. He was too lenient and placed the interests of the powerful above those of the common people."
"Fifth: Despite all his supposed love for the village, Sarutobi Hiruzen consistently turned a blind eye to his clan's wrongdoings. When his clan's mistakes were uncovered, rather than punishing them, he covered up their actions and protected them from consequences, weakening the integrity of the Hokage office."
"These actions," White Fang shouted, "prove that Sarutobi Hiruzen did not serve Konoha as he should have. Instead, he focused too much on maintaining his position and the power of his clan. Tell me, does such a Hokage deserve to hold the title?"
White Fang stood at the top of the platform, raising his arms, stirring the crowd below. The Konoha residents seemed to be drawn into the fervor of his words, and many began to murmur in agreement.
"That's right!" one voice cried out. "I could have been a ninja, but he judged me unfit, letting his son, the lazy Sarutobi Asuma, take priority!"
"I served as a Chūnin under the Hokage's orders. My father died during a mission. I've asked Third Hokage for compensation for his sacrifice, but he refused every time!"
"Remember when he raised our taxes? He claimed Konoha was out of funds, but now we see where all that money went! Into his own pockets!"
"That's right! His clan has always gotten special treatment. When they broke my legs, I went to him for justice. But all he did was cover up their wrongdoings and dismissed me!"
The voices of discontent grew louder, the people emboldened by White Fang's accusations. The resentment that had been building for years in the hearts of the common people began to boil over.
Seeing the mounting outrage, White Fang produced a short blade from beneath his cloak, holding it threateningly toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been captured and stood at the mercy of the crowd. "Tell me," White Fang spat, "Should a Hokage like this live?"
The crowd erupted in a frenzy, shouting with terrifying enthusiasm:
"Die, Sarutobi Hiruzen! Die!!"
"Kill him, kill him!!!"
A wicked grin crept onto White Fang's face as he raised his weapon, confident that nothing would stop him now.
But just as he was about to deliver the final blow, a commanding voice rang out from behind.
"White Fang!!! Stop!!!"
White Fang followed the voice, momentarily setting aside the weight of his past, only to find that it was Shimura Danzō who had intercepted him.
"Huh? Lord Danzō, what is it now?" White Fang raised his head and glanced at Danzō. This was a man who seldom came with good intentions. For the first time in a long while, White Fang felt a moment of unease.
"Humph! White Fang, what right do you have to judge the Hokage?" Danzō's voice was cold, his tone laden with disdain. "Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen is guilty, it is the daimyo who should handle it. What qualifications do you have to take matters into your own hands?"
At Danzō's words, White Fang did not bristle with anger. Instead, he allowed a knowing smile to spread across his face.
"Lord Danzō, are you trying to buy time?"
The mention of Danzō's tactics struck a nerve. The old man's pupils contracted for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Why would I delay anything? I'm merely warning you to stop causing trouble for Konoha!" Danzō's voice was filled with veiled menace. "Your actions, publicly questioning the Hokage's integrity, are nothing but a provocation to the daimyo's authority!"
White Fang's smile deepened, his voice tinged with a note of cynicism. "As expected of someone who's been at the top for so long. You sure know how to play the game with words."
But White Fang wasn't fooled. He knew Danzō's schemes all too well, and the old man's manipulative nature was all too clear. The fact that Danzō was now resorting to this old trick was almost laughable.
"You think the daimyo will blame me? Let him. If the daimyo wants to hold me accountable, then I'll take the blame myself!"
Danzō's eyes flared with anger, but White Fang's calm demeanor only served to frustrate him further. He continued in a biting tone, "Do you think you can just walk away from this? Even if you don't care about your own fate, you don't care about Konoha's citizens?"
"If the daimyo comes down hard on Konoha," White Fang's voice dropped, "it won't just be you who suffers. The civilians will bear the brunt of it."
Danzō's words hung in the air, but White Fang's statement had already struck a chord. The people below, many of them from the higher clans, began to murmur anxiously. The weight of White Fang's words was not lost on them. What would happen if the daimyo really turned against them?
"Lord White Fang, please reconsider!!" one of the voices called out from the crowd.
"Yeah, maybe… maybe it's better to leave the decision to the daimyo," another added, sounding uncertain.
"Lord White Fang, we understand your grievances, but please, don't drag us all into this!" a third voice pleaded, fear evident in the tone.
The intercession grew louder, especially from the higher clans who were beginning to feel the pressure of the situation. Among them were those who, influenced by Danzō's machinations, sought to sway public opinion and steer the civilians away from White Fang's cause.
On the high platform, Danzō sneered smugly, savoring the moment. "White Fang, you still don't get it, do you? Let Sarutobi Hiruzen go. Are you truly prepared to wait until the daimyo sends an army to resolve this?"
The mocking tone in Danzō's voice only made White Fang's resolve harden. The villagers' outcries echoed in his ears, their panic palpable. He couldn't let Sarutobi Hiruzen go unpunished, not like this, not after everything that had happened. Yet, the possibility of innocent civilians being caught in the fallout was something he couldn't ignore.
If he released Hiruzen now, it might be the end of any opportunity for justice in the future. But if he didn't, Konoha could suffer irreparable harm.
The weight of the decision was unbearable. White Fang's heart sank with the uncertainty of what to do next.