The Uchiha set out, and the village's ninja followed suit. Only the three Hokage elders remained behind.
Sarutobi felt utterly disheartened. He knew this matter was far from over; it was only beginning.
The aftermath would have a tremendous impact on Konoha. For now, the ninja were merely suppressing their anger out of respect for his usual authority.
The enraged public sentiment that would sweep through Konoha afterward was the true problem he had to face. Thinking of it left Sarutobi exhausted.
"Monkey! What should we do?" Utatane Koharu asked worriedly from beside him.
"What else can we do? We can only take it one step at a time. At worst, I'll resign and take responsibility in the end!" Sarutobi answered with a sigh.
"Monkey, how can you do that? The Uchiha are becoming more and more arrogant. If you step down, who will keep them in check? You saw the eyes that brat used just now. They definitely have something to do with the Nine-Tails Rebellion!" Utatane Koharu said indignantly.
Sarutobi's eyes flickered as he hesitated.
"That's right, Sarutobi. You absolutely cannot step down. We can use this matter to make the Uchiha hand over the culprit behind the Nine-Tails Rebellion! Everyone saw it. There's no way the Uchiha can deny it," Mitokado Homura hurriedly chimed in.
"...Fine. For the sake of the village, I'll hold on a while longer! I just hope the matter at the Land of Lightning's border ends soon, so Jiraiya can return earlier!"
A trace of resolve returned to Sarutobi's expression, as though he had regained some of the bearing he possessed in his youth as the Ninja Hero.
With the village in danger, he would step forward once more.
On Konoha's main street, Hane led a large group of neatly dressed Uchiha clansmen,