Third Hokage Dies to Atone

The three of them had faces as dark as water, their gazes fixed on the Third Hokage.

If the Third Hokage revealed this matter truthfully, it would mean bringing their own dirty deeds into the open.

It would mean exposing the dark side of Konoha completely to the sunlight.

It would mean completely tearing off the last fig leaf from their faces!

Furthermore, if such a thing were to be exposed to the public, Konoha could very well fall into panic.

After all, not everyone, not every clan, could accept such a thing.

Where there is light, there is darkness; the light is true light, and the darkness is true darkness!

Nara Shikaku, the spokesperson for the Anbu, and the spokespeople for the Land of Fire, held their breath at this moment, wanting to know these secret matters.

Although they were high-ranking officials in Konohagakure, they were still very curious about Ye Fan's question.

In fact, before this, they had never thought that this matter was a political maneuver.

Previously, they had all assumed that the matter of Ye Fan being the Uchiha Plague God had originated from within the Uchiha clan.

But! Analyzing the current situation, it seemed that there were more profound meanings hidden behind that incident.

The few of them searched through some long-forgotten memories and suddenly realized that after Ye Fan made his move, everything that happened was indeed too coincidental.

So coincidental that it was like a chain reaction, all the way until the destruction of the Uchiha clan!

Upon hearing the question, the Third Hokage slowly closed his eyes and fell into silence.

Danzō and the other two were like ants on a hot pan, restless.

Although they had already decided beforehand to kill everyone who knew these secrets, when the secret was truly about to be revealed to the public, they were still very uneasy and couldn't help but become nervous.

Some things, even if everyone knows them, are fine as long as they are not spoken; but once spoken, a price must be paid.

Not to mention, this matter that Ye Fan was asking about was only known to the four of them in the entire Konoha!

"Hmph!" Ye Fan snorted coldly, sneeringly saying, "What, Lord Third Hokage, didn't you just say you would tell me everything you know? Why are you stuck now?"

The Third Hokage remained silent, but his expression grew increasingly heavy.

After about two to three minutes, the Third Hokage sighed and slowly spoke:

"Ye Fan, this matter involves too much. I can only tell you some of it."

"The rest concerns Konoha's safety and the lives of some people. I apologize, but I cannot tell you."

Hearing the latter sentence, Ye Fan instantly understood what he was referring to.

The Third Hokage's second sentence clearly referred to Uchiha Itachi!

Others might not know, but Ye Fan was very clear about it.

Although Uchiha Itachi appeared to be a rogue ninja on the surface, he was actually a ninja extremely loyal to Konoha.

Whether it was when he was placed as a spy in the Anbu by the Uchiha higher-ups before the clan's destruction, or later when he became a SSS-class wanted criminal in Konoha, listed on the kill list, his loyalty to Konoha was absolute.

Uchiha Itachi could wield his blade against his family, loved ones, and clan members for the sake of the village. This level of dedication was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people like Ye Fan.

It was also the sense of national righteousness he possessed that made Ye Fan look upon him with admiration and great respect.

Sometimes, Ye Fan pondered a question: what kind of righteousness must one possess to make a person give up so much?

What could make a person, without hesitation bearing the name of disloyalty, injustice, and unfilial piety, still deeply love what they are protecting?

Sometimes Ye Fan even suspected if Uchiha Itachi had been hit by Uchiha Shisui's genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami, to make him love Konoha so deeply.

Describing Itachi with the phrase "Konoha abuses me a thousand times, but I treat Konoha as my first love" would be most fitting!

"You just need to tell me what I want to know. I'm not interested in other things," Ye Fan said to the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage took a deep breath and said, "You are right. The matter of you being the Plague God was indeed a political maneuver."

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the Konoha higher-ups showed various expressions, and their complexions were varied. Danzō and the other two looked even more like they were sitting on pins and needles.

"This matter, as you said, was a method I used to provoke discord within the Uchiha clan and consolidate my power."

"This matter, from beginning to end, was planned and executed by me alone. No one else in Konoha knew about it."

"Your parents' deaths, and even the annihilation of the Uchiha clan, I bear some undeniable responsibility for."

After saying this, the Third Hokage seemed to be relieved, as if a heavy stone pressing on his heart had been lifted.

When Shimura Danzō and the others heard this, they were stunned for a moment, and then their brows relaxed, and they felt pleased.

They had not expected the Third Hokage to say this.

"Oh? Was it really just you alone?"

Ye Fan saw all the changes in Danzō's expression.

In fact, from their actions, he had already guessed the general idea.

Ye Fan absolutely would not believe that this matter was solely the Third Hokage's doing.

The Third Hokage was indecisive and weak in his actions; he would never have resorted to such drastic measures for a major event like this.

"Yes, it all began because of me," the Third Hokage said calmly.

"Ye Fan, I apologize. If it weren't for my decisions, your childhood wouldn't have been so bleak, and perhaps your parents wouldn't have died, nor would the Uchiha Clan have met its demise."

"My foolish decision that led to the Uchiha Clan's destruction is the gravest mistake I've made in my life."

As he spoke, the Third Hokage slowly walked in front of Ye Fan and bowed deeply. "I apologize to all the Uchiha clan members for my erroneous decisions."

"I know that an apology alone cannot mend the mistakes I've made."

"After this matter is concluded, I will pass the Hokage position to Jiraiya and then atone with my life."

The Third Hokage's tone was exceptionally calm, as if he had already made up his mind.

The Konoha elders present were greatly shocked upon hearing this and immediately began to persuade him, turning the Hokage's office into a chaotic mess.

Shimura Danzō, however, only heard the words "pass the position to Jiraiya."

In an instant, countless thoughts flooded his mind, and a plan to seize the Hokage position surfaced.

"Heh heh, Third Hokage-sama, do you think you alone can take responsibility for all of this?"

Ye Fan's voice rang out in the incredibly noisy Hokage office. "There must be someone else who pushed for that incident, right?"

Ye Fan's gaze swept over Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura.

The moment his gaze fell upon them, the three instinctively flinched.

After flinching, they realized that Ye Fan wasn't Uchiha Fugaku; he was just a child. What was there to be afraid of?