Reversing the Verdict

"During the Military Police Force's investigation into Shimura Danzō's accomplices, we uncovered this matter. The rumors about White Fang back then were spread under Shimura Danzō's orders. People including the current Shimura Clan Head, Shimura Hiro, were involved. And White Fang's teammates back then were also silenced by them." Uchiha Toko spoke unhurriedly, watching Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Two Advisors for their reactions.

When the Two Advisors heard Uchiha Toko bring this up, a trace of panic appeared in their eyes. Though Sarutobi Hiruzen was not as flustered as they were, he too showed a hint of unease.

Seeing this, Uchiha Toko understood that none of them had clean hands in the White Fang affair.

"Let this matter end here. The village has long reached its conclusion regarding White Fang." Utatane Koharu immediately spoke up.

"Is that so? Are we really going to let petty villains slander a hero who bled for the village? Let the village's hero suffer injustice forever, unable to rest even after death?" Uchiha Toko stared directly at her and spoke in a low voice.

"The failure of that mission was indeed White Fang's responsibility," Mitokado Homura said.

"But he did it to protect his comrades, didn't he?" Uchiha Toko replied calmly.

"A ninja's duty is to complete the mission!" Utatane Koharu said.

"Does the Third Hokage think so as well?" Uchiha Toko looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "That is not the Will of Fire at all."

As soon as Uchiha Toko's words fell, an eerie silence descended over the Hokage Office. Nara Shikaku wished he could turn into a shadow through his clan's secret technique and vanish at once.

Uchiha Toko watched the scene and laughed inwardly.

At the end of the day, ninjas were simply killing machines hired to solve problems. No matter how beautifully they dressed it up, could the Will of Fire conceal the filth inherent in the profession of a ninja?

But right now, the Will of Fire was truly useful.

Could Sarutobi Hiruzen deny those words? Of course not.

The Will of Fire was Sarutobi Hiruzen's political foundation, Konoha's political orthodoxy. After his relentless promotion of it day after day, it had long become deeply bound to him. With Sarutobi Hiruzen, one could question whether Asuma was truly his biological son, but never the correctness of the Will of Fire.

"Douhuan, I understand what you mean." Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long sigh. "We will restore White Fang's reputation, but the investigation into this matter will end here. Too much time has passed. Getting to the bottom of it would take far too much time."

"Since that is the Hokage's decision, the Military Police Force can only comply." Uchiha Toko's expression darkened.

Uchiha Toko was already bursting with delight. The moment he confirmed that those three old bastards all had dirty hands in the White Fang Incident, his only goal today had been to restore White Fang's reputation. If they truly kept investigating and uncovered something, that would actually be troublesome. The Uchiha Clan was not yet ready to completely break with the three of them. Uchiha Toko had already been thinking about how to stall for time, yet Sarutobi Hiruzen had unexpectedly called a halt to the matter himself and taken the blame upon himself.

"Additionally, according to the clues currently obtained by the Military Police Force, Shimura Danzō has deep ties to the rogue ninja Orochimaru." Uchiha Toko controlled his expression. "However, Orochimaru's case involves forces outside the village. Therefore, I ask the Hokage to permit the Military Police Force and the Anbu to work together on this case and bring the rogue ninja Orochimaru, who endangers Konoha's security, to justice. That way, we can also give an explanation to the wronged souls who died in their inhuman human experiments."

"Orochimaru?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze darkened at the name.

It was time to bring the matter from back then to an end.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly. Having made up his mind, he looked at Uchiha Toko. "I understand, Douhuan. Then Kakashi will lead this mission, while your Military Police Force provides support. How does that sound?"

"Understood." Uchiha Toko nodded and accepted the order.

"This time, we must bring Orochimaru to justice. I am counting on you."

"Loyalty!" Uchiha Toko raised his right hand in salute, his expression solemn.

When Uchiha Toko left, he did not take Yamanaka Fu, who had been drooling in the Hokage Office the entire time. After Uchiha Toko departed, the Two Advisors looked toward Nara Shikaku, who had been acting invisible until now. Understanding their meaning, Nara Shikaku spoke.

"Hokage, I heard from Inoichi that Fū was forcibly taken away by Danzo when he was young. Though he committed unforgivable crimes while following Danzo, and has only himself to blame for ending up like this, I ask that you spare his life for the sake of the Yamanaka Clan's past contributions."

"Shikaku, do not say that. This was all Danzo's fault." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "Take this child back to the Yamanaka Clan and care for him properly."

"Understood." Nara Shikaku nodded, then left the Hokage Office with Yamanaka Fu.

The moment Nara Shikaku left, Mitokado Homura impatiently spoke up. "Hiruzen, are we just going to let this go? Are you going to watch the Uchiha Clan continue acting recklessly?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe. After taking a deep draw, he looked up at his two old partners. "Douhuan will not do that. He is a good child who carries the Will of Fire in his heart."

"Hiruzen!" Utatane Koharu anxiously said, "He is Uchiha Clan! Do not forget Lord Second Hokage's teachings!"

"Hiruzen, Danzo was right. You really are far too indecisive," Mitokado Homura added. "If you keep indulging the Uchiha Clan, you will regret it one day!"

"Shut up, all of you!" Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his hand onto the desk in fury. "I am the Hokage!"

"Do you think I want this? Because of all those Sharingan on Danzo's arm, we have to give the Uchiha Clan an explanation! Otherwise, we would be forcing them into rebellion, understand? The Uchiha Clan already has a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, but the village no longer has a second First!" Sarutobi Hiruzen berated the two for their stupidity. "Douhuan was the one who suppressed the voices calling for rebellion within the clan. This is already the best possible outcome!"

"Hiruzen..." Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's furious roar, the Two Advisors were left speechless.

After a long while, when the tobacco in Sarutobi Hiruzen's pipe had burned out, he finally continued, "I will send word for Jiraiya to return."