"He could still be saved."
"As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had already tried to kill me once, only to end in complete failure."
"He wouldn't act rashly now, because the ceasefire agreement with Kumogakure was his top priority."
"Only by stabilizing Kumogakure for the time being could he focus wholeheartedly on dealing with the hidden dangers within the village."
Uchiha Yamikaze nodded. "That means our Uchiha clan..."
Qianyu neither confirmed nor denied it.
"But Captain, it seems you have some ideas about Kumogakure's envoy delegation..."
"Will something major happen?"
Uchiha Yamikaze picked up an apple and took huge bites out of it.
It was naturally a gift sent by Daizi's family.
Qianyu picked up an apple as well, but he did not answer directly.
"Maybe."
He took a large bite too.
His eyes flickered as though he were calculating some plan.
The Hokage Building, council chamber.
"Ninja Head, please, have a seat."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was all smiles.
However, the Ninja Head from Kumogakure held his head high, acting as though even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Lord Hokage himself, was beneath his notice.
He sat carelessly across the long table, facing Hiruzen Sarutobi from afar.
"Lord Hokage, let's begin the negotiations."
"Of course, of course."
Seeing the stark difference in their attitudes, every Konoha ninja present could not help feeling humiliated and ashamed.
Why did they have to be so meek and subservient before some insignificant envoy from Kumogakure?!
Especially when it was the dignified Lord Hokage!
Although everyone knew that after the Third Great Ninja War ended, Konoha had suffered the calamity of the Nine-Tails' Rampage and had indeed fallen to its lowest point.
But...
Could yielding at every turn truly buy them dignity and peace?!
There had never been such logic in the ninja world.
Yet now, the Lord Hokage clearly intended to do exactly that.
Those qualified to attend a meeting of this level were naturally true big shots, representatives of the decision-making class.
Besides Hiruzen Sarutobi, there were Shimura Danzō, commander of the Root Organization, as well as the two elder advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
The heads of the major clans were also present.
Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuga Hiashi, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, Tsume Inuzuka, and Shibi Aburame.
Of course, as the Anbu's newly appointed captain, Uchiha Shisui was also fully qualified to attend the meeting.
And although Kakashi Hatake was merely an Anbu Squad Captain, his special identity—the Fourth Hokage's disciple, the White Fang of the Leaf's son, and a representative elite Jonin—also qualified him to sit in.
Of course, what they witnessed was nothing more than a farce filled with humiliation.
The Ninja Head leading Kumogakure's envoy delegation was aggressive, arrogant, and rude. He completely overturned the previously negotiated division of benefits, turning his back on every agreement.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi yielded at every turn and did not dare raise a single objection.
The result was...
Konoha surrendered unimaginable authority and sacrificed unbearable interests before finally signing this so-called peace agreement!
Every important figure in Konoha's leadership was dumbfounded, utterly shocked, and so furious that their bodies trembled as they clenched their fists.
Yet in the end, they could not oppose the Lord Hokage's decision.
This day could be called the most humiliating moment in Konoha's history.
Once the agreement was finally signed, Kumogakure's Ninja Head gave a dark chuckle, rose carelessly to his feet, and offered Hiruzen Sarutobi a compliment.
"Lord Hokage, you really are a reasonable man..."
"Heh, if everyone in Konoha were as understanding as the Lord Hokage, what would we even be fighting wars for?"
"Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!"
His domineering laughter echoed throughout the Hokage Building and branded itself deep into the humiliated souls of every Konoha ninja.
Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi still wore his trademark kind and benevolent smile.
"Take care, Ninja Head."
"May Konoha and Kumogakure live in peace and remain eternal allies!"
The Ninja Head could not even be bothered to respond. He merely snorted and strode away with the envoy delegation.
As the doors to the council chamber closed, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat back down, and his expression changed instantly.
"Alright, with the peace agreement with Kumogakure signed, one major concern has finally been resolved."
"Konoha's external threat has finally been removed for the time being."
"Next..."
He cast a meaningful glance at Uchiha Shisui.
"Is there any other major matter to discuss?"
Everyone seated here was naturally intelligent. They immediately understood that Hiruzen Sarutobi had compromised and humbled himself to end the external threat so he could focus on the troubles within the village!
And that internal threat was naturally...
The Uchiha clan!
At that moment, the same thought arose in everyone's mind...
Their Lord Hokage truly embodied that saying...
Meek and submissive toward outsiders, ruthless toward his own people!
In that instant, everyone could not help feeling stifled and dissatisfied.
Even Ino-Shika-Cho, who were closely connected to the Sarutobi clan.
Of course, they did not dare reveal any of it openly.
Just as Uchiha Shisui was about to speak, Kakashi Hatake suddenly stopped him.
"Lord Hokage, everyone..."
"Regarding Uchiha Qianyu's case, Clan Head Inoichi, Captain Ibiki, Elder Yashiro Uchiha, and I conducted a thorough interrogation and investigation together. The results are now out..."
"Please review them."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed at once!
Kakashi Hatake...
What exactly was he trying to do?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi Surrounded on All Sides!
Kakashi Hatake had not originally intended to do this.
But...
Hiruzen Sarutobi's performance just now had truly disappointed him.
His father, the White Fang of the Leaf, had abandoned a mission to save his village comrades, only to become the target of resentment and take his own life.
His teacher and teacher's wife had both sacrificed themselves during the Nine-Tails' Rampage to protect the village.
His comrades, Uchiha Obito and Rin Nohara, had also both died tragically in the war.
They had all been incomparably important to Kakashi Hatake, yet every one of them was already gone.
And yet, if the deaths of these loved ones, family members, teachers, and friends could only bring the Lord Hokage's compromises toward outsiders, the sacrifice of the village's interests, and every possible means for internal conflict...
Kakashi Hatake could not accept it!
Perhaps his heart had already died long ago.
But Uchiha Qianyu's case had stirred something in him in a very subtle way.
It was partly because of Qianyu's special identity as a member of the Uchiha clan, and partly because of that man's strange trust in him...
It made Kakashi Hatake suddenly realize that he was still a person in the end, not merely a tool called a ninja!
So, he took out all the reports and passed them around.
For a moment, everyone read them in silence.
Hiruzen Sarutobi flew into a rage, but in the end, he could not stop any of it.
After reading the report, every important figure in Konoha's leadership exchanged looks and fell silent.
Kakashi Hatake smiled faintly.
"What do you all think?"
Fugaku Uchiha naturally would not let such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away.
"From the looks of it, Shinnosuke Sarutobi did indeed abuse his authority for personal gain, seek revenge, and plot to frame Qianyu's two subordinates. That was why Qianyu had no choice but to resort to this measure!"
Inoichi Yamanaka had personally participated in the investigation, so he did not dare rashly say another word at this moment.
Before you continue