"Gen Uchiha is dead?"
The events of the day were still fresh in everyone's minds, yet by nightfall, Gen Uchiha was dead.
It was too sudden.
How did he die?
People wore expressions of shock and confusion.
"The Uchiha clan committed grave sins, yes, but Gen Uchiha... he didn't deserve to die. He was one of the normal ones."
"No one in the village would just kill him, right? Could it have been an accident?"
The person opposite sneered.
"An accident? How is that possible? There are no coincidences like that."
"If it wasn't an accident, then it was a vendetta killing?"
"If it was a vendetta, there's a huge probability it was the Sarutobi or Shimura clans. After all, they suffered the heaviest losses during the Uchiha rebellion."
"The Sarutobi clan is unlikely. That's the Hokage's clan."
"But the Shimura clan... highly likely."
"You can tell just by looking at the new recruits in the Police Force."
"The Shimura clan members are too aggressive. They're even worse than the Uchiha used to be."
The Military Police Force was a job that easily offended people.
This was a major reason why the Uchiha had been so disliked and ostracized by the villagers before.
Whenever interests or punishments were involved, the penalized party would inevitably be resentful.
Now, with the Uchiha gone, the Police Force had been taken over by the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. Very quickly, the villagers' resentment and dislike shifted to these two families.
The Sarutobi clan fared better, thanks to the natural filter villagers had for the Hokage's kin. Plus, they genuinely conducted themselves better than the Shimura.
This only made the villagers detest the Shimura clan even more.
Comparison breeds harm.
"These Shimura people are terrible. Compared to the Sarutobi, it's like heaven and earth. They don't even treat us like humans."
"They act so impatient, so superior, even when they're supposed to be solving problems."
"There's a high chance they killed Gen Uchiha."
When Danzo heard these rumors, his face went pitch black.
"Dou Uchiha dies, and they say I did it?"
"Now Gen Uchiha dies, and they say my Shimura clan did it?"
"Unruly mob! Absolute unruly mob!"
"So every bad thing that happens gets pinned on me?"
"This is clearly a bitter meat strategy by the Uchiha."
"Using Gen Uchiha's death to garner sympathy from the village. It's so stupid, yet people fall for it."
Just then, Homura Mitokado walked in.
"Danzo."
"Homura."
Danzo's eyes flickered. He didn't give Homura a warm welcome, even though they were both disciples of the Second Hokage and had worked together for a long time.
Homura was trying to take control of Root.
This was something Danzo absolutely could not tolerate.
He had built Root from scratch. He had poured his heart and soul into it, expending countless efforts to shape it into what it was today.
It might not match the ANBU in scale, but it was second only to them.
This was his foundation.
If a chance for the Hokage seat ever arose, Root would be his greatest asset.
"You've heard about Gen Uchiha's death, haven't you, Danzo?"
"I heard. But it has nothing to do with me or the Shimura clan."
Homura paused.
"Danzo, I wasn't implying it had anything to do with you. I just think this matter needs to be investigated thoroughly to give the village an answer."
"After all, Gen Uchiha's death is too unusual."
"Hiruzen will surely send the ANBU, but I want Root to investigate as well."
"Danzo, hand Root over to me. This is also Hiruzen's wish."
"Regardless of the position, it's all for the village. You wouldn't be clinging to power, would you? Or do you have other ideas?"
Danzo gave Homura a deep look.
"Homura, I hope you manage Root well. Starting today, Root is officially yours."
Danzo handed over a key.
"This is the key to the Root base."
Homura took the key and smiled.
"Don't worry, Danzo. I won't let your hard work go to waste."
"I hope so."
Watching Homura leave, Danzo scoffed coldly.
"Homura, you think you can control Root? Keep dreaming. Do you think Root is that easy to command? Even with Hiruzen's orders... Root will always belong to me."
"Always!"
The next day, most of Konoha was discussing Gen Uchiha.
And discussing him inevitably led to discussing his actions.
"Maybe we shouldn't be so harsh?"
"Not all Uchiha are rebels. There are good people in that clan, like Kagami Uchiha back then, and Gen Uchiha now."
"It's a pity Gen Uchiha died. And a pity Kagami Uchiha died too."
One person suddenly lowered their voice.
"Who do you think killed Gen Uchiha?"
"And how did Kagami Uchiha really die back then? Could that rumor be true?"
"Which rumor?"
"Which one else? The one about Kagami Uchiha being sold out by the Second and Third Hokage."
"Honestly, who knows?"
"It happened so long ago. But the Hokage isn't that kind of person. Otherwise, the Uchiha's situation would be even worse now."
"It's thanks to the Hokage that the remaining Uchiha can still live peacefully in Konoha."
...
...
The moment "Gen Uchiha" died, Rasa's consciousness returned to his own body.
Without hesitation, he checked the system panel.
[Name: Rasa]
[Identity: Fourth Kazekage]
[Ninjutsu: Eye of Sand, etc.]
[Taijutsu: General Taijutsu]
[Genjutsu: None]
[Kekkei Genkai: Magnet Release - Gold Dust]
[Remaining Activation Points: 0]
[Remaining Points: 998]
Seeing the number, Rasa smiled.
"Almost 1000 points."
"Not bad, not bad."
"Ebizo must be working hard."
"Gen Uchiha gave it a big boost too. Given the current situation in Konoha, a lot of people must be talking about him. And mentioning Gen Uchiha makes it very likely they'll mention Kagami Uchiha."
"And that's just one part of it."
"Gen Uchiha's death will plant a seed in Shisui Uchiha's heart."
"Plus, my repeated comparisons of Shisui to Kagami will make Hiruzen Sarutobi wary of him."