Chapter 17: Master of Conspiracy Theories.

A major event in the ninja world.

At the end of the Third Great Ninja War, under the wise leadership of the Third Hokage, Konohagakure was almost under pressure across the board.

If it weren't for Orochimaru's defense of Kikyo Mountain and Minato's bloody battle at Kannabi Bridge, this war would have been a real defeat for Konohagakure.

But the Third Hokage could no longer withstand the pressure from all sides and had to abdicate, supporting Minato to take over.

But how could the old village chief bear the shift of power?

He also understood that clinging to power after abdicating would easily lead to criticism.

So he had to think of a new way.

Just then, he learned that his disciple had committed a taboo, and the human experimentation was finally exposed. To show his attitude of righteousness over kinship, he personally went to capture him.

However, he still couldn't bring himself to harm his former disciple.

Or perhaps there was some secret trade with his old buddy, knowing that this was his old buddy's chess piece that couldn't be moved, so Orochimaru left unscathed.

But the results of the experiments he left behind excited the old village chief.

And so, a conspiracy to regain power began.

Seizing the day of Kushina's childbirth, he sent his own wife to deliver the baby, using the same drug that caused the Eight-Tails to rampage, to let the Nine-Tails loose!

To regain power, he even sacrificed his own wife and countless souls of Konohagakure Village.

Then he released the news that the Sharingan could control the Nine-Tails, framing the Uchiha clan and making it easier to suppress and ostracize them later!

As for the Three Tomoe in the Nine-Tails' eyes?

What if Orochimaru's leftover drug could produce such an effect?

It's all uncertain!

Besides, during the Nine-Tails' rampage, didn't everyone see it revert to its beastly pupils?

The great battle between the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara lasted for several days!

If it was the Nine-Tails controlled by the Uchiha clan, they would have taken every precaution and wouldn't have controlled it for such a short time!

Anyway, the Uchiha are not popular, there are plenty of reasons to shift the blame!

And our old village chief.

He is the ultimate boss, without a doubt!

When the whispers of the devil echoed in his ears, Uchiha Fugaku felt a chill run down his spine.

His scalp tingled as he stared at Hyuga Hitoshi, a hint of fear even lurking deep in his eyes.

 Hitoshi, however, remained composed, returning to his seat after speaking and sipping his tea with elegance.

Tsk.

What's this all about?

If he wished, he could concoct conspiracy theories starting from the very founding of Konohagakure!

But now, there's no need to go that far.

Rumors need to be combined with the current situation, infused with elements of truth, then enriched from multiple perspectives before the carefully curated news is released in stages, bit by bit.

The ninja world is oppressive, it's despairing, with only a few believing in the light, while most think about how to survive the war.

In such a twisted world, people are more inclined to believe the negative news.

Those with a mindset like the future great sage Naruto are not entirely absent from the ninja world, but those who share his belief that the world is warm and love is boundless are mostly gone.

Just look at Yahiko, a classic example of someone without the protagonist's strength dreaming of being the protagonist.

Hyuga Hitoshi believes that compared to the Uchiha's grudge against the village, this version of the old village chief using means to regain his position will definitely find believers!

They don't need to fully agree, just enough to change the way the villagers and ninjas look at the old village chief, and that's enough for the rumor to serve its purpose.

 Hitoshi himself would like to give the old village chief a taste of cold violence, after all, that was once Kakashi's father's treatment, and it's much milder than what Hatake Sakumo experienced.

At least he's still the Hokage, and no one dares to discuss it openly.

"In my early years, I only heard rumors that the Sarutobi clan's monkey stench might cause the Tailed Beasts to rampage."

After a moment of calm, Uchiha Fugaku's gaze towards Hyuga Hitoshi became even more complex, now deeply regretting his earlier bravado.

Just this wisdom alone, he fears he will never match in his lifetime. A few words overturned his entire worldview, and his disdain for the Third Hokage reached new heights.

And moreover...

"How dare the Third Hokage!"

Anger was evident on Uchiha Fugaku's face.

"Does he know how many people he killed just to regain his position? And he made the Uchiha take the blame!"

"Damn it, the Third Hokage must take half the blame!"

Uh...

Hyuga Hitoshi's brow furrowed tightly, just coming back to his senses from that absurd rumor about the monkey stench.

So, he didn't immediately grasp the meaning of Fugaku's words.

A few seconds later, he looked at Fugaku in shock.

You didn't actually fucking believe that, did you?

He swears to the heavens, he was just spouting nonsense!

If you believed it, wouldn't that be a bit disrespectful to Obito?

Huh?

Wait a minute.

If even Fugaku believed it, does that mean if this news were released, at least many villagers would take it seriously?

Don't think the old village chief's prestige is that high just because he's returned to the Hokage position.

If he really had the people's hearts, he wouldn't have been ousted.

If this script is polished...

It might indeed have an unparalleled impact on the Third.

"Brother Hitoshi, I have one last concern."

Fugaku, whose intellect felt utterly suppressed, now spoke with even more respect.

One must respect a person who can turn the Third Hokage, the savior of the situation, into the ultimate mastermind of a political drama with just a few words.

And according to his understanding, the old village chief might indeed be capable of such actions!

If he were ruthless enough to strike against his own teacher's clan, what's to say about the ordinary people of Konohagakure? A few villagers in exchange for the position of Hokage—if it were him, he would do the same.

"Don't ask; if you ask, it's Danzo's doing!"

Hyuga Hitoshi didn't let Fugaku finish his question.

But he directly answered it.

Clearly, if the source of these rumors, at least the apparent source, were to be pinned on the Uchiha, then perhaps the Third Hokage, in a fit of pique, would be ready to clash with the Uchiha to the death.

 Hitoshi didn't want the Uchiha to perish on the front lines, which would not align with his principle of buying time for the Uchiha.

But the old village chief's tolerance for his old comrade was boundless.

And over the years, Danzo had become accustomed to taking the blame, so adding a bigger black mark to his name probably wouldn't be a big deal.

Besides, when it comes to the Nine-Tails' disturbance, Danzo is fundamentally at fault.

Considering that the root and the Shimura clan suffered few casualties, it's hard to imagine that he wasn't forewarned.

As the old village chief's sharp blade, Danzo probably didn't have an easy time after the chief stepped down. So, in a sense, the Nine-Tails' disturbance was inevitable.

Even if the Fourth Hokage hadn't died.

Just think about what Minato would have had to face afterward!

Not to mention being the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' disturbance, the villagers' anger would surely fall on the Jinchuriki's head, and her reputation as the demon fox could not be offset by the Fