20demayo Chapter 455 Danzo's Conspiracy Theory: You've All Been Fooled by Minato!
Chapter 455 Danzo's Conspiracy Theory: You've All Been Fooled by Minato!
Chapter 455 Danzo's Conspiracy Theory: You've All Been Fooled by Minato!
Half a step behind Danzo, Ryoma Aburame, wearing sunglasses, with a blank expression, and dressed in a black coat and hood, followed like a shadow.
Danzo's appearance instantly made the atmosphere in the meeting room more subtle and tense.
This ambitious man, who has long remained hidden in the shadows, whose ideals clash with those of the Third Hokage, and who wields Konoha's darkest power, "Root," personally came to the scene at this sensitive moment when the Third Hokage had just passed away and Konoha was unprecedentedly weak. The significance of this is self-evident.
Danzo seemed oblivious to the various gazes directed at him.
Leaning on his cane, he walked steadily step by step to the center of the conference room, stopping in front of the black coffin.
He lowered his head slightly and gazed deeply and for a long time at his old friend's peaceful yet cold face in the coffin with his left eye.
On that face, which was mostly covered by bandages, the muscles twitched almost imperceptibly, and a rare, extremely complex emotion flashed across that cold left eye.
There is a recollection of the long years and the past of fighting side by side, an indescribable sadness about the final choice and ending of old friends, and a trace of inexplicable joy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the rival and comrade with whom he fought, cooperated, and balanced throughout his life, is gone, dying in such a Hokage-like manner on the front line of protecting the village.
In the end, I won.
Hiruzen, just you wait, I will definitely be the Fifth Hokage! And only me!
Only then can we lead Konoha to victory!
But this hint of sadness only lasted for a brief moment before vanishing without a trace.
Danzo raised his head again, his left eye now filled with indifference, calculation, and a burning desire for power.
He slowly turned around, no longer looking at the dead Third Generation, but instead turning his gaze to Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, whose expressions were equally solemn.
"The person is already dead; grief is useless. Konoha is currently facing internal strife and looming external threats, at an unprecedented crisis. Leaderless and disorganized, how can we cope with the storm to come?"
He paused, his scepter striking the ground with a resounding thud, and his single eye swept over all the Jonin present.
"The most urgent task is to immediately activate the emergency plan. The entire Jonin team, along with the advisory elders, must jointly elect a leader capable of temporarily assuming the duties of Hokage, overseeing the overall situation, and stabilizing morale! Konoha cannot be without a Hokage for even a moment!"
His words were like opening Pandora's box, starkly exposing the most sensitive issue of "succession of power" to everyone.
The candidate for the Fifth Hokage!
After losing the Third Hokage, who is the pillar of the village, who is qualified and capable of taking that position and leading the wounded Konoha forward?
Danzo's gaze moved slowly through the crowd, seemingly assessing everyone's reaction and searching for potential allies and adversaries.
Suddenly, as if he had noticed something, he frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his single eye, and raised his voice slightly: "By the way, where's Jiraiya?"
"Where did he go at a time like this, as a third-generation disciple?"
Yes, what about Jiraiya?
Only then did everyone notice that, after the battle ended and the initial cleanup was completed, the person who was one of the Legendary Sannin and the most qualified to inherit the Hokage position seemed to have disappeared.
His absence at this crucial meeting that would determine the future of Konoha seemed particularly abrupt.
All eyes were once again focused on Nara Shikaku.
As the leader of the Jonin squad and the current de facto leader, he should know Jiraiya's whereabouts.
Shikaku inwardly groaned. Faced with Danzo's aggressive gaze, he could only brace himself and carefully choose his words: "Lord Jiraiya—he is currently calming Naruto down."
He deliberately emphasized "soothing emotions," characterizing Jiraiya's actions as necessary psychological counseling for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, rather than some kind of secret operation or evasion of responsibility.
As expected, upon hearing this, most of the Jonin present showed expressions of understanding.
Naruto's identity was no secret among these Konoha high-ranking officials and elite Jonin.
He is the orphan of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, and the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He is the core of Konoha's strategic deterrent force, and also an extremely unstable "nuclear weapon" that needs to be treated with caution.
The series of earth-shattering events that have occurred today must have been a tremendous psychological impact on a boy who is only twelve years old.
If this causes the Nine-Tails to go berserk, it would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury for Konoha, which is already in dire straits.
Therefore, it was considered perfectly reasonable and necessary for Jiraiya to step in and provide psychological counseling and emotional stabilization for Naruto.
