Uchiha Itachi had been living in fear, worried that his spreading rumors would be exposed.
When he saw his teacher return from the Hokage's Office, he immediately went up to him nervously to ask.
"Teacher, has Lord Hokage found the culprit?"
"The culprit?"
Uchiha Jin looked dismissive as he spoke with open contempt.
"It's just spreading a rumor in the village. How does that make someone a culprit?"
Over the past two years, people had spread rumors about him at least eighty times, if not eight hundred. If they really went after the culprits, a whole bunch of people would probably be implicated.
People spread rumors about him every few days, and he had never rushed off in a fury to find the culprits.
These clan leaders couldn't take it when it had only just begun.
Sure enough, as long as their own interests weren't involved, most people chose to stand by and watch.
That was human nature.
"Don't worry. Your teacher won't sell you out."
Uchiha Jin patted Itachi's shoulder reassuringly.
"No matter what, you're still my student."
Uchiha Itachi: "???"
Weren't you the one who told me to spread the rumors?!
Now you're acting like it has nothing to do with you.
You can't dump the blame on me like that!
I'm still too young to take the fall for something this big.
I hope Shisui comes back soon. Who knows what outrageous thing Teacher will do otherwise?
"Thank you, Teacher."
Although he really wanted to complain inwardly, he nodded obediently on the outside.
Two years of being a punching bag had taught him never to contradict his teacher when something happened.
He sided with his own people, not with reason.
"All right, go home and get a good night's sleep. Don't keep coming here for no reason."