Confusion and Perplexity

In short, this was Hyuga Hiashi's reaction and thoughts, which were quite logical and not surprising.

Because Hyuga Hiashi was involved, he had some understanding of the inside story, and it's not unreasonable for him to make some guesses based on that understanding.

However, the other ninja clans, especially the clan heads, truly knew nothing about the inside story from beginning to end. Hiruzen Sarutobi kept it very well hidden from the start, and his secrecy was exceptionally strong.

Therefore, when the patriarchs of these large and small families saw Yun Yan sitting next to Hiruzen Sarutobi, they were all extremely shocked and puzzled, wondering who this person was.

When did Konoha produce such a person? How could someone be qualified to sit beside the Lord Hokage? And these clan leaders weren't even aware of it beforehand!?

Soon, as whispers spread through the crowd, the clan leaders of these ninja families realized, "Oh, so the young man sitting next to the Lord Hokage is an Uchiha."

Oh my god! This is even more outrageous!

Wasn't the Uchiha Clan severely marginalized by the Konoha High Command? In order to follow the Konoha High Command, other ninja clans also joined in ostracizing the Uchiha, pushing them further and further away and making them increasingly marginalized.

As a result, almost out of nowhere, a young man from the Uchiha Clan appeared and sat next to the Lord Hokage in the second- Lord Hokage position on this important occasion!

Lord Hokage, what exactly is going on? Can you explain this to us? At least give us a heads-up beforehand!

Does your action signify a renewed shift in your attitude towards the Uchiha Clan? If a change is to be made, at least you should consult with us clans! It can't be done so suddenly, can it?

With these maddening thoughts and doubts, many ninja clan leaders looked at the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, with resentment.

Not only did these clan leaders glare resentfully at the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, but they also subtly observed Uchiha Fugaku in the crowd.

You Uchiha Clan are something else! You quietly orchestrated such a huge commotion, producing such an Uchiha Clan descendant! What is this? A feint attack while secretly plotting something else?

As a result, the heads of many ninja clans who shared this association and speculation began to look at Uchiha Fugaku with such meaningful gazes.

Only Uchiha Fugaku felt extremely uncomfortable when he saw the meaningful looks in the eyes of the clan leaders around him.

Why are you all looking at me like that? As if I've done something terribly wrong! But if I said I knew nothing and was completely unaware of anything from beginning to end, would you believe me?

You have to believe me! I really had no idea what was going on or what happened from beginning to end, and I had no idea how that kid Yun Yan got to sit there!

I really don't know! I'm innocent! And our Uchiha Clan is even more innocent!

For a moment, Uchiha Fugaku was almost driven to madness.

That's true for these clan leaders, but there's one exception.

This person is Nara Shikaku Nara Clan.

It is well known that there is no one in the Nara Clan who is not intelligent, and the head of the Nara Clan is probably the most intelligent person in the entire Konoha.

Now, this smartest of the smart, unlike everyone else, sensed that something was wrong and the atmosphere was a bit strange.

First, there are the four people sitting up there; their demeanor and reactions are all very strange.

Take the Lord Hokage, sitting in the very center and highest position, for example. Logically, the Lord Hokage always be confident and composed, but why does he look so dejected today? Like he's aged several years?

Moreover, the Lord Hokage didn't suddenly become so dejected today; he's been in this state of being out of sorts for the past few days.

Not only the Lord Hokage himself, but also, according to Shikaku Nara, the Lord Hokage holds the most powerful force, the Anbu, and recently the atmosphere within the Anbu seems to be very strange.

These two unusual behaviors combined made Shikamaru Nara keenly sense that something bad was about to happen to the Lord Hokage, possibly something serious!

Something's wrong with the Lord Hokage, and the unfamiliar young man sitting next to Lord Hokage is also acting strangely.

First of all, Shikaku Nara. This person seemed to have popped out of a rock, appearing completely out of nowhere.

Secondly, there's this person's aura... He's sitting next to the Lord Hokage, and he's so calm, composed, and steady as a mountain. For some reason, Shikaku Nara felt that this person's aura was even more stable than the Lord Hokage's!

Later, Shikaku Nara overheard rumors circulating in the crowd that the young man was Uchiha, which only deepened Shikaku Nara's confusion.

Wasn't the Uchiha Clan Lord Hokage? And the ostracism was getting worse, so how come suddenly an Uchiha has risen to a higher position? And is even sitting next to the Lord Hokage?

Lord Hokage, what are you up to? I really don't understand.

Confused, Shikaku Nara, like the others, silently looked at Uchiha Fugaku, the head of the Uchiha Clan, trying to figure out what was going on with their Uchiha Clan.

However, Shikaku Nara noticed that Uchiha Fugaku was not calm at all, and even seemed a little uneasy. It seemed that even he, the dignified head of the Uchiha Clan, had not expected that the person sitting next to the Lord Hokage was from the Uchiha.

This is even stranger! Even the Uchiha Clan itself doesn't know, so what's the deal with that Uchiha above? And what's the deal with the Lord Hokage?

Of course, Shikaku Nara also keenly noticed that there were other strange things besides these, including the two Konoha elders sitting on the edge, whose behavior was also very strange.

If Uchiha Fugaku below was restless and uneasy, then the two Konoha elders above were simply unable to eat or sleep!

Judging from the cold sweat on their foreheads and their deathly pale faces, it was clear that they were suffering mentally, and it seemed that they were about to face something terrible and unwilling to face.

Wait! Are we about to face something truly terrifying and something we absolutely don't want to face?

Could today's public trial be trying these two Konoha elders?

That's unlikely. If these are Konoha two Konoha elders being judged, why are they sitting in the judge's seat? Shouldn't they be in the dock?

I don't understand, I really don't understand. All the strange and bizarre things that have happened today have completely baffled Shikaku Nara, the smartest person in Konoha.

Having no other choice, Shikaku Nara decided to wait and see; it was the only option he had at the moment.

And so, amidst the murmurs of the crowd and the bewildered glances exchanged between the clan leaders, the public trial in front of the entire village of Konoha finally began.

Sitting atop the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked down at the vast crowd below, almost all of whom had come. Anticipating his own disastrous end, he felt a deep anguish and exhaustion.

But the pain and exhaustion were meaningless; he had to face this fate sooner or later. With a deep sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi addressed the crowd formally:

"Now that almost everyone has arrived, let's officially begin this public trial."

Everyone must be wondering why Konoha would hold such a large public trial, and who is being tried?

Sigh, there are some things that are deeply hidden, and it's really inconvenient to say more.

But now the situation is getting worse and worse, and I myself have unintentionally... In short, there are many things I need to explain clearly so that Konoha can become better, instead of being like before.

I apologize, everyone. I haven't been feeling well lately, and my words have been somewhat incoherent. I can't explain the specifics of the situation too clearly, so I can only show you through my actions.

After sighing, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned serious:

"Let's skip the formalities and get straight to the point. Bring up the prisoner—the biggest criminal since the founding of Konoha!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd below erupted in discussion, and perhaps it went beyond mere discussion; the murmurs became quite agitated.

Although the Lord Hokage's earlier statement was indeed unclear, a public trial is bound to involve judging certain people or events, and now the person being judged is finally about to step forward.

They were filled with anticipation and confusion, wondering who this prisoner on trial was, and how he could be called the greatest criminal in Konoha's history by the Lord Hokage!