It was still dark, but figures were already bustling within the Uchiha clan compound.
One thousand Uchiha clan members, dressed in uniform black combat suits, each holding a thick stack of flyers.
Shun's voice was confident and strong. "Remember, we don't stir up trouble, but we're not afraid of it either. We're just letting the truth speak. If Anbu tries to stop us, don't be afraid. Immediately call for support and confront them."
The thousand people nodded in unison, making no sound.
Then, a thousand Uchiha ninjas simultaneously formed hand seals, and the Chakra fluctuations of the Body Flicker Technique vibrated in the air.
The next second, they surged like a black tide, spreading to every corner of Konoha. Soon, 80,000 flyers were distributed throughout Konoha.
"What is this?" An old farmer selling vegetables bent down to pick up a piece of paper that had floated to his feet, squinting his dim eyes.
Konoha Hero Clan List—recording the clans with the most tragic casualties in the Third Great Ninja War.
Konoha Tumor Clan List—exposing the parasites who hid in the rear and profited greatly from the war.
The old farmer's hands began to tremble. His son had died on the Kirigakure Battlefield, and the cold numbers on the list told him that some people hadn't fought at all.
"Is... is this true?" His voice was hoarse, and his eyes instantly reddened.
A nearby vendor leaned over, took a look, and his face changed drastically. "It's true. These flyers were distributed by the Uchiha, they wouldn't fake it."
Soon, more and more flyers appeared in every corner of Konoha, plastered on bulletin boards, slipped into shop door cracks, and even floated into ninja dormitories.
80,000 flyers, like 80,000 sparks, instantly ignited the anger of the entire Konoha.
On the commercial street, the crowd grew larger and larger.
A civilian ninja gritted his teeth, pointing at the list. "Look! This is the Sarutobi clan's 'contribution'! Out of 1644 ninjas, 1000 were sent to battle, with 500 responsible for logistics, the remaining 500 hiding in safe zones, and 54 killed?"
Another person roared, "Look at the Uchiha clan, 1462 killed, the Hyuga clan 1136 killed. They are the ones truly fighting on the battlefield."
"Damn the Hokage! Damn the higher-ups!"
A retired ninja who had lost his left arm kicked over his newly set up fruit stand, sending apples rolling everywhere.
"My brother died on the Sunagakure battlefield, and we couldn't even recover his body. I was severely injured, disabled, and retired, forced to earn money by selling fruit, while these bastards are counting money in the village?"
The anger spread like wildfire, and soon, more inside stories were dug up.
Within the Nara clan compound, Shikaku stood in the living room of his home, his face ashen.
His voice was cold. "Our three clans have always been considered Hiruzen's confidantes, but what's the result? 1830 of us participated, 768 killed, 84 severely injured, almost wiped out."
He slammed the flyer onto the table. "Meanwhile, the Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, and Shimura clans, responsible for logistics and transport, only delivered supplies once every 7 days, making only 4 trips a month, resting in the village for the remaining 26 days."
Inoichi sneered, "Our clans' pharmacies have Koharu's procurement records. For every medicinal ingredient she purchased, she demanded a 30% kickback. In this war, out of 17 billion ryo in medical supply procurement, she pocketed 5.1 billion ryo."
Choza smashed the solid wood table in front of him with his fist. "The Mitokado clan resold explosive tags and sealing scrolls at exorbitant prices, and the Shimura clan even forged lists of the deceased to fraudulently claim supplies and sell them on the black market."
"All these scandals must be exposed." Shikaku's voice was firm and decisive.
Soon, more insider information poured out like a flood.
"The Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, and Shimura clans, responsible for logistics and transport, only delivered supplies once every 7 days, making only 4 trips a month, resting in the village for the remaining 26 days!"
"Over 1000 members of the Sarutobi clan didn't even go to the battlefield, they all hid in the village making explosive tags." A ninja tool shop owner whispered to the onlookers.
A nearby civilian ninja wearing a forehead protector sneered, "The price of explosive tags has doubled. Genin-level explosive tags, which cost 600 ryo each in peacetime, sold for 1200 ryo each during the war. Chunin-level ones were even more outrageous, 3600 ryo each."
"A Genin, making 15 explosive tags a day, has a net profit of 400,000 ryo a month. A Chunin is even more exaggerated, 20 tags a day, netting 1.6 million ryo a month."
A mysterious figure emerged from the shadows. "I heard that during the war, the Sarutobi clan produced 17.72 million Genin-level explosive tags and 6.71 million Chunin-level explosive tags, selling them for a total of 23.68 billion ryo. This money was directly transferred by Hiruzen from the Daimyo's war appropriations."
The crowd completely erupted.
"They're sucking our blood!"
"We must demand an explanation!"
Soon, angry citizens began to gather in front of the Hokage building, their voices rising in waves.
...
Inside the Hokage Office, the air seemed to have solidified.
"Tens of thousands of people besieging the Hokage building. This is the second time."
Hiruzen's pipe had long gone out, and grey tobacco ash was scattered on the desktop. His fingers trembled slightly, knuckles white, clutching a crumpled "Konoha Tumor Clan List."
Koharu's face was ashen, her lips trembling. "The news can't be suppressed anymore. Now even the children in the village are singing songs mocking us."
Homura's glasses reflected a cold light, and he continuously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. "Uchiha... It must be the Uchiha pushing this from behind. They want to use public opinion to force us to step down."
Just then, the office door was violently pushed open.
A Sarutobi clan member stumbled in, knelt on one knee, and said urgently, "Clan head! Commercial street... something happened on the commercial street!"
"Calm down, don't panic. Explain clearly." Hiruzen abruptly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor with a harsh sound.
The Sarutobi clan member's voice trembled. "All the shops of the four major clans have been smashed. Someone is leading a boycott, even throwing kunai and explosive tags into the shops. Now all the shops are closed, and even our Sarutobi clan's shops have been splashed with red paint, with words written on them..."
"What's written?" Hiruzen's voice was terrifyingly low.
"It says... 'Bloodsuckers'... 'Konoha Tumors'..."
The office fell into a dead silence.
Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness, and thought to himself, 'If Danzo were still alive, it would be good. If something went wrong, he could be made the scapegoat.'
He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse. "We can't let this continue. We have to talk to Fugaku. If he wants the Hokage position, we'll give it to him. You two will also automatically give up your advisor positions."
Hearing that they had to give up their advisor positions, Koharu and Homura stood up.
"Hiruzen, there's no need to give up the advisor positions, right?"
Hiruzen sighed deeply, feeling truly exhausted now. "Foolish, don't you understand yet? The Uchiha want to wipe us out. Our lives are almost gone and you still want power, truly foolish beyond belief."
The few of them had grown up together, and now in their fifties, they had never seen Hiruzen so angry, so powerless. They panicked for a moment and dared not speak further.
"I will use Reverse Summoning to inform Asuma and have him tell the Daimyo that our four clans want to pledge allegiance to him. This is our only way out."