Hiruzen persuaded me to die

The next day.

The Uchiha Military Police Force took charge of the public announcement, and what had transpired the day before quickly spread throughout the entirety of Konohagakure.

Additionally, Hyuga Naraku had a formal proclamation posted outside the Hokage Tower—an official indictment of Sarutobi Hiruzen's crimes!

Abused his authority as Hokage to strengthen the Sarutobi clan's influence;

Conspired to ruin Konoha's White Fang through rumor and manipulation;

Colluded with foreign elements, inciting the Nine Tails incident and pinning the blame on the Uchiha clan;

Shielded Shimura Danzō and turned a blind eye to his reckless atrocities;

Displayed cowardice toward enemy villages, yet brutality toward his own people;

Abused the orphan of the Fourth Hokage—Uzumaki Naruto;

Colluded with Kirigakure, leading the Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitokado, and Homura clans in a rebellion;

Sold out the village, using the Nine Tails' Jinchūriki as a bargaining chip!

Each accusation struck like thunder through the hearts of villagers. But none more than one:

"The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, was killed by a mysterious masked man working in concert with Sarutobi Hiruzen!"

Villagers stared at the announcement, stunned.

Those who had seen Uchiha Obito the day before were already convinced he was the masked man who unleashed the Nine Tails.

And the man he rescued—Sarutobi Hiruzen—was now unmistakably an accomplice.

Naraku, of course, knew Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't directly responsible for the Nine Tails' attack. But so what?

Why should he bother defending him?

If the entire village believed Hiruzen was the mastermind, so be it.

"So it was that old b*****d Sarutobi who caused the Nine Tails chaos all along?!"

Someone's voice cracked with rage.

Many had lost family members on that terrible night. Until now, they had believed it was a tragic accident—Nine Tails breaking loose by chance.

Now, to learn that it was a man-made disaster? Orchestrated by the very Hokage they once revered?

A wave of fury erupted through the village.

"That bastard let the Nine Tails run loose just so he could seize power again?!"

"Lord Fourth gave his life to stop Nine Tails... and his son—his son—was treated like a criminal!"

Memories of their own cruelty toward Naruto came flooding back.

Calling him a "demon fox."

Shunning him.

Whispering behind his back.

And now... he was the Fourth Hokage's son all along.

"Sarutobi didn't just let the Fourth die—he hid his son's identity, spread lies, and let us all abuse him!"

The poster detailed even more damning crimes—how Sarutobi had conspired with Kirigakure, trading away Naruto as a bargaining chip. He had tried to overthrow the current administration with foreign support.

Now that Naruto's lineage was public knowledge, there was no need to conceal his status as the Nine Tails' Jinchūriki.

And with Jiraiya now acting as his guardian, security was no longer a pressing concern.

"He tried to sell the Fourth's son?!"

Villagers were aghast.

To the people of Konoha, Namikaze Minato was not just a hero—he was a legend.

And now, to learn that his only child had been neglected, abused, and nearly sold out by Hiruzen?

"Thank the gods for Lord Naraku!"

"He returned from the expedition and crushed the rebellion!"

Laughter erupted as people imagined the moment—Sarutobi's forces poised to destroy the Hyuga Clan, only for Naraku to suddenly appear and reverse everything.

"He thought Lord Naraku had died in Cloud Shinobi's surprise attack. That's why he moved with Mist Shinobi. What poetic justice!"

"But where is Sarutobi now?"

Questions swirled.

"Didn't he go to Kumogakure before? Why is he colluding with Kirigakure now?"

"I heard that when Cloud's secret weapon was launched, Lord Naraku blocked it with a single jutsu!"

Eyes widened.

"And get this—he captured the weapon and used a golden sword technique to slice through entire mountains around Kumogakure!"

"Flattened the whole mountain range?!"

Gasps all around.

"My friend was on that mission! He said the sword split the earth for dozens of kilometers!"

"That's... that's First Hokage-tier strength!"

"Didn't First Hokage Hashirama Senju once wrestle all the tailed beasts into submission?"

"And now Lord Naraku has captured the Eight Tails and subdued Nine Tails' Jinchūriki... is he the reincarnation of the First Hokage?!"

The village buzzed with awe and excitement.

"We made Sarutobi Hokage and he betrayed us!"

"But if Lord Naraku becomes Hokage—we'll finally have true justice!"

Meanwhile—

Somewhere in Kirigakure...

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood in the shadows, scowling.

Uchiha Obito watched him with a mocking grin.

"Congratulations, old man. You're now officially the scapegoat for the Nine Tails incident. Konoha believes you're the mastermind."

"It's your fault!" Hiruzen snarled, fists clenched. "You're the one who released the Nine Tails!"

But it didn't matter anymore.

The world believed the lie.

And now that he had allied with Obito—the truth would never matter again.

His reputation was destroyed.

His legacy, shattered.

And his village... forever lost.