Chapter 267: Returning to the Village
October 7, Konoha Year 37, Konoha, Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a rare smile today. This was the best news he had heard in over a month!
More than a month ago, when news of Akaseki's capture first reached Konoha, the village had been shocked.
Whether he was an Uchiha or not, whether he was a genius or not, those were secondary matters—Danzo had been right at the time. Which clan had never lost anyone? Were dead geniuses really so rare?
But—
Akashi Uchiha's age was a major issue!
Sarutobi lowering the minimum age for deployment had already conflicted with Konoha's core principles.
At the time, in order to encourage everyone and calm public fears, Akaseki had been established as a positive example.
It was precisely Akaseki's outstanding performance that had convinced everyone the Third's decision was correct. Young ninjas not only faced relatively little danger in their missions, but also made great contributions to Konoha—
Yet the smoother things had gone before, the more passive Sarutobi had become once Akaseki was captured!
Although Danzo had suggested making Hatake Sakumo take the blame, Sarutobi was still an honest man. Besides, Sakumo had won a great victory. Making him shoulder the blame would have been unjustifiable—
Sarutobi chose to make Orochimaru bear responsibility as the commander!
After all, in recent months, Orochimaru had indeed often disagreed with Sarutobi.
Thus, this had also become one of the reasons for "changing commanders."
Then, not long ago, when news of Sunagakure's "Tailed Beast Night" arrived, Sarutobi had immediately become excited!
In contrast, Danzo's face was dark. In his heart, he had cursed those idiots from Sunagakure ten thousand times—why couldn't they have simply killed him? How had he managed to cause such trouble and then escape unharmed?
"Everyone