All men seek profit when they flock together; all rush away when gain disappears.
Once their own interests are at stake, the truth no longer matters.
Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed at the crowd below and took a leisurely puff from his pipe. The Uchiha had previously used narrative campaigns to rally support for Fugaku. He understood their ability to influence public opinion, so he never believed that just a few rumors could bring down Aozora.
Yet no matter how hard the Uchiha tried to sway opinions, they couldn't change the fact that everyone in the village would suffer losses due to Aozora and his companions' actions.
As long as villagers and ninja alike could feel their personal interests threatened, Hiruzen knew he wouldn't need to act himself—there would soon be countless people praying for Aozora's downfall.
Hiruzen spoke calmly, "The Daimyo will deliver his decision next week. I've already ordered Anbu to intensify their investigation into the truth. But... everyone should prepare themselves for budget reductions."
Hiruzen didn't wait for a reply—he turned and walked out of the Grand Conference Room right after he spoke.
Instead of leaving with him, the ninjas in the Meeting Room stayed behind and started murmuring among themselves.
"Raising our share from thirty to fifty percent? What have we risked our lives for? At this rate, we won't even have enough money to buy ninja tools!"
"The Intelligence Division's budget was cut by sixty percent? Are we stopping espionage operations now? Are intelligence outposts closing? Are informants supposed to survive on their own?"
"And taxes increased twenty percent? Are the villagers going to start a rebellion?"
"Instructors at the Education Department are barely making ends meet as it is. If the budget shrinks any further, how do they expect them to survive?"
...
At first, it was just normal complaints. Then someone suddenly asked, "Now that you mention it, I've been wondering—how did Uchiha Aozora and his group end up at the crime scene in the first place, only to be caught red-handed by the Daimyo's Guardian Shinobi? They say it's a frame-up, but where's the evidence?"
Although this speculation was quickly silenced by Kosuke and Torifu, many people still couldn't help harboring resentment toward Aozora and his companions.
Shortly after the meeting concluded, the Emergency Plan proposed during the high-level meeting spread like wildfire throughout Konoha's streets and alleys.
Soon, across the entire Hidden Leaf Village, stories of Aozora and his companions brutally slaughtering civilians and provoking the Daimyo began circulating. In these exaggerated tellings from ill-intentioned individuals, Aozora and his friends had become notorious villains guilty of every imaginable crime.
Like water seeping through every crack, the rumors infiltrated every corner and social class.
Seeing and hearing about the Emergency Plan, most villagers who had previously been indecisive now began shifting blame onto Aozora and his companions, loudly accusing them without restraint.
The Police Force can't even make an arrest anymore—just approaching someone to warn them invites accusations that they're covering for Aozora and his group.
Standing in direct opposition to the interests of the masses, the Uchiha clan ultimately lost this war of public opinion.
Witnessing the overwhelming tide of public opinion, Kosuke and Torifu worked to stabilize internal affairs within the village while simultaneously urging Hiruzen to uncover the truth as soon as possible.
Kyudai acted as Aozora's eyes within the village, and quickly reported the general sentiment regarding public opinion back to Aozora.
"Ever since the Emergency Plan became public, you three have been universally condemned. Now our clan is also suffering by association. Many people are demanding that you three must pay for your crimes with your lives, hoping this appeases the Daimyo and prevents further budget cuts."
Aozora didn't lose his composure despite the villagers' verbal attacks. He simply replied with a soft "Hmm."
"What do you mean by 'hmm'?" Kyudai was even more anxious than Aozora himself. "Aozora, you usually have the best ideas. Come up with a solution quickly!"
Aozora merely nodded and said, "Got it."
When he saw the Daimyo's guardian shinobi, Aozora already guessed the methods the Hokage Faction would use against him.
With his increasing strength, there weren't many ways left to eliminate him.
After the death of White Fang, it wasn't difficult for Aozora to figure out the Hokage Faction's plans.
Sure enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi created powerful public opinion, presenting all villagers with a choice:
Either sacrifice Aozora and his two companions to appease the Daimyo's anger, or have the entire village endure hardship together.
Even a child could see which way this was going.
Villagers whose interests were damaged began condemning the three individuals and spreading rumors about them constantly.
