After Uchiha Yato had truly left, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kakashi Hatake with an exceptionally kindly expression.
"There are some things I never wanted you to know, Kakashi."
"Just as Uchiha Yato said, Elder Shimura Danzō did indeed conceal certain things from you."
Kakashi Hatake, who had been standing there like a wooden dummy, felt as though his pupils were hit by an earthquake upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.
"Lord, Lord Hokage, what exactly was concealed?!"
Kakashi grew somewhat agitated afterward. He desperately wanted to know what truth Konoha's higher-ups had hidden from him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a deep sigh, as though a thousand-pound burden weighed upon his heart, before slowly speaking. "As for your father's suicide, Elder Shimura Danzō was actually the one who planned it all from behind the scenes."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying an indescribable helplessness and pain.
"By the time I learned of this, it was already too late. Your father had already left this world."
A trace of sorrow flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. "And Elder Shimura Danzō was an elder with some standing in the village. I truly could not punish him too severely."
He paused, seemingly considering his wording, before continuing, "I could only impose some appropriate disciplinary measures and suppress the matter as much as possible, so it would not cause too great a disturbance."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was filled with bitterness. "After all, our village could not lose two Kage-level powerhouses at once!"
"If that happened, Konoha's position would likely draw the covetous eyes of the other ninja villages. That would be an enormous crisis for us."
Finally, he looked at Kakashi, his eyes revealing an almost pleading expression. "Kakashi, can you understand my difficulties?"
"I did not do this to shield Elder Shimura Danzō. I did