Redistributing the Blame

"After investigation, it was determined that the Uchiha Clan had no connection to the Nine-Tails Attack. The Konoha Military Police Force had never made any contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and all Uchiha Clan Members were within the barrier. Therefore, this matter had nothing to do with the Uchiha Clan."

The Uchiha Clan's suspicions had been cleared. A cause for celebration.

Fugaku beamed.

"When the unrest broke out, I was battling the Nine-Tails. Though I saw tomoe in the Nine-Tails' eyes, the situation was too urgent for me to attend to certain matters. That was my oversight."

"However, Danzo ordered the Uchiha to stay away from the battlefield without first confirming it with me, which ultimately led to this disaster."

"For this incident, Shimura Danzō bore the primary responsibility. As Hokage, I too was gravely derelict in my duties. Yet at the time, I was not the Hokage, and all village affairs were commanded by the Fourth."

So you're fucking splitting half the blame onto Little Sun?

Hyuga Hitoshi stared in shock at the shameless Old Village Chief, who kept passing the buck without a care for everyone's eyes.

As expected of you, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He just knew this matter would ultimately be smoothed over by the Old Village Chief, but throwing the blame onto a dead person was just wrong.

According to the Third's reasoning, the Fourth had failed to restrain Danzo, which was why Danzo acted on his own?

But was he treating everyone like idiots?

Anyone with eyes knew Danzo was his man.

"Additionally, Kakashi Hatake's Sharingan was transplanted after the fact. Tests showed that, at its current stage, he did not possess the ability to control the Nine-Tails. However, the words of Hitoshi Clan Head must be taken seriously."

After a pause, the Old Village Chief looked toward Hyuga Hitoshi. He himself was rather shocked by the issue of the Sharingan's aura.

"Hitoshi Clan Head, can you take responsibility for what you said?"

If Hyuga Hitoshi was telling the truth, there were only two possible conclusions to this matter. The Old Village Chief's question was clearly another attempt to spread the blame around.

"This Clan Head never lies. Kakashi's Sharingan indeed carries the same aura as the Sharingan that controlled the Nine-Tails. Clan Head Fugaku can testify to that as well."

Hyuga Hitoshi scratched his head with an honest-looking face.

"That's right. It was Obito's eye."

Fugaku stepped up without hesitation, even exposing Obito's identity.

"Then I believe that the Nine-Tails Attack can be classified as an act committed by someone using Obito's eye—or by Obito himself!"

The Old Village Chief spoke with a grave expression.

Hearing this, Kakashi in the corner raised his head, his eyes filled with confusion. His old friend's Sharingan was still draining his Chakra, reminding him of what had happened in the past.

"Obito... is already dead."

He believed in Obito. His hoarse voice spoke in defense of his friend.

Or rather, he did not believe that Obito, if he were alive, could do something that would kill his teacher and teacher's wife.

That was Uchiha Obito of Konoha, who had once aimed to become Hokage!

How could he possibly do something like that?

Kakashi felt that the Third's speculation was disrespectful to the dead, but he did not dare speak too loudly.

What was even more frightening was what the Old Village Chief said next.

"Whether Obito truly died is merely your One-Sided Story. But one thing is certain: one day in the future, Kakashi's eye may also develop to the point where it can control the Nine-Tails."

"I suggest placing Kakashi under close surveillance to prevent any unforeseen incidents."

Under Everyone's Gaze, Kakashi had been completely branded. He had truly been abandoned.

Perhaps someday, the Third would even push him out for the villagers to vent their anger on.

That was right.

After all, that eye could control the Nine-Tails.

Obito was dead, so Kakashi would have to bear all that darkness.

In truth, this outcome was already fairly good for Kakashi.

If time had not been limited, if the Third had not been under such immense pressure, and if Danzo had not been lurking nearby as well, Kakashi would never have been able to keep that eye.

A Sharingan capable of controlling the Nine-Tails was immensely tempting to the higher-ups, yet now they did not dare claim it for themselves!

After all, even now, the Old Village Chief was still suspected of using Obito's other eye to orchestrate the Nine-Tails Attack. Following that line of Conspiracy Theories, had Obito's death been arranged by the Old Village Chief from the very beginning in order to cover up today's Nine-Tails Attack?

All so he could launch the Nine-Tails Attack and reclaim the Hokage Position?

Therefore, after considering all this, the Old Village Chief could not use surveillance as an excuse to seize Kakashi's eye.

As for Danzo—

"During the Nine-Tails Attack, Shimura Danzō issued orders without authorization, causing enormous losses to the village. His crimes were no less severe than those of the mastermind behind the scenes! He should answer for them with his life!"

Would you really be willing to execute Danzo?

Fugaku sneered. "If nothing unexpected happens, there'll be a 'but' after this."

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone in the conference room to hear. He was expressing his dissatisfaction. What he wanted more was for the Third to resign and take responsibility, but Fugaku also knew that with war approaching, replacing the Hokage was simply impossible.

Hearing this, the Old Village Chief paused. After glancing at Fugaku, he coughed.

"However!"

Hmph, I won't say "but"!

"However, considering that the situation was urgent at the time and that he did not know at First Time who was controlling the Nine-Tails, Shimura Danzō's overstepping could be understood. Still, while he may be spared death, he cannot escape punishment!"

"Danzo will be stripped of his position among Konoha's higher-ups, removed as Root Leader, and sent to the battlefield to atone through merit!"

He was talking complete nonsense!

Uchiha Fugaku looked stunned. Even with his intelligence, he could tell that this was all bark and no bite!

His position among Konoha's higher-ups had been dispensable to begin with. This did not count as punishment at all.

Being removed as Root Leader did sound serious, but upon closer thought, Root had long since become his personal domain. Would sending someone else to take over make any difference? If they promoted one of Danzo's confidants, would Root not still belong to Danzo?

What was even more disgusting was this nonsense about sending him to the battlefield to atone through merit.

This was openly and honestly giving Danzo an opportunity to make a comeback!

No one present was an idiot. They naturally understood what the Old Village Chief meant.

Yet they all tacitly chose not to step forward and say anything.

The reason was simple.

With war approaching, Konoha needed to gather every bit of strength it had if it hoped to withstand the aggressive Kumogakure. Danzo deserved to die, but he should die on the battlefield.

In the end.

This newly convened blame-sharing meeting before the wartime conference came to an end.

The Old Village Chief, Sarutobi Hiruzen, lost both face and substance, taking the blame for poor command and dereliction of duty.

The Old Village Chief's right-hand man, Shimura Danzō, lost his post and took the major blame for overstepping his authority in command, bearing responsibility for the village's losses.

Meanwhile, Kakashi Hatake—the ANBU squad captain, son of the Konoha White Fang, and one of the Old Village Chief's trusted generals—took the blame for inheriting Obito's Sharingan. He was the most severely collateral-damaged of them all. He would even have to endure the village's surveillance in the future, and was currently completely dumbfounded.

But what no one expected was that Uchiha Obito, rumored to have died, became the one shouldering the heaviest blame when the Meeting Ended. The reason was that if Obito had not died, his eye would not have been used, and the Nine-Tails Attack would not have occurred. Therefore, everything was Obito's fault, and he had to take responsibility for it!

This news shook Konoha!

Later, it was said that the stone monument bearing Obito's name in the Memorial Park had been smashed to pieces. Quite a few furious villagers spat on it, and in the dead of night, some even left unidentified waste there.

Of course, when Hitoshi Clan Head learned of this later, he expressed his understanding.

See?

What goes around comes around. The people's eyes were sharp, and every grievance had its source, every debt its debtor. Wasn't that exactly right?

Surely, if Obito learned of this, he would be deeply comforted, right?

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