"A hypocritical Hokage who enjoys using righteousness to coerce others. Anyone who opposes your will is branded as a threat to Konoha..."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's head ached slightly.
This battle was already extremely difficult, and Orochimaru, his former disciple, was still taunting and humiliating him with words right beside him!
Orochimaru's face became more smug: "You want to mold everyone into the image you desire, yet you don't even understand your own rights and wrongs..."
"Orochimaru!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen leaped back, glaring fiercely at his disciple: "The fact that you are still alive is the greatest mistake I ever made. I shouldn't have shown mercy and spared your life! Back then, when you and Danzo conspired to harm comrades in the village, I should have killed you while I still had the power!"
"..."
The attacks of the two Hokage suddenly halted!
Senju Tobirama suddenly turned his head to look at Orochimaru, then at Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Danzo and Orochimaru... conspiring to harm comrades?"
This matter...
How come I have never heard of it!
Isn't Shimura Danzo like a pure white lotus?
Why does it seem like there's something here I don't know about? Could it be that Shimura Danzo is also corrupt? Didn't Shimura Danzo say he was always trying to correct Sarutobi Hiruzen's mistakes?
"Two Hokage, you have been deceived by him and Danzo!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was somewhat gloomy. He continued in a deep voice: "Danzo and Orochimaru conducted unauthorized human experiments, harming innocent people. After being discovered by me, they chose to defect. Danzo even tried to kill our comrade Mitokado Homura during his escape!"
"..."
Senju Tobirama's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What is really going on here?"
Senju Hashirama furrowed his brow, somewhat surprised: "Danzo told us that it was you who annihilated the Uchiha Clan and conducted unauthorized human experiments..."
"Big brother!"
Senju Tobirama hurriedly stopped Senju Hashirama.
Some things can be spoken of, and some things cannot.
Once spoken, it can lead to the rapid deterioration of Konoha's political environment.
Senju Tobirama's original intention was to eliminate Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage who had strayed from the right path. But he didn't expect there to be unexpected hidden details involved here.
"I put a stop to all human experiments long ago!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen is a disciple of Senju Tobirama and, having governed for so many years, quickly understood the Second Hokage's intention to conceal certain actions. He directly stated the facts: "Only Danzo and Orochimaru conducted human experiments in secret. It was my own weakness in not killing them then, which has led to today's situation..."
"Go find Danzo..."
Senju Tobirama furrowed his brow and sternly instructed.
"Such a hassle..."
Orochimaru sighed, raising his fingers: "I knew long ago that this method wasn't reliable—showing even a tiny flaw leads to trouble, and there are far too many flaws. How could the clever Second Hokage be deceived?"
The next moment!
Both Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama's figures simultaneously retreated to Orochimaru's side!
"Orochimaru!"
Senju Tobirama coldly questioned Orochimaru: "What exactly is going on with you and Danzo? What have you both done!"
"It would be better if you lost your consciousness..."
Two curse marks, designed to obliterate willpower, appeared in Orochimaru's hand. He placed them directly into the back of their heads, chuckling softly: "Couldn't you obediently help me kill my teacher?"
"You!"
Senju Tobirama realized he might have been deceived by Danzo!
"You deceived me again!"
Though Senju Hashirama didn't quite understand the situation, he knew he had been deceived!
However, their anger was futile. They could only let Orochimaru place the curse marks into the back of their heads, causing their willpower to completely dissipate. Their expressions gradually calmed, losing all cognition.
"Orochimaru! What have you done to them!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen glared furiously at Orochimaru!
"Rest assured, teacher."
Orochimaru looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes narrowing slowly: "I merely wanted you to see the results of my training outside. These are curse marks designed to obliterate the will of Reanimators, making it more convenient to control their bodies..."
"With your frail body, I could have easily killed you long ago..."
Orochimaru resumed controlling the two Hokage into battle, continuing with a soft chuckle: "Defeating Danzo earlier consumed quite a bit of your Chakra..."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart sank to the bottom.
What Orochimaru said was indeed the truth.
That old friend, Shimura Danzo, wasn't so easy to deal with. Hiruzen himself expended quite a bit of stamina and Chakra in that battle. Dealing with Orochimaru now was incredibly difficult, not to mention facing two Hokage who were resurrected using the Reanimation Jutsu.
However...
He had to deal with Orochimaru and the two Hokage controlled by him.
Because even Akihara Kagura didn't manage to deal with the two Hokage and Orochimaru at the time, it meant that eliminating Orochimaru wasn't an easy task for Akihara Kagura either. Not to mention, it's possible that Akihara Kagura might also be deceived and manipulated by Shimura Danzo...
However...
It shouldn't matter anymore.
As long as he sacrificed himself here for Konoha, all accusations of his supposed greed for power would be put to an end. Once Jiraiya succeeds as Hokage, there's still hope for redemption.
"The time has come..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly, recalling the method he had devised to thoroughly resolve Orochimaru and the Reanimators. Slowly, he began forming hand seals!
"Ninpo: Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two Shadow Clones appeared beside Sarutobi Hiruzen.