If they possessed the "Will of Fire," perhaps they might willingly commit suicide like White Fang did, dying to apologize to everyone.
In that case, Hiruzen Sarutobi would achieve his desired outcome effortlessly. Later, shedding a few "crocodile tears" might even earn him more praise.
However, if these three men remained firm in their convictions and refused to admit guilt or commit suicide, Hiruzen wouldn't need to personally kill them either.
Once the Daimyo reduced the budget, eventually the entire village would turn hostile toward Aozora and his group. This hostility would also drag the Uchiha clan into it, making it impossible for the Uchiha to ever reach for the Hokage seat again.
It can be said that Sarutobi's current strategy has basically backed the three of them into a desperate situation.
Of course, this was only an apparent dead end. During this process, Hiruzen had gradually revealed his true nature.
Aozora decided to let things play out for now, using [Jia Xing] to make his face look gloomy.
"There's nothing else we can do now! I still believe the Hokage and the elders will find the truth and come up with a solution."
"You're being foolish!" Kyudai exclaimed angrily.
Aozora didn't argue but asked Kyudai instead, "I need you to do me a favor!"
Kyudai immediately replied, "Tell me what it is!"
Aozora seriously requested, "Please keep an eye on Might Guy recently. Junping and I are within the Uchiha compound, so the villagers can only curse us secretly. But Guy is different—I'm afraid he might be pressured by the villagers into committing suicide."
"At a time like this…"
Looking into Aozora's serious eyes, Kyudai sighed before finally nodding.
Later, Kosuke, Torifu, and others came one after another to visit Aozora.
Aozora kept his somber expression as he expressed trust in the Hokage, belief in the village leaders, and confidence in his Konoha comrades.
As day passed by day, the deadline set by the Daimyo drew closer. The villagers had grown tired of just whispering behind closed doors.
Under the leadership of various "opinion leaders," they prepared to attack the residences of the three men—Aozora and Junping lived within the Uchiha compound, so ultimately they gathered at Guy's estate.
Fortunately, Aozora had previously warned Kyudai about this possibility, so no serious consequences occurred.
But their actions sent a clear message—the villagers now saw Aozora and his friends as the real monsters who slaughtered innocent lives.
At the same time, Shisui finally returned.
As soon as he finished his report, he hurried straight home.
"Aozora!"
Hearing Shisui's call, Aozora immediately activated [Jia Xing] to make himself appear more worn out.
Seeing his younger brother's suddenly weary appearance, Shisui felt a pang in his heart and quickly stepped forward, asking, "Are you okay?"
Aozora shook his head and forced a smile. "I'm fine!"
After saying that, hope flickered in his eyes as he asked, "Brother, surely with the Hokage's wisdom, the truth must have already been uncovered, right?"
Shisui hesitated before replying, "Almost! The Hokage is still investigating!"
Upon hearing this, Aozora sighed in disappointment and asked, "If... if the truth is never uncovered in the end, what will the Hokage do about us?"
"The Hokage promised me your lives won't be endangered," Shisui said, "but Konoha might significantly cut back on expenditures..."
Aozora gave a bitter smile and said, "Then it would've been better to just let me die."
"Don't think like that!" Shisui urged quickly. "Aozora, please don't lose hope!"
"I'm not losing hope!" Aozora shook his head. "I just didn't expect that after all this time, even with the Hokage's wisdom, nothing has been resolved yet."
Hearing this, Shisui frowned and asked, "What exactly did you mean by that, Aozora?"
Aozora replied bitterly, "Nothing. I shouldn't doubt the Hokage."
After saying this, Aozora stopped speaking and turned back to his own bedroom.
Seeing this, Shisui quietly returned to his room.
Lying on the bed with his exhausted body, Shisui remained wide awake without the slightest trace of sleepiness.
He thought about Hiruzen Sarutobi's subtle hints when describing Konoha's troubles, and again about Aozora's sorrowful and defeated expression.
Was it really true that not a single clue had been found?
With the Hokage's wisdom and Konoha's strength, no trace should escape unnoticed—how could they find absolutely nothing at all?
For the first time ever, doubt about the Hokage crept into Shisui's heart.
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