"Another hidden truth?"
Upon hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's words, all the Hidden Waterfall Village Ninja present showed expressions of surprise and doubt.
The matter of Kakuzu's defection from Hidden Waterfall Village was clearly recorded in their Village.
He stole the Jiongu and killed all the high-ranking Hidden Waterfall Village officials, causing a direct power vacuum in Hidden Waterfall Village, making it unable to compete with the top powers in the Ninja World.
What hidden truth could there be in this?
However, since they had already chosen to submit, Uchiha Yuzuru had no need to fabricate a reason to deceive them.
Otherwise, he should have brought up this matter before the conflict just now.
Thinking of this, Shinji recounted Hidden Waterfall Village's records, then asked in a deep voice, "Lord Yuzuru, are there any errors in our Village's records?"
Uchiha Yuzuru shook his head, "Everything described in them is factual."
Shinji and the Hidden Waterfall Ninja were bewildered again.
If the clan's records were not wrong, then why did Uchiha Yuzuru say there was another hidden truth to Kakuzu's story?
Seeing their confused looks, Uchiha Yuzuru chuckled, "Even if everything is true, it doesn't necessarily represent the true facts."
"By omitting a part of the truth, even if everything else is true, it can achieve the effect of a lie."
"Do you know Senju Hashirama?"
Upon hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's question, the Ninja who first discovered him, Huayan, spoke, "Of course we know him. He is the hero who ended the chaotic pattern of the Sengoku period, known as the 'God of Ninja' by the people of that time. He possessed the most powerful Wood Release Bloodline Limit and was a Ninja standing at the pinnacle of the Ninja World."
Seeing Huayan recount Senju Hashirama's deeds as if he knew them by heart, Uchiha Yuzuru couldn't help but feel a little emotional.
Indeed, the one who knows you best is often not a friend, but an enemy.
Even in the current Konoha, perhaps few people have a clear understanding of Senju Hashirama's strength anymore.
Seeing Uchiha Yuzuru's silence, Huayan tentatively asked, "Lord Yuzuru, what do you mean by asking these things?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuzuru slowly explained, "Back then, Kakuzu was ordered by the high-ranking officials of Hidden Waterfall Village to assassinate the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama."
"Huh?!"
Upon hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's words, all the Hidden Waterfall Ninja opened their mouths in surprise.
This matter was never recorded in the Village.
Having Kakuzu assassinate Senju Hashirama seemed a bit too demanding.
Could Kakuzu's reason for defecting be because of this matter?
As if seeing through the thoughts of the Hidden Waterfall Village people, Uchiha Yuzuru spoke again, "In that era, Ninja considered obeying orders their duty."
"So even though he was very dissatisfied with the Hidden Waterfall Village high-ranking officials' arrangement, Kakuzu still went to carry out the order."
"Later, after…" Uchiha Yuzuru paused, "After a very dangerous battle, the assassination mission failed as expected, and Kakuzu narrowly escaped with his life from Senju Hashirama."
"But when he returned to the Village with his heavily injured body, he was not greeted by praise from the high-ranking officials, but rather by angry interrogations."
"They questioned Kakuzu why he fled back to the Village, why he didn't kill Senju Hashirama, believing that even if he couldn't defeat Senju Hashirama, he should have fought until death, otherwise it would tarnish the reputation of their Hidden Waterfall Village."
"Kakuzu was locked in the dungeon, awaiting execution at an opportune time."
Uchiha Yuzuru did not continue, as the Hidden Waterfall Village Ninja's faces had already begun to show anger.
Unlike before, after Uchiha Yuzuru overthrew the Daimyo system, Ninja were no longer the lowest class of society who considered themselves "tools."
So upon hearing Kakuzu's plight, the people of Hidden Waterfall Village were filled with righteous indignation.
"So this was the truth back then! Those high-ranking officials were truly scoundrels!"
"Exactly, they enjoyed everything in the Village from their high positions, yet they blamed a subordinate who almost lost his life on a mission. What do they take our lives for?"
"Those guys were simply sending their comrades in the Village to their deaths, and they kept us deceived for so many years."
"If it were me, I would have made the same choice as Kakuzu."
"Senior Kakuzu shouldn't be a Rogue Ninja, he's a hero of our Village!"
"…"
The Hidden Waterfall Village Ninja did not doubt the authenticity of the truth spoken by Uchiha Yuzuru, as with his power, there was no reason to deceive them.
Moreover, thinking about it now, the Village's records regarding Kakuzu's defection were indeed very abrupt.
If this was the reason, then everything could be explained.
After digesting all the information, Shinji walked up to Kakuzu and sincerely said, "Senior Kakuzu, Hidden Waterfall Village wronged you in the past. On behalf of the Village, I apologize to you."
"From now on, we are willing to follow all your arrangements!"
With that, Shinji bowed ninety degrees to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu looked at Uchiha Yuzuru with a complex expression, feeling a pang in his nose.
After defecting from Hidden Waterfall Village back then, he never imagined that one day he would be able to return to the Village in this way.
The grievances he suffered at that time also vanished at this moment.
Kakuzu actively helped Shinji up, took out a scroll, and said in a deep voice, "The events of the past are no longer important. Those I hated have long since turned to dust."
"This is the Cultivate scroll for Jiongu. From now on, talented individuals in the Village will have the opportunity to learn it."
Upon hearing this, the faces of the Hidden Waterfall Village people showed joy.
What could be more joyful than the Village's treasure being recovered?
Shinji excitedly said, "Lord Yuzuru, Lord Kakuzu, let me show you around the Village."
Kakuzu glanced at Uchiha Yuzuru, and seeing that he had no objection, he said, "Then let's go."
"Yes."
Shinji dismissed the crowd and personally led Uchiha Yuzuru and Kakuzu on a tour of Hidden Waterfall Village.
Hidden Waterfall Village was not large, so the three quickly saw the entire Village.
Finally, the three arrived at the ancient towering tree behind the Village.
Looking at the giant tree that would take dozens of people to embrace, Shinji said with a smile, "This is our Hidden Waterfall Village's Divine Tree."
"It is the faith of our Village, and everyone believes that the Divine Tree can protect our Hidden Waterfall Village."
After Shinji finished speaking, Kakuzu added, "This tree has indeed helped our Hidden Waterfall Village overcome many difficulties. The hero water that fellow named Yaohu just drank was collected from the Divine Tree."
Hearing about the hero water, Uchiha Yuzuru became slightly interested, "Do you still have any hero water left?"
Shinji immediately said, "There's only a little left, because we can only collect about a dozen drops of hero water from the Divine Tree each year."
"That's enough."