Moral Kidnapping

Konoha.

Central Square.

Almost everyone had been stunned by Uchiha Satoshi's words!

Even those who had remained rational began whispering among themselves.

Control the disaster from the very beginning?

Did that kid even know what he was saying?

What did he mean by saying the Fourth wouldn't even have needed to die?

The villagers' emotions, as well as those of the surrounding shinobi, had already been stirred up.

They stared fixedly at Uchiha Satoshi, ears pricked in fear of missing even the slightest detail!

In one corner of the square, Nara Shikaku watched that crazed red-eye disease patient and couldn't help rubbing his chin as he fell into thought.

As a member of Konoha's strategist group and the Hokage's Brain Trust, Nara Shikaku's intelligence was beyond doubt.

He observed very carefully.

Uchiha Satoshi looked confident, but his slightly trembling legs had already betrayed the unrest in his heart.

Was he afraid, or excited?

That could be set aside for now.

Uchiha Satoshi must have received instructions from Clan Head Fugaku before standing out to put on this show.

But according to Nara Shikaku's analysis, Uchiha Fugaku did not possess the courage to go to war with the higher-ups. Even before this, he had taken a conservative stance toward their suppression, with no intention of tearing off all pretense.

Then...

The man standing behind Uchiha Fugaku...

Nara Shikaku looked into the distance. That man had flowing long hair, one arm around Yuhi Shin'en's daughter, Yuhi Kurenai, and the other around Mitarashi Anko, the female disciple of Orochimaru, one of the Konoha Sannin.

At that moment, Yuhi Kurenai was feeding sunflower seeds into the man's mouth.

So was Fugaku's change related to him?

Then what method had he used to make an Uchiha clan head who lacked the courage to confront the higher-ups stand up?

Nara Shikaku rubbed his chin, unable to pin it down.

Compared to what Uchiha Satoshi was about to say next, he was more interested in the Hyuga Clan's Clan Head.

The reason was simple. Anyone with a bit of intelligence had basically guessed the truth of the matter. In fact, Uchiha Fugaku having his clansman say those words was an open scheme.

The Old Village Chief and Lord Danzo were doomed to take the blame.

Yet this open scheme was beyond what Uchiha Fugaku's intelligence could pull off. There had to be someone brilliant advising him from behind the scenes.

Combined with how Hyuga Hitoshi had spoken up for the Uchiha at the meeting, it was not difficult to guess who was behind it. Even if Hitoshi Clan Head had not planned the entire affair, he could not possibly be uninvolved.

With that thought, Nara Shikaku looked again at the man munching sunflower seeds.

The latter seemed to sense it and turned his head, offering Konoha's Brain Trust a smile. Caught peeping, Nara Shikaku awkwardly looked away.

Hitoshi Clan Head did not harbor any ill will toward the strategist.

Everyone did their duty according to their position. Standing with the Hokage for the sake of one's clan's interests was nothing unreasonable.

But Hyuga Hitoshi was certain that after today, everyone supporting the Old Village Chief would begin to doubt his abilities.

There was no other reason.

Uchiha Satoshi had already organized his words and was opening his throat, ready to fire away.

Except, if nothing unexpected happened, something unexpected was about to happen.

When the Old Village Chief appeared in the square step by step, this farce planned by Hitoshi Clan Head and carried out under Fugaku's lead would be thoroughly defined.

That's right.

When the Old Village Chief heard that Uchiha Satoshi was preparing to fire away, he finally couldn't help it. He rushed over as fast as he could.

Though the Old Village Chief had always maintained a kind and benevolent expression, it had now become somewhat dark and twisted.

It was obvious that he was holding himself back.

He had originally intended to wait and see what the Uchiha were doing, then come forward as a witness for those who had been captured and pin the charge of attacking ANBU on the Uchiha.

But now he realized that Uchiha Fugaku had clearly come prepared this time!

And Nara Shikaku's analysis had been right. Fugaku alone could never have been the Old Village Chief's opponent, nor could he have thought that far ahead, so the Third had not taken it seriously at first.

But now, he had no choice but to stand out.

He had to interrupt what Uchiha Satoshi was about to say, claim his people, then immediately end this incident and minimize its impact.

"Hehe, the Konoha Military Police Force has been as responsible as ever. I am very gratified. If everyone had Clan Head Fugaku's sense of responsibility, the village would surely grow even stronger."

The Old Village Chief wore a face full of praise, affirming Uchiha Fugaku's actions and expressing that Konoha needed talents like him.

However, anyone who knew the Old Village Chief knew there was a "but" coming.

"But. Being responsible is a good thing, but there is no need to interrogate these people any further."

Sarutobi pointed at the ANBU pinned to the ground, a flicker of anger hidden in his eyes.

If they had not been captured, how could he have ended up in such a passive position?

"Trash."

He did not dare say to their faces that they were trash, but Danzo, who had come over to watch the show, dared to.

His intelligence clearly could not keep up with the Old Village Chief's. He had no idea how unfavorable the current situation was for the higher-ups, and was even excited to see the Old Village Chief suffer.

Damn it, you brat wanted to get me out? Got your retribution now, didn't you!

But the Third clearly had no time to indulge Danzo's nonsense.

He took a deep breath, looked around, and spoke again.

"These people are ANBU shinobi carrying out a secret mission arranged by me. They were captured by Clan Head Fugaku because of some misunderstanding."

The moment those words were spoken, whispers immediately rose throughout the square.

They had been sneaking around on a mission and got caught by the Konoha Military Police Force?

Could these ANBU have defected to the enemy? But it looked like Hokage-sama intended to protect them?

"I will have them reflect upon their actions when we return, and I will also give Clan Head Fugaku an explanation. So let this matter end here."

It had to end here!

If it continued until Uchiha Satoshi finished firing away, it would be too late!

Even if this left the villagers utterly confused and amounted to indirectly bowing his head to the Uchiha, he had no choice.

Wasn't it bowing his head to the Uchiha?

They had captured his direct subordinates, yet he had to rush to give them an explanation. This was practically an indirect concession, an attempt to turn a major matter into a minor one.

Unfortunately.

If it had been the Fugaku of the past, he would certainly have seized this opportunity to exchange resources with the Third Hokage and secure some benefits for the Uchiha Clan.

Uh, all right.

The current Clan Head Fugaku was also very interested in that. Hyuga Hitoshi saw through Fugaku's thoughts with just one glance, but he was not particularly disappointed.

After all, everyone understood that mud could not be made into a wall. If Fugaku had truly been capable, the Uchiha Clan would not have been ruined in his hands, would it?

So Hitoshi Clan Head naturally stood out.

"Since the Village Chief has put it that way, then take them away."

Hitoshi made it clear that he was being magnanimous. Joy appeared on the Old Village Chief's face, and he thought this was Hyuga Hitoshi extending goodwill and giving him a way out.

But he was wrong. Hitoshi Clan Head hadn't finished speaking. He lifted his chin toward Uchiha Satoshi.

"You there, keep talking. All the men, women, old folks, and children in our village are waiting to hear it!"

Keep talking?

The Third's expression changed. "Hitoshi Clan Head, what I mean is that we should let today's matter go."

He was hinting at Hyuga Hitoshi. He believed the other man would certainly understand.

Yet things went against his wishes.

Hitoshi Clan Head shook his head with a grave expression.

"Lord Third's matter can naturally be let go, but the matter of the Nine-Tails Attack cannot be left at that."

"The Nine-Tails Attack was a matter of great consequence. Our village suffered heavy losses. How many civilians were displaced? How many children lost their parents? Old Village Chief, you should have seen all of that."

"And now that our Uchiha brothers have clues, they naturally must be made public."

After a pause, Hyuga Hitoshi looked at the Old Village Chief in puzzlement.

"Don't tell me the Old Village Chief thinks those people deserved to die? That if the Nine-Tails goes out of control again next time, there is no need to use a perfectly good solution, and it doesn't matter even if all the villagers die?"

In an instant, the sword known as moral kidnapping hung directly over the Old Village Chief's head!

Under everyone's gaze, sweat seeped across the Old Village Chief's forehead, and even the hand holding his pipe began to tremble.

In the end, he shakily pointed at Uchiha Satoshi. But before he could give an order—

The surrounding villagers erupted first!

"Let him speak!"

"Let him speak!"

"..."

The roars rose one after another, yet to Fugaku and Uchiha Satoshi, who had never experienced this before, they sounded like the most beautiful music imaginable.

They had finally grasped the blade known as public opinion firmly.

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