Aside from the deceased Third Hokage, among everyone present, perhaps only Kakashi was barely qualified and capable of doing this.
Upon hearing this, Koharu's wrinkled face softened slightly, but her eyes, which had weathered countless storms, shifted and landed on Kakashi, who had remained silent. Her voice carried a deliberate tone: "Kakashi, I heard—that Menma was once your student? Team 7, you were the team you led, right?"
As an advisory elder, Koharu Utatane naturally had the right to access the village's confidential files.
Information about Menma ranges from his records at the orphanage, to his adoption by the merchant Gato, to his outstanding performance after entering the Ninja Academy, and even his assignment to Team 7 under Kakashi's guidance, becoming teammates with Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga.
She had read all of these documents.
However, the image of the talented and gentle young man in the file could never be reconciled with the Star Kingdom leader who could cause the heavens and earth to collapse with a wave of his hand and who called himself Shura.
This stark contrast raises many questions.
Where does his power come from?
What is his purpose in hiding in Konoha?
As Menma's former Jonin mentor, Kakashi naturally became the subject of scrutiny.
Kakashi slightly raised his lowered eyelids, revealing a black eye that, besides its usual languidness, also held a hint of sadness.
He looked up at Koharu Utatane across from him and calmly replied, "Yes, the composition of Team 7, including my role as their Jonin instructor, was personally arranged by the Third Hokage after careful consideration."
Kakashi's answer was simple and direct, both answering the question and preventing potentially more pointed follow-up questions.
Since it was a decision made by three generations, and you advisors and elders had no objections at the time, what's the point of questioning me, the executor, now?
Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance, neither of them pressing the matter further.
They indeed have neither the right nor the ability to question the decisions made by three generations of their ancestors.
Moreover, the division of ninja into squads falls within the Hokage's authority. As advisors, they can offer their opinions, but getting too entangled in matters that are already settled and involve the prestige of a deceased Hokage is not beneficial and may even provoke resentment from other Jonin.
However, just as the atmosphere in the meeting room was temporarily locked in a delicate stalemate due to Kakashi's answer, a crisp "thud" broke the silence.
It is Shimura Danzo.
The wooden cane in his hand tapped lightly on the floor. The sound was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears with exceptional clarity, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
Danzo slowly raised his head, his left eye slightly narrowed, and scanned the Jonin present. His gaze lingered for a moment on the faces of those who had belonged to the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze's faction or who held him in high esteem.
"Hmph." He first let out a cold snort, the sound echoing in the silent conference room, carrying a condescending and critical tone.
"I think you've all been fooled by Orochimaru and Minato Namikaze."
Upon hearing this, not only did the expressions of those closely associated with the Fourth Hokage, such as Shikaku and Kakashi, change drastically, but even Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado frowned, and the other Jonin exchanged bewildered glances.
Orochimaru was a rogue ninja, and he only defected from Konoha after the Fourth Hokage's death. However, Danzo's words seemed to imply that he had already sacrificed himself...
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who is revered as a hero, was also included in Orochimaru's list of collaborators.
Danzo seemed to have anticipated everyone's reaction. He remained calm and composed, the cold light in his single eye intensifying. In his seductive and inflammatory deep voice, he uttered a shocking deduction, word by word: "In my opinion, that so-called 'Shura' has always been, from beginning to end, nothing more than Minato Namikaze himself!"
The meeting room fell into a deathly silence. Everyone stared wide-eyed at Danzo in disbelief.
The Fourth Hokage who sacrificed himself to protect the village and seal the Nine-Tails.
Is it an Asura?
"Absurd!" Akimichi Choza couldn't help but mutter under his breath, his honest face full of disbelief.
Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi exchanged a glance, both seeing deep doubt in each other's eyes.
They were the Fourth Hokage's right-hand men, and knew Minato's character and abilities better than anyone. They simply couldn't believe that the sunny, cheerful blond youth who carried out the Will of Fire to the end could be a being like "Shura".
Yamato, who was squatting beside the coffin, slowly got up. When the Third Hokage asked Orochimaru if Minato was Shura, he was the only one present besides Jiraiya with two Anbu members.
Yamato only reported the conversation between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru to the advisors and elders after the war.
Danzo took in everyone's reactions but didn't care at all.
He narrowed his one eye and continued to bombard the reader with a series of questions: "Think about it carefully!"
He tapped the ground lightly with his cane, emphasizing his words: "Even Fugaku Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan, couldn't control the Nine-Tails!"
"But what about the Land of Stars? A new power has emerged: Uchiha Hikaru, whose strength far surpasses that of Uchiha Fugaku, and even surpasses that of Uchiha Shisui!"
"Did she spring from a rock? How could an unknown Uchiha orphan achieve such things?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Hyuga Hiashi, and said meaningfully, "Let's talk about time later."
"Shura first appeared in the ninja world nine years ago, attacking the Hyuga clan and then, shortly after, attacking the Kumogakure!"
"Nine years ago, if we consider Menma's age, how old was he? Three! A three-year-old child possessing the power to single-handedly storm Kumogakure and challenge the Fourth Raikage and eight Jinchuriki? Is that even possible?"
"What's even more suspicious is that from the very beginning, Shura knew everything about Konoha's internal structure, defensive weaknesses, and even the situation of the major clans!" Danzo's voice suddenly rose.
"Seven years ago, he attacked the Hyuga clan and caused such a big commotion, but after the incident, how many Konoha ninjas were killed?"
Has anyone suffered irreparable serious injury? No!
"On the contrary, he showed no mercy to the Hidden Cloud Village. It is said that he almost killed the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki! Later, he repeatedly attacked the Hidden Cloud Village, causing incalculable losses! What does this mean?"
"This shows he harbors a deep-seated hatred for Yunyin!"
"This familiarity and hatred, if applied to Minato Namikaze, would make perfect sense!" Danzo's voice carried a kind of persuasive magic.
"He was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, so naturally he knew Konoha inside and out. Even if he faked his death to escape, it's understandable that he would show mercy to the Konoha ninja out of consideration for their past relationship. As for his hatred for Kumogakure—"
"Hmph, don't forget, Kushina was kidnapped by the Hidden Cloud Village back then."
"As for Orochimaru—" Danzo sneered.
"Besides the Impure World Reincarnation, who can guarantee that he hasn't mastered other forbidden techniques that are even closer to true resurrection?"
"Perhaps he and Minato Namikaze had been secretly colluding all along, and the Nine-Tails' rampage was a carefully orchestrated scheme!"
The goal was to allow Minato Namikaze to fake his death and escape in a seemingly legitimate way, while secretly accumulating power and plotting even greater ambitions!
"And that guy, Menma, has been able to infiltrate Konoha for so many years without being discovered; clearly, someone is helping him!"
Danzo was like a cold, venomous snake, biting into the hearts and minds of many present.
The doubts he listed might seem far-fetched on their own, but when he strung them together and combined them with the various inexplicable events that have occurred today, they strangely formed a seemingly self-consistent "logical chain."
Many Jonin, especially those who did not know much about the Fourth Hokage's past or had not witnessed the details of Menma's battle with Isshiki and Urashiki at the tournament venue, began to show signs of wavering and doubt.
They couldn't help but look at Hyuga Hiashi. Back then, during the Hyuga incident, Shura forced his way into the Hyuga clan's territory and, in front of many Konoha ninjas, gouged out the Byakugan of four Hyuga main family elders!
Many of them had participated in the battle against Shura and indeed sensed that he seemed to be deliberately avoiding fatal attacks, showing mercy to the Konoha ninja.
Shura's ruthlessness towards Yunyin is well-known.
The Hidden Cloud Village has offered a bounty of 75 million taels of silver for the Asura in their underground gold exchange!
Hiashi Hyuga felt everyone's gaze and his face darkened.
He knew that Danzo was deliberately manipulating public opinion and smearing Minato by exploiting information asymmetry and people's desire for rational explanations when faced with extraordinary events.
However, he was unable to publicly refute the doubts raised by Danzo.
Because the Hyuga clan is also in a very dangerous situation right now.
He could only remain silent, but the slightly bulging veins around his white eyes revealed the anger in his heart.
Seeing the changing expressions on everyone's faces, Shimura Danzo knew that his words had had an effect.
Once the seed of doubt is planted, it will quickly take root and sprout under the nourishment of fear and anxiety.
What he wanted was to completely shake the status and prestige of the deceased hero Minato Namikaze in Konoha, especially among the Jonin who might support Jiraiya.
By forcibly linking Shura with Minato, Minato can be portrayed as an ambitious schemer who plots to betray the village.
Therefore, as Minato's teacher, Jiraiya's position would become awkward and dangerous, and his legitimacy and prestige in the competition for the Hokage position would suffer a fatal blow!
This is his real purpose.
Use the opponent's strength against them to clear away the biggest obstacle on your path to power!
