Culprit

The disturbance ended quickly.

The villagers and ninjas passing by did not even know what had happened before the battle was already over.

That was roughly how battles between ordinary ninjas went.

During wartime, they had long since developed the habit of going for a one-hit kill.

This was a world of high offense and low defense. Unless they were exceptions, even someone as strong as a Kage could be stabbed to death with a single blade. Even those beyond Kage level could fall ill, and even the Sage of Six Paths had to become a soul when his lifespan ran out.

Of course, Hagoromo Otsutsuki was merely a bargain-bin Otsutsuki. He would struggle just to carry the shoes of a legitimate Otsutsuki.

In short, the outcome of a true battle between ninjas was decided in an instant.

Besides talent and strength, there was also the Competition of Information.

One side had come fully prepared, while the other was still caught up in Internal Strife and had never even considered that the Uchiha Clan would suddenly make a move. Kakashi and the others had lost as they should have.

Moreover, this was within the village, on Konoha's streets that had just suffered a disaster. It was even less suitable to use ninjutsu and cause destruction that might trigger another disturbance.

Thus, after being pinned to the ground, Kakashi and the others Gave Up resisting.

As they had said, this was Konoha!

What had happened would certainly be reported to Hokage-sama, and Hokage-sama would seek justice for them.

The evil Uchiha Clan had acted In Front of Everyone. The higher-ups would never let them off!

That was what they truly believed.

So now, their faces beneath their masks were filled with shock as they stared at Uchiha Fugaku walking toward them. The same thought appeared in all their minds.

The Uchiha Clan Head had gone mad!

Was he really going to launch a coup?!

"Clan Head, this brat reeks of Sharingan!"

At that moment, Uchiha Satoshi seemed to have found an opportunity to show off. He grabbed Kakashi by the collar and pointed at the gap in Kakashi's mask.

"Very good! Perhaps he is the Culprit behind the Nine-Tails Attack!"

Fugaku nodded solemnly. Fuck, didn't that line up perfectly? If this was not pinning a label on someone, what was?

"After all, the Uchiha Clan has fought for Konoha year after year. Countless clan members have died outside the village. It is not impossible that Petty Individuals stole their Sharingan and put them to use."

After approving of Uchiha Satoshi's actions, Fugaku looked at the bewildered onlookers around him, then coughed and Spoke Again.

"There is no need for everyone to panic! This is merely a routine operation by the Konoha Military Police Force to maintain village security!"

An operation by the Konoha Military Police Force?

The villagers Looked at Each Other. Then they remembered that the Konoha Military Police Force had indeed been repeatedly patrolling the village recently, so finding a few Petty Individuals was perfectly reasonable.

"Furthermore, based on this captain's analysis, these people are likely connected to the Nine-Tails rampage in countless ways!"

Fugaku said with a grim expression, pointing at the ANBU ninjas.

"Ever since the unrest ended, they have been hiding in the shadows and watching our every move. This captain has every reason to believe they are waiting for an opportunity to Leave the Village and report to the true mastermind. Once that happens, they will know the village's forces are depleted."

"Thinking of the worst-case scenario, war may follow soon after!"

"This captain originally intended to cast a long line to catch a big fish. But considering the gravity of the matter, who knows whether they have secret methods of communication? Therefore, this captain could only take the risk and strike, taking them down with lightning speed!"

"Although this startled the villagers, everything this captain has done was for the village. I trust you all can understand this captain's difficulties!"

After delivering that impassioned explanation, Brother Fugaku clasped his hands in a tactical salute!

Among the crowd, the people arranged beforehand by the Hitoshi Clan Head to flatter him began cheering one after another.

"Beautifully done!"

"Good catch! Beat these beasts to death!"

"Before this, I thought the Uchiha Clan had caused the Nine-Tails rampage. It seems I misunderstood them! They have been worrying themselves sick over the village's future!"

"Now that I think about it, that is true. The Uchiha Clan Likes to Show Off, but they have never made any serious mistakes. They have also lost many clan members fighting for the village. Perhaps someone took advantage of them?"

"Exactly! Didn't they say that white-haired guy has a Sharingan? Maybe he was the one controlling the Nine-Tails!"

