Kakashi looked at the dark-skinned townspeople, all of whom worked the lowest jobs. Unable to bear telling them the truth, he could only answer vaguely:
"We're here to investigate. You should all leave town as soon as possible. A group of unwanted guests has arrived in this area."
The crowd had packed around the gates to demand an explanation. Now that their relatives had not been found, they were being told to leave town. Were they supposed to move somewhere else and continue being oppressed?
"Why should we leave?!"
"What we need is fair treatment! Why should we leave our hometown?!"
"That's right! We need to find our families! Where did the Inada Family sell them off to?!"
Yet faced with their accusations, Kakashi had no way to tell them the truth. Even the Anbu, who had always placed missions above all else, hesitated before these civilians demanding justice.
He knew they were not his enemies, but the daimyo would not care about that. Anyone involved in rebellion would be executed, to serve as a warning to others!
Kakashi had already said everything he could. If these people remained here, they would undoubtedly die. He might even be implicated in the end.
As the argument continued, he suddenly sensed danger all around them. The Anbu immediately drew their weapons. The mastermind had appeared!
"Since the people of Konoha won't explain things to you, let me do it for them."
Muzan wore no distinctive black robe in the night, but Kakashi would never forget that face for as long as he lived.
"Muzan!"
A powerhouse capable of fighting the Legendary Sannin—this title alone was enough to place Muzan among the foremost experts of the Shinobi World.
"I never expected you to be the one behind this! Do you know the consequences