Naruto: Uchiha's Absolute Justice

Chapter 36: Itachi Uchiha Returns to the Village!

Izumi was right.

The secret she blurted out in her emotional state took less than a few hours to seemingly spread throughout Konoha's streets and alleys.

No matter where she went with Senior, she could hear the villagers' discussions shift from Senior Ikeizumi to the Hokage's eldest son.

Evidently, the other ninja of the Uchiha clan had no responsibility or obligation to keep the Third Hokage's eldest son's secrets.

Upon realizing that the Hokage's eldest son, Shin'nosuke Sarutobi, harbored such a special secret, they instead became excited.

And they did not hesitate to spread this "secret information."

Rumors involving the Hokage always spread quickly.

Moreover, the rumors grew increasingly outrageous, with some people even taking the liberty of adding embellishments during their discussions.

—"I heard that because the Hokage-sama's eldest son killed many war orphans, that plague god of the Uchiha Police Force ended up killing the Hokage-sama's eldest son!"

—"No wonder many war orphans inexplicably disappeared from the Konoha Orphanage. So… so they became test subjects for human experiments?"

—"Will the village not be satisfied with using just those war orphans as test subjects in the future…"

—"Is Hokage-sama condoning this? Otherwise, why would his eldest son be the mastermind behind human experiments?"

—"Don't discuss it carelessly. From now on, keep a close eye on your own children. Those high-and-mighty people will only treat us as expendable."

—"I heard the Hokage's eldest son killed many Konoha villagers."

—"…"

"I'm sorry, Senior…" Izumi hung her head low, apologizing, "I didn't know things would turn out like this. Senior's teacher's reputation… it seems I ruined it."

She was on the verge of tears.

She also hadn't expected these rumors to become so outrageous in the end, seemingly even affecting the Hokage-sama.

This had only been a little over half a day.

What if a few more days passed…?

What then?

Izumi felt the terror of "public opinion" for the first time. Endless malicious public opinion began to surge towards a deceased person, sending chills down even her spine as an observer.

She couldn't imagine how painful it would be for a living person to be crushed by such malicious public opinion.

"Shin'nosuke-sensei should have anticipated something like this happening today when he committed those acts against justice."

Uchiha Ikeizumi said indifferently, "Rookie, you did nothing wrong."

Izumi froze.

Uchiha Ikeizumi looked at some of the villagers who, during their discussions, suddenly grew indignant over Shin'nosuke Sarutobi's actions.

"Even if the facts were distorted, it still made some people realize how horrifying the 'evil' of the ninja world truly is."

Uchiha Ikeizumi said, "It's precisely because of your 'leakage of secrets' that they began to learn to distinguish between justice and evil. If they take heed and condemn evil, then it means the ninja world still has hope."

"This is a good thing."

"You did very well."

Izumi's almost dull eyes suddenly lit up, and a faint mist clouded her glistening eyes.

She quickly wiped the corners of her eyes.

"Mm!!!"

Izumi didn't know why, but she just wanted to respond emphatically.

Perhaps…

It was because she was finally! Finally! Finally praised by Senior!

"Senior, I think from now on, whatever we do, we should speak the truth behind it. And not just tell a few people, but let everyone in the village know the true face of 'evil'."

"Senior… wouldn't that be better?"

Izumi's courage also gradually grew.

But only a little, not much. When she realized she seemed to be telling Senior what to do, she hastily corrected herself: "This is just my humble opinion, Senior can ignore it…"

"Good."

"Eh?"

Hokage Office.

"Hokage-sama, there seem to be many rumors unfavorable to Senior Shin'nosuke's reputation spreading rapidly throughout the village. Some of the rumors do involve the truth… but most of them are continuously exaggerated through word of mouth."

AANBU ninja found Hiruzen Sarutobi and reported in a low voice to the Third Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.

The mountain of documents on his desk remained untouched.

The negative emotions of losing his son lingered in his heart.

When he spoke, his voice was extremely hoarse and heavy with exhaustion; he seemed to have aged several years overnight: "What rumors?"

The ANBU ninja explained in detail.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows furrowed as he listened.

"Where did the rumors originate?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

The ANBU ninja replied: "They seem to have come from the Uchiha clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

The Uchiha clan…

"Hokage-sama, should we try to stop them?" the ANBU ninja asked.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples, a headache forming. He said, "The more we intentionally try to stop them, the more they will believe those things. It's like with Naruto; the more we try to stop villagers from discussing him as the Nine-Tails' incarnation, the more convinced the villagers become that he is indeed the Nine-Tails' incarnation."

Root Base.

"Lord Danzo, the tide of public opinion seems to have turned." A Root ninja reported to Danzo Shimura: "Last night, as per your orders, Lord Danzo, we spread many rumors about Uchiha Ikeizumi throughout the village. But…"

"It seems that after the rumors about Shin'nosuke Sarutobi suddenly emerged, the villagers became more concerned about the sordid deeds that the Hokage's eldest son had committed."

"As for Uchiha Ikeizumi…"

"It's as if he's done so many of these things that the villagers have become somewhat desensitized to him."

Danzo snorted coldly.

He actually knew that such a public opinion offensive would have little effect on Uchiha Ikeizumi. After all, Uchiha Ikeizumi wasn't Sakumo Hatake; that Uchiha brat didn't seem to be so fragile.

He sent the ANBU ninja to spread the rumors simply to further alienate Uchiha Ikeizumi and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He just hadn't expected to lose control of the public opinion.

However…

"Heh, Shin'nosuke Sarutobi's reputation worsening, the Monkey, as his father, will definitely be affected too. Whether that inherently evil Uchiha brat is affected or the Monkey is affected, it's not a bad thing for me."

Danzo said eerily, "You all push the narrative, ensuring Shin'nosuke Sarutobi's reputation is completely unsalvageable. Ideally, pin some of the blame on that Monkey too."

"Yes, Lord Danzo!"

Later that Day.

A day passed.

Shin'nosuke Sarutobi, in the mouths of Konoha villagers, had already transformed into an evil scientist who "would capture his own villagers for wicked human experiments and harm ninja with special Kekkei Genkai."

Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi desperately wanted to salvage some of his deceased eldest son's reputation.

Public opinion had completely spiraled out of control.

Just like the situation Sakumo Hatake had faced back then.

And during this process.

Someone…

Returned to the village.

"Phew, it's been half a month." Itachi Uchiha, accompanied by two ANBU ninja subordinates, stood quietly outside the village gates.

A gentle smile graced his small, impassive face.

"I wonder if Sasuke missed me."

.....

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