As time went on, the resentment in the hearts of the Konoha villagers grew deeper and deeper.
And after some calm reflection, they realized that behind all these events, there seemed to be one shadow—
Third Hokage: Hiruzen Sarutobi!
If the Hokage had communicated with the Uchiha Clan in advance and strengthened the Village's defenses, the Uchiha Clan would not have had the chance to leave the Village entirely.
If the Hokage had been prepared, the Nine-Tailed wouldn't have gone berserk, causing such immense damage to the Village.
If the Hokage had personally gone to the battlefield, the Village's Ninja would not have been routed by the sudden addition of the Third Raikage.
If the Hokage had been more assertive, they wouldn't have needed to pay reparations to their enemies!
Ultimately, didn't the Village become like this because of the Hokage's incompetence?!
Both the Konoha villagers and the Ninja couldn't help but think this way.
As the highest authority in the Village, the Hokage must take responsibility for this and give everyone an explanation!
Amidst the public outcry, some Konoha villagers had already started protest marches, demanding that Hiruzen Sarutobi give everyone an explanation.
— — — —
— — — —
Hokage Building.
Inside the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, his brows furrowed into a knot.
Although he had made some mental preparations, he still hadn't expected things to escalate to this point.
According to the current public opinion, if he didn't do something, he would likely have to resign from his position as Hokage.
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was deep in thought, Danzo Shimura, looking spirited, pushed open the door and walked in.
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi look up, Danzo Shimura couldn't quite suppress the smile on his lips and said, "Hiruzen, you've seen the villagers' attitude. If you don't take responsibility, the Village might fall into internal strife."
"I think, why don't you just resign as Hokage and be a Hokage Advisor behind the scenes?"
Listening to Danzo Shimura's blunt words, Hiruzen Sarutobi said coldly, "If I resign as Hokage, then who do you think would be a suitable successor?"
Hearing this, Danzo Shimura unconsciously puffed out his chest and asked, "Hiruzen, what do you think of me?"
"Hmph!" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly slammed his hand on the table, pointing at Danzo Shimura and angrily said, "Look at you, one eye, one arm, a face full of scars. Go look in a mirror, where do you have even a hint of a Hokage's presence?"
"And... do you dare to say that the current state of the villagers doesn't have your shadow behind it?"
"If you don't calm down a bit, I'll disband your Anbu and strip you of your Hokage Advisor status!"
Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's accusations, Danzo Shimura's face turned crimson with anger.
He raised his hand, pointing at Hiruzen Sarutobi, and furiously said, "Fine, fine, fine, you sit on that seat until the very end, just don't ever give it to me!"
With that, Danzo Shimura kicked open the door of the Hokage Office and stormed out.
After Danzo Shimura left, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression returned to calm.
As the sun rose and set, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes gradually became resolute.
He threw his pipe on the table and whispered a few words to an Anbu in the shadows.
Danzo Shimura was right; the villagers' anger was too great right now, and someone with sufficient prestige needed to step forward and take responsibility for it.
— — — —
— — — —
Konoha Village.
Uchiha Yuzuru held a three-color dango, eating it as he strolled through the streets.
Since the New Year passed, he had come to Konoha alone.
His purpose, of course, was to see the reactions of Hiruzen Sarutobi and those Konoha villagers after the war's defeat.
Enjoying their angry, unwilling, and ugly behavior was one of Uchiha Yuzuru's few pleasures at this stage.
Around a corner, dozens of Konoha villagers were gathered together.
"You all heard, right? It turns out Hokage-sama had already detected the Uchiha Clan's abnormality, so he specifically had Sakumo Hatake lead the Anbu to monitor the Uchiha Clan members twenty-four hours a day. But unexpectedly, the Uchiha Clan still left the Village without anyone noticing."
"If you ask me, Sakumo Hatake must have secretly colluded with the Uchiha Clan. Otherwise, under twenty-four-hour, all-encompassing surveillance, something like the entire Uchiha Clan relocating would absolutely not go unnoticed."
"Hmph! Even if he didn't collude with the Uchiha Clan, Sakumo Hatake cannot be forgiven. If it weren't for his incompetence allowing the Uchiha Clan to leave Konoha, none of the subsequent events would have happened."
"That's right, Sakumo Hatake must be held responsible for everything; he is the sinner of our Konoha Village!"
"It was Sakumo Hatake who made us homeless, it was Sakumo Hatake who left us penniless, it was Sakumo Hatake who made us lose our friends and family!"
"..."
Similar scenes were playing out all over Konoha, and Uchiha Yuzuru couldn't help but shake his head.
These people truly hadn't changed at all; they never knew how to reflect, only how to blame others for their mistakes... But Uchiha Yuzuru also hadn't expected that a plot so similar to the original story would coincidentally happen now.
Thinking of Sakumo Hatake's fate and end in the original story, Uchiha Yuzuru finished his three-color dango and walked towards the Hatake residence.
— — — —
— — — —
"Sakumo Hatake, you are the sinner of our Konoha!"
"Because of your negligence, so many of us have died. Don't you feel any guilt?"
"Bah! I used to respect you so much! You don't deserve my recognition at all!"
"We know you're hiding in there, you coward!"
Outside the Hatake compound, dozens of troublemakers had gathered.
They continuously cursed outside, some even throwing vegetable leaves, eggs, small stones, and other things over the wall into the courtyard.
On the compound's main gate, the words "Sinner" were smeared in crimson paint, which looked unsettling.
Uchiha Yuzuru watched from outside for a while, then activated Kamui and appeared in the courtyard.
A masked boy gripped a short blade, constantly chopping at a wooden stake in front of him, each strike seemingly using all his strength.
After a moment, the boy suddenly turned and rushed towards the direction of the door.
"Kakashi, stop."
A deep, hoarse voice sounded, and Kakashi Hatake halted his steps.
"Father, why are those people saying such things about you? You are clearly the Village's hero!"
Sakumo Hatake opened the door and walked out.
In just one day, his face had become very pale.
He looked like a down-and-out middle-aged man, completely devoid of the heroic demeanor of the "Konoha White Fang."
"Kakashi, let them say what they want."
"They need to vent."
Hearing this, Kakashi Hatake clenched his fists: "Even if they need to vent, why do they blame all the mistakes on you? Why don't you go out and explain that you have no connection with the Uchiha Clan!"
Sakumo Hatake's face showed a bitter smile: "Explain..."
"Kakashi, you'll have to get your own dinner tonight. I need to rest for a while; don't disturb me."
Sakumo Hatake finished speaking, turned, and closed the door.
Kakashi Hatake tried to rush in several times, but in the end, he lowered his head and returned to his room.
Seeing this scene, Uchiha Yuzuru raised an eyebrow.
Such a familiar scene.
Sakumo Hatake... he's not going to commit suicide, is he?