Uchiha Spreads Rumors

Thud.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's earth-shattering kneel stunned everyone present; every ninja in the room, even Minato Namikaze, was dumbfounded. However, Minato Namikaze was clearly no longer the naive youth he once was.

He was shocked for only a moment before regaining his composure. This was nothing more than a bitter-meat ploy and a tactic of moral kidnapping by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen!

Uchiha Izuna, the original, twitched the corner of his mouth. Good, what a fine Sarutobi Hiruzen, what a fine Third Hokage. He knows how to bend and stretch, using this method to admit his faults.

Regardless of whether he was sincere, this single kneel was enough to shake the villagers' hearts and dissipate much of their resentment.

In an instant, the villagers in the room regained their clarity. They looked at each other, mouths agape, not knowing what to say.

Minato Namikaze looked coldly at the Third Hokage: "What is the meaning of this? Do you really think that kneeling can make up for the debt you owe Naruto all these years?"

Inside the Consciousness Space, Naruto Uzumaki was moved to tears and was about to seize control of his body, but Kurama pulled his clothes back with a single claw.

"You foolish brat, your own father is standing up for you, don't cause trouble. This man called Sarutobi Hiruzen is no good. I could feel that the moment he knelt just now, he harbored killing intent toward you and your father." Kurama's eyes were fixed intently on Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Naruto Uzumaki was bewildered. He looked at Kurama with confusion: "Really? Why do I feel like Old Man Third has realized his mistake?"

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen kneeling on the ground left a bad taste in his mouth, but Kurama looked at him with the expression one might reserve for an idiot: "I have to say, your personality reminds me of an old acquaintance."

Naruto Uzumaki was puzzled, drawn in by Kurama's words: "Who?"

Kurama glanced at him: "A fool." It then restrained Naruto, closed its eyes, and pricked up its ears to listen to the conversation outside.

Seeing that he could not break free from the restraint, Naruto Uzumaki had no choice but to stop and watch the situation unfold.

Sarutobi Hiruzen knelt on the ground: "Minato, it is all this old man's fault. If you hold a grudge against me, take my head. If I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, blink even once, I am not fit to be this Hokage!"

He held his body straight with iron-willed resolve, putting Minato Namikaze in a very passive position. At the same time, he sighed inwardly; truly a veteran actor, entering the role in a second, capable of both bending and stretching.

His attitude also softened: "In that case, return the portion that belongs to Naruto, and we will not pursue this matter further. However, I intend to take Naruto away from Konoha."

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, changed color: "The assets can be returned to you, but the Nine-Tails cannot leave Konoha. Konoha's powerhouses are currently withered; without the Nine-Tails, I fear we cannot stop the invasions from other villages!"

"Minato, you are also a Fourth Hokage, do you not understand this?" Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth, his gaze locked onto Minato Namikaze.

The next moment, the crowd began to discuss. They didn't care much about the ownership of the assets, but if the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails was the key to Konoha's peace, then it involved their own lives. This was no time to just watch the show.

"That's right! Lord Fourth, since the Third is willing to return the assets, can't you just let it go?"

"Yes, yes, let's value harmony, everyone is from Konoha!"

Minato Namikaze saw through Sarutobi Hiruzen's shamelessness and the villagers' selfishness. In truth, he didn't want to leave Konoha either, but to recover the assets, he had to raise the stakes!

"Since that is the case, Third, please write a formal statement. Within three days, I want the property rights to that commercial street belonging to Kushina, otherwise, I will take Naruto and leave Konoha to live in seclusion." Minato Namikaze threw a piece of paper without further ado.

Watching the gazes of the crowd, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only suppress his heartache to sign his name and press his thumbprint.

Minato Namikaze sneered as he took the IOU and stood to the side. He wouldn't bother with him personally; there would be plenty of others to do so later.

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, Kakashi rushed in with red eyes. His right hand hung limp, blue electric arcs jumping from his palm from time to time.

"Lord Hokage, my father's death—it was you who tacitly allowed Shimura Danzō to do it, wasn't it!" His Sharingan transformed into three tomoe, the arcs in his hand condensed into substance, and his chakra began to erupt!

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a headache coming on; he had just finished dealing with one, and now another had arrived. He pondered his words before looking at Kakashi: "Kakashi, your father was a hero of Konoha, and I am also very sorry for his death."

"The White Fang of Konoha has always been one of the most reliable and powerful ninjas in Konoha. I am very glad he was born in Konoha..."

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could finish, he was interrupted by Kakashi: "Lord Hokage, do not change the subject. I am asking if you tacitly allowed Shimura Danzō to plot my father's death and spread rumors that led to his suicide. Don't give me that nonsense!"

"I don't understand—are partners important, or are missions important? Does Lord First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, also feel that a comrade's life is worth less than completing a mission?"

"Or is it that your teacher, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, told you that ninjas who fail their missions are trash?"

Kakashi's words were sharp and highly inflammatory. The rage in his eyes was nearly tangible as he stared fixedly at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a chill, cursing Shimura Danzō inwardly. If it weren't for that terrible idea Shimura Danzō had back then, he wouldn't be facing such a fierce backlash now!

He looked at Kakashi with firm eyes: "Kakashi, rest assured, I will clear the White Fang's name right now. I will never let a hero be wronged!" He patted Kakashi on the shoulder.

Kakashi did not react, only saying coldly: "And what about Shimura Danzō? How do you intend to handle him? Shield him? Or execute him?"

"Plotting the death of a Konoha hero—surely that cannot be overlooked? Can it be that just because he is high-ranking and has contributed to Konoha, his merits and faults can cancel each other out, or be ignored entirely?"

Kakashi's eyes held killing intent, his bloodshot eyes filled with tears as he looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

At this look, the smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face vanished. He put some distance between himself and Kakashi, slowly saying: "This matter happened so long ago, and besides, the content in this newspaper might be fake."

"The Uchiha Clan is selling these unscrupulous newspapers without any basis. I ask you to think carefully, and I ask everyone to think carefully—do not be deceived!"

"The Uchiha have always coveted the position of Hokage; perhaps this is their conspiracy. You are all villagers of my Konoha, you should have the ability to distinguish good from evil!" Sarutobi Hiruzen used a tactic to shift the conflict, pointing directly at the Uchiha. At the same time, he narrowed his eyes at Uchiha Fugaku.