After comforting Yukari, Shun returned to continue interrogating Hiruzen.
The once-dignified Third Hokage, now controlled by genjutsu, had empty eyes, like a puppet without a soul.
"Was Nawaki's death related to you?"
Hiruzen's pupils were unfocused, yet his voice was unusually clear.
"Because Tsunade didn't want to become Hokage, the Senju clan placed their hopes for the Hokage on Nawaki. He was 12 years old that year and had successfully been promoted to Chunin, already posing some threat to me."
"I knew Danzo's desire to become Hokage was very strong, so I deliberately discussed the Senju clan and Nawaki with Danzo. Danzo naturally couldn't tolerate Nawaki. After Nawaki's 12th birthday, I arranged for him to go on a mission to the Kumogakure border and leaked this information to Danzo. Danzo set up a trap specifically for Nawaki on their path, and Nawaki was blown to pieces by an explosive tag trap."
The surrounding villagers instantly erupted.
"So this is the real reason for Nawaki's death. No wonder he died so tragically even with Orochimaru protecting him. It turns out it was all an inside job."
"Danzo deserves to die. Hiruzen deserves to die."
Shun waved his hand, amplifying his voice with Chakra, and shouted, "Quiet! I still have more questions to ask!"
At his words, the chaotic sounds around them instantly vanished.
"Was Dan's death also related to you?"
Hiruzen's eyes were empty as he mechanically replied, "Dan was an Elite Jonin. He could use the S-rank Spirit Transformation Technique and was a very dangerous individual. Moreover, he was Tsunade's boyfriend, and his ambition was to become Hokage, which posed a great threat to me."
"As long as he married Tsunade, he would gain the support of the Senju clan, so I gave his information to Danzo. I also sent him out on a mission, and Danzo assigned two Root members as his teammates. When Dan used the Spirit Transformation Technique, and his soul left his body, becoming unconscious, these two Root members took the opportunity to hollow out his internal organs."
"Another strong ninja in the village killed by an internal traitor. Sakumo was like this, and Dan is also like this."
"Shun is right, these clans are all tumors of Konoha. From now on, we will call Hiruzen the 'Konoha Cancer King'."
"Exactly. Konoha Cancer King Hiruzen!"
Shun looked at the boiling crowd, yet felt no joy of victory in his heart.
He thought of an old saying 'Is justice that comes late still justice?'.
These truths should not have been hidden for so many years, and these lives should not have been lost so easily.
He turned to Ryuka beside him and whispered, "Ryuka, you continue the interrogation. I'm going back to rest. Don't let them beat Hiruzen to death, or it will be difficult to explain to the Daimyo."
Ryuka nodded, his eyes sparkling with excitement, "Shun, how do you plan to handle the 20 billion ryo you took from Hiruzen?"
Shun glanced at the surrounding crowd and raised his voice, saying, "First, the casualty compensation for the Sunagakure battlefield is still short 14.68 billion ryo. Let's pay this portion to the families of the casualties first."
A burst of cheers and applause erupted from the crowd, and many families who had lost loved ones in the war were in tears.
Shun saw a ninja who had lost his left arm raise his right hand in a salute to him.
"Second, the ninjas who went to the battlefield haven't received their salaries for last month. This amounts to 3 billion ryo. Let's settle this portion for them as well."
Over ten thousand ninjas finally breathed a sigh of relief and also raised their right hands in salute to him.
"Third, the remaining 2.32 billion ryo will be given as bonuses to the ninjas who returned from the Sunagakure battlefield."
The Sunagakure battlefield had a casualty rate as high as 67.7%, which was already an immense pressure. Upon returning to the village, they discovered that ninjas from other battlefields, following Uchiha, had already received full casualty compensation.
Only they had received only 17% of the casualty compensation, so they had always felt abandoned. Now, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Shun… Shun… Shun!"
The surrounding Konoha ninjas continuously chanted Shun's name.
Shun smiled slightly, amplifying his voice with Chakra, "I just fought with Hiruzen, and I'm a bit tired. The interrogation will now be handed over to Uchiha Ryuka. Everyone can continue to listen in, I'm leaving now."
With that, Shun used the Body Flicker Technique and instantly disappeared from his spot.
...
On the path below, several Uzumaki clan members were accompanying Yukari to the Uchiha clan grounds.
Shun lightly leaped, and the breeze from his Body Flicker Technique stirred a few fallen leaves.
The next second, he appeared before Yukari, causing the Uzumaki clan members to instantly tense up.
"Yukari, I need to go out for a bit."
Before Yukari could speak, Mei preemptively asked, "Where are you going? Are you going out to find other women?"
Sometimes a woman's intuition is very accurate, even if Mei was still a 13-year-old girl at the time.
Shun's expression subtly froze for a moment. He lightly coughed, masking the fleeting awkwardness.
"After Tsunade's younger brother Nawaki and her lover Dan died, she left the village citing hemophobia, spending her days in taverns and gambling dens. Due to her bad luck in gambling, she accumulated a pile of gambling debts and is now wandering around. The village wants me to bring Tsunade back, to make her an advisor and manage the Medical Department."
Chika showed a pained expression. "I didn't realize that princess Tsunade's situation was also so tragic."
She sighed softly and said, "You should quickly bring her back to Konoha."
Yukari quietly watched him, her red eyes seeming to see through his heart. "Shun, when are you leaving?"
"I'll leave in a bit." Shun replied concisely.
Yukari's fingers tightened slightly on the corner of her clothes.
Mei pouted, seemingly wanting to say more, but was stopped by a look from Yukari.
"Be careful on your way, and come back soon."
Yukari only said a few words, but more could be read from her eyes.
Shun secretly appreciated Yukari's gentleness and consideration, nodding slightly. He didn't say any extra goodbyes, directly using the Body Flicker Technique, and disappeared from the spot in the blink of an eye.
Although Tsunade was a disheartened woman now, he was confident he could persuade her to return to Konoha.
As Shun moved, the silhouette of Konoha continuously receded. His heart, however, became more and more active.
Hehehe…
Tsunade, you can't escape my grasp. I need you to help me train.