Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

"Lord Danzo, I understand everything you're saying, but what can truly comfort me isn't logic; it's you."

"How can you prove your right arm doesn't contain Hashirama's cells? How can you prove your eye isn't a Sharingan?" a heavily injured ANBU member suddenly spoke up.

Damn this Danzo! He's obviously trying to change the subject!

You talk to him about the truth—he gives you politics. You bring up the village's problems—he talks about integration. If this goes on, they're all just going to fall into his rhythm!

That's why they had to take back control!

"Exactly! We all understand the reasoning. But Lord Danzo—how do you prove your right arm isn't infused with Hashirama's cells? How do you prove that eye isn't a Sharingan?" The villagers of Konoha finally caught on.

"That's a good question, ANBU operative. Everything must be grounded in reason. Here at Root, we've always upheld politics, considered the greater good, followed rules, and abided by the law. We've stayed true to our purpose and carried out our mission."

"Now, I don't know whether that question came from your heart or from someone pulling your strings, but I won't just stand by and watch you lead the villagers down the path of the enemy's conspiracy," Danzo said solemnly, looking the ANBU straight in the eye.

The Konoha villagers: "…"

We all know who you're hinting at—it's the Hokage!

But seriously, just show us your right arm already. Take off the bandages!

Seeing the impatience on the villagers' faces, Danzo relented. "I understand your confusion. And I can address it."

"You all just want to see if my right arm really contains Hashirama's cells, right?"

"Fine, I'll show you!"

With that, Danzo yanked off the sleeve on his right arm with his left hand, revealing a shriveled, scar-covered, almost mummified limb.

The arm was dry, discolored, completely devoid of blood, and bruised black and blue—like dried meat, grotesque and frightening. It made people recoil instinctively.

"This injury was from the First Great Ninja War," Danzo explained, pointing to his arm.

The crowd could hardly bear to look. No wonder Danzo always kept it hidden.

"Back then, although Lord Tobirama stayed behind to hold off the enemy, their numbers only increased. I risked both my eye and my arm to break through with Hiruzen and the others."

Danzo pulled the bandage from his right eye, revealing a pale, lifeless orb, unfocused and without a pupil. "Does this answer your question, ANBU?"

"Th-this…" The villagers, now seeing the truth hidden under his wrappings, lowered their heads in shame and regret.

They had doubted a revered elder… someone who had dedicated his entire life to Konoha. Now, aged and weakened, he was still shouldering burdens for the village.

They felt a deep guilt for their accusations.

"But Lord Danzo, how can you prove you're really you? How do we know you're not just someone using a Transformation Jutsu?" the ANBU pressed, still unwilling to back down.

"Good question," Danzo nodded. "No matter how I explain, those behind you won't stop until I'm destroyed."

"But I, Danzo, have always walked a righteous path. I stand tall with a heart full of unwavering resolve. I fear no ghost or demon!"

As he spoke, he radiated integrity and strength, surprising the villagers.

So Lord Danzo had such a noble side too!

The Root operatives were moved to tears. They had followed the right man!

Then Danzo locked eyes with the ANBU and declared, "You want proof? I'll give you proof!"

He shouted, "Bring me a blade!"

A Root ninja respectfully handed him a sword.

The villagers gasped. Was Lord Danzo going to… prove his innocence through blood?

How incredibly noble!

"Everyone knows," Danzo addressed the crowd, "Transformation Jutsu breaks under chakra disturbance or blood loss. This ANBU wants proof of my identity—clearly a move by his puppet master to humiliate me and destroy my reputation."

"Well then, I'll give them exactly what they want!"

With that, he slashed his own arm!

"Lord Danzo, no!"

"That won't kill you, but—"

"Wait—that'll really hurt—"

The blade cut deep. Blood dripped steadily from his arm.

And yet, Danzo remained Danzo.

No transformation. No illusion broken. Just his own blood staining the ground.

"Is that enough for your master?" he asked the ANBU meaningfully.

"Y-yes… enough." The ANBU swallowed hard.

Danzo really went that far… just to prove himself.

Could it be? Was he truly innocent of the Nine-Tails incident and the human experimentation?

If Danzo wasn't guilty, then the real criminal was…

The ANBU drew in a sharp breath.

"If Lord Danzo's innocent," the villagers murmured, "then that means… the Hokage is the one at fault!"

Danzo raised a hand. "Enough. The innocent clear themselves. I've done what I had to do."

"I hope this matter ends here. And I hope everyone reflects on what I've said today."

"Don't let selfish desires jeopardize Konoha's future. Don't bring grief to those who love you, and joy to those who hate you!"

He turned to the ANBU. "And one last message for your master."

"I don't seek power. I don't crave position. I'm merely doing what I must."

"All I want is to create a warm haven for Konoha's children—a peaceful home where they can live without fear and earn a better life."

"For that goal, even if I must walk the path of a demon, become an executioner, a Shura—I will not waver."

"I only want to finish what I set out to do, quietly, without regret."

"Let future generations judge right and wrong. I only fear one thing—that someone will stab me in the back."

"So tell him—I am the root of the great tree of Konoha. From the darkness, I have supported it in silence."

"Never forget: a tree cannot survive without roots."

"If the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold."

"Please, don't betray those who care, to please those who hate!"

"That's all I have to say. Everyone, disperse."

Danzo finished speaking, then walked away, clutching his bleeding arm—leaving behind only a frail, hunched silhouette, and a few medical ninja rushing to help.

The villagers cried.

Even the civilians wept.

Lord Danzo… did it have to come to this?

We understand your pain now.

It was the Hokage's fault. The true mastermind's fault!

The ANBU, surrounded by hostile glares and icy silence, felt a chill in his heart.

Damn Danzo! Even while leaving, he managed to kick Root's enemies into the pit.

Now, even if the Hokage were innocent, he was finished.

Wait—wasn't I here to avenge the old man?

"Hey! We haven't avenged the old man yet!" the ANBU suddenly shouted.

"Screw your revenge! This was all a plot by the Hokage to frame Lord Danzo!" The furious villagers swarmed in, punching and kicking the ANBU without mercy.

Hidden among them, someone struck with deadly precision—one by one, the ANBU members fell, lifeless, to the ground.

Not one survived.

—

"Kukuku… Lord Danzo, what did you think of our operative's little performance?" Orochimaru asked from within the training room, gesturing toward the bloodied figure who had just walked in.

Danzo chuckled. "Not bad. The way he spoke, the things he did—reminded me of my younger self. Though still lacking a bit of presence and spirit, I'd say he passed."

He hadn't expected someone with such skill in both speech and Transformation Jutsu to deceive everyone so thoroughly.

Even Danzo himself, listening from the shadows, had been moved to applause.

To think… that imposter had voiced his deepest, long-hidden ideals.

So there was someone who understood him.

Seems like Orochimaru's organization is full of talent.

If possible, Danzo wouldn't mind recruiting this man into Root and training him personally.

"…And who is this man?"

"He's called White Zetsu."

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin