Rumors

(The Forty-Second Chapter: Rumors)

The Third Hokage fixed his gaze on Mirai. Though Mirai was still young, the Third Hokage felt he was remarkably mature for his age. Making that kind of decision under such dangerous circumstances was beyond what even most Chunin could manage.

"It was probably someone from the Uchiha clan. Only members of the Uchiha clan could use the Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails to that extent. But even the current head of the Uchiha clan can't control the Nine-Tails," Mirai said, telling only part of the truth. Even if he admitted that Uchiha Obito was behind it, it wouldn't make any difference now. Konoha was in no state to go after Obito, and doing so might only cause further complications.

The Third Hokage rubbed his chin and fell into thought. There seemed to be only one person in the Uchiha clan with the ocular power to control the Nine-Tails, but that person had died long ago. There was no way he could still be alive. So who was the Masked Man? Did he want to control the Nine-Tails and destroy Konoha? The only person who seemed to hate Konoha that much was that man.

"Third Hokage, I'd like to ask how the Fourth Hokage's son, Naruto, is doing," Mirai asked. The Fourth Hokage had asked him to help if Naruto Uzumaki's life was ever in danger. Mirai had been helped by the Fourth Hokage and his wife, so naturally, he wanted to look after their child.

Mirai's question interrupted the Third Hokage's thoughts. He looked up and replied, "You don't need to worry about Naruto. To prevent the enemy from using the Nine-Tails again, I've placed him somewhere secret and asked someone to look after him. I've also ordered the ninjas who witnessed the incident to keep quiet, so no one learns that Naruto is a Jinchuriki and puts him in danger. So, Mirai, don't tell anyone the true cause of the Fourth Hokage's death, either. I promised the Fourth Hokage I would take good care of Naruto. I only hope he can grow up like an ordinary child."

"I understand. I won't tell anyone, Lord Third. If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"All right, go on, child. Thank you. You're a hero who helped save Konoha, too," the Third Hokage said sincerely.

"I only did what I had to. If this place had been destroyed, I would've been homeless, too." Mirai bowed respectfully to the Third Hokage, then left the room.

After Mirai left, the Third Hokage gazed out at the moonlight and began to reflect. The Uchiha clan... He thought of his friend, Kagami Uchiha, a great ninja who had sacrificed himself for Konoha. Then he thought of the man he had been suspecting all along. If it really was that man, Konoha's situation was even worse. Had Minato left the Nine-Tails behind as a hope for Konoha's defense? He had sacrificed so much for the village. Konoha owed the Fourth Hokage and his wife so much.

Mirai returned to his house. Although it was close to the area damaged by the Nine-Tails' attack, fortunately, it had survived, so he didn't have to live on the streets.

Though it was already night, the villagers were still working hard to rebuild their homes. Disasters brought suffering, but they could also make people stronger. At least, no one had given up hope of surviving.

*******

Somewhere beneath Konoha, there was a wide-open space. A man stood quietly there, his right hand and eye wrapped in white bandages, like a patient who had been gravely injured. He was about the same age as the Third Hokage and had a distinctive scar on his chin. If Mirai had been there, he would have recognized him.

Shimura Danzō, leader of Root, the Anbu organization, and one of Konoha's senior officials—a man who would pursue his ambitions even with one foot in the grave.

"Whoosh!" An Anbu Ninja wearing a mask appeared before Shimura Danzō.

"How is the situation I asked you to investigate? Is the Nine-Tails really dead?" Shimura Danzō asked calmly.

"No. The Nine-Tails is still alive. It has been sealed inside the Fourth Hokage's child. The Third Hokage ordered the ninjas who witnessed the incident to keep quiet."

Shimura Danzō opened his eyes. "Oh? Namikaze Minato's bloodline, is it? Sarutobi Hiruzen, you passed the position of Hokage to some brat instead of me. Did you issue that order to protect the Fourth Hokage's bloodline? I won't let you have your way."

"Set up a false story so people believe the child who was brought back is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Lead them to believe that the Fourth Hokage and Konoha Village were destroyed by that demon. Then pin the Nine-Tails' attack on the Uchiha clan. I trust you know what to do."

"Yes!"

"You may leave."

"Whoosh!" The Anbu Ninja vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

*******

Early the next morning, Mirai went to school. The school hadn't been affected by the Nine-Tails Incident, so classes were proceeding as usual. Mirai hadn't been to school for several days, and he wondered whether that would affect his progress. After all, completing his studies was his main quest. It would be a real loss if he got penalized.

As Mirai walked down the street, he felt people pointing at him and whispering, but he paid them no mind and hurried to class.

The classroom was noisy. After the Nine-Tails' attack on the village, everyone seemed to have endless things to say. But the moment Mirai stepped inside, the room fell silent. Some students looked at him fearfully; others watched him and whispered behind his back.

Mirai frowned. Something had clearly happened. Was it about him? He went to his seat. Many of his classmates moved out of his way as he passed, as if they were afraid of him.

A few classmates he knew well came over. Cunxia Ye said to him, "Mirai, haven't you heard the rumor?"

"What rumor? I haven't heard anything." Mirai looked completely unaware. He had noticed that people on the street were acting strangely, but he hadn't bothered to listen to their gossip.

"I don't know where it started, but the rumor is... that the Uchiha clan was unhappy with its status and wanted to destroy Konoha, and that they used the Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails and attack the village."