Chapter 104: Awakening
The Uchiha Clan... "You! Yes, you! Come and tell this old man exactly what happened."
With the encouragement of Hiruzen Sarutobi, a certain Dumpling-nosed boy successfully stepped forward and recounted the events.
As for why it was the Uchiha Clan, it was because they had witnessed everything from start to finish.
Moreover, they were quite simple-minded; one look and you could tell they wouldn't lie.
As the story was told, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew increasingly grim.
"Are you saying this has been going on for nearly an hour?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
"And you're saying the Anbu only appeared after there were casualties among the villagers?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
"I see. I understand. You may go now."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Sakumo!"
"Hokage-sama."
"I will give you an explanation for this."
"I'll leave it to you, Hokage..."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's assurance, despite the many doubts in Hatake Sakumo's heart, he still walked up to Hiruzen Sarutobi and bowed in gratitude.
"However!"
Before Hatake Sakumo could finish his thanks, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued.
"One thing at a time. Miya Kiko killing villagers and Anbu is a separate matter, and I need an explanation for that as well!"
"Hokage-sama..."
Upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's next words, Hatake Sakumo quickly looked up.
He was immediately met with Hiruzen Sarutobi's cold eyes.
"Sakumo! As the Hokage, I must provide an explanation to the villagers! And to the Anbu!"
"I... I understand, Hokage-sama!"
After hearing Hatake Sakumo's response, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't linger.
After comforting the villagers, he returned to the Hokage Office.
---
An hour later.
"Hokage-sama, the matter has been thoroughly investigated."
"It was a group of merchants whose ninja tool business was snatched away by the Hatake Clan. They secretly spread rumors that Miya Kiko was a spy. Then, some foreign spies lurking in the Village took the lead after the public opinion spread, which finally led to the villagers swarming in."
"I see. Go and call the ANBU Captain here."
A short while later.
"Hokage-sama, you wished to see me..."
Slap!
Before the ANBU Captain could finish, Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared before him with a Body Flicker Technique and delivered a slap.
The mask on his face was sent flying, revealing a face that was seventy to eighty percent similar to Hiruzen Sarutobi's.
It was just that the face was much younger.
"Do you know why I struck you?"
Before the ANBU Captain could answer,
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice came again.
"You are relieved of your position as ANBU Captain!
Report to the Border Troops immediately.
I will pin this matter on Danzo."
As Hiruzen Sarutobi's words fell, the office sank into a long silence.
Until... "Yes! Father!"
..."Someone, go and find Danzo."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
A response came from outside the window.
A long time passed.
Bang!
"Danzo! Look at what you've done!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's roar echoed from the top of the Hokage Building, the sound traveling far... ---
While the classic 'you take the blame, I'm the Hokage' routine was playing out in the Hokage Building,
things were much the same at the Hatake Clan.
"Kiko, you were a bit impulsive just now."
"Was I? I think I was quite conservative.
I didn't even kill all of them."
At the Clan Head's Estate, Hatake Sakumo was speaking earnestly to Miya Kiko.
Hatake Sakumo: [...]
[WTF, I've heard of pregnancy brain making you stupid, but I've never heard of it making you a mass murderer.]
For a moment, Hatake Sakumo didn't know what to say.
Was he supposed to praise her for being emotionally stable?
"By the way, Sakumo!"
"Yeah, what is it?"
"Does the Hokage want you to give an explanation?"
"Um... yes."
"Then do you plan to hand me over? After all... I'm the one who killed those people!"
"No!"
Upon hearing what Miya Kiko said, Hatake Sakumo refused without a second thought.
He then looked at Miya Kiko with a serious gaze.
"If they dare to ask me to hand you over, I'll dare to let them taste whether Hatake Sakumo's blade is still sharp!"
Seeing Hatake Sakumo's determined eyes, Miya Kiko burst into laughter.
"It's about time!"
"???"
"What's about time?"
"Sakumo, I'm sorry to put you through this, but go to sleep for a bit."
"Kiko, what are you say—"
---
At this moment, a certain Little White-hair who had sensed something was wrong was arriving late.
Seeing the signs of fighting at the entrance of his clan's grounds, the unease in his heart grew.
He quickly rushed toward his home.
Then, he heard a cry coming from inside.
And... a certain white-haired man lying in a pool of blood.
"Waaaah~ Kakashi, your father chose to take the blame himself just to save me... waaaah..."
Seeing Kakashi getting closer, Miya Kiko cried even louder.
When Kakashi reached her, she pulled him into a hug.
Whether intentionally or not, Miya Kiko's entire body weight pressed down on Kakashi.
This forced Kakashi to get even closer to the fallen Hatake Sakumo.
As Kakashi felt his mother's trembling body behind him and looked at his father's body,
he could no longer suppress the rage in his heart. Immediately after, he felt a special Chakra being produced within his body.
After this Chakra appeared, it surged toward his eyes.
Then, a sharp pain flared in his eyes.
And then... the sight of Hatake Sakumo's body lying on the ground became much clearer.
---
Inside the Hokage Building.
The classic routine had finished by now.
Danzo had been dragged back in once again.
Because they had to rush to the next scene.
The previous act was a 1v1, and now it was a 3v1 drama.
"Sigh~ Danzo, how could you do such a foolish thing!"
After hearing the full story,
Utatane Koharu spoke with a tone of disappointment.
Danzo Shimura: [...Just destroy everything! I'm tired!]
Seeing Danzo Shimura's 'do whatever you want' expression,
Hiruzen also timely shifted the topic.
After all, he couldn't keep hammering on the same scapegoat forever.
"Ahem! Since it's already happened, there's no use talking about it. Now we need to think about how to solve this."
"Hmph! How to solve it? A life for a life! Hiruzen! Bring Miya Kiko to Root..."
"Homura, go to the homes of the deceased villagers, do some ideological work, and ask how much compensation they want."
Danzo Shimura: [???]
[I wasn't finished yet!]
"Ahem! Hiruzen! Are you even listening to me?"
"I am, go on."
"I think we should immediately send people to the Hatake Clan..."
"The main cause of this incident was a group of merchants. Because the Hatake Clan's Ninja Tool took too much of their business, they chose to eliminate their competitor when they had no money left to make.
It's clear that malicious competition poses a threat to the stability of the Village. Therefore, I have decided to regulate the prices of Ninja Tool.
This is to prevent future tragedies caused by the emergence of low-priced ninja equipment!
Koharu, I'll leave the ideological work with the Hatake Clan to you. You must explain the stakes involved clearly to them!"
Danzo Shimura: [???]
"Eh~ Danzo, why did you stop talking?"
[Heh, I say you @#%#]
"Well, since no one has any objections..."
"Then let's arrange it this way!"
Danzo Shimura: [...]
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