Homura and Koharu, having lived for a long time, had also done many bad things. They quickly understood Danzo's meaning.
I have to say, Danzo, you are truly evil. No wonder Hiruzen liked you as his dirty worker, you were born for this job.
Thus, the matter was decided.
After their three-way conspiracy was complete, there was a knock on the office door.
"Hokage-sama requests your presence at a meeting, sirs."
"Understood, we'll be right there."
—
Soon, the four gathered around the table and began their second meeting of the day.
Naturally, the first topic of discussion was the Uchiha problem.
Hiruzen still believed that if a peaceful resolution could be reached with the Uchiha, it should be pursued.
Furthermore, the next key focus of work should be on nurturing the next generation.
The enrollment quota for the Ninja Academy needed to be increased, and more excellent teachers should be hired. This would nurture more outstanding ninjas with the will of fire, who would protect their comrades.
And some other useless things.
According to past experience, whenever Hiruzen mentioned the Uchiha, Danzo would surely jump up and curse. Saying things like "we must eliminate the Uchiha, not a single breathing one can be left."
However, for some reason, Danzo seemed much gentler today.
This made Hiruzen very puzzled. He couldn't have suddenly changed his personality, could he?
"Danzo, you seem a bit off today."
Danzo was certainly not himself. His mind was currently filled with wicked schemes, and he hadn't heard a word Hiruzen had said.
"Perhaps it's just exhaustion."
Danzo casually offered an excuse, "The outside isn't peaceful either, with small skirmishes popping up now and then."
"Hmm." Hiruzen nodded. "That's all for today, meeting adjourned."
—
When people are up to no good, they often unleash great potential.
This saying was especially apt for Danzo.
That afternoon, his ninjas, disguised as civilians, began spreading rumors everywhere.
And the rumors grew more and more outlandish, until finally, it was said that a few-year-old Naruto had already learned to kill under Satoshi's training.
The owner of the fishing tackle shop who had sold him fake goods had already been cut more than four hundred times by Naruto and thrown into the river to feed the fish.
The members of Root were also first-rate at boasting. Seeing their serious demeanor, some brainless villagers actually believed them.
They clamored to complain to the Hokage, demanding that Satoshi and Naruto be locked up, preferably never to be released.
Satoshi and Naruto, however, remained completely unaware of these matters. They were practicing at their usual spot.
"Excellent! Throw another hundred times."
Satoshi leaned against a tree, happily sipping his tea.
Not far away, Naruto was throwing a large handful of shuriken as if they were free.
Thump... Thump... Thump...
The shuriken accurately hit the target.
"Hehe."
Naruto proudly looked at Satoshi. "Satoshi-sensei, I've improved again, haven't I?"
Satoshi nodded. He stood up, and walked back a few steps.
"Come over, drink some water, and rest for a bit. I'll teach you Chakra control later."
Naruto responded with a sound and plopped down onto the soft grass.
Satoshi collected the ninja tools scattered on the ground and began to teach Naruto the basic principles of Chakra.
"From now on, you need to try to concentrate your Chakra in one place and keep it stable."
Saying this, Satoshi demonstrated the basic operation of tee climbing. This was a fundamental skill for ninja, and it was very necessary to learn it early.
After a short rest, Naruto stood before a large tree. He closed his eyes, trying to sense what exactly this Chakra Satoshi spoke of was.
Ten minutes later.
"How is it? Did you feel it?"
"Huff... Huff…"
Satoshi walked over and took a look.
My goodness, he even fell asleep standing up.
Forget it, let it be.
There were still over two years until the clan annihilation. There was still time.
He picked up Naruto, placed him in the prepared tent, and covered him with a blanket.
This gave him a strange illusion, as if he were coaxing a child to sleep.
—
When Naruto woke up again, it was already evening.
His stomach let out a pained growl, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.
"Satoshi-sensei, what are we eating tonight?"
Naruto curiously glanced towards the bonfire and spotted the long-unseen Kuro.
"Kuro, long time no see. Can I touch your feathers?"
Kuro's pupils constricted sharply. The brat is here, quickly run!
It zipped into the sky, fearing that if it delayed, Naruto would pet its feathers off.
"So stingy! What's wrong with letting me touch you?" Naruto said, accepting the meat Satoshi handed him.
"Satoshi-sensei, what will you teach me next time?"
"First, master tree climbing. As for Ninjutsu, I'll choose a suitable one for you later."
Yes, all sorts of Rasengan.
"Oh, okay."
Soon after, the two finished their meal.
After cleaning up the trash on the ground, the two walked towards the city center with their bags.
Naruto even deliberately avoided the bustling areas, saying, "There are fewer people here, let's go this way."
Satoshi looked up at the Hokage Rock, wondering if he should find an opportunity to use Edo Tensei on the Fourth Hokage.
Let him directly deal with those guys from the Third Hokage's faction, saving Naruto from years of self-isolation.
—
The next morning, Naruto woke up early.
After diligently eating breakfast, he picked up the ninja tool pouch Satoshi had given him and left the house.
"If Satoshi-sensei doesn't have time today, then I'll just go practice by myself."
As Naruto closed the main gate, the smile on his face instantly froze.
His doorstep was piled high with trash, and covered in graffiti with words like "murderer."
Naruto stared at all this, dumbfounded, unable to believe his eyes.
Before, people merely avoided him, but no one had ever done something so outrageous.
As for "murderer"… he didn't even dare to kill fish, let alone people?
"Why…"
Naruto clearly heard his own sobs.
His first instinct was to find Satoshi and ask him what had happened.
But after running a few steps, he turned back.
"Satoshi-sensei has work to do, I can handle these things myself."
"To become the best ninja, you must endure what others cannot."
Naruto silently put on his old clothes, picked up bag after bag of trash, and walked towards the trash can.
A long time later, he finished cleaning up the trash and then climbed a ladder, meticulously scrubbing the paint off the wall.
While Naruto was being slandered, the Konoha Military Police Force was also dragged into the mess.
A rumor emerged from who knows where, claiming that the Konoha Military Police Force and Naruto were in cahoots, collaborating on murders.
The recent disappearances of several villagers were supposedly their doing. Among them, that white-haired Satoshi was especially heinous.
He was accused of using force to threaten innocent villagers and extort favors and even laid his hands on girls…
"Go to hell!"
Satoshi grabbed his small blade, ready to go out, wishing he could kill them all.
He could tolerate other accusations, but he was still a virgin.
"Satoshi, don't get agitated. We'll find out the truth very soon."
Inaho and Tekka comforted Satoshi verbally, but inwardly, they were nervous.
From the source of the information, it was clear that the people constantly babbling in the streets were just villagers.
Konoha Military Police Force had clear regulations against harming villagers.
Even if they brought them in, at most it would be a scolding and education, and that would be it.
If not handled carefully, they might even accuse Konoha Military Police Force of abusing private power and slandering good people.
"Satoshi, bear with it. You'll get used to this kind of thing. Back then, we only ate one bowl of noodles, and some little brat insisted I ate two?"
Satoshi raised an eyebrow and asked, "Didn't you cut open your stomach to show them?"
"Kid, you wish I was dead, don't you?"
"Don't take it to heart. They'll forget about it in a few days."
"Ask Tekka, which person in the Police Force hasn't been slandered by them?"
"That's enough for now, let's go for a drink tonight."
Satoshi nodded, he had seen these old tricks many times. It was nothing more than exploiting people's love for gossip. If they couldn't beat you head-on, they'd try to disgust you.
But—
If you dare to disgust me, I dare to deal with you.
Satoshi rummaged through the drawer for the Konoha Military Police Force's documents and quickly skimmed through them.
"Oh, Tobirama-sama indeed granted us, the Konoha Military Police Force, legislative power."
Satoshi said through gritted teeth, "We must formulate a set of provisions to address this matter, so as not to disappoint Tobirama-sama's painstaking efforts."
(End of Chapter)
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