Seeing that the time was ripe, Danzo decided to add fuel to the fire, completely solidifying the "stigma" of Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi's lineage.
"Moreover, as far as I know—" He deliberately slowed his speech to ensure that every word was clearly heard by everyone.
"Back then, when the Third Hokage was dealing with the aftermath of the Nine-Tails' attack, he mentioned a crucial detail to a very small number of people."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. The expressions of these two advisor elders changed slightly, clearly indicating that they had also remembered something.
"The Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto Uzumaki is only half!"
"So, where did the other half of the Nine-Tails go?"
boom-!
It was as if a thunderclap had exploded in the conference room!
This time, not only the young Jonin, but also the two advisor elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, as well as the veteran elite Jonin who had experienced the Nine-Tails' rampage, such as Shikaku, Inoichi, Choza, Kakashi, Hiashi, and Yamato, were all shaken.
Only half of the Nine-Tails is inside Naruto!
This detail, classified as top secret, had been strictly kept under wraps by the Third Hokage, and very few people knew about it. Most of the Konoha Jonin present were hearing about it for the first time.
This was brought up by Danzo in public, which naturally shocked many people!
Immediately in Yamato's mind, an image flashed before his eyes: a creature enveloped in dark red tailed beast chakra, with ten tails swaying behind it.
A figure exuding an aura even more ferocious than the Nine-Tails!
"Could it be—?" Choza Akimichi scratched the back of his head, muttering unconsciously, "The other half of the Nine-Tails—is sealed inside Menma?"
These words were like tearing down the last layer of paper.
Yes, if Menma really is the child of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, and if the other half of the Nine-Tails is sealed inside him, then it makes perfect sense that he possesses such a terrifying amount of chakra and the power of a tailed beast!
Koharu Utatane's expression shifted uncertainly. She looked at Danzo, then at Shikaku and the others, and asked with some doubt, "But—we saw Minato and Kushina's bodies laid to rest with our own eyes! Not only me and Homura, but many of you here also witnessed their burial! How do you explain that? Was the coffin empty?"
"Foolish!" Danzo's mocking smile widened slightly. He seemed to have been waiting for this question, a cold, knowing glint in his single eye, as he slowly said, "What if Minato Namikaze hadn't died in the first place?"
"Not dead?!" Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses, following Danzo's train of thought, and proposed an even more shocking possibility.
"You mean—the bodies of Minato and Kushina back then were all fake?"
"Did Orochimaru, or some other forbidden technique, create a substitute for Minato to deceive Hiruzen, and deceive all of us?"
The moment this guess was made, the entire conference room erupted in chaos!
"substitute?"
"Orochimaru—he's definitely capable of doing that!"
"But why would the Fourth Hokage do this—"
"I remember Orochimaru had a cloning research project before—"
"If that's true—doesn't that mean the Fourth Generation couple have been secretly doing this for the past ten years or so—"
"Shura is Lord Minato? This—how is this possible?!"
"But—but those doubts—"
The Konoha Jonin could no longer remain calm and began to whisper among themselves, their faces filled with shock, confusion, doubt, and even a hint of anger at being deceived.
Danzo's reasoning was not only bold, but could even be described as insane. However, in the face of successive shocks and the so-called chain of evidence, it actually seemed to make a little bit of sense!
Especially considering Orochimaru's collaboration with the Land of Stars, his endless stream of bizarre forbidden techniques, and his unscrupulous style of doing things, it seems that it is not entirely impossible to fake a death scene using clones of the Minato couple.
Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, Mitokado knew that he absolutely could not allow suspicion and panic to spread at this moment.
He suddenly raised his voice, drowning out the murmurs of the crowd: "Quiet! Everyone, quiet down!"
His voice, carrying the authority cultivated from his high position, temporarily calmed the commotion.
Mitomon Homura's face was ashen, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a stern expression: "Elder Danzo's suggestion was merely a conjecture! A possibility! Before conclusive evidence emerges, no one may make any rash judgments, much less leak such unfounded speculations and disturb the peace of the village!"
He looked at Danzo and said in a deep voice, "Danzo, your speculation—while—has some merit, it ultimately lacks empirical evidence. This matter is of great importance, involving the reputation of the late Hokage and the stability of Konoha; we must proceed with utmost caution!"
Danzo neither confirmed nor denied this, only coldly snorting.
But Danzo was actually very pleased; that was the effect he wanted.
The seeds of doubt—that Minato Namikaze might be a demon, and that the Nine-Tails' rampage might be a conspiracy—were deeply planted in the hearts of every Konoha ninja present.
