The Uchiha's Pride

As Itachi finished speaking, although the crowd still looked at him with some doubt, they began to discuss it in hushed tones.

Discussions arose among the crowd; some frowned, others shook their heads, scrutinizing Itachi's cracked face with skepticism.

Finally, everyone's eyes turned to Kou, as if seeking his answer.

Feeling the gazes from those around him, Koko first glanced at Fugaku beside him, who seemed hesitant to speak, then turned his gaze to the five people led by Itachi.

Jiraiya and the Third Hokage walked from behind to the sides of Itachi and Hashirama, the five of them standing side by side, all watching Koko.

Their eyes were resolute and open, clearly indicating that they were prepared for the consequences.

Kou didn't say anything, but glanced at Itachi and nodded slightly.

After receiving a response to the knock, the people around did not say anything more.

They refocused their attention on Itachi, their hostility lessening somewhat, and their Sharingan, which had been activated, dimmed.

Itachi glanced gratefully at Koko, then looked at the Uchiha around him, took a deep breath, and began to recount the ins and outs of the massacre that had occurred years ago.

After Shisui's death, he became utterly disillusioned with the Uchiha clan because they had not abandoned their coup plot.

Furthermore, to avoid internal strife in Konoha that could lead to the Fourth Shinobi World War, they made the decision to bypass the Third Hokage Danzo.

And they secretly discovered the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident — Obito, who was acting as Ninja World Uchiha Madara —and formed a partnership with him to carry out all the actions related to the Uchiha Clan Massacre...

During his narration, the Third Hokage and Minato also interspersed their accounts with the truth about the Nine-Tails Incident.

After recounting all of this, the Third Hokage solemnly repented to everyone for having doubts about the Uchiha Clan and for failing to detect Danzo.

However, the crowd clearly had no interest in hearing the apologies from the Third Hokage.

Their thoughts were now firmly drawn to that familiar name.

They were naturally very familiar with the name Uchiha Obito.

In the memories of most of his clansmen, Obito has always been a hero who was always willing to help others and ultimately sacrificed himself in the Third Ninja World War.

For the Uchiha who knew very little about Obito, their strongest impression of him was merely that of the loud and boisterous sidekick beside Kakashi, and the one who entrusted Kakashi with one of his Sharingan after his sacrifice.

Uchiha Madara's successor, the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident, and a mysterious powerhouse who single-handedly slaughtered the entire Uchiha Police Force during the clan massacre...

Each of these identities is completely different from the Obito they know.

How could that kind kid who always helps the elderly cross the street be the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident's rampage?

How could it be the mysterious person who participated in the massacre of the clan with Itachi?

In response, many people in the crowd questioned Itachi and the Third Hokage's words, especially the commoners who had the closest contact with Obito.

The knocking confirmed this fact.

Under the incredulous gazes of the crowd, Koko recounted everything that had happened to Obito, including all the events that had occurred over the years, including Obito's final act of using the Rinne Rebirth Technique and his calm acceptance of death.

He spoke very calmly, his tone almost imperceptible, as if he were recounting a story that had already been turned over.

As Kou recounted his story, the expressions on everyone's faces shifted from disbelief to gradually accepting this shocking reality.

The dissenting voices have disappeared, and some people have turned their gaze elsewhere, seemingly unsure of where to look.

"I have said everything that led to the current situation."

Looking at the silent crowd before him, he said in a low voice, his tone complex:

"Although it may be hard for everyone to accept right now, this is reality."

Hearing Kou's words, everyone subconsciously looked at the body behind Kou, which they had been ignoring since the beginning.

The morning light shone on them, falling on the faint curve of Rin's lips, and also on Obito's face, which had finally relaxed.

They lay there quietly, as if they were asleep.

Minato and Kushina looked at Obito and Rin's bodies, a hint of regret and dejection appeared in their eyes.

