When the earth-shattering explosion and cries of accusation rang out, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still working in the Hokage Building. He was wearily smoking his pipe, surrounded by smoke, and frowning as he looked at the intelligence reports and documents on his desk.

Hearing those scathing accusations, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even notice his pipe falling from his mouth. He was momentarily out of control, his mind a jumbled mess. He mechanically moved to the window and looked in the direction from which the sound came.

To be honest, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't personally participate in using dangerous missions during the war to deplete the Senju clan. He merely watched and even secretly guided Danzo Shimura to take action. After all, he was the Hokage of Konoha, a village of illustrious virtue, and he couldn't afford to have such a stain on his reputation.

As for the recruitment of Senju clan members for Wood Release human experiments, he knew nothing about it. He only wanted to reproduce the First Hokage's Wood Release so that he could better protect Konoha. As for where these human experiment volunteers came from, such trivial matters were not something the busy Hokage would care about!

Moreover, in order to ensure the safety of Konoha residents and ninjas, he later strictly ordered the cessation of Wood Release experiments.

In short, he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, lived a flawless life!

So who exactly is framing me? Hiruzen Sarutobi was so angry that his face turned red. He was devoted to Konoha, how could he be smeared with such a name?

Is that you, Danzo? Are you continuing your Wood Release experiments and assassinating the last of your teacher's clansmen?

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, momentarily filled with doubt and uncertainty. After the depletion of resources from the two Shinobi World Wars and the Wood Release experiments, the Senju clan in Konoha had long since been wiped out.

He left behind only some branches that had intermarried with commoners and lost their surnames. Although he was still somewhat wary, he wouldn't be so petty as to constantly monitor or even persecute them.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado have neither the ability nor the reason to do such a thing, so it seems that only Danzo, who has long been in the shadows, would do such a thing. However, there is still something wrong with this.

Unable to make sense of it all at once, Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped his mental turmoil, forced himself to calm down, and gave orders to the ANBU members waiting in the corner of the room: "Send someone to notify Elder Utatane and Elder Mitomon to come to the Hokage's office to temporarily coordinate and strengthen security. Then order the ANBU members on duty to accompany me to the scene of the incident and tell the other ninjas not to act rashly without my orders."

As for Shimura Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not arrange for anyone to notify him. He knew that Danzo would lead the Root members to the scene of the incident; this was an unspoken understanding between them.

A few seconds later, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage cloak and hat, led about forty elite Anbu members to rush towards the corner of the forest where the incident had occurred.

Within ten minutes, Fugaku Uchiha led a police squad, Danzo Shimura led a Root squad, Hiruzen Sarutobi led ANBU members, and a bunch of others met at the explosion site, completely surrounding the scene.

This location is on the middle section of the road from the center of Konoha to the Uchiha clan's territory. Although it is slightly off the road, it is less than 4 kilometers away from the Uchiha clan's territory. Therefore, Fugaku Uchiha was the first to lead the team there, but unfortunately, they did not find anything useful.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura exchanged a glance, suppressing their doubts, and immediately ordered some of the Root and Anbu's best investigators to examine the scene and search for useful information.

After everyone started working, Shimura Danzo was the first to attack. He stared intently at Uchiha Fugaku with his one eye and accused him in a cold tone: "Konoha entrusted the important task of protecting the village to the Uchiha clan, and this is how you protect Konoha's safety! Or is the Uchiha clan planning some kind of conspiracy after the Nine-Tails' attack!"

Upon hearing Danzo's arrogant accusations, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not rush to smooth things over, but instead chose to observe coldly. To be honest, he also had some doubts about the Uchiha clan.

Danzo Shimura's harsh words caused a stir among the clansmen behind Fugaku Uchiha. After the Nine-Tails' attack, they were forced to leave the center of Konoha and settle in this remote corner. They had no idea that the village's higher-ups would target them!

Several impatient clansmen couldn't help but speak up to refute, but Fugaku Uchiha quickly raised his hand to stop them, and then retorted: "The Uchiha clan has always done its best to protect Konoha. We don't know what happened tonight yet, and Lord Danzo's suspicions are completely unfounded."

Seeing that he couldn't get anything out of him, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand to stop Danzo Shimura from pressing on, and tried to keep his tone amiable, "Konoha will not forget the contributions of the Uchiha clan. Clan Chief Fugaku, you should lead the police department to maintain order in the village. We'll leave this place to the Anbu to search."

Faced with the Hokage's order, Fugaku Uchiha didn't say much. After a moment's hesitation, he led his team away under Danzo's cold gaze.

After Fugaku Uchiha left, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura looked at each other in silence, waiting for the results of the investigation.

Shortly after, ninjas from the Anbu and Root arrived to report the results: there was nothing of value at the scene, and the remaining two corpses were completely destroyed, their brains damaged, and their memories unreadable...

Upon hearing this news, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura's faces turned ashen. They ordered the ninjas around them to spread out several hundred meters away and remain on guard before they began their confrontation.

"Did you do this?" Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded, suppressing his anger.

Shimura Danzo was filled with anger and a hint of unspeakable grievance. "You big-eyed monkey with thick eyebrows, how dare you doubt me!"

"This is where I arranged for the Root squad to monitor the comings and goings of the Uchiha clan members. Do you think I would kill a Root member to frame you?" Shimura Danzo asked with a gloomy expression.

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