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

Obito Uchiha often stayed in the Kamui dimension, but he couldn't stay there forever.

Itachi Uchiha can instantly activate Susanoo, but he cannot keep Susanoo active indefinitely.

The soul beacon planted by the power of Death can only last for one day. If you relax your guard today, you will have to accept the life-or-death test I bring.

But now, there are even more troublesome guys to deal with.

Just as the Third Hokage was stunned and the Konoha ninjas were getting excited and unable to contain themselves, Xia Zuo's gaze locked onto the Root ninjas who were rushing towards Uchiha Shisui.

He clapped his hands lightly and activated the Wood Release technique.

[Wood Release: Thorn Jungle]

This is a secret technique developed by a disciple of the Qingyan Sect who is skilled in ambush. It is a very effective and exceptionally cruel technique.

When a Root ninja's foot lands on the ground within the jutsu's range, it will be pierced by several suddenly growing wooden spikes, pinning one of their feet to the ground.

The Root ninja did not scream; he immediately swung his weapon at the wooden spikes.

However, the hardness of the wooden spikes far exceeded the ninjas' expectations; when the ninja swords struck them, sparks flew everywhere, and the spikes were completely unable to penetrate the defenses.

Before the Root ninja could make up their minds to cut off their own feet, more sharp wooden spikes grew from the ground, piercing through the ninjas who couldn't dodge them, and then drawing blood and flesh from their bodies to grow even more spikes.

This is a trap version of the enhanced Splintering Technique. In just two seconds, the Root ninja's body was covered with wooden spikes and roots, rendering him unable to move.

Unfortunately, the splinter avoided all vital organs; blood vessels and internal organs were not seriously damaged, but nerves were severed, bones were broken, and joints were jammed.

The Root Ninja was thus transformed into a living bonsai.

Danzo Shimura roared in fury: "Who are you? How dare you attack Konoha ninjas in Konoha Village?"

Xia Zuo coldly declared, "I am a Konoha ninja."

"Where the leaves dance in the air, the fire will never be extinguished."

"The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."

"But these puppetized monsters are not Konoha ninjas. The madman who created the monsters is the enemy of all Konoha ninjas."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: Damn it, someone stole my line!?

Danzo Shimura was furious: "I know every Jonin of Konoha. You're not even a Jonin, yet you dare to call me an enemy of Konoha?"

Xia Zuo laughed heartily, "Hahaha, identity? Clan background? Ninja rank? Is this what Konoha Village was built on?"

"Disgusting fellow. Konoha Village was built on two things: the power to subdue all ninjas and the shared dream that attracts all ninjas."

"I believe that what I am saying now represents the collective will of the Konoha ninja, not the conspiracy of a small group!"

Suddenly, a square wooden pillar emerged from beneath Xia Zuo's feet, lifting him and Uchiha Shisui high into the air, high enough for everyone to see.

His voice also became incredibly loud, so that everyone present could hear it.

"I said: The ninjas of Konoha do not want to see them attacked and ambushed by so-called 'our own people,' losing their bloodline limits and lives!"

"I said: The ninjas of Konoha don't want to see the Uchiha clan wiped out! No matter how proud or hateful an Uchiha ninja is, he is still a Konoha ninja, a comrade-in-arms!"

"I said: Konoha ninjas dislike Root, dislike the boundless darkness, and dislike harming their comrades with high-sounding reasons!"

"I said: Konoha ninjas don't like being threatened by Kumogakure ninjas, using the lives of innocent comrades to appease our enemies!"

"I said: The ninjas of Konoha hate the mad dog that the Hokage condones, and don't want him to continue wreaking havoc on Konoha!"

The Wood Release bloodline limit granted Xia Zuo immense credibility, ensuring that the Konoha ninjas wouldn't contradict him from the start. As a result, every word he spoke resonated with them.

When he said his first sentence, the Konoha ninja were greatly shocked, but no one spoke up in agreement.

As he spoke his second sentence, the long-suppressed surviving Uchiha ninjas cried out in unison, "We don't want to be slaughtered!!"

When he said his second sentence, the Aburame, Yamanaka, Kurama, and other ninja clans, remembering their children who had been kidnapped, couldn't help but shout, "We don't like Root!!"

As he spoke his fourth sentence, Hiashi Hyuga led the way, and all the Hyuga clan ninjas shouted loudly, "We don't want to be forced to our deaths!!"

By the time he uttered his fifth sentence, the atmosphere was perfect. Except for the most disciplined Anbu, no Konoha ninja cared about the Third Hokage's reputation anymore, and they shouted out their long-held wish: "Shimura Danzo deserves to die!"

"Shimura Danzo must die!!"

The shouts were like thunder, echoing in the air and resonating in the hearts of all the Konoha ninjas.

The Third Hokage's face turned deathly pale.

Hiruzen Sarutobi came to deal with the massacre of the Uchiha clan; according to the plan, he was there to collect the bodies.

But there were just too many unexpected events tonight.

Hearing the loud noise and the flash of fire, he knew something was wrong; seeing Susanoo and Wood Release, he knew a major blunder had occurred.

But up until now, he believed that the matter at most involved Shimura Danzo, and the situation was still under his control.

Because this was a situation he was very familiar with, just like when Xia Zuo attacked the Root ninjas. He had dealt with similar situations before, so he naturally felt he could handle it.

But who could have imagined that Xia Zuo's slip of the tongue would directly provoke the emotions of the Konoha ninjas, with his spearhead aimed directly at Shimura Danzo's life, and even subtly targeting Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.

This is beyond the scope of what the Third Hokage was familiar with.

The emotions of the Konoha ninja were so intense that, under Xia Zuo's guidance, they naturally shouted "Shimura Danzo deserves to die" without considering any concerns.

This wasn't just a few ninjas shouting; it was all the ninjas, including the Anbu ninjas, shouting, truly representing the will of the Konoha ninjas.

Then the Konoha ninjas realized:

So it turns out I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

It turns out that everyone was dissatisfied with Shimura Danzo.

Xia Zuo was very clear that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura were actually one entity; together, they formed the complete Third Hokage.

But just as he stirred up the emotions of the Konoha ninja, he discovered that they subconsciously ignored the Third Hokage, including Hiashi Hyuga.

Xia Zuo regretfully confirmed that he could not defeat the Third Hokage today.

He served as Hokage for too long.

Aside from the few years of instability following the Second Hokage's death, and the few months the Fourth Hokage held the position (though his tenure was largely nominal), Hiruzen Sarutobi truly deserved the title of Hokage for 25 years.

When the current rising star Jonin was born, he was already Hokage.

The Konoha ninjas were so used to his rule that they found it difficult to realize the need to overthrow him.

Moreover, Danzo Shimura was a very good black glove; his evil deeds were perfect, and he took all the blame for the evil deeds upon himself.

Aside from the incident that led to Hyuga Hizashi's death, none of the other events could be directly linked to the Third Hokage.

Even if they could only rely on the emotions of the Konoha ninjas, they could only take down Shimura Danzo first, thus exposing Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands.

Without Shimura Danzo, if Sarutobi Hiruzen doesn't change his ways, his hands will soon be covered in filth.

At that time, overthrowing the Third Hokage will be a natural outcome.