However, after Uchiha Hoshi told her father about the situation, the old man paid a "friendly" visit to each of their homes. There were no threats involved—after all, as a dignified ninja, he had a reputation to uphold. He simply informed the parents of the shameful antics their children had been up to. Whether those brats received a spanking afterward remains unknown, but things certainly became much quieter around Uchiha Hoshi after that.
That happiness lasted until the arrival of that day...
First Herrscher - Uchiha Hoshi: "Konoha is the source of all evil!"
Senju Hashirama: "You shouldn't say that. The original intent behind founding Konoha was peace—to ensure that children would no longer have to go to the battlefield."
Uchiha Madara: "Heh, naive."
Rasa: "Keeping children off the battlefield, huh..."
A: "A truly grand ideal. That is the true Will of Fire."
Onoki: "It's just a pity that Konoha failed to live up to it."
First Herrscher - Uchiha Hoshi: "Heh. Fifty-year-old men sitting in the rear while six-year-old children are sent to die on the front lines. That is Konoha. That is the Will of Fire. That is the 'original intent' of Konoha's founding. How utterly laughable."
Senju Hashirama: "..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "It wasn't like that, Lord First. Since your passing, Konoha has been under constant siege. The number of ninjas was critically short, and we were forced... out of necessity... Besides, it wasn't just Konoha; every other ninja village was in the same situation."
First Herrscher - Uchiha Hoshi: "Is that so? Then how do you explain the interesting things I found in your basement? I have evidence of you planting your clansmen in key positions, stealing the credit of war heroes, embezzling pension funds, and helping your own kin evade the front lines."
First Herrscher - Uchiha Hoshi: "And it's not just the Sarutobi Clan. The families of the elders—Shimura, Mitokondo, and Utatane—have embezzled untold amounts from Konoha. I have a series of evidence showing how they stayed in the safe rear during the war and only stepped forward to snatch the glory at critical moments. Do I need to detail them one by one?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Lies! It's all lies! Everyone, do not believe her! She is a cold-blooded demon; how can her words be trusted?"
First Herrscher - Uchiha Hoshi: "Whether to believe is not up to you, nor is it up to me. It is for everyone to decide after they have seen the truth for themselves."
Uchiha Hoshi then proceeded to methodically list the intelligence she had gathered on the Sky Screen. Ninjas from every village, along with the rest of the world, sat back to enjoy the massive scandal.
A: "Dark. This is far too dark. No wonder the First Herrscher says Konoha is the source of all chaos. Its very existence is a mistake, and there are clearly reasons for that!"
Onoki: "Wait, what did I just see? Evidence of Konoha's Root persecuting the hero, Konoha's White Fang? Weren't these documents supposed to be destroyed? Danzo, why did you keep them? Surely you weren't keeping them as a trophy?"
Hatake Sakumo: "Sigh... it seems this matter has finally come to light."
Rasa: "Whoa, the victim himself has appeared."
Hatake Kakashi: "Father..."
Hatake Sakumo: "Kakashi, do not be sad. My ninja way cannot be desecrated. This was my own choice."
A: "Hatake Sakumo, you are a true hero!"
Sasori: "Hatake Sakumo!"
Chiyo: "White Fang... I wanted to avenge my son and daughter-in-law personally. I never expected you would commit suicide. Truly, fate is a fickle thing."
Pakura: "Hmph!"
Regardless, after Uchiha Hoshi's wave of exposure, even if the Sannin returned, it wouldn't be easy to rebuild Konoha. Unless the Four Great Families are purged, the remaining people—especially the persecuted civilian ninjas—will never let this go.
Just as they suspected, the Konoha ninjas who had escaped the village and were resting dozens of kilometers away were in an absolute uproar. No matter how much Sarutobi Hiruzen emphasized that Uchiha Hoshi was fabricating stories, the victims knew the truth better than anyone. They were the ones who lived it.
It explained why pensions were sometimes late, sometimes the wrong amount, or sometimes simply non-existent. It explained why ninjas vanished for mysterious reasons. There were many whose careers were going well only to be suddenly transferred and replaced by a new leader—one whose last name was Sarutobi!
While the civilian ninjas were still processing the confirmation, the ninjas from other clans didn't even need to verify it. For a long time, it was their own clans that looked after them; as for support from Konoha, there had been none! If not for their passion for the village, Hiruzen's brainwashing, and Danzo serving as a lightning rod for hatred in the shadows, Konoha would have crumbled long ago. The departure of the Sannin might well have been because they either sensed the rot or saw right through it.
But no matter how much the crowd fumed, the broadcast on the Sky Screen continued.
[ The scene of clumsy skirmishing didn't last long. Both sides were improving rapidly during the combat. Having become Herrschers, they were naturally exceptional, and their progress was visible to the naked eye. Similarly, both realized that if they continued fighting this way, it would be an endless stalemate.
However, Kazahana Koyuki soon seemed to discover something, and a flash of joy crossed her eyes.
"Since your constitution is so much like a Honkai Beast, I'll find one to be your opponent!"
In the midst of the battle, Star Eater suddenly found that its opponent had vanished. Just as it prepared to give chase, it realized its surroundings had changed! It was now in a special space constructed of countless cubes. Inside this realm, Star Eater found its ability to phase through space suppressed; it couldn't simply leave.
This peculiar space seemed to have no limits. No matter how fast it ran, the surrounding scenery didn't change at all.
Unlike the Second Herrscher's companion beast, which possessed little intellect, Star Eater—who had been granted sapience, wisdom, and a human form by Hoshino Hitomi—quickly realized she was likely treading water.
This was a special space revolving around her in an infinite loop. No matter which direction she traveled, she would eventually return to the starting point!
With a triumphant smile, Kazahana Koyuki said, "I call it the Infinite Corridor. Inside this space, your companion beast will only run in circles. I have specifically suppressed its power so it cannot use spatial abilities. Without my permission, it will never get out!"
In Koyuki's hand floated a special blue box, a cube that looked like a Rubik's Cube assembled from countless smaller cubes. Star Eater was trapped inside!
This time, it was Uchiha Hoshi's face that turned grim. ]