The uproar among the villagers grew louder with every word that spilled from Danzo's mouth.
Shiro watched the spectacle unfold, suppressing the smirk threatening to creep onto his face. This is even better than I expected.
Danzo, still unaware of what was happening to him, desperately tried to regain control. But his mouth had other plans.
"Danzo-sama, you've insulted the Hokage! Apologize immediately!"
A group of righteously indignant villagers stepped forward, demanding an apology.
Danzo wanted to comply. He truly did.
But instead—
"Apologize? Why the hell should I apologize?"
The entire crowd gasped.
"Hiruzen and I studied under the same teacher. If he can sit in the Hokage's chair, why can't I?"
He slammed his cane against the rooftop. "Besides, that senile old pervert spends half his day spying on the women's bathhouse through his crystal ball! If a lecher like that can be Hokage, then surely I am more than qualified!"
Danzo's mind reeled. What the hell did I just say?!
But then, something terrifying happened.
The more he spoke, the more… satisfying it felt.
For years, he had kept his thoughts bottled up, playing the patient shadow, always working from behind the scenes.
Now, he was letting it all out.
And it felt amazing.
The villagers erupted into chaos.
"My god! Danzo-sama has been harboring ambitions for the Hokage seat all along!"
"Forget that! Did you hear what he said about the Third Hokage spying on the women's bathhouse?!"
"What?! Impossible! There's no way our great Hokage is some perverted old man!"
"…Actually, my girlfriend's a sensor-type ninja. She's always suspected someone was watching her during bath time, but we never imagined—"
The murmurs turned into heated debates.
Danzo panicked. I need to change the subject—fast!
"Silence! Everyone, quiet down!"
The villagers reluctantly turned their attention back to him.
Danzo took a deep breath. Alright, just stick to the script. Keep it simple.
"I have gathered you here today to clear up a misunderstanding."
He continued, "A few days ago, you witnessed what appeared to be the Nine-Tails' return. However, despite appearances, the truth is that the ninja academy student, Shiro, is not the Nine-Tails."
"I, Danzo Shimura, and Hiruzen Sarutobi personally vouch for this fact."
The villagers looked at each other in confusion.
To most of them, this wasn't shocking news.
For years, they had believed Naruto was the real demon fox. The idea that Shiro might be the real one had barely taken root.
But since both Danzo and Hiruzen were personally confirming it, they saw no reason to doubt it.
Danzo exhaled in relief. Finally, something was going right.
Then—
"Danzo-sama, does that mean Naruto is the real demon fox?"
Danzo's eyes widened in horror. He tried to clamp his mouth shut, but his stomach rumbled ominously.
And then—
"Of course… not!"
The words left his mouth without hesitation.
"Uzumaki Naruto has never been the Nine-Tails. That entire story was a fabrication—one that I and Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately spread to deceive you ignorant villagers."
Silence.
Total, deafening silence.
Danzo's heart nearly stopped.
WHAT THE HELL AM I SAYING?!
The villagers stood frozen, their minds racing to process what they had just heard.
"Naruto… isn't the demon fox?"
"And it was Hiruzen and Danzo who spread that rumor?!"
Danzo's mouth continued moving against his will.
"Naruto is, in fact, the son of the late Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
Another round of stunned gasps filled the air.
"The demon fox wasn't him at all—it was sealed inside him by his own father, who sacrificed himself to save the village."
The weight of his words crashed over the villagers like a tidal wave.
Naruto wasn't a demon?
He was the son of their greatest hero?
And they had spent years treating him like trash?
Shock turned into guilt.
Guilt turned into anger.
A villager stepped forward, voice trembling with fury.
"Why… why did you do this?"
Danzo desperately tried to fight it, but his own stomach betrayed him, amplifying his confession for all to hear.
"The reasons? There are plenty."
"I wanted to reclaim control over Konoha. I wanted to seize the Fourth Hokage's inheritance. I wanted to mold Naruto into an emotionless weapon…"
Each admission struck the villagers like a slap to the face.
They had been nothing but pawns in Danzo and Hiruzen's political games.
They had wronged a child.
A hero's son.
Shiro watched the scene unfold, utterly enjoying the chaos.
Danzo's Root subordinates, usually expressionless and silent, were now staring at their leader in utter disbelief.
We were all given tongue-sealing curses to prevent us from ever speaking of these secrets…
But now…
Danzo-sama is spilling everything himself?!
One of them silently prayed.
Danzo-sama, please… just stop talking!
But Shiro knew better.
Danzo had drunk the truth serum.
And it was far from done with him.