"Who exactly is this person? Why do I feel like there's a pair of unseen hands above the village, manipulating all of our fates?"
Youhu's words were like a demon's whisper, echoing again and again in Kakashi and Might Guy's ears.
They weren't green Genin just starting out. Though they were only in their early twenties and still somewhat unfamiliar with how the village operated, the experience and status that came with being Jonin more than made up for it.
After hearing Youhu's theory, they fell into thought.
The mastermind behind all this naturally pointed to one of Konoha's high officials, a man who kept to himself. He rarely showed his hand, yet had always controlled Konoha's underground world. He was another Hokage of the village.
This person was the Leader of the Root Organization, Shimura Danzō.
With Danzo as the mastermind, some questions that had troubled Kakashi for years finally had answers.
Who had spread the rumor that his father abandoned a mission to protect his comrades?
It was Shimura Danzō, who had feared his father's reputation and standing.
Why had the Ninja his father saved come forward to condemn him, only to take his own life soon afterward?
It was because Shimura Danzō had controlled that Ninja. After using him, he had disposed of the body.
Why had his father, so strong in both spirit and skill, chosen to take his own life?
It was because his father had seen through Shimura Danzō's schemes and, believing the Will of Fire had lost its meaning, had grown disillusioned and chosen to die.
Or perhaps Danzo had threatened his father with Kakashi's life.
Danzo was a man who stopped at nothing for his own gain. He was capable of anything. A few years ago, Kakashi had even survived an assassination