The Sarutobi Admit Their Guilt

Nine-Tails Chakra had gouged several black furrows across the Ninja Academy training ground.

Sarutobi Sōgo was pinned over the ledger, half his face pressed against its dirt-stained pages. Blood from his mouth reddened the paper's edge. He tried to struggle, but Naruto's hand weighed on the back of his neck like a block of iron.

Sarutobi ninjas lay scattered around them.

None were dead.

But with broken bones, dislocated joints, and chakra pathways sealed, none would be getting up anytime soon.

The young Sarutobi looked on with anger and fear on their faces. More than anything, they looked lost.

They had come in response to the signal flare.

They had believed an outsider was attacking their clan grounds, that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had hurt Elder Muneyoshi without cause, that they were defending their clan's name.

But now Naruto had laid the ledger before them.

Compensation for passing on the maternity ward route.

Ryosuke Sarutobi.

A Root codename.

The Advisors' Office key seal.

Those words on the page did not look like a lie someone had made up on the spot.

Naruto released Sarutobi Sōgo and turned to the Third Hokage.

"Third Hokage, read it yourself."

The Third Hokage stood at the edge of the training ground, his figure slightly stooped.

Jiraiya glanced at him but said nothing.

The Third Hokage walked over to the ledger.

He picked up the thin book and slowly traced a finger down its first line.

He read slowly.

So slowly that every word seemed to scrape its way out of his throat.

"Before October tenth, Konoha Year Forty-Eight: transfer of a copy of the route around the maternity ward."

"Recipient: Ryosuke Sarutobi."

"Compensation: three hundred thousand ryō in cash, two blank identity documents, and one promise of Root protection."

No one on the training ground interrupted.

The Third Hokage kept reading.

"Subsequent handling: Ryosuke Sarutobi took his own life. Related items were moved to the Sarutobi Old Storehouse, under the care of Sarutobi Ryohei."

Among the Sarutobi, someone's face went white.

They knew the name Ryosuke Sarutobi.

The clan had once said that, after the Nine-Tails' Attack, he had killed himself out of guilt for failing in his guard duties.

Many had mourned him.

But the ledger did not describe guilt.

It described silencing him.

The Third Hokage turned the page.

"If the Uchiha investigate the maternity ward route, promote claims that the Sharingan controlled the Nine-Tails and suppress the Konoha Military Police Force's investigation."

His voice stopped there.

Uchiha Tekka spoke up.

"Finish reading."

The Third Hokage looked at him.

Tekka's Sharingan remained active.

In that moment, he was not pressuring the Hokage.

He was demanding a public truth for the six years of disgrace the Uchiha had endured.

The Third Hokage closed his eyes for a moment, then continued.

"Proposed by Mitokado Homura and Danzo."

The names were out in the open.

Sarutobi Sōgo slumped on the ground, his face ashen.

Sarutobi Muneyoshi lay nearby, hatred in his eyes, but he had no words to refute it.

Naruto walked up to the Sarutobi.

"Still want justice?"

No one answered.

One young Sarutobi ninja gritted his teeth. "We didn't know about any of this."

Naruto looked at him.

"That's why I didn't kill you."

The man froze.

Naruto went on, "But you attacked me just now."

The young ninja's face paled.

Naruto pointed to the ledger in the middle of the training ground.

"Every one of you, read it."

"Once you have, go to Central Street and tell everyone why you came to the Ninja Academy and why you attacked me."

Sarutobi Sōgo raised his head, his voice hoarse.

"You want to humiliate the entire Sarutobi Clan in public?"

Naruto looked at him.

"You lost your dignity the moment you took Ninja Academy children hostage."

Sarutobi Sōgo's lips trembled.

The Third Hokage stood to one side, his expression pained and conflicted.

He knew the Sarutobi Clan could no longer save face tonight.

But more important than saving face was saving those who had not yet rotted through.

He raised his head and looked at his clansmen.

"Do as he says."

The Sarutobi were shaken.

"Lord Third Hokage!"

The Third Hokage's voice hardened. "I said, do as he says."

This time, no one argued.

Sarutobi Sōgo closed his eyes, as if all his strength had been drained away.

Tekka had the Konoha Military Police Force separate the Sarutobi and register their names. The Ninja Academy teachers led the children away. Iruka was the last to leave.

He walked up to Naruto and stood there for a long time.

"Naruto, I didn't know about those contingency plans."

Naruto looked at him.

"I know you didn't."

Iruka's eyes reddened.

Those words hurt more than any forgiveness could have.

Because they meant Naruto could still tell who genuinely hadn't known from who had only pretended not to.

They also meant Iruka could not use his ignorance to excuse how little he had done over the years.

"If you need me to testify, I'll be there."

Naruto nodded.

"Take care of them."

Iruka looked toward the students who were still crying and answered quietly.

Jiraiya stood at the edge of the training ground, watching Naruto's back, his heart heavy.

Before he returned, he had thought he could still protect Naruto as an elder.

Only after coming back had he realized Naruto no longer needed protection that arrived too late.

He needed someone to lay out every debt owed to him, one by one.

And Jiraiya was six years late to that.

Kakashi walked up beside him and spoke softly.

"Lord Jiraiya, we all bear responsibility for what Minato-sensei's child has become."

Jiraiya did not argue.

Naruto hauled Sarutobi Muneyoshi up and handed him over to the Konoha Military Police Force.

"Take him to Central Street."

Sarutobi Muneyoshi coughed up blood and sneered.

"You think making this public ends it? Mitokado Homura has another move ready. If you don't go to Old Naka River Bridge before sunrise, he'll make sure more people die."

Naruto looked at him.

"I'll go."

Sarutobi Muneyoshi's smile deepened.

"Then you'd better bring the Uchiha."

Tekka's gaze sharpened.

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"Why?"

Sarutobi Muneyoshi's mouth was full of blood. His voice was slurred but venomous.

"Because Mitokado Homura has surveillance records covering the last three months of Shisui Uchiha's movements."

"He intends to prove the Uchiha are still planning a coup."