REVIEWS AND POWERSTONES PLSSS!!!!!Chapter 106: And People Are Saying My Father Was Forced to Commit Suicide by the Village Leadership!
The two parted ways unhappily once again. Danzo was unwilling to hand over his trusted subordinates as an explanation, especially under these circumstances of being schemed against.
"Someone is scheming against me in this matter. Give me time—I'll definitely find the madman who dared reach into my Root and kill him."
Danzo swore an oath.
He couldn't tolerate someone within his Root being manipulated by others. This was tantamount to humiliation for him, and also gave him a severe sense of insecurity. So he was determined to investigate this matter to the bottom.
However, he didn't think this matter was related to Hyuga Ritsu. That subordinate had joined Root over five years ago. At that time, Ritsu was just a brat. It couldn't possibly be that at nine or ten years old, he could already drive others to fearlessly infiltrate his Root.
If Ritsu were truly that capable, Sarutobi would have been eliminated long ago!
After swearing his oath, Danzo continued: "Sarutobi, stop being indecisive. Hyuga Ritsu has already become a major threat we must eliminate. If we continue letting him run wild, sooner or later we'll both suffer the consequences. I'll find a way to send people to contact the Mist ninja, then have them accuse Hiruko and Ritsu of capturing Mist ninja to research forbidden techniques—being the culprits who triggered the war between Konoha and the Mist. When that time comes, you'd better seize the opportunity, Sarutobi."
Having finished speaking, without waiting for Sarutobi Hiruzen to waste more words, he departed directly. He still needed to return to Root to continue investigating who dared plant people within his Root.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched his old comrade leave, never opening his mouth to use a firm attitude to stop Danzo's recklessness.
"Already become a major threat that must be eliminated?"
After the office door closed, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed softly, his mind recalling the battle reports Orochimaru had sent previously, as well as reports sent back by the overt and covert observers he'd placed at the front lines.
Hyuga Ritsu had indeed become an enormous threat!
If not for Ritsu counter-killing the many Mist ninja jonin who'd tried to attack him, the war with the Mist ninja definitely wouldn't have ended this quickly. It would likely have dragged on for some time. Even if they ultimately drove back the Mist ninja, they might not have been able to inflict such massive casualties as now.
Also, both Hiruko and his student Ritsu had actually seized Mist ninja Kekkei Genkai—the Yuki Clan's Ice Release, the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku. This proved they truly mastered some forbidden technique with considerable applicability that could seize others' Kekkei Genkai.
Such dangerous forbidden techniques must be sealed away!
If such forbidden techniques spread widely, the consequences would be unthinkable. At that time, to seize others' Kekkei Genkai, what kind of hell the ninja world would become made one's scalp tingle just thinking about it briefly.
"Such evil and dangerous forbidden techniques must be sealed or even destroyed! Similarly, those who've practiced such evil forbidden techniques also need strict supervision—we can't let them continue causing chaos!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered to himself, his expression gradually becoming extraordinarily resolute.
The next day, the autumn morning wind was cold and bone-piercing.
After returning home and sleeping only about three hours, immediately upon returning to his office, Sarutobi Hiruzen's first action was signing an order for the Konoha Military Police Force.
Requiring the Military Police Force to immediately investigate and control the many rumors spreading throughout the village. While cutting off rumors' continued spread and expansion, they must trace and capture the criminals spreading rumors as quickly as possible.
At the Military Police Force station—
One could see the distinctive Uchiha Clan's fan crest. Here one could also see numerous Uchiha Clan ninja. Aside from criminals escorted here, nearly all the ninja came from the Uchiha Clan.
"Elder Izumo, the Hokage wants me to capture the criminals spreading rumors. What do you say—should I just throw you into prison now?"
In the Police Force Commander's office, the recently appointed commander and Uchiha Clan head Fugaku Uchiha sat behind his desk, joking with Izumo seated on the reception area sofa.
"Even if you chose to righteously eliminate relatives, Clan Head, the Hokage wouldn't think more highly of you because of it. I estimate instead he'd become even more hostile toward and wary of our clan!"
Izumo leisurely ate breakfast.
Unlike the harsh life at the front-line camp, breakfast supply in the village was quite abundant. On the coffee table before him sat a complete beef set meal—a bowl of white rice, a plate of beef, bonito flakes, okra, a hot spring egg, and a bowl of steaming miso soup.
"Phew! Village life is still more comfortable. Front-line battlefield life truly isn't fit for humans." After drinking a sip of miso soup, Izumo sighed from the heart.
Across from him, Hiruko quietly enjoyed heavily flavored soy sauce pork bone ramen without making a sound.
Beside Hiruko, Hyuga Arima held a large bowl of pork cutlet rice, eating heartily.
Watching the three who'd turned his office into a cafeteria, Fugaku sighed heavily with helplessness. He could only sink his body into his beloved chair, lit a cigarette, and used the tobacco scent to resist the food aromas.
Four days ago, Izumo had returned—sneakily, like a thief. And immediately upon returning to the clan compound, he'd convened a secret clan meeting using his elder authority.
After the meeting ended, Izumo had holed up in the Konoha Military Police Force together with Hiruko and Arima, who'd also sneakily returned to the village. They began shut-in lives, only dispatching shadow clones who, after making thorough preparations, spread rumors throughout the village.
After spreading rumors, the shadow clones would find deserted places to voluntarily disperse, not leaving the slightest trace that could connect to the Military Police Force.
Yes, the criminals spreading rumors that neither ANBU nor Root had traced were actually hiding within the Military Police Force—the village's law enforcement department.
This was the Uchiha Clan's private domain, promised to the Uchiha Clan by the First and Second Hokage. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen the Third Hokage couldn't reach in.
Of course, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't anticipated that rumor-spreading included the Uchiha Clan's contribution. Because he'd always been vigilant toward and suppressing the Uchiha Clan, and over so many years hadn't seen any unorthodox outrageous behavior from them, he'd grown accustomed to the Uchiha Clan's obedience.
Even though the Uchiha Clan was currently protesting about what happened at the front-line camp, perhaps precisely because of the Uchiha Clan's open protests and dissatisfaction, Sarutobi Hiruzen instead overlooked the possibility of the Uchiha Clan secretly causing trouble.
So he completely hadn't realized the possibility the Uchiha Clan would participate in such matters.
He'd even thought about using the Military Police Force's power to control the village's rumors.
"Izumo, finished eating?"
After finishing one cigarette, Fugaku looked at the young elder wiping his mouth with a tissue and asked: "How do you all think we should handle the Hokage's order?"
"Don't handle it."
Hiruko set down his chopsticks and answered decisively.
"Don't handle it? Defying orders is a major crime."
Fugaku answered instinctively.
"Major crime or not—can he actually kill you, Clan Head?"
Izumo countered.
"That's not likely."
Fugaku answered honestly.
He wasn't just Military Police Force Commander but also Uchiha Clan head. Even the Hokage couldn't easily move against him. Forget killing—even planning to punish him would require repeated consideration and careful action.
"Then isn't that fine?"
Izumo shrugged, saying with full confidence: "Moreover, as long as our plan goes smoothly, the Third Hokage will soon abdicate and yield. You don't need to worry about any unbearable consequences from refusing to execute this order, Clan Head."
He leaned back on the sofa, his mind recalling the plan Ritsu had told him—a plan to overthrow the Third Hokage's rule and promote a new Fourth Hokage who wouldn't discriminate against the Uchiha Clan or the reborn Hyuga Clan.
He'd chosen to join without hesitation and had begun acting according to the plan.
"Actually, not handling it doesn't mean doing nothing."
Hiruko spoke again at this moment: "We can completely send people to put on an act. Moreover, we can take the opportunity to add fuel to the fire—when arresting people, loudly proclaim it's the Hokage's order to arrest people!"
However, Fugaku frowned and, after pondering for a moment, shook his head. "Too radical. I think making empty gestures is best—just putting on an act is fine."
Regarding this, Hiruko didn't feel disappointed.
After several days of contact with this Uchiha Clan head, he'd discovered this young clan head was quite conservative and steady in his bones, disliking adventure and instability—rather different from most Uchiha who easily got emotional.
Fortunately, from the start Ritsu had pulled Elder Izumo onto the boat. Simultaneously, the Uchiha Clan had accumulated considerable dissatisfaction toward the Third Hokage. Izumo had easily persuaded the other elders, making Clan Head Fugaku choose to yield to the general trend.
