Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Chapter 106 The Third Hokage's Image Collapses

"Lord Kato Dan died on the battlefield."

"Lord Sakumo Hatake committed suicide after being attacked with unprecedented rumors due to a failed mission."

"But the mission that caused such immense damage to Konoha Village remains strictly confidential, as is the enormous loss suffered by the village."

"Lord Orochimaru has become a rogue ninja because of human experimentation."

"Lady Tsunade and Lady Jiraiya, for their own different reasons, resolutely left the village."

"Konoha Village truly has no successors. The young ninjas who could become Kage-level ninjas have either died or left or defected."

"Therefore, the Third Hokage had no choice but to disregard his advanced age and continue serving as Hokage year after year, reluctantly, until—forever!"

The Konoha civilian Jonin couldn't help but whisper among themselves, their voices filled with apprehension.

Amidst the buzzing discussion, Xia Zuo stared at the Third Hokage and said, "By the way, two years ago we still lost Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi defected."

"If I hadn't intervened, Konoha would have lost Uchiha Shisui, and would have lost all members of the Uchiha clan."

Xia Zuo's expression turned extremely serious, and he roared, "Konoha ninjas, have you forgotten that this village was founded by the Uchiha clan and my Senju clan?"

"This land beneath your feet originally belonged to the Uchiha clan. Even the 'fire' in the title 'Hokage' comes from the Uchiha clan!"

"Is Konoha Village still Konoha Village without the Uchiha clan?"

"A Hokage who swore to protect Konoha Village, under his leadership, all the outstanding young ninjas died cleanly."

"Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi! What right do you have to claim you're protecting Konoha and maintaining its peace?"

Xia Zuo's accusations were extremely serious, and what he said was true. In front of all the Jonin in the village, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no way of trying to cover it up by downplaying the seriousness of the matter.

With Xia Zuo's meticulous explanations and guiding words, the Konoha ninjas finally pieced together the events of the past nine years, or even more than a decade.

The ninjas' discussion instantly grew louder.

At Xia Zuo's prompting, the Konoha ninja discovered that if Kato Dan and Uchiha Fugaku were included, it would be clear that Konoha Village had been experiencing a major incident every few years for the past 20 years in a very regular pattern.

Every time something happens, a young Konoha Kage-level ninja disappears from the village.

The greatest loss suffered by Konoha Village did not come from enemies from other villages, but was related to Hiruzen Sarutobi, either openly or covertly.

Although none of these events seem to be Hiruzen Sarutobi's doing, the vast majority of them are closely related to him.

At least during his time in office, so many serious losses happened by chance.

It all seems like a coincidence.

But ninjas don't believe in coincidences.

If it's not a coincidence, then it must be deliberate. And to accomplish so much, to make so many Kage-level ninjas disappear—that's not something an ordinary ninja could do.

The discussions among the Konoha ninja gradually subsided, but their attention gradually focused on the Third Hokage.

For example, the white-haired ANBU ninja sitting behind the Third Hokage immediately thought of his father, who was driven to the brink of collapse by rumors and ultimately committed suicide under mysterious circumstances.

His eyes burned with fury.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt the ninjas' gazes and thought about the coincidence. He pondered how to explain it.

At that moment, Xia Zuo uttered the vicious speculation that no Konoha ninja could say, delivering a fatal blow to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Third Hokage, I have to suspect that you did this on purpose, deliberately eliminating all the young ninjas who had the potential to become Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was completely enraged. He roared with all his might, "You're talking nonsense! Why would I do such a thing?"

Xia Zuo was completely unaffected by the Hokage's aura. He spread his hands and said with a smile, "Why? Of course, it's so that you can still occupy the Hokage's position when your strength declines."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious: "I didn't, that's not what I thought, and I had no reason to do so."

"How could it not be necessary?" Xia Zuo said sinisterly, "If you want to transform Konoha into the Sarutobi Dynasty, of course you need to occupy the Hokage position."

"After all, your eldest son passed away unexpectedly, and your second son is very immature and keeps causing trouble for you. You can only force yourself to persevere for another ten years or so."

"Only in this way can you wait for Sarutobi Asuma to mature, wait for him to become a true Jonin, and have the qualifications to become the Fifth Hokage, so that he can continue your legacy."

"By the way, is your ideal Sixth Hokage—your eldest grandson Konohamaru?"

Xia Zuo's words were completely baseless and malicious speculation, the essence of countless fan fiction authors' wild imaginations.

However, it is an undeniable fact that Konoha Village declined under the Third Hokage.

Putting together the facts of the losses suffered by Konoha Village over the past 20 years, it looks so shocking.

The Third Hokage had no idea how to explain, and Xia Zuo didn't give him a chance to explain either, connecting everything together with a malicious speculation.

It sounds so obvious, so logical, and so dark about human nature.

In order for the Sarutobi clan to maintain permanent control over Konoha, and for the Hokage position to be inherited by a descendant of Sarutobi Hiruzen, just like the Daimyo of the Land of Fire—

I rub!

The Konoha ninjas present stared wide-eyed. Not to mention the ninjas who had already been persuaded by Natsume, even the ninjas of the Sarutobi clan couldn't help but believe it.

It's perfectly reasonable for the Third Hokage to work so hard for such a significant benefit, and even killing people is perfectly reasonable.

Xia Zuo's speculations may be true or they may not, but he doesn't care.

He has successfully manipulated the emotions of the Konoha ninja, pushing the Third Hokage to the point of proving his innocence.

Next, Hiruzen Sarutobi should produce evidence to prove that he didn't do it.

But how can one possibly prove their innocence? And with so many things to prove, it's simply impossible.

The best defense at this moment is not words, but decisive action.

Stand up, use ninjutsu to attack Xia Zuo, swiftly subdue him, and interrogate him.

Even accusing him of being a spy for some ninja village is better than trying to defend himself verbally.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi cannot make a move.

Because directly taking action contradicts the Third Hokage's character, the Third Hokage did not refute the accusations but instead used violence to stop the other party from speaking.

This is tantamount to him personally proving through his actions that Xia Zuo's slanders were true.

However, remaining silent only meant that nothing was confirmed, and in the hearts of the Konoha ninjas, the image of the Third Hokage as a kind-hearted person collapsed.

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