Izumi, you guessed correctly.
The secret she blurted out in her excitement had, in less than a few hours, seemingly spread through every street and alley of Konoha.
No matter where she followed her senior, she could hear villagers discussing, their topic of conversation shifting from Senior Chisen to the Hokage's eldest son.
Clearly, the other ninjas of the Uchiha clan felt no responsibility or obligation to keep the Hokage's eldest son's secret.
When they realized that Sarutobi Shinosuke, the Hokage's eldest son, harbored such a peculiar secret, they actually became excited.
And without hesitation, they spread this "secret intelligence."
Rumors involving the Hokage always spread quickly.
Moreover, the rumors became increasingly outlandish, with some people even adding their own embellishments during discussions.
"I heard it's because the Hokage's eldest son killed many war orphans, which is why that jinx from the Konoha Military Police Force killed the Hokage's eldest son!"
"No wonder many war orphans from the Konoha orphanage have mysteriously disappeared. So... so they were turned into test subjects for human experimentation?"
"Will the village eventually not be satisfied with using those war orphans as test subjects..."
"Is the Hokage condoning this kind of thing? Otherwise, why would his eldest son become the mastermind behind human experimentation?"
"Stop discussing this nonsense. You need to keep a close eye on your own children from now on. Those people in high positions will only treat us as expendable resources."
"I heard the Hokage's eldest son killed many Konoha villagers."
"..."
"I'm sorry, Senior..." Izumi said, lowering her head. "I didn't know things would turn out like this. Your teacher's reputation in life... it seems I've ruined it."
She felt like crying but had no tears.
She hadn't expected these rumors to become so absurd in the end, even seeming to implicate the Hokage himself.
And this was only after less than half a day had passed.
If this continued for a few more days...
What would happen then?
For the first time, Izumi felt the terror of "public opinion." Endless malicious public sentiment began to target a deceased person, and even as an observer, she felt a chill.
She couldn't imagine how painful it must be for someone still alive to be crushed under such a wave of malicious public opinion.
"When Shinosuke-sensei did those things that went against justice, he should have anticipated that something like this would happen today."
Uchiha Chisen said calmly, "Newcomer, you did nothing wrong."
Izumi was taken aback.
Uchiha Chisen looked at the villagers who, during the discussions, had suddenly become indignant about Sarutobi Shinosuke's actions.
"Even if the facts have been distorted, it has made some people realize just how horrifying 'evil' is in the ninja world."
Uchiha Chisen continued, "Because of your 'leaking of secrets,' they are starting to learn to distinguish between justice and sin. If they take heed and abhor evil, then there is still hope for the ninja world."
"This is a good thing."
"You did very well."
Izumi's eyes, which had almost lost their sparkle, suddenly regained a vibrant glow, a faint mist clouding her clear, watery eyes.
She hurriedly wiped the corners of her eyes.
"Mhm!!!"
Izumi didn't know why, but she felt an urge to respond emphatically.
Perhaps...
It was because she had finally! Finally! Finally been praised by her senior!
"Senior, I think from now on, whatever we do, we should reveal the truth behind it. And not just tell a few people, but let everyone in the village know the true face of 'evil'."
"Senior... would this make things a little better?"
Izumi's courage gradually grew.
But only a little. When she realized she might be telling her senior what to do, she quickly amended, "This is just my humble opinion, Senior can ignore it..."
"Alright."
"Huh?"
...
"Hokage-sama, there are many rumors unfavorable to Shinosuke-senpai's reputation spreading rapidly throughout the village. Some of these rumors do involve the truth... but most of them are exaggerated through the process of misinterpretation."
At the Hokage's office.
An Anbu ninja found Sarutobi Hiruzen and quietly reported to the Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath.
He hadn't processed a single document from the mountain of paperwork on his desk.
The grief of losing his son continued to linger in his heart.
His voice was already hoarse when he spoke, tinged with deep exhaustion. He looked as if he had aged several years overnight. "What rumors?"
The Anbu ninja explained in detail.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply as he listened.
"Where did these rumors originate?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
The Anbu ninja replied, "It seems they originated from the Uchiha Clan."
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.
The Uchiha Clan...
"Lord Hokage, should we try to stop them?" the Anbu ninja asked.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples, a headache forming. "The more we try to stop them, the more they will believe these things. It's like with Naruto; if we try to stop the villagers from discussing him as the Nine-Tails' vessel, they'll only become more convinced that he is."
...
Root Base.
"Lord Danzō, the public's opinion seems to have shifted," a Root ninja reported to Shimura Danzō. "Last night, as you ordered, we spread many rumors about Uchiha Chisen throughout the village. However..."
"It seems that after rumors about Sarutobi Shinosuke suddenly emerged, the villagers became more concerned with this eldest son of the Hokage and the sordid things he had done."
"As for Uchiha Chisen..."
"He seems to have done so many of these things that the villagers have become numb to him."
Danzō snorted coldly.
He actually knew that such a public opinion offensive would have little effect on Uchiha Chisen. After all, Uchiha Chisen wasn't Hatake Sakumo. That Uchiha brat didn't seem to be that thin-skinned.
He had sent Anbu ninjas to spread the rumors simply to drive a wedge between Uchiha Chisen and Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He just hadn't anticipated that he would have some difficulty controlling the direction of public opinion.
However...
"Heh, if Sarutobi Shinosuke's reputation is tarnished, his father, the Monkey, will surely be affected as well. Whether it's that inherently evil Uchiha brat who is affected, or the Monkey, it's not a bad thing for me," Danzō said slowly. "You guys should fan the flames and ensure Sarutobi Shinosuke's reputation is completely ruined. It would be best if you could pin some of the blame on that Monkey."
"Yes, Lord Danzō!"
...
A day passed.
In the mouths of the villagers of Konoha, Sarutobi Shinosuke had become an evil scientist who "captures his own villagers for wicked human experiments and harms ninja with special Kekkei Genkai."
Even though Sarutobi Hiruzen desperately wanted to salvage some reputation for his deceased eldest son.
The public opinion had completely spiraled out of control.
It was just like the situation Hatake Sakumo had faced back then.
And during this process...
Someone...
returned to the village.
"Phew, half a month," Uchiha Itachi stood quietly outside the village gates with two Anbu ninja subordinates.
A gentle smile played on his small, expressionless face.
"I wonder if Sasuke missed me."
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