Brothers or the Hokage Position?

Hiruzen Sarutobi kept speaking. From every little interaction he had shared with Kagami Uchiha, Hiruzen believed that Kagami would never leak the news of Teacher Tobirama's death.

Standing behind Hiruzen, Kagami Uchiha was so moved that he could barely contain it. A fortune was easy to find, but a true friend was hard to come by. Kagami had never expected Hiruzen to trust him so completely.

A true friend! He was practically a true friend!

Hiruzen, if you ever need anything, just say the word. Your brother won't hesitate!!

As Hiruzen spoke, the spacious room fell silent. No one said a word, and all eyes turned to Mito Uzumaki, waiting for her judgment.

"Hmph."

A derisive snort left Mito Uzumaki's throat. Mito looked at Hiruzen, a hint of mockery in her smile.

"That was very well said. Are you sure you want to protect Kagami Uchiha?"

"You know that, given Kagami Uchiha's identity, even if he really did leak the information, I couldn't possibly kill him. At most, he'd suffer a little physical punishment."

"The leak has already happened. As an Uchiha, whether he did it or not, Kagami Uchiha is an accomplice."

"I've been played like a fool, and this old woman has anger to vent. Think carefully about your answer. It will affect my attitude toward you, as well as your future position in Konoha."

After saying that, Mito Uzumaki withdrew her aura. The vast, ocean-like Chakra that had filled the room vanished completely, and everyone present immediately felt much more at ease.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi did not feel much relief. Mito Uzumaki's question gave him a splitting headache. He knew very well what she meant by "position."

Hiruzen was not foolish enough to think that a mere verbal appointment would make him the Kage of the strongest ninja village in the entire Ninja World.

Even if Tobirama Senju were still alive, pushing Hiruzen into the position of Hokage would meet with resistance. Tobirama did not have the power to make every decision in Konoha unquestioned. The only person who could do that was Hashirama Senju.

The reason was simple: Hashirama Senju possessed absolute strength that could make everyone shut their mouths.

Tobirama Senju, on the other hand, still had to constantly suppress and divide factions, and fairly distribute benefits, in order to make the Bloodline Families within the village willingly serve him.

Whether he could become Hokage according to his teacher's final wishes now depended entirely on the woman before him, Mito Uzumaki.

Hiruzen understood Mito Uzumaki's meaning perfectly.

Did he love his brother, or did he love the Hokage Position?

The weight of the answer was immense—so immense that Hiruzen hesitated, blanking out for several seconds.

Watching Hiruzen's expression, Shimura Danzō fretted anxiously at the side, wishing he could choose for Hiruzen himself.

Of course it was the Hokage Position! No matter what, Kagami Uchiha would not die. At worst, he would spend half a year bedridden at home. Hiruzen's earlier defense had already done justice to the bond between fellow disciples.

At that moment, Kagami Uchiha was also staring at Hiruzen, hoping Hiruzen would abandon him for the time being. Hiruzen's righteous defense earlier was already enough in Kagami's eyes. Didn't Mito Uzumaki just want to vent her anger?

It was only physical pain. For my brother, I, Kagami Uchiha, can endure it!

"Mito-sama, Kagami Uchiha is innocent. Please do not take your anger out on him!"

Hiruzen raised his head and met Mito Uzumaki's eyes. The righteousness in his heart would not allow him to choose to betray Kagami Uchiha.

"Good!"

"Very good!!"

"You little monkey, playing the hero comes at a price. I hope you can bear it!"

Mito Uzumaki slapped the table and shouted, then ordered the Senju Clan Ninja around them to throw out all five people except Hiruzen Sarutobi.

They had been kept in the Senju Clan Compound to seal off the news. Now that news of Tobirama Senju's death had already spread through Konoha's streets, what was the point of keeping these useless people around?

They were simply wasting the Senju Clan's food.

Outside the Senju Clan Compound

"We just got out like that?"

Under the quiet night and brilliant moonlight, Utatane Koharu, who had just been hovering on the brink of life and death, felt as though she had entered another world and let out a sigh.

"What, do you want to go back in?"

Mitokado Homura teased from the side, and Utatane Koharu repeatedly denied it. She had finally escaped the dragon's den that was the Senju Clan Compound. How could she possibly want to go back?

She was just a bystander, all right? Things as heavy as the Hokage and Konoha's Future were never burdens meant for her to carry. She should just go home early, wash up, and sleep.

Shimura Danzō looked at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura joking around in front of him, and his anger flared at once. He immediately shouted.

"Hiruzen hasn't come out yet!!"

Shimura Danzō was heartbroken. His best friend had been left behind in the Senju Clan Compound again, and who knew whether he would live or die. Mito Uzumaki's reaction earlier had clearly shown that she was furious.

Hiruzen, honestly, you always have to play the hero. You were like this when you chose to act as bait and die before Teacher Tobirama, and you're still like this now!

"Don't worry. Hiruzen will be fine!"

Kagami Uchiha was also worried about Hiruzen's safety. He understood that Mito Uzumaki probably would not take Hiruzen's life, or she would not have released the rest of them. She would have simply imprisoned them all in the Senju Clan Compound.

But Hiruzen's days probably would not be easy. Mito Uzumaki had anger with nowhere to vent it, and now Hiruzen was the only one left in the Senju Clan Compound. If he did not suffer, who would?

"Kagami Uchiha, shut up! Hiruzen was left behind in the Senju Clan Compound because of you. You and the Uchiha are both no good."

"The news of Teacher Tobirama's death was sent back by the Uchiha. For Hiruzen's sake, I'll believe you for now. You'd better not have leaked the news, or I won't let you off!"

"..."

Shimura Danzō lashed out at Kagami Uchiha, placing all the blame on him.

Kagami Uchiha remained silent under the scolding. He wanted to argue, but stopped himself before speaking.

No matter what he said now, Shimura Danzō would not believe him. Putting himself in Danzō's place, he would not believe himself either.

Including Mito Uzumaki, only seven people knew. Yet the news leaked out immediately, and the source was the Uchiha. Out of those seven people, he was the only one named Uchiha.

This enormous scapegoat burden could not be pinned on him without explanation. His small shoulders could not bear it.

Shimura Danzō roared at him for quite a while, and Kagami Uchiha simply took it. He felt guilty toward Hiruzen, and he had no defense against Danzō's accusations.

Go ahead, curse me. Curse me. Consider it something done for Hiruzen. At least that will make me feel a little better.

Kagami Uchiha thought this as Danzō finally grew tired of shouting after a while. He gave Kagami one last vicious glare, then left them and headed toward his own home.

Seeing Danzō leave, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi also had no desire to remain there tangling with Kagami Uchiha. They each said their farewells and went home. They did not trust Kagami either; their reactions simply were not as intense as Danzō's.

Watching his former companions distance themselves and leave, Kagami Uchiha swore to himself that he would uncover the truth.

You bastard who leaked the news, just you wait!!!

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