This also made him discover another trait of Fugaku—lacking firm will, very easily submitting to the majority's will, even if that majority choice might be wrong.
By comparison, as Hyuga Clan head, Ritsu's will was truly rock-solid, his bones also filled with adventurous spirit, daring to plan and organize against the Third Hokage like this.
In short, though Clan Head Fugaku was somewhat disappointing, fortunately the Uchiha Clan was still quite capable—cooperating harmoniously from top to bottom, firmly guarding secrets without leaking them.
Kakashi Hatake hadn't slept all night but didn't feel tired. Emotions so complex even he couldn't explain them supported him, bringing him to Minato-sensei's doorstep early in the morning.
He knocked on the door.
Standing at the entrance waiting.
Moments later, Rin Nohara, sleepy-eyed with uncombed hair, opened the door. "Kakashi, why are you here? Did something happen?"
Though the girl hadn't fully awakened, she'd still keenly sensed something wrong with Kakashi.
"Rin, is Kushina-sensei up?"
Kakashi asked heavily.
"Already up. Come in and talk!"
Rin opened the door to let Kakashi in, calling loudly: "Kushina-sensei, Kakashi's here! Seems like there's something urgent to find you!"
"Oh? Something urgent for me?"
Kushina, her hair also messy like a bird's nest, was somewhat surprised. But she still quickly and simply tidied her hair before coming to the living room, seeing Kakashi seated on the sofa.
Like Rin—
Kushina also sensed something wrong with the youth at first glance. Current Kakashi gave her a feeling like a rookie about to go to war—trying hard to maintain calm on his face, but actually his heart was surging with emotions to the extreme.
Of course, what Kakashi's heart harbored wasn't fear but... complex emotions difficult to distinguish or describe.
"Kakashi, what happened? Coming to find me so early in the morning?"
Kushina asked gently.
"Kushina-sensei, have you heard any strange rumors recently?" Kakashi asked, his hands placed on his knees, tightly clenched into fists.
Kushina and Rin exchanged glances and shook their heads. "No."
These days she'd been staying with Rin, greatly reducing her already infrequent social activities. Because Minato hadn't returned, she also hadn't eaten out. She'd heard nothing about any rumors.
"Kakashi, did you hear something?"
"Yes."
Kakashi nodded, took a deep breath, and said: "Recently rumors in the village say the reason war erupted between us and the Mist ninja is because Minato-sensei and Jiraiya-sama secretly captured Mist ninja to research forbidden techniques."
"What?"
Kushina felt like she'd heard a fantasy tale. Her brain momentarily couldn't accept this absurd and laughable rumor.
"Who's talking nonsense? Minato-sensei and Jiraiya-sama capturing Mist ninja to research forbidden techniques? This, this, this—is this something a normal person could imagine?"
Rin similarly showed a face full of disbelief.
"I also know this kind of thing is thorough slander from start to finish, but this rumor has indeed been spreading crazily in the village recently. I heard many people chatting about this matter."
Kakashi said very seriously.
Hearing this, Kushina immediately frowned. "Kakashi, are you saying someone's behind this?"
"If no one was adding fuel behind the scenes, I don't believe such an absurd rumor would spread so quickly. Moreover, quite a few people are also discussing how the village's foreign policy is too weak—despite defeating Sand and Rock ninja, we're not demanding any compensation, causing all war losses to be borne by everyone in the village!"
Kakashi revealed another rumor he'd heard.
Rin was somewhat confused, not yet realizing anything, instead instinctively feeling these words seemed fine.
But Kushina had rich experience. She immediately detected the sharp killing intent hidden within these rumors. She was still somewhat puzzled by rumors targeting Minato, but accusing the village's foreign policy of weakness was clearly targeting village leadership headed by the Third Hokage.
Her brow furrowed even more tightly, her mood heavy.
Kakashi hesitated two seconds, lowered his head, and continued: "Besides that, people are also saying my father back then was forced by village leadership to commit suicide!"
"Kakashi, what did you say?"
Kushina blurted out.
Watching the youth with lowered head, she suddenly realized why Kakashi seemed so wrong.