And it won't be long before these suspicions spread among the villagers of Konoha.
Just like the rumors about white teeth back then.
As for the evidence?
In this time of widespread anxiety and power vacuum, suspicion and rumors are the sharpest weapons.
As long as doubt exists, Jiraiya, as Minato's teacher and the person he supports, is naturally at a disadvantage.
Koharu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down from her shock and chaotic thoughts.
She glanced at the peaceful Third Hokage in the coffin, then at the various expressions on the faces of the crowd, and finally turned her gaze to Nara Shikaku, her voice weary and carrying a sense of having to make a decision: "Shikaku, send someone to call Jiraiya back."
"Konoha is currently leaderless and surrounded by powerful enemies; it cannot afford to descend into chaos any further."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over all the Jonin present: "According to the emergency regulations, before the Fifth Hokage is officially chosen to succeed him, the Jonin team members and the advisory elders will jointly elect an acting Hokage to temporarily assume the Hokage's authority and stabilize the situation."
"Notify all serving Jonin to assemble in the first conference room in one hour for a secret ballot!"
Acting Hokage nominee!
Finally, this sensitive topic has been formally brought to the forefront.
A glint of triumph flashed deep in Danzo's eyes.
By suppressing Jiraiya's reputation and muddying the waters, he placed Minato and even the Third Hokage's faction under suspicion, clearing a major obstacle for himself to secure the position of Acting Hokage and even the future Fifth Hokage.
"Yes," Nara Shikaku replied in a deep voice, though his heart was ice-cold.
With his intelligence, how could he not see through Danzo's scheme?
However, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, the two advisors to the Hokage, clearly sided with Danzo, and their decision was procedurally sound.
Konoha does indeed need a temporary leader at this time.
Shikaku was simply worried that in this power struggle, Konoha might drift further into division.
As people began to leave the room where the Third Hokage's body was kept, they walked toward the First Conference Room, where the future of Konoha would be decided, with varying expressions on their faces.
Everyone carries a heavy weight on their heart.
Hiashi Hyuga walked at the back of the crowd, his face still gloomy.
He could sense that an undercurrent targeting the Hyuga clan was quietly forming.
After Menma's identity is exposed, the Anbu will inevitably investigate those who have had contact with Menma.
As Menma's former teammate, Naruto is temporarily safe with Jiraiya's protection.
And Hinata—
As the head of the Hyuga clan, her status is special. The Anbu might not dare to touch her easily, but they will definitely conduct a lot of investigations and surveillance in private.
Danzo's words just now seemed to be mainly aimed at Minato and Jiraiya, but weren't they also a warning to the Hyuga clan?
Although the Hyuga clan is well-liked in Konoha, unlike the Uchiha clan which is feared and ostracized by other ninja clans, they even maintain intermarriage alliances with established ninja clans outside the village, such as the Kaguya clan, making them deeply rooted in the community.
But it is precisely because the tree is large and deeply rooted that it is more likely to be suspected.
Danzo, this venomous snake lurking in the shadows of Konoha, has probably already cast his cold gaze upon the Hyuga.
Just as Hiashi was about to step out of the room, he seemed to sense something and looked back.
His gaze met that of Shimura Danzo, who was standing next to Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, coldly watching him.
Danzo's left eye was like a bottomless, icy pool, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, only a deep, dark abyss.
Hiashi, however, met the attack head-on without flinching.
The silent eye contact lasted only a brief moment.
Riji understood the meaning in that gaze.
Warnings, scrutiny, and an undisguised covetousness and desire for control over the power of the Hyuga clan.
Yes, the Hyuga clan no longer has the Caged Bird Seal. After the Uchiha clan betrayed Konoha, the Hyuga's Byakugan became the largest eye technique clan in Konoha.
This time, many Konoha ninjas at the competition venue saw two powerful and mysterious enemies fighting against Shura, both of whom possessed the Byakugan!
Danzo likely received this information as well.
Riji didn't say anything, but silently withdrew his gaze, turned around, and strode out of the room.
The moment he left the room, Hiashi, who had been keeping a straight face, suddenly smiled slightly.
Go ahead and stir things up, Danzo, keep stirring things up!
This caused fear and insecurity among all the ninja clans in Konoha, turning the village upside down!
"So that I can help my good son-in-law—"
Hiashi raised his head, his white eyes sweeping over the ninja clan leaders in the corridor, including Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Aburame Shiki.
"Daily difference—who will win is still uncertain!"