Darkness Beneath Prosperity

Ordinary civilians regarded ninjas born into the Uchiha Clan with the proper awe and respect, not the so-called fear or dread. After all, the Uchiha Clan was an important force in maintaining village security and ensuring that ordinary people like them could live peaceful, harmonious lives.

The Uchiha Clan only truly became segregated, even isolated,

after their clan compound was completely relocated.

Distance often bred estrangement.

And once more and more people within the clan began harboring resentment toward the village, the situation would become entirely different. This was clearly one of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō's intentions.

They wanted the Uchiha Clan to self-destruct!

At least from Shōji's perspective, every step in the Original Work had been jointly arranged by Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō. They wanted to cling to the banner of righteousness as much as possible, then wipe out the Uchiha Clan at the lowest possible cost.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's initial intentions were indeed different from Danzo's, and he even showed the slightest hesitation and inner conflict midway through.

But in the end, his choice never changed.

The so-called peace negotiations had never been initiated from beginning to end. This could be attributed to the Uchiha Clan's arrogance and conceit, but it likewise proved that Sarutobi Hiruzen had not the slightest sincerity. Otherwise, if Sarutobi Hiruzen had truly been willing to offer even a shred of hope,

the Uchiha Clan would never have reached that point.

The true darkness beneath the sunlight. This is Konoha, the mighty number one shinobi village in the Shinobi World, inheritor of the so-called Will of Fire!

Shōji walked to a relatively remote area on the left side of the Hokage Tower and raised his eyes toward the four carved faces on Hokage Rock. When his gaze settled especially on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, a faint trace of mockery surfaced in the depths of his eyes.

Having reached this area,

the chances of encountering fellow ninjas sharply increased.

Unlike ordinary civilians, however, these ninjas all seemed to carry a subtle, peculiar look in their eyes when they looked at Shōji.

Though it was extremely well concealed,

Shōji's perception had risen to an entirely new level after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. Even without activating his Sharingan, he could still vaguely catch it.

But that was only normal.

The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack had happened merely three or four days ago.

The pair of scarlet-black Sharingan in the demon fox's eyes had been far too conspicuous. Ordinary ninjas could see them clearly without even needing to get close. Only ordinary civilians had no way of learning that information, so it was only natural for these people to suspect the Uchiha Clan.

Shōji could not, nor did he intend to, start any conflict with them.

Leaving that area in long strides, Shōji followed the outer routes and circled nearly the entirety of Konoha. From morning until dusk, even at Shōji's speed, it still took him almost half a day.

Konoha, and even the Five Great Shinobi Villages, were called "villages,"

but in reality, they were all large cities comparable to the capitals of major nations!

At least in terms of land area.

Konohagakure's total population, including ordinary civilians, numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

This was the result of continuous development and expansion in recent years.

Such a beautiful and magnificent shinobi village.

What a pity. It began to deteriorate twenty or thirty years ago. Second Hokage, you chose an utterly correct yet absolutely wrong successor!

Shōji strolled into Konoha's largest cemetery. Looking at the memorial monuments standing within, a deeply complicated expression appeared on his face as he thought silently.

Under the leadership of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Konohagakure had indeed won three Shinobi World Wars and developed into the prosperous and flourishing village it was today. Yet Konoha had also been led by this very Third Hokage onto the road of complete decline.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had merits, but he also had faults.

And his faults far outweighed his merits.

Including, but not limited to, the destruction of Whirlpool Country, White Fang's death, the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, Hizashi Hyuga's death, Orochimaru's defection, the annihilation of the Uchiha Clan, and more!

Of course, strictly speaking, most of these matters did not have a direct connection to the Third Hokage, much less make him the primary cause. Hatake Sakumo, in particular, had died by suicide. Truly speaking, no one needed to bear responsibility.

But could these matters really be viewed so simply?

In a shinobi village, when important figures died, regardless of responsibility, the highest leader would inevitably be implicated to some degree.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen had truly possessed the First Hokage's magnanimity and broad-mindedness, or if his methods had been comparable to the Second Hokage's, then at least two or three of those events could have been prevented. You could say that Sarutobi Hiruzen was entirely blameless, but you could just as well say that his crimes were monstrous!

It all depended on what position you took and from what angle you viewed these matters.

Clearly, Shōji believed that this Third Hokage was far more detestable than Shimura Danzō!

Sarutobi Hiruzen was the greatest darkness hidden beneath Konohagakure's prosperity.

It had nothing to do with so-called righteousness or whether it was right or wrong.

This was merely Shōji's own "justice," buried deep within his heart!

Nothing more than the "self-serving words" of someone from the Uchiha Clan.

After taking one last deep look at the rows of memorial monuments within, Shōji turned and headed toward his clan compound.

And it was precisely while Shōji was "touring" Konohagakure

that Shisui, who had left Elder Genran's home fifteen minutes after Shōji, did not return directly to his own home. Instead, he followed the shadows all the way, avoiding every member of the Uchiha Clan. After leaving the clan compound, he changed direction and headed toward Konohagakure's eastern district.

He arrived directly before an old-fashioned residence that occupied a fairly large area.

Shisui stepped inside with practiced ease.

After turning two or three corners,

he arrived at the courtyard behind the residence.

By the time Shisui arrived,

an elderly man was already waiting there. He wore the Hokage's distinctive robes and the Hokage's conical hat. The moment Shisui appeared, the old man turned around. That aged yet immensely imposing face belonged to none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had returned to the position of Hokage.

"Shisui, you're here?"

"Yes! Greetings, Lord Hokage!"

Even before Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around, Shisui had already dropped to one knee and replied with utmost respect.

Shisui had been deeply influenced by the Will of Fire passed down by his ancestor, Kagami Uchiha.

Thus, when facing Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was both the Hokage and his ancestor's close comrade-in-arms, reverence naturally welled up from the depths of his heart.

And it was precisely because of this

that Sarutobi Hiruzen could so easily turn Shisui Uchiha into a high-ranking spy planted by the Konoha High Command within the Uchiha Clan.

It could not even be called turning him; it was entirely a choice Shisui had made willingly.