An explanation?
What explanation could there be in a situation like this? Hearing Chiba's sarcastic words and seeing his helpless, bitter smile that seemed almost mocking, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's expressions shifted slightly. As they frowned, their faces turned stern.
Ch... Chiba? At that moment, Sato Hide was startled. His earlier anxiety and blank mind were instantly blown away by shock. His face filled with incredulous horror as he stared fixedly at Chiba, mouth hanging open, too stunned to speak.
Th... th-this...
Was Chiba saying that the elder advisors, Lord Danzo, and the Fourth Hokage were short-sighted? Th... th-this was far... far too bold!
Those were the Hokage and elder advisors!
The thoughts in his heart were a hundred times more shocked than his expression.
"Go on."
At that moment, Minato Namikaze glanced at the expressions around him. The gravity on his face eased slightly as he spoke directly, without any sign of displeasure.
This child...
It looked like he was angry.
But that was understandable. He had returned after narrowly escaping death, nearly losing his life for Konoha. He had risked his life time and again, yet upon returning, rather than being rewarded for his merits, he was first put on trial and about to be punished.
A little resentment was only natural.
But what could he say to clear away the suspicion?
Minato Namikaze's thoughts were much the same as his expression. He was not displeased by Chiba's implied sarcasm. Instead, he was worried that if Chiba could not explain himself properly, that attitude might only worsen his punishment.
"Here, I must defend myself. I did not deliberately break those two traitors' arms and legs."
Hearing Minato Namikaze's words, Chiba took a light breath. He restrained the sarcasm that was about to show on his face, forcing