"..."

Smack!

An egg hit Kakashi's mask squarely.

That instantly snapped Kakashi out of his shock. He wanted to defend himself, but for the moment, he did not know what to say.

Should he openly tell everyone that they had been sent by Hokage-sama to monitor the Uchiha Clan?

Even though his political instincts were not particularly sharp, he knew that if he said that, it would further expand the impact of this matter. Kakashi did not care whether the Third's prestige took a hit, but causing such trouble at this Crucial Moment would only make the already despairing village worse off.

If Kakashi still Couldn't See that he had been set up by now, he might as well be remade from scratch.

The Uchiha Clan had likely prepared to completely fall out with Hokage-sama!

Hadn't he noticed that the Konoha Military Police Force had no intention of removing their masks? That clan probably Knew Long Ago exactly who they were.

They had known all along that they were being watched!

Benefited From the mature system established by the Second Hokage, ANBU members generally did not expose their identities while Executing Missions. Most wore black cloaks and masks to hide themselves as much as possible. Now that they were pinned to the ground, they could not even produce their forehead protectors.

Therefore, everything Uchiha Fugaku had just said was simply too reasonable!

They did not know these people were Konoha ANBU!

If he were Uchiha Fugaku, he would probably make this matter even bigger.

Sure enough, Fugaku's next words proved his guess.

"This captain will escort these suspicious individuals to Central Square and put them on trial In Front of Everyone! To ensure fairness, impartiality, and transparency, I invite everyone to come along!"

His words obviously stirred the villagers' emotions.

Since the Nine-Tails Attack, their emotions had been soothed, but that did not mean the hatred buried deep in their hearts had vanished. They truly lacked an outlet to vent it.

Now, these suspected Culprits behind the Nine-Tails Attack were the perfect targets for that venting!

And that was indeed the case.

After Fugaku finished speaking, the gradually Gathered villagers stared fixedly at the suspicious people pinned to the ground with eyes that looked ready to devour them. They even seemed ready to rush over and slaughter these people on the spot.

Even Uchiha Fugaku, standing there in person, was Startled.

In a daze, he saw a blade called "the villagers." Its sharpness made his hair stand on end. How was it any different from the blade that had killed Hatake Sakumo?

He swore that he had merely followed Hitoshi Brother's method and stirred everyone's emotions a little. Hitoshi Brother had said that the power of public opinion formed in the end would be even fiercer than this.

The result was somewhat beyond his expectations.

On the ground.

Do something, Kakashi.

That sentence appeared in Kakashi's mind as he lay pinned down.

If we don't do something, this may spiral out of control.

It was not as though there were no Strategies to Break the Stalemate.

They merely had to stand up, Self-Destruct together, then voluntarily Take Over the blame. They could admit their mistakes and take the pressure that was about to fall on the Hokage onto themselves.

Well, it seemed these people were not going to give them that chance.

When Kakashi painfully realized that his companions' bodies were growing stiffer and their eyes more vacant one by one, he realized he had underestimated the Uchiha.

But the Uchiha seemed to have underestimated him as well.

Well, this was probably Obito's power. His resistance to Sharingan genjutsu had increased considerably. At the very least, he could still speak.

Taking a deep breath, Kakashi intended to Self-Destruct and seize the blame. He would admit his identity and claim that this entire operation had been his personal action, unrelated to the Hokage. With his influence, he should be able to pull it off, right?

But in the next second, White Fang's face flashed through Kakashi's mind.

Huh?

That was not right.

Why should I take the blame for the Hokage?

That did not seem to be my job.

Kakashi froze. At This Instant, he thought of many things.

He thought of his dead father, his former companions, his teacher who had died for the village, his teacher's wife who had been cursed and blamed even after death for having a child, and then the child who would someday inherit the title of Demon Fox.

Heh, fuck Konoha. Fuck the Hokage!

My companions have all been controlled, so why should trash like me not be controlled too?

With that thought.

Kakashi tilted his head, stiffened his body, and directly chose to lie flat and give up.

In the distance.

The Hitoshi Clan Head, who had arrived late, withdrew his sharp gaze and walked over with a face full of surprise.

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