Many had expected the Uchiha clan might cause some disturbance, but no one thought it would be this great, nor that they would succeed so completely.
After the memorial ended, everyone was left pondering a single question. What matters more: the mission or your comrades? If you could only choose one, which would you choose? And what if you were the comrade waiting to be saved?
Other clans also asked themselves: if they were in the Hatake clan's place, would anyone fight this fiercely for their honor? Would they have an ally willing to raise such an uproar on their behalf? Certainly not. None would go as far as the Uchiha did.
The Sword clans needed no proof. Everyone knew their stance, always keeping their heads down, always preserving themselves. Not shameful, but the comparison was cruel. Who wouldn't wish for an ally to stand tall for them in their darkest hour?
This time, the Uchiha's strategy had reaped a full harvest. Aside from perhaps earning a trace of Hiruzen Sarutobi's displeasure, they lost nothing and gained everything.
All this was thanks to Renji, who, right after Sakumo Hatake's death, went straight to Uchiha Nobunaga, insisting that he contact the Third Hokage in advance. The Uchiha did not seek someone to blame, nor did they want accountability. They only wanted the hero to be buried with dignity, for their ally to rest without dishonor.
They had given fair warning. They had said when they would arrive, how they would present their arguments, and that their words would remain within the Hokage's framework. Perhaps they stretched it a little, but all within reason.
It was the higher-ups themselves who spoiled everything. They could not resist saying useless words, clashing needlessly, and creating chaos. If blame were to be assigned, it lay with their so-called comrade. Even after the man was dead, they smeared him, showing not the slightest magnanimity.
In truth, the Uchiha even felt gratitude toward Danzo. During the clan's internal meeting afterward, the Great Elder confessed that the trembling in his voice at the memorial had not been from rage but from struggling not to laugh. Who knew the old man had such humor.
Yes, gratitude. Without Danzo's outburst, their plan would not have gone so smoothly, nor would they have succeeded in driving a wedge into the so-called "Hotpot Duo" the partnership of Hokage and Danzo.
Beyond their display at the memorial, the Uchiha had already secured agreements with the Land of Fire's daimyo to preserve the Hatake clan's place among the Twelve Guardian Ninja, along with their associated benefits. Nothing changed except that they no longer had their White Fang. They were bound within the alliance the Uchiha had forged, forced to drift with the current until another White Fang arose.
This maneuver not only reassured the clans behind the Guardian Ninja but also bound them more tightly to the collective interest. Cooperation deepened, trust grew, and Uchiha's influence spread.
The villagers' view of the Uchiha also changed. To fight so hard for a fallen ally this was loyalty, this was honor. And through the words spoken at the memorial, some sharp-minded villagers began to realize they had been manipulated. Someone had incited them.
Mission failures were common. Every shinobi had failed at some point. Why, then, was White Fang singled out? Was it because the losses were great? But who designed the mission? White Fang was only the executor. Such questions did not withstand scrutiny.
How could a secret mission become public knowledge to the whole village so quickly? Obviously, someone had spread it deliberately. The common folk understood nothing they merely echoed what they heard.
It was made to seem as if White Fang had inflicted a grievous wound on Konoha. Yet in their daily lives, the villagers felt no loss, no change. So why had they cursed the man they should have revered as a hero?
Many deaths were claimed, but where were the grieving families? Only one teammate's suicide drew attention, yet even that, the Uchiha claimed, may have been orchestrated. Perhaps they themselves had killed the very tree that shielded them from the storm, deceived into turning against their own hero.
The villagers told themselves: it was not our fault. Blame the hidden hand that used us. We did not know better. All we know now is this whoever threatens Konoha, we hate them.
That elder's name was Danzo. We must beware of him. He kills his own people, treats shinobi as tools. And if even shinobi are tools, what are we to him? Stay away. This man is dangerous.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, his mood could only be described as utterly foul. His dear friend was dead, and the culprit had yet to be found. That was burden enough. All he had wanted was to suppress White Fang a little, to rein him in. He had not expected such fierce resistance, ending in suicide.
It was normal for the Uchiha to speak out. They were always stubborn, always quick to ignite. But their clan head was shrewd. He knew his people would react strongly, and he understood the wisdom of channeling rather than suppressing their anger. He had spoken to Hiruzen in advance, and agreed to remain within the set bounds.
All had been within the Hokage's framework. Nothing unreasonable. The fault lay entirely with Danzo. That old comrade had ruined everything, barging in at the worst time, spewing nonsense, giving the Uchiha every opening to strike back.
The memorial had been meant to honor Homura, settle Sakumo's affairs, and win Hiruzen the reputation of a leader who valued his subordinates, while also soothing the other clans. A perfect plan. But Danzo had destroyed it all.
Now how would the villagers see their leaders? If the leaders treated their men as expendable tools, would not every subordinate feel the same? Danzo could throw away his own reputation, but he had dragged Hiruzen down with him.
Heavy punishment was necessary to restore order, to protect both Danzo and the system. And so, a new enemy was named: foreign spies. All the rumors, all the manipulation they had done.
Danzo had indeed erred, but merely in his rigidness, his poor words. The true culprits were the spies who assassinated Homura, spread the slander, and drove White Fang to his death.
Orders were issued. Danzo was temporarily removed from his post as Hokage's advisor, though Root remained under his control. Anbu would answer directly to the Hokage. Captains were to reassure their teams.
The official report declared: recent events were caused entirely by enemy agents, including the assassination of Elder Homura and the slander that led to Sakumo Hatake's death.
Special orders: the Uchiha clan, with their Summoning Hounds, would lead a wide-scale purge of suspicious individuals. Any spy found would be eliminated without mercy.
All Anbu members had their leave revoked, called back to launch a full sweep across the Land of Fire. Any hideout discovered would be surrounded and destroyed. No mistakes allowed.
All Root members were placed under Danzo's command, tasked with retaliating against enemy nations. Danzo himself would report directly to the Hokage.
"These are dangerous times," declared Hiruzen. "May Konoha stand as one, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, to overcome this crisis. All for Konoha, all for our shared home."
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