"Shh, keep your voice down. He's looking over."
Asuma stood up and stared at the two of them, his eyes blazing with fury.
"What did you say? Say that again if you dare!"
The two men froze for a moment.
Then the tall, thin one sneered.
"So you're Asuma Sarutobi? The Third's son? Were we wrong?"
"Your father ruled for decades, drove out the Uchiha, let the advisers embezzle money, and made a complete mess of Konoha. Who in the village doesn't know about it?"
The shorter man chimed in.
"Exactly. When the war was at its bloodiest, you were living it up at the Daimyo's Residence."
"Now that the war is over and Lady Tsunade has finally started getting Konoha back on its feet, you come running back."
"What, were you in a hurry to come back and move the Sarutobi Clan's embezzled assets to other countries?"
"You-!"
Asuma clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead.
He wanted to rush at them, but forced himself to stop.
Because he saw the expressions in their eyes.
It wasn't malice or mockery, but... anger.
The anger of those who had lost loved ones and had long harbored resentment toward the Konoha High Command.
He had seen that anger on countless faces before.
He took a deep breath and suppressed his fury.
"Let me ask you this. All these things you're talking about-embezzlement, turning a blind eye, driving out the Uchiha... do you have any proof?"
The tall, thin man sneered.
"Proof? The Mitokado and Mitokado clans had their assets seized, and tens of billions in illicit funds were found. That's proof!"
"The Sarutobi Clan wasn't publicly punished, but that was only because Lady Tsunade showed leniency out of respect for her bond with her teacher!"
"All of Konoha knows that