Originally, Hatake Kakashi hadn't intended to do this.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's behavior just now truly left him disappointed.
His father—Konoha's White Fang—had given up a mission to save his comrades, resulting in scorn and ultimately his suicide.
His teacher, and teacher's wife, both died during the Nine-Tails' rampage while protecting the village.
His teammates, Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin, both perished tragically in the war.
Those people were all crucial to Hatake Kakashi, yet they were gone—every one of them.
But if the deaths of these dearest kin, mentors, and friends could only buy a Hokage who compromised with external powers, sacrificed the village's interests, and stopped at nothing for the sake of internal political struggle…
Kakashi couldn't accept it!
Maybe, originally, his heart had gone numb to it all. But the matter concerning Uchiha Chiyu had somehow reawakened something in him. Partly because of the special status of Chiyu, an Uchiha, and partly because of the curious trust that man placed in him…
It made Kakashi suddenly realize that in the end, he was still a human being—not just a mindless "tool" called a ninja!
Thus he laid out the entire report and presented it to everyone.
At that moment, they each silently read it.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was furious, but in the end he couldn't prevent it from being revealed. When everyone finished it, the higher-ups of Konoha's decision-making circles looked at each other in speechless astonishment.
Kakashi gave a slight smile.
"Well, what does everyone think?"
Naturally, Uchiha Fugaku wouldn't let go of such a golden opportunity: This content belongs to NoveI(F)ire.net
"It appears Sarutobi Shinnosuke indeed used his authority for personal revenge, plotting against two of Chiyu's subordinates. That's why Chiyu was forced to take such measures!"
Yamanaka Inoichi—who had participated in the investigation—didn't dare say much now. He and Akimichi Chōza both unconsciously looked towards the spiritual pillar of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio…
But how could Shikaku speak? Say that Sarutobi Shinnosuke, who tried to murder fellow Konoha shinobi, was deservedly dead?
Instead, the direct and hot-tempered Inuzuka Tsume slapped the table after reading, raising her voice:
"Even though Shinnosuke was your son, if this report is true—that he colluded with a Mist spy imprisoned in our cells to set up fellow Konoha ninja, two kids no less—how can we pardon that?!
"In my eyes, while Uchiha Chiyu's methods may be harsh, they're understandable!
"Didn't you, Hokage-sama, earn your reputation in the ninja world for fairness and impartiality? If you'd discovered your son did something so vile, wouldn't you have put justice above family too?"
Aburame Shibi, who generally kept his head down, also quietly nodded in agreement with Inuzuka Tsume. Even the Hyūga clan leader, Hyūga Hiashi, frowned after reading, saying:
"Using such despicable tactics against fellow Konoha ninjas goes beyond tolerable limits…
"Hokage-sama, what Uchiha Chiyu did seems justifiable under the circumstances."
Observing this, Kakashi realized these clan heads didn't necessarily support Uchiha Chiyu wholeheartedly—rather, Hiruzen's perceived weakness in foreign policy had likely stirred some discontent within them.
When the Hokage is weak toward outsiders but harsh toward the village's own, who gets harmed?
Wouldn't it be the Konoha ninja themselves, the interests of their own clans?
He could see it clearly. And how could Hiruzen not see it? But Hiruzen wasn't in a position to openly oppose them now. So he gave a covert signal to Shimura Danzō. But unexpectedly, Danzō ignored him!
Sarutobi Hiruzen cursed silently.
Surely Danzō enjoyed seeing Hiruzen look weak, wanting public opinion to turn against him. After all, the last time Hiruzen made concessions to foreign powers was after the Third Great Ninja War, signing various humiliating pacts that even Konoha couldn't abide by.
In the end, Hiruzen had been forced to step down, leaving Minato to serve briefly as Hokage, while he continued his behind-the-scenes regency. If there were a chance now to impeach him again…
Of course Danzō had his own ambitions.
Turning, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura glanced at one another— it seemed it was their turn to speak.
"Sigh, Hiruzen… Indeed, this time Shinnosuke went too far…
"You've always claimed to treat every village ninja like one of your own children, so the two from the Police Force shouldn't have been any different from Shinnosuke…
"As for Uchiha Chiyu—maybe his approach was a bit extreme, but at this point, what's done is done."
"I say we just keep him locked up for a while so he can reflect on his actions…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his fists. Even they were…
He looked up to see everyone's eyes intently on him… an uncomfortable pressure weighed in the air.
He coughed, forcing himself to stay calm.
"Although Shinnosuke was my son, if he's committed wrongdoing, as Hokage I won't cover for him!
"As for Chiyu… Well… Fine…"
"Shisui, inform the prison wardens to let him out…"
Shisui turned pale. "Hokage-sama, that—?"
Hiruzen waved it off.
"Right is right, wrong is wrong. The ninjas of this village are all my family—I won't vent my anger at Chiyu just because Shinnosuke was at fault. If I'd known he was doing such vile things… I'd have corrected him just the same!"
Shisui could only reply, "Yes, Hokage-sama…"
Behind his mask, Kakashi gave a barely perceptible smile. And Uchiha Fugaku breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Of course, Fugaku understood that besides Kakashi's unexpected move catching Hiruzen off guard, the real reason the Hokage agreed to release Chiyu boiled down to one simple fact:
They couldn't keep him locked up anyway.
Chiyu remained only because he chose to. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't fathom his motives.
Leaving the Hokage building, Fugaku approached Kakashi.
"Captain Kakashi, thank you."
Kakashi shook his head.
Fugaku smirked. "Well, you've done far more than most then." With that, he patted Kakashi's shoulder and left.
Up in the office window, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Shisui watched the scene, and both felt their hearts sink.
Hatake Kakashi really is siding with the Uchiha, isn't he…?
Kakashi didn't look up, but sensed their gazes. He knew that with what he'd done today in the Hokage meeting, he would no longer have the Hokage's complete trust. And that brief friendly exchange with Fugaku… would be seen as further evidence of him "colluding" with the Uchiha.
He gave a wry smile, shaking his head.
"Well, if that's how it is, guess I'll indulge myself for once…"
The Hyūga clan's compound.
Under the heavy blanket of darkness, a ghostly figure approached unnoticed…
Naturally, it was the Kumogakure envoy's "ninja head."
"It's non-negotiable—we in Kumogakure must have it!
"And if I'm to steal it, I want the purest bloodline eyes possible… That would be the daughter of Hyūga Hiashi—
"…Hinata Hyūga, isn't it?"
He gave a cold laugh, disappearing into the shadows as he crept closer toward the clan head's estate.
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