Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again.
"Elder Shimura, although you may be eloquent, facts will not change just because of your words."
"Right now the victim, Tenzo, is standing here. Others may not know what you did—but surely he does."
Turning toward Tenzo, Hiruzen said,
"Tenzo, in front of everyone, tell them everything you know."
Tenzo nodded. Hiruzen had already spoken with him about this beforehand, so he did not hesitate.
"Ever since I can remember, I have lived in Root's laboratories. Every day I had to cooperate with Root researchers in various inspections and experiments."
"Because I was the only test subject who survived the Wood Release experiments, they 'valued' me very much… which is probably why I managed to survive until now."
"This life continued until I was about six years old."
"After that, besides cooperating in experiments, people also began teaching me knowledge and ninjutsu, training my abilities."
"Until not long ago…"
"…during a mission, I was rescued by Lord Ho—by Lord Sarutobi, and finally escaped the dark, sunless life inside Root."
"I can testify that Elder Shimura never stopped the human experimentation over the years."
"Not only the Wood Release experiments aimed at inheriting the First Hokage's power, but also experiments related to the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan, along with many other types of experiments."
"I also know the locations of several Root experimental facilities."
"I can take everyone there to verify it."
After days of persuasion—almost brainwashing—from Hiruzen, Tenzo now trusted him wholeheartedly. Moreover, the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal placed upon him by Root had already been removed.
So when it came to betraying Danzō, he did not hesitate in the slightest.
However, the people in the meeting room did not immediately erupt.
Instead, they all looked toward Shimura Danzō, waiting for his explanation.
By now, many of them had realized that today's Jōnin Council meeting was essentially a political battle between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō.
The confrontation had only just reached its most intense stage.
There was no need to rush.
What surprised everyone slightly was the revelation that Danzō's human experimentation extended beyond Wood Release.
The Uchiha Clan appeared to have been one of the primary targets.
Yet from the earlier developments, the Uchiha Clan had clearly been supporting Danzō.
Now that this had come to light, how would they respond?
Among the Uchiha representatives present—Uchiha Setsuna, Fugaku Uchiha , and Uchiha Ya—their faces showed clear anger.
Yet after being quietly calmed by Uchiha Ren, they remained silent and did not react.
Ren himself sat calmly, eyes lowered as if he had heard nothing at all.
Many people in the room found this extremely strange.
The Uchiha Clan was infamous in Konoha for being hot-tempered and confrontational.
Under normal circumstances, they might have already erupted into conflict.
But today they were strangely… calm.
Of course, Ren knew perfectly well that Tenzo was telling the truth.
No one understood Danzō's secrets better than he did.
But now was not the time to settle accounts with Danzō.
The most important thing was to let Danzō and Hiruzen tear into each other like fighting dogs, keeping each other in check.
Only then could the Uchiha reap the greatest benefits.
When Danzō finally lost all value—
That would be the time to deal with him.
Meanwhile, Tenzo's betrayal caused Danzō's expression to darken immediately.
He spoke coldly,
"Sarutobi-jōnin, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"You think bringing out some random nobody from who-knows-where can force I into ruin?"
Hiruzen frowned slightly.
"Elder Shimura, mind your words. Tenzo is now an ANBU jōnin. You know his identity very well. He is not some unknown nobody."
Danzō sneered.
"Yes, I know exactly who Tenzo is."
"In fact, the name 'Tenzo' was personally given by me."
"And not only that—his life was also given by me."
"For all these years, he ate my food, drank my water, wore my clothes, and used my resources."
"I was the one who had people teach him to read."
"I was the one who had people teach him to refine chakra."
"I was the one who had people teach him ninjutsu."
"I was the one who trained him into an outstanding shinobi!"
"And how does he repay me?"
"He leaves for a few days and immediately returns with outsiders to attack me."
"A man like that—disloyal, ungrateful, immoral—if he isn't a nobody, then what is he?"
"And as for those so-called experimental facilities…"
"Just because he points to some random place and says it belongs to me, does that make it mine?"
"Does anything he says have any credibility?"
"He has already betrayed me—who's to say he isn't fabricating accusations as well?"
"Are we supposed to treat whatever he says as the truth?"
Danzō knew that some matters could not simply be denied.
But if he could destroy Tenzo's credibility, then everything Tenzo said would collapse along with it.
So instead of directly defending himself against the accusations, Danzō attacked Tenzo's character.
Tenzo was momentarily stunned.
For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.
Because what Danzō said was largely true.
But truth did not equal the whole story.
Danzō raised him only because he was a valuable experimental subject.
Danzō trained him only to turn him into a useful tool.
If that counted as kindness—
Then perhaps this world truly had no evil people at all.
But Tenzo was still too young.
Although countless thoughts filled his mind, he simply didn't know how to argue back.
Hiruzen immediately noticed Tenzo's predicament and stepped in.
"Elder Shimura, that's nothing but sophistry!"
"You raised Tenzo only because he was useful to you!"
"Surely everyone here knows what kind of person you are!"
Danzō replied coldly,
"Sarutobi-jōnin, when you speak, you should present evidence."
"Otherwise, it becomes slander."
"I, Shimura Danzō, have devoted my entire life to the village."
"Everything I have done was for the development of Konoha."
"My conscience is clear."
Hiruzen gave a cold laugh.
"Tenzo may lack influence, but he isn't the only one who knows what you've done."
He turned toward Orochimaru.
"Although Danzō was the mastermind behind the human experimentation, he certainly does not possess the technical expertise required."
"No matter how you look at it, the experiments cannot be separated from you—the technical specialist."
"You should know everything."
"Don't worry. You were only following orders."
"As long as you tell the truth, no one in the village will do anything to you."
It was obvious.
Hiruzen was forcing Orochimaru to choose a side.
Orochimaru was not some insignificant figure like Tenzo.
If Orochimaru personally testified against Danzō, then no matter how cleverly Danzō argued—
It would be useless.
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