Minato's lips were slightly pursed, Kushina's hand gripped his Minato tightly.

Knowing he couldn't offer any comfort, Naruto didn't say anything. He simply moved closer to his parents, resting his shoulders on their arms.

The Uchiha, who had been outraged, fell into a long silence.

They stood there, looking at the two bodies lying quietly, their anger and resentment unable to find an outlet for themselves.

Jiraiya looked at the silent crowd, hesitated for a moment, and finally stepped forward, speaking sincerely to them:

"I know it's very difficult to get everyone to accept all of this quickly and make a decision."

But regarding Konoha's attitude towards all that the Uchiha have suffered, I hope you will listen to what I have to say...

"In the capacity of the Fifth Hokage of Konoha."

Hearing Jiraiya's resolute words, everyone looked at him, a scrutinizing glint in their eyes.

Jiraiya, feeling the gazes of the crowd, paused for a moment before continuing:

"Konoha will disclose everything that happened back then, and will publicly apologize to the Uchiha throughout the entire Ninja World, and do its best to make amends."

Now that things have come to this, Konoha doesn't expect everyone to forgive and forget, but if you choose to return to Konoha and continue your lives, we will never let you down.

"Konoha will absolutely accept everyone from the Uchiha!!"

At this point, Jiraiya's gaze involuntarily fell on Koko, a heartfelt expectation flashing in his eyes:

"Please, everyone... consider this carefully."

Kō felt Jiraiya's intense gaze and was momentarily stunned.

"So you haven't given up after all, huh? You brought me back to Konoha."

"I must say, you truly are worthy of being called Jiraiya- Teacher."

He sighed inwardly, then looked away and gazed at the people around him.

Hearing Jiraiya's sincere words, the crowd began to discuss among themselves, clearly caught in a dilemma.

"Isn't it a bit too early to discuss whether or not to return to Konoha?"

Looking at the crowd before him, he said meaningfully:

"Let's get back to the original topic: what are everyone's thoughts on Itachi and the Lord Hokage's apologies?"

Hearing Kou's words, the clamor of the crowd gradually subsided.

Their gazes toward the five were complex, and for a long time, none of them answered.

After a long pause, a strained voice rang out from the crowd:

"I... cannot forgive Konoha for what they did to us."

Hearing the voices from the crowd, the five people's expressions instantly turned serious, as if they were considering how to respond to this hatred.

But then, another sentence came from the crowd:

"But I have no intention of implicating the innocent people in the village because of this."

A hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of the five people.

People in the crowd couldn't help but look in the direction from which the sound came, their faces showing surprise.

"Tekka..."

Fugaku stared wide-eyed at the first person to speak in the crowd, clearly surprised by the person's response.

After all, Uchiha Tekka was one of the most radical supporters of the coup among the clan's high-ranking members back then.

His attitude at this moment was clearly completely unexpected by Fugaku.

"You needn't be so surprised, Chieftain."

Tekka looked at Fugaku and said with a wry smile:

"Although I have never forgiven Konoha for what they did to my clan, after experiencing death..."

Especially after listening to what Kokoro and Itachi had to say about what had happened over the years, I started to have some slightly different thoughts.

"For example... the coup I was so determined to stage back then may indeed have been a wrong decision."

Back then, we completely ignored the impact our actions would have on the innocent people of Konoha and on the peace of the entire Ninja World.

As he spoke, Tekka looked at Itachi and continued in a complicated tone:

"It's as if Itachi chose to slaughter the entire Uchiha Clan, including innocent people, for the sake of peace in Konoha and the Ninja World."

What we do is essentially the same.

They're all dragging innocent people into it for what they consider more important things.

His voice lowered:

"And now, I have a profound understanding of the bitter consequences of doing so."

Tekka shifted his gaze from Itachi's face to the crowd around him, and said in a passionate tone:

The Uchiha Clan is a proud clan.

We will never be swayed by anger and do anything that harms innocent people!