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“Let’s go. Time to leave Konoha.”
After walking around the street, he didn’t even see a single person. Shin couldn’t help but sigh.
Was a mere Nine-Tails attack enough to scare everyone into hiding?
He went to Ichiraku Ramen to take a look. He thought that Uncle Ichiraku, who remained unflappable during Pain’s assault, would be there, but the fact was that Shin was overthinking it.
Shin had hoped to see the Legendary “Ōtsutsuki Teuchi,” but it seemed he was just a Ramen Chef after all.
“Yomotsu Hirasaka.”
Shin opened a portal, taking Kushina and Mei Terumī with him. They could still make it back in time for Mikoto’s breakfast.
——
Hiruzen wasn’t aware of their departure, he was busy assessing the damage. The destroyed buildings were a minor issue—Money could fix that.
Though Konoha’s funds were low, the Land of Fire’s Daimyo would provide financial support. As the strongest military force in the Land of Fire—the Daimyō would not be ambiguous about financial matters.
The real loss was the Shinobi who had died.
The Third Shinobi World War had already weakened Konoha, and now, with the Nine-Tails’ attack and Minato’s death, they had lost many of their strongest fighters.
Hiruzen worried that other villages might exploit Konoha’s vulnerability.
He set that concern aside for the moment, summoning the Village Elders and Clan Heads. He announced his return as a Hokage and the upcoming funeral for Minato Namikaze.
As the Fourth Hokage—A hero who sacrificed his life for Konoha, Minato deserved the highest honors.
Of course, a grand funeral wouldn’t bring him back.
Taking care of his son would be more meaningful…
——
As the meeting concluded, Hiruzen’s gaze turned to the current Uchiha Clan Head, Fugaku Uchiha.
“Fugaku, I expect an explanation.”
The other Clan Heads and Elders looked at Fugaku, some people showed expressions of enjoying the show.
The Nine-Tails’ Seal had been broken by an Uchiha—Evidenced by the Sharingan seen in The Nine-Tails’s eyes during the attack.
Fugaku’s face darkened. He knew this was coming. This matter would definitely be suspected to be related to their Uchiha Clan.
Fugaku knew his Clan well, Even he wasn’t sure he could control The Nine-Tails, let alone the other Uchiha Clan members.
“Sandaime Hokage, this has nothing to do with the Uchiha Clan. There are others with the Sharingan. Shin Uzumaki, for example. He’s far more likely a suspect.”
Fugaku Uchiha stood up and said. This matter must be cleared up, otherwise the Uchiha Clan would have a hard time in Konoha village in the future.
“And I also got the news before that Shin Uzumaki came to Konoha village yesterday.”
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe. In fact, Hiruzen Sarutobi had also suspected Shin Uzumaki in his heart.
However, the suspicion was quickly dismissed. If Shin had been involved, the attack wouldn’t have ended so easily.
The masked man yesterday didn’t look like Shin Uzumaki either. His hair wasn’t red, and he was wearing a mask.
If it was Shin Uzumaki, then he probably wouldn’t bother to hide at all if he wanted to deal with Konoha.
“Fugaku, if those words reached Shin’s ears, do you think he’d pay the Uchiha Clan a visit?” Shikaku Nara asked calmly, looking at Fugaku.
“….”
Fugaku Uchiha’s face darkened, then he fell silent. To be honest, He was afraid of Shin.
During the Second Shinobi World War, Shin had barged into enemy camps. He had the guts—and the strength—to do anything.
“The Uchiha Clan is the Prime suspect. I expect your full cooperation, Fugaku.” Hiruzen’s tone brooked no argument.
He genuinely suspected the Uchiha Clan’s involvement. Fugaku had been a contender for the Hokage position, but Hiruzen had vetoed his candidacy.
The Uchiha Clan had been resentful and increasingly restless. Hiruzen’s suspicion wasn’t entirely baseless.
Of course, he also harbored some prejudice against the Uchiha Clan, just like Danzō. As Tobirama Senju’s students, they’d both been influenced by his distrust of the Uchiha.
Hiruzen wasn’t as extreme as Danzō, but he had been slowly marginalizing the Uchiha Clan—pushing them out of Konoha’s power structure.
The final decision was to relocate the Uchiha Clan to Konoha’s outskirts, away from the Village Center.
Fugaku was furious, but he couldn’t refuse. Even the radical Danzō suggested wiping out the Uchiha Clan entirely, which almost made Fugaku lose it. He had to swallow this bitter pill.
——
Within days, news of the Nine-Tails attack spread throughout the Shinobi world. Hiruzen had tried to contain it, but such a major event couldn’t be kept secret.
Upon learning of Konoha’s losses, A—the Fourth Raikage, saw an opportunity. Konoha was weakened, having lost their Hokage and many Elite Jōnin. It was the perfect time to strike.
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