Sarutobi Hiruzen kept talking about all the little moments he and Kagami Uchiha had shared. He was certain Kagami would never leak the news of their teacher Tobirama Senju's death.
Standing behind Hiruzen, Kagami was so moved he could hardly put it into words. Gold was easy to come by; a true confidant was hard to find. He had no idea Hiruzen trusted him so much.
A true confidant! Hiruzen was the real deal!
Hiruzen, if you ever need anything, just say the word. Your brother's got your back!!
As Hiruzen spoke, the spacious room fell silent. Not a soul uttered a word. Everyone looked to Mito Uzumaki, awaiting her judgment.
"Hmph."
A derisive laugh escaped Mito Uzumaki. She looked at Hiruzen, her smile tinged with mockery.
"Very well said. Are you sure you really want to protect Kagami Uchiha?"
"You know that, given Kagami's status, even if he really did leak the news, I couldn't kill him. At most, he'd suffer a little."
"The news has already been leaked. As a member of the Uchiha, Kagami is an accomplice, whether he did it or not."
"I've been made a fool of, and this old woman needs someone to take her anger out on. Think carefully. Your answer will affect how I treat you, and your future position in Konoha."
With that, Mito Uzumaki withdrew her aura. The immense Chakra that had felt as boundless as the sea vanished completely, and everyone in the room immediately felt lighter.
But Hiruzen didn't feel much relief. Mito Uzumaki's question gave him a headache. He knew exactly what she meant by "position."
Hiruzen wasn't so foolish as to think that one verbal appointment was enough to make him the Kage of the strongest village in the entire Ninja world.
Even if Tobirama Senju were alive, appointing him Hokage would meet with resistance. Tobirama couldn't make all the decisions in Konoha; only Hashirama Senju could.
There was one reason: Hashirama Senju possessed peerless strength that could silence everyone.
Tobirama Senju, meanwhile, had to keep suppressing and dividing the clans, and fairly distributing benefits, before the village's bloodline clans would willingly serve him.
Whether he could honor his teacher's dying wish and become Hokage now depended entirely on Mito Uzumaki, standing before him.
Hiruzen understood what Mito Uzumaki was asking.
Did he love his brother, or the Hokage Position?
The answer carried enormous weight. Hiruzen hesitated, his mind going blank for a few seconds.
Watching Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō fretted impatiently, wishing he could make the choice for him.
Obviously, he should choose the Hokage Position! No matter what, Kagami Uchiha wouldn't die. At worst, he'd be bedridden for half a year. And Hiruzen had already done right by their bond as fellow students by standing up for him.
Kagami Uchiha was also staring at Hiruzen, hoping he'd set him aside for the moment. Hiruzen had already said more than enough in his defense. Mito Uzumaki just wanted to vent, didn't she?
A little physical pain was nothing. For my brother, I, Kagami Uchiha, can take it!
"Mito-sama, Kagami Uchiha is innocent. Please don't take your anger out on him!"
Hiruzen raised his head and met Mito Uzumaki's gaze. His sense of justice wouldn't let him betray Kagami Uchiha.
"Good!"
"Very good!"
"Brat, playing the hero comes at a price. I hope you can bear it!"
Mito Uzumaki slapped the table and shouted. Then she ordered the Senju Clan's ninja to throw out everyone except Hiruzen.
She'd kept them in the Senju Clan Land to contain the news. Now that word of Tobirama Senju's death had spread through Konoha's streets, what was the point of keeping those useless fools there?
They were just wasting the Senju Clan's food.
Outside the Senju Clan Land
"So we're just leaving?"
The quiet night and bright moon made Utatane Koharu, who had just been hovering on the brink of life and death, feel as though she'd returned from another world. She let out a sigh.
"What, you want to go back?"
Mitokado Homura teased her from the side. Utatane Koharu hurriedly denied it. She'd finally escaped the dragon's lair that was the Senju Clan Land. Why would she go back?
She was just a bystander, okay? Hokage, the future of Konoha—those burdensome responsibilities had nothing to do with her. She'd be better off going home, washing up, and getting some sleep.
Shimura Danzō watched Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura joking around in front of him, and his anger flared. He snapped at them.
"Hiruzen still hasn't come out!"
Shimura Danzō was heartbroken. His best friend had been left behind in the Senju Clan Land again, and he had no idea whether he was safe. Mito Uzumaki had clearly been furious just now.
Hiruzen, really! You're always playing the hero. You did the same thing when you volunteered to be the decoy and die in front of Teacher Tobirama Senju, and now you're doing it again!
"Don't worry. Hiruzen will be fine!"
Kagami Uchiha was also worried about Hiruzen's safety. He knew Mito Uzumaki probably wouldn't kill him; otherwise, she wouldn't have let them leave. She could have simply confined them all in the Senju Clan Land.
But Hiruzen's days probably wouldn't be easy. Mito Uzumaki had anger to vent, and Hiruzen was the only one left in the Senju Clan Land. If he didn't suffer, who would?
"Kagami Uchiha, shut up! Hiruzen was left behind in the Senju Clan Land because of you. You and the Uchiha are all no good."
"The Uchiha were the ones who sent word of Teacher Tobirama's death. I'll believe you for Hiruzen's sake this time, but you'd better not have leaked the news. If you did, I won't let you get away with it!"
"..."
Shimura Danzō turned his anger on Kagami Uchiha, blaming him for everything.
Kagami Uchiha took the scolding without a word. He wanted to argue, but held back.
What could he say? Shimura Danzō wouldn't believe him anyway. If he put himself in Danzō's shoes, he wouldn't believe himself either.
Only seven people knew, including Mito Uzumaki, and the news had leaked immediately. The source was the Uchiha, and he was the only one of the seven with the Uchiha name.
He couldn't let this enormous blame be pinned on him without explanation. His frail shoulders couldn't carry it.
Shimura Danzō ranted for quite a while. Kagami Uchiha just endured it. He felt guilty toward Hiruzen, and he had no way to refute Danzō's accusations.
Go ahead, yell at me. For Hiruzen's sake, it might make me feel a little better.
That was what Kagami Uchiha thought. After a while, Danzō finally ran out of steam. He glared at Kagami one last time, then left them and headed home.
Seeing Danzō leave, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi had no desire to keep arguing with Kagami Uchiha. They said their goodbyes and went home as well. They didn't trust Kagami either; they just weren't as worked up as Danzō.
Watching his former companions walk away from him, Kagami Uchiha swore to uncover the truth.
Whoever leaked the news, just you wait!!!
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