SWNOVELXO Chapter 90: Chapter 100
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And now—
One of the four had to be offered up.
"…"
Kitahara Kaede sat down.
He began writing the names of Danzo and the others onto the slips of paper.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were all squatting obediently on the floor below.
The meaning behind the Second Hokage's actions was already crystal clear:
Let Kitahara Kaede write the names on the slips, and whichever name the Second drew… that person would bear all responsibility.
For a while, Tobirama said nothing, and the four elders didn't dare to speak either.
Only the sound of Kitahara Kaede writing on the paper echoed in the air.
What he was writing were just names.
But… those names equaled lives.
Tobirama closed his eyes, while the four elders looked up.
They had already realized the reason their teacher had summoned Kitahara Kaede to this place and seated him there—
It was essentially designating the next Hokage.
To Hiruzen, this meant… the next Hokage wasn't going to be Naruto. Thank goodness.
Because he knew he had wronged Minato.
If it were Naruto sitting across from him, he wouldn't even dare to have any thoughts.
But…
Now it was Kitahara Kaede—someone he hadn't wronged.
He quietly observed Kitahara Kaede's every move.
Kitahara was writing names.
And since Tobirama's back was to him, he shouldn't be able to see.
"…" Hiruzen.
Hiruzen noticed that at one moment, Kitahara Kaede seemed to glance his way.
Not only that—
From the way the brush moved…
Sarutobi…
It looked like he was writing his name.
"…" Hiruzen.
He didn't know how to describe what he felt. His mind went blank, and sweat began forming on his forehead.
He knew that this time, his teacher was serious.
He was truly going to pick one of his four disciples to take the fall.
And as the Third Hokage, Hiruzen couldn't escape accountability.
If Tobirama regretted everything now, that meant he was denying all that Hiruzen had done.
Hiruzen was in despair.
Now… it looked like he'd lose his life too.
So—fine. Write his name.
After all, his indecisiveness, his bias, his lacking ability—had led to all of this.
He had already prepared himself. He originally intended to face Orochimaru himself and take responsibility by ending the very student he had once let escape.
He'd even considered using the Reaper Death Seal.
So if he had to take the fall—so be it.
But then…
Shfft—
Hiruzen's eyes widened.
He saw Kitahara Kaede cross out his name.
Then rewrote a new name.
From the stroke pattern—it was… Shimura Danzo.
Kitahara had written "Shimura Danzo."
!!!
Hiruzen looked at him in disbelief.
But Kitahara Kaede continued as though he hadn't noticed the gaze. Calmly, he wrote the other names.
And yet—Hiruzen felt his heart suddenly ease.
He didn't know why.
Was it fear of death?
Or… fear of responsibility?
"…" Phew.
Hiruzen let out a long sigh.
He now knew—he wouldn't be the one to take the fall. With his name replaced, Danzo's name now appeared twice on the slips.
That meant Danzo now had the highest chance of being drawn.
He looked toward his old teammate Danzo.
The man was staring at the ceiling, seemingly having given up resisting.
As expected.
Danzo had too many sins. Letting him take the fall… was only right.
Meanwhile, Koharu and Homura were still wiping cold sweat from their foreheads.
But Kitahara Kaede had already folded the slips. Kakashi placed them into a small bowl and handed it to the Second.
Which meant—
Tobirama himself would draw the name.
He would personally dirty his own hands in this act of judgment.
Tobirama's fingers dipped into the bowl and pinched one slip.
"…"
While Hiruzen felt relieved, Koharu and Homura continued sweating profusely.
Because for them… this was still a gamble with death.
"Now, the one who will shoulder the blame," Tobirama said.
Just then—
"May I say something?" Danzo suddenly sat up and looked at Tobirama.
"Go ahead."
"This situation feels familiar," Danzo said. "It's like that time, during the First Great Ninja War, when we accompanied you to negotiate with the Hidden Cloud."
"Oh?" Tobirama turned toward Danzo.
"What are you getting at?"
"That time, you said you would stay behind to cover our retreat, and one of us needed to stay with you and assist you."
"You warned that the price would be high. That neither of you might survive."
"Yes, I remember that," Tobirama nodded. "So?"
"What I want to say is…"
"That day—I noticed, sensei, you looked at me."
"Oh?" Tobirama raised his brow.
"And I… I wanted to stay behind."
"But in that moment—fear of death overwhelmed me."
Danzo said, "And I hesitated. I stepped back."
"But then Sarutobi stepped forward."
"…" Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Being named, he looked toward Danzo.
He hadn't expected Danzo to still be clinging to that moment… after 40 years.
Yes.
Back then, Tobirama had asked one of them to stay. Hiruzen stepped forward without hesitation.
And Tobirama had immediately declared him the next Hokage.
It wasn't just about who would assist the Second.
It was the final test—who would be Hokage.
Hiruzen became the Third Hokage.
And Tobirama—stayed behind and died to protect them.
But who would've thought… Danzo never let that go.
"I wasn't inferior to Hiruzen…"
"My hesitation wasn't cowardice…"
"I too was prepared to die for Konoha."
"So…"
"I couldn't do it back then. But now…"
"I'm not afraid to die!" Danzo said.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]:Surprisingly… I'm seeing Danzo in a new light.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]:According to Tobirama's records, Danzo caused the most damage to the village, but now he's actually showing guts.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]:He's even willing to take responsibility.
[Tobirama]:...
[Tobirama]:...
[Tobirama]:...
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