A surprise at home

"During the Nine-Tails' Attack, we suspected the Uchiha Clan. Afterward, we moved them to the edge of the village to monitor them. Some among them already resented Konoha, but even if the entire Uchiha Clan had been loyal to the village, how could they possibly remain free of resentment after the discrimination we subjected them to?"

Before his three old friends, the Third Hokage voiced the thoughts he had pondered alone over the past few years.

"Third Hokage, suspecting the Uchiha Clan and moving them to the outskirts were decisions we all voted for. What good does regretting them now do?"

Hearing the Third Hokage defend the Uchiha Clan, Shimura Danzō once again reminded him that what was done was done, and it was too late for regret.

"I was wrong. We were all wrong. We viewed the Uchiha Clan through the lens of prejudice from the very beginning. After the Nine-Tails' Attack, the Fourth Hokage was dead, and all the village had left were old, weak, sickly people like us. Neither the village nor I could withstand any more turmoil, so I assumed the worst of the Uchiha Clan. We, the Konoha High Command, were the ones who pushed them out of Konoha. Tell me, if I moved the Aburame Clan to the edge of the village today and had the Akimichi Clan and Nara Clan monitor them, wouldn't I be forcing them to resent us too?"

Even Danzo fell silent after hearing the Third Hokage's comparison. This was the first time the Third Hokage had admitted his weakness before them.

"A village is made up of many great clans. Those clans are the roots of the towering tree that is Konoha. When a clan is dissatisfied with the village, we should resolve our differences through open, honest communication,