A Different Trolley Problem

Konoha Newspaper almost immediately published the information Sakumo Hatake had said could be made public.

In simple terms, a teammate had accidentally exposed himself, and Sakumo Hatake had saved his teammate at the cost of the infiltration mission's failure.

Danzo Shimura was delighted. The Konoha Newspaper Uchiha Yato had created had done him a huge favor.

Without even needing to deploy much of Root to smear him, it had already placed Sakumo Hatake at the center of the discussion.

And now, Danzo Shimura was guiding the discussion once again.

"Konoha Village has been put at a disadvantage," "Ninjas should put missions first."

Such remarks incited public sentiment.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yato was with the children and Sakumo Hatake's family.

Uchiha Yato asked, "Kakashi, Shisui, who do you think was right and who was wrong in this matter?"

At this time, five-year-old Kakashi already possessed the strength of a genin.

But asking him to make such a judgment was still a little beyond him.

Shisui answered, "I think Uncle did nothing wrong!"

"Missions can fail, but a teammate only has one life."

Uchiha Yato was very satisfied with Shisui's answer, but he still said stiffly, "You're right, but the villagers won't listen at a time like this."

"Look at the current public opinion. Isn't it unfavorable to Uncle Hatake?"

"But he really did protect his teammate, so why is he being blamed like this?"

This was also what Kakashi found most difficult to understand.

His father had clearly failed the mission to save someone, so why were the villagers still blaming him?

The two little beans thought hard, but could not come up with an answer.

Though somewhat dejected, Sakumo Hatake still spoke. "Because this is a difficult problem."

"Which is more important: the people of a village—or rather, the safety of an entire village—or one person's life?"

Of course Uchiha Yato understood this principle. It was the most basic trolley problem.

Seeing that the two little ones were still thinking, he explained.

"Right now, there is a group of people in front of you, and I'm holding Fire Release: Great Meteor, ready to smash them all to death."

"And you are the ones who can make a choice. There is another person standing beside you."

"You only need to say the word, and I'll redirect Great Meteor toward that one person instead of the group."

"So, do you think saving one person is more important, or saving a group of people?"

Originally, this should not have been a trolley problem. But because public opinion had been guided this way,

the safety of an entire village had been tied to this single incident, causing the nature of the matter to change completely.

Kakashi answered, "If more people can be saved, then sacrificing one person should be fine, right?"

Uchiha Yato raised the stakes and added, "That group is made up of innocent passersby, while that one person is your beloved family or closest friend."

"For example, Nohara Rin, Uchiha Obito, or even your father."

"How would you choose this time?"

Kakashi had wanted to argue, but immediately shut his mouth.

Shisui was the same beside him. He did not understand why one question could become so complicated.

Uchiha Yato said, "All of you have fallen into a misunderstanding."

Those words gave all three of them hope.

They looked at Uchiha Yato expectantly, waiting for his answer.

Uchiha Yato said, "The hypothetical situation I just described was very simple. Why can't you try stepping outside that circle?"

Those words left all three of them dumbfounded.

"If you could kill me, the caster, what would the outcome be?"

"Both sides could be saved, and you wouldn't feel any guilt in your hearts."

The two little beans were still somewhat confused, but Sakumo Hatake felt as though he had grasped something—just a flash of inspiration.

Uchiha Yato explained, "Originally, this matter was simply about which was more important: the mission or a person?"

"But after being manipulated by someone with ulterior motives, it became a question of which was more important: an entire village or one person?"

"Shouldn't you be catching the person spreading the rumors and putting an end to this farce?"

That made all three of them understand what Uchiha Yato meant.

Madara Uchiha, watching the situation develop from the shadows, had the same thought.

During the Warring States period, whoever had the bigger fist had the right to speak.

This had always been the unchanging rule of the ninja world. As long as I had the power to flip the table, I would be the one creating the rules.

In a very subtle way, Uchiha Yato was sending Sakumo Hatake a message.

"The higher-ups of the Hokage's administration no longer think the way they did before. They want your life!"

After all, they had been companions in the same village. Before Sakumo Hatake received the Hokage's half-sleeve, he had been on rather good terms with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.

Now, they had indeed gradually drifted apart.

Uchiha Yato waved a hand. "All right, forget these troubles for now. Spend some proper time with Kakashi."

"Kakashi, don't get too hung up on these questions either. You'll understand when you grow up."

He then turned and said the same thing to Shisui.

He only hoped that the two little ones would develop independent thinking. He did not want them to become obsessed with such a difficult question.

After coaxing the two little ones away,

Uchiha Yato finally said seriously to Sakumo Hatake, "I won't say much more."

"I'll only say what comes next once."

"I'll handle what happens next. You should spend time with Kakashi and fulfill your responsibility as Uchiha Kindergarten's swordsmanship teacher."

Sakumo Hatake was still somewhat grateful to Uchiha Yato. After all, they had been old colleagues.

Uchiha Yato was also worried that Sakumo Hatake would find it inconvenient to act, which was why he had taken everything upon himself.

Sakumo Hatake said nothing more, merely nodding slightly in agreement.

Having received the party involved's consent, Uchiha Yato smiled confidently.

Anyone familiar with him would know upon seeing that smile—

When Yato smiles, life and death become uncertain!

To keep Danzo Shimura from jumping the gun in desperation, Uchiha Yato still needed to go reassure everyone.

It could not be helped. He had a useless system that did nothing; otherwise, if he could simply kill Danzo Shimura outright, why would there be so much trouble?

Within the Senju Clan Grounds.

After completing her tasks for the day, Tsunade returned to Mito Uzumaki's home.

She happened to see Uchiha Yato chatting with Mito Uzumaki.

Uchiha Yato said, "Grandma Mito, have you been well lately?"

Take note here.

When Uchiha Yato addressed someone as "sir" or "madam," it meant he was about to handle something officially and impartially.

When Uchiha Yato used a more familiar form of address, it meant there was nothing going on today and he had simply come to stir up trouble.

When Uchiha Yato used an intimate form of address, it meant he was going to squeeze some benefits out of you.

Understanding Uchiha Yato's habits, Mito Uzumaki nodded with a smile, maintaining her kind and gentle demeanor.

Uchiha Yato said, "Recently, someone in the village has been stirring up trouble and constantly smearing Uncle Hatake."

"Shouldn't Grandma Mito do something about it?"

What Uchiha Yato said had absolutely nothing to do with the matter at hand.

Mito Uzumaki had long stopped involving herself in the village's political affairs. If Uchiha Yato had come to discuss that with her, then he had come to the wrong person.

Before Mito Uzumaki could respond,

Tsunade said, "Grandmother doesn't concern herself with that kind of thing. Why did you come bother her?"

"By the way, what have you been busy with lately?"

Uchiha Yato said, "Nothing much."

"I've been busy awakening my Wood Release!"

The grandmother and granddaughter immediately lost their relaxed expressions.