Achievements Buried Away

Hiruzen Sarutobi had never expected that, even after his painstaking persuasion, Minato Namikaze would still make this choice.

He stared deeply at Minato Namikaze.

He approved of and admired Minato Namikaze's principles and commitment to his promises, but at the same time, he found it somewhat regrettable.

The boy was good in every way, except he could be rather stubborn.

That shouldn't be possible... With Minato's intelligence, how could he have fallen for Uchiha Daiki's scheme?

No matter how Hiruzen Sarutobi thought it over, he could not understand it.

It seemed their conversation today would not yield any substantive results.

He could only find another time to have a proper talk with him.

After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and sighed. "All right, Minato. Since you've already said so, we'll discuss this another day."

"For now, let's head to the Daimyo Capital and complete the most important task at hand."

With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around, clasped his hands behind his back, and continued onward at an unhurried pace as though nothing had happened.

Konoha Village.

Under Uchiha Fugaku's leadership, all the surviving Uchiha Clan members who had participated in this war gradually returned to the village.

As the victors of this war, Konoha had defeated numerous powerful enemies one against four, winning the conflict and bringing it to an end.

Naturally, the villagers lined the streets to welcome them, celebrating every hero's triumphant return.

However, as they made their way through the village, the Uchiha Clan members were puzzled to find that the villagers' attitude toward them, such great contributors to the war, was no different from usual.

There were cheers and applause, but every ninja returning to the village from outside received the same treatment.

It seemed the villagers regarded the Uchiha Clan no differently from ordinary ninja.

If that had been all, it would not have mattered much.

But some people received a far grander welcome, enjoying much more enthusiastic cheers and congratulations from the villagers.

For example, the Hyuga Clan, the Akimichi Clan, the Yamanaka Clan, the Aburame Clan, and others.

When ninjas from these Konoha Noble Clans returned from outside the village, the villagers lining both sides of the road clearly erupted with cheers far louder than those given to ordinary ninja.

Besides the differing treatment of ninja clans, individuals were also treated noticeably differently.

The loudest cheers from the villagers were for Minato Namikaze.

Orochimaru came next.

After that came all kinds of ninja whose reputations did not even compare to the Uchiha Clan's.

Even more absurdly, someone had made doll statues of Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru, placing them specifically along the roadside to welcome the two.

Such treatment left the Uchiha Clan confused and displeased.

"Clan Head, what's going on? The villagers don't seem to know about our brave deeds on the battlefield..."

Uchiha Yashiro approached with some confusion and resentment, whispering into Uchiha Fugaku's ear.

"Exactly! I thought we would receive even more congratulations!"

"Our clan produced two prodigies, and we were the main force that drove back the enemy and completely pulled the village out of the mire of war! Yet this is how we're treated?"

Uchiha Inabi also began to complain.

It would have been fine if the two had said nothing. The other Uchiha Clan members had merely felt unhappy inside and had not voiced their frustrations.

But after the two complained, many more Uchiha Clan members immediately felt they had been treated unfairly.

"Lord Fugaku, did the village deliberately conceal our brave accomplishments on the battlefield? Otherwise, why does no one have any special reaction to us at all?"

The proud Uchiha Clan members truly could not stomach this humiliation.

The honor belonged to their clan, won through blood, tears, and desperate battles on the battlefield.

Yet now, they had received none of what they deserved.

No one could accept that.

Uchiha Fugaku's expression was grim, but he said nothing.

Uchiha Shisui, however, quietly reminded the others, "Don't make wild guesses. Perhaps the village simply hasn't had time to compile the battle records of each clan yet."

"In any case, we should try not to ruin this rare harmony. At least everyone is smiling and welcoming us now..."

His words left Uchiha Daiki beside him utterly speechless.

After silently staring at Uchiha Shisui for a few moments, Uchiha Daiki could not help sneering.

Naturally, Uchiha Shisui immediately looked at him curiously.

Uchiha Daiki said in a sarcastic tone, "If the villagers don't know how each ninja clan performed on the battlefield, then why are they treating people differently now? The Yellow Flash, the Sannin, the Hyuga Clan..."

"Take a good look at the status these clans and ninja hold in the villagers' eyes, then compare it with us. Heh..."

If an ordinary person had said this, Uchiha Shisui might have had something else to say.

But the one speaking now was Uchiha Daiki.

He was the Uchiha Prodigy who had earned the greatest military achievements during the Third Shinobi World War, single-handedly crushing the enemy forces on the battlefields against Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure.

Yet at this moment, the treatment Uchiha Daiki received was clearly no different from that received by other Konoha ninja.

No matter how Uchiha Shisui tried to reassure himself, the problem was obvious.

So, for a moment, he had nothing to say.

Then, at that very moment, earth-shaking cheers suddenly erupted from the villagers lining both sides of the road behind them.

Some even began shouting at the top of their lungs.

Everyone turned around and saw a tall, thin figure with long black hair approaching.

"Lord Orochimaru!!"

"It's Lord Orochimaru, one of the Sannin! He's finally back!"

"I heard that on the Western Battlefield, the allied forces of Sunagakure were defeated this time entirely because of Lord Orochimaru!"

"Incredible! As expected of one of the Sannin!"

"..."

The villagers' excited and exhilarated cheers rose one after another, reaching the ears of the Uchiha Clan members.

At that point, no explanation was needed. The truth was already clear.

Even Orochimaru's battlefield exploits had evidently spread throughout all of Konoha.

Yet someone like Uchiha Daiki, whose actual achievements and strength both slightly surpassed Minato Namikaze's, was completely unknown to anyone.

Any normal person could guess the reason behind it.

"Do you still think the villagers don't know about our Uchiha Clan's achievements because the village simply hasn't had time to compile the records?"

Uchiha Daiki asked Uchiha Shisui with a faintly mocking smile.