While Hatake Kakashi's Team 7 had taken only three days to reach the Land of Waves, the Konoha Hundred's return to the village with their massive convoy—even after leaving half the River Country refugees behind—took a full week.
What should have been a routine redeployment had turned into a spectacle.
The presence of the River Country daimyo and thousands of refugees forced Konoha's elders and clans to abandon their usual indifference. Overnight, the Hundred's return was rebranded as a triumphant homecoming for a victorious army.
Even the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood at the gates to welcome them.
Without that daimyo, we'd have been lucky to get a pat on the back, Yoru thought wryly. Now the elders are falling over themselves to claim credit.
"Is this the Konoha Hundred? They really slaughtered nearly a thousand enemy shinobi?"
"It's true! My son's a chūnin—he says they wiped out over six hundred Sand ninja and an entire Mist battalion!"
"They even rescued the daimyo! And all those refugees…"
The villagers buzzed with pride. Annihilating a thousand enemy ninja was the stuff of legends—no wonder Hiruzen had rolled out the red carpet. Even Shimura Danzō, freshly returned from the River Country front, made a rare public appearance.
Then came the trophies.
Carts piled with stolen forehead protectors, clan insignias, and even a few battered Mist prisoners paraded through the streets. The villagers gawked.
"Look at those Sand ninja—their skin's like leather!"
"Are those Mist captives? So the rumors about pirates were true!"
**"That's proof—they really did it!"**
Hiruzen's eyebrows rose. A prisoner display? Unorthodox… but effective. He made a mental note to institutionalize it.
Just as the celebration peaked, the Uchiha struck.
"Umino Yoru!" Uchiha Hikaku, flanked by Konoha Military Police, barked over the crowd. "By the authority of the Police Force, you're under arrest for illegally imprisoning Konoha shinobi!"
The Hundred didn't flinch. After years of shared battles—and Yoru's "wife distribution" scheme—their loyalty was ironclad. Instead of drawing weapons, they unleashed something worse: mockery.
"Ohhh, so the mighty Uchiha run from fights now?"
"Ran away and tried to steal credit? Real classy!"
"Got their asses kicked one-on-one too—embarrassing!"
The crowd erupted. Villagers who'd cheered the Uchiha moments ago now jeered. Even the elders, poised to intervene, paused to enjoy the show.
Yoru tossed four chakra-drained Uchiha at Hikaku's feet, followed by shackled Shimura clansmen. "Here's your 'prisoners.' And since you're so concerned about justice—" He slapped a scroll into Hikaku's chest. "—here's the Shimura's crimes and Wave Country's formal complaint. Handle it."
Trapped, Hikaku had no choice but to take custody. But he wasn't done.
"Then explain your other crimes! Unauthorized jutsu dissemination! Looting and selling mission assets!"
Yoru scoffed. "Those 'unauthorized jutsu' were spoils of war from Sand. And as for 'looting'—" He spun toward Danzō. "—wasn't it Lord Danzō's brilliant frontline policy that allowed loan-based jutsu training? Without it, how could we have grown strong enough to save the daimyo?"
Thud. Danzō's cane hit the ground. "Indeed." His voice carried across the square. "My reforms ensured our victory. To question them is to question Konoha's future."
Hikaku's jaw tightened. "And the supplies you sold?"
"For the refugees!" Yoru flung open a ledger. "Every ryo went to housing, food, medicine—ask anyone!"
The crowd surged forward, gasping at the meticulously documented expenses.
"He donated all his mission earnings?!"
"Thousands sheltered… and Uchiha Shun oversaw it? Madara's grandson?!"
Even skeptical villagers relented. Then the final blow landed—the refugees themselves, thousands strong, marching into view.
"Look! They're real!"
"No way this is a scam—there's too many!"
Hikaku's own clansmen wavered. The trap was perfect:
Political Shield: By crediting Danzō, Yoru forced the elder to defend him. Moral High Ground: The refugees were living proof of the Hundred's "generosity." Divided Uchiha: Younger members, seeing their clan humiliated, began doubting Hikaku's motives.
As the crowd's cheers drowned out the Police Force's protests, Yoru hid a smirk.
Checkmate.
read more inpat***(finish story)
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