Thump.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's astonishing kneel moved everyone. All the shinobi present, even Minato Namikaze, were stunned. But Minato was clearly no longer the naïve innocent he'd once been.
He was shocked for only a moment before realizing this was nothing but Third Sarutobi Hiruzen's "self-inflicted injury ploy" and an attempt to guilt-trip him!
The original Uchiha Izuna's mouth twitched. Well, well, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Well, well, Third. He was willing to bend and yield, admitting his mistake this way.
Whether he was sincere or not, that single kneel was enough to jolt the villagers and dispel much of their resentment.
The villagers' gazes in the room suddenly cleared. They looked at one another, opening their mouths, then finding they didn't know what to say.
Minato looked coldly at Third. "What do you mean by this? Do you think kneeling can make up for all the ways you've failed Naruto over the years?"
Inside Naruto Uzumaki's Consciousness Space, Naruto was so moved he was practically in tears. He was about to fight for control of his body when Kurama hooked a claw through his clothes and pulled him back.
"You idiot. Your real dad is standing up for you. Don't get in the way. This Sarutobi Hiruzen fellow is no good. I could feel that the instant he knelt, he wanted to kill you and your father." Kurama stared fixedly at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Naruto was bewildered. He looked at Kurama with confusion. "Really? I thought Third Grandpa had realized he was wrong."
Watching Third Sarutobi Hiruzen kneel there made him feel awful. Kurama gave him a look as if he were an idiot. "I have to say, your personality reminds me of an old acquaintance."
Naruto was curious, drawn in by Kurama's words. "Who?"
Kurama glanced at him. "An idiot." Then it restrained Naruto, closed its eyes, and pricked up its ears to listen to the conversation outside.
Unable to break free, Naruto had no choice but to stop and watch what was happening outside.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knelt on the ground. "Minato, this is all my fault. If you resent me, then take my head. If I so much as flinch, I don't deserve to be Hokage!"
He held himself upright, his resolve seemingly unshakable, putting Minato in a difficult position. Minato also thought, As expected of an old pro. He'd gotten into character in a second, and knew when to bend and yield.
His own attitude softened. "If that's the case, return Naruto's share to him, and we'll let the rest go. However, I want to take Naruto away from Konoha."
Third Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed. "I can return the property to you, but the Nine-Tails can't leave Konoha. Konoha's strong shinobi are few these days. Without the Nine-Tails, we might not be able to repel attacks from the other villages!"
"Minato, you were the Fourth Hokage too. Surely you understand?" Sarutobi Hiruzen gritted his teeth, staring fixedly at Minato.
The crowd began discussing it. They didn't care who the property belonged to, but if the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was key to Konoha's peace, then that affected their lives. This was no time to sit back and watch.
"That's right! Fourth Hokage, since Third is willing to return the property, can't you let it go?"
"Exactly! Peace above all. We're all people of Konoha!"
Minato saw both Sarutobi Hiruzen's shamelessness and the villagers' selfishness. He didn't actually want to leave Konoha either, but if he wanted to get the property back, he had to raise the stakes!
"In that case, Third, please put it in writing. I want the title to Kushina's commercial street within three days. Otherwise, I'll take Naruto and leave Konoha to live in seclusion." Minato didn't waste words; he tossed over a sheet of paper.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only grit his teeth and sign his name, then stamp his thumbprint.
Minato took the IOU with a cold laugh and stepped aside. He wasn't going to give Sarutobi Hiruzen trouble himself; plenty of others would do that next.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, Kakashi rushed in, his eyes red. His right arm hung limp, blue arcs of electricity occasionally leaping from his hand.
"Lord Hokage, you gave Danzo permission to cause my father's death, didn't you?" His Sharingan transformed into three tomoe, and the electricity in his hand solidified as his chakra began to surge!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's head throbbed. He'd barely dealt with one problem when another showed up. After considering what to say, he finally looked at Kakashi. "Kakashi, your father was a hero of Konoha. I deeply regret his death too."
"The White Fang of Konoha was always one of Konoha's most reliable and powerful shinobi. I'm grateful he was born in Konoha..."
Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could finish, Kakashi cut him off. "Lord Hokage, don't change the subject. I'm asking if you allowed Danzo to engineer my father's death and spread rumors that drove him to suicide. Don't feed me that nonsense!"
"I just don't understand. What matters more, your comrades or the mission? Did even First Hashirama Senju think a comrade's life mattered less than completing a mission?"
"Or did your teacher, Second Tobirama Senju, tell you that shinobi who failed their missions were worse than trash?"
Kakashi's words were sharp and highly inflammatory. The fury in his eyes was almost tangible as he glared at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt uneasy, silently cursing Shimura Danzō over and over. If Shimura Danzō hadn't come up with that rotten scheme back then, he wouldn't be suffering such a vicious backlash now!
He looked at Kakashi with determination. "Kakashi, don't worry. I'll clear the White Fang's name right now. I won't let a hero suffer injustice!" He patted Kakashi on the shoulder.
Kakashi didn't react at all. He only said coldly, "And Shimura Danzō? How do you plan to deal with him? Cover for him, or execute him?"
"Engineering the death of a Konoha hero can't just be let go, can it? Surely he can't escape consequences or have the matter swept under the rug just because he's a senior official and has contributed to Konoha!"
Kakashi's eyes were filled with murderous intent. His bloodshot eyes, mixed with tears, turned toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
At that look, the smile vanished from Sarutobi Hiruzen's face. He stepped away from Kakashi and slowly began, "A long time has passed since this happened. Besides, the contents of this newspaper could be fake."
"The Uchiha Clan is selling this kind of unscrupulous newspaper without any evidence. Please think carefully, and everyone else should think carefully too. Don't be fooled!"
"The Uchiha have always coveted the Hokage Position. This might well be their scheme. You are all villagers of Konoha and should be able to tell right from wrong!" Sarutobi Hiruzen shifted the blame with a single stroke, pointing straight at the Uchiha. He also looked at Uchiha Fugaku, narrowing his eyes.
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