"By the way, old man, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly, say it again!"
Deidara really knew how to get under someone's skin. He placed his little finger, which had been picking his ear, near his mouth and blew gently, then spoke slowly and lazily.
The air of complete indifference made it seem as if he didn't even regard the Hokage of Konoha.
"You..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's anger flared instantly, almost losing control, but considering the gaze of the many Konoha civilians behind him, he forced himself to suppress the raging fire in his heart.
He tried to keep his tone calm as he slowly spoke, "Neji has already succumbed to madness. If you are his friends, then you should try to persuade him and stop him from committing more killings!"
He paused briefly, emphasizing his words, and continued, "And you must not use the lives of Konoha's villagers to threaten me!"
When he said "Konoha villagers," Hiruzen deliberately stressed those words. He needed to reassure the people behind him, making it clear that his retreat had reason.
He also wanted to fully demonstrate, in front of the villagers, the responsibility he bore as the Hokage.
"What's going on?" someone in the crowd whispered curiously.
"You don't know yet? The Hyuga main family has gone too far. Now Neji is about to wipe them all out!" another person quickly responded.
"The Hyuga main family? You mean those arrogant, high-and-mighty people?"
"Hmph, I've always disliked them. A few days ago, I saw with my own eyes that just because a member of the Hyuga branch family didn't yield to a main family disciple, that main family person directly used the Caged Bird Seal!"
"The main family has been far too reckless for too long. They deserved to be punished!"
"Neji is doing the right thing!"
"Isn't he? I heard someone from the main family used the Caged Bird Seal to torment Neji's mother to death. Otherwise, he wouldn't be this furious!"
"That's true?" The crowd showed expressions of shock.
The people whispered among themselves, but some changed the topic and continued, "So the Hokage just said that he only stepped back because someone was using our lives to threaten him?"
"Lord Hokage is truly considerate!" someone chimed in.
"How did that kid use our lives as leverage?" another asked, curious.
"Look… did you see that bird over there? That bird is actually that blond guy's bomb. The moment it explodes, the blast will be enormous!"
"Really?"
"Of course it's true. I sneaked into Lord Hokage's ninja squad and heard it with my own ears. And that bird only hovers above the Sarutobi clan's territory… and above the Shimura too."
"So it wasn't our lives being threatened, but the lives of the Hokage clan's people!"
"Look! The bird is indeed circling above the Sarutobi lands!"
"So Lord Hokage was worried about his people getting hurt…"
The murmurs spread in waves, one after another.
At first, the villagers held Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, in deep admiration and respect.
But as the truth gradually emerged, their attitudes began to shift subtly.
The blind reverence they once had for Hiruzen slowly turned into scrutiny, tinged with a hint of disdain.
Hiruzen himself had secretly felt proud of his clever words, believing that his explanation would make the villagers understand his helpless position and preserve his authority in their eyes.
But he never expected that events would spiral completely out of his control.
Someone in the crowd had directly uncovered his plan and even managed to steer him into opposition with the villagers.
It was infuriating!
For the first time, Hiruzen truly realized the power of words.
Before, he had always led others by the nose, but now, hearing the murmurs around him, his expression darkened.
Those murmurs were like sharp little knives.
They didn't strike him directly, but they slowly chipped away at his image in the villagers' eyes.
It was more painful than death!
In the crowd, Shou Kui watched the scene, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.
As soon as he learned about the trouble with the Hyuga clan, he had rushed over.
He had taken a mask and blended in with the Anbu squad.
So, the truth was clear to him.
Those responsible for tormenting Neji's mother from the Hyuga main family deserved to die.
And also,
After Hiruzen Sarutobi was forced to retreat, he shamelessly claimed it was to protect the civilians of Konoha?
Ridiculous.
Neji's friends had never even thought of harming the villagers.
Hiruzen's words were only meant to sway the civilians while turning them against Deidara and his companions.
Since these three were Neji's friends and closely associated with the Uchiha clan, they could very well be young Lord Genya's allies as well.
So, when Hiruzen tried to manipulate hatred, it was only natural to expose this hypocritical Hokage.
"Quiet! Don't you see we're holding off the attackers?"
Asuma Sarutobi could not stay calm, his father being insulted in such a way.
He spun around, glaring furiously at the civilians.
At Asuma's angry shout, the Sarutobi Police Force ninjas all turned simultaneously, as if to remember who had spoken, planning to settle the score once this was over.
Sure enough,
Their presence was imposing.
The villagers completely dared not speak, even taking a few steps back, fearful, as they watched the group.
In recent years, the Sarutobi Police Force's fearsome reputation had become impossible to erase from the villagers' minds.
This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not stop Asuma but instead pretended to maintain a serious standoff with Deidara and the others.
However, for a moment, there was no movement at all.
Only faint, dreadful screams could be heard from deep within the Hyuga clan compound, rising and falling in a way that sent chills down one's spine.
For a while, both sides remained motionless.
Kakashi and Naruto watched this scene, unsure of what to do.
Outside Konoha, Genya and Kurenai were leisurely making their way toward the village.
Since their mission was complete, Genya didn't want to return too quickly.
So, they strolled casually, and on their way back, they even eliminated over a dozen Sarutobi clan ninjas.
According to Genya, this was simply to amuse that old Sarutobi, and once they returned, he would be completely shocked.
As they moved forward, Shino Aburame, who had been perched in a tree, suddenly stopped and looked toward Konoha, her voice heavy with concern.
"Something seems off in Konoha."
Something off?
Genya and Kurenai immediately snapped into focus.
In an instant, both appeared in a blink atop the trees, staring toward Konoha.
Genya infused chakra into his eyes and carefully observed.
His expression darkened further.
At that moment, Hinata Hyuga's face also changed.
Her Byakugan reached farther than Shino's, seeing more clearly.
Her voice carried tension as she said, "Genya… that seems to be the location of the Hyuga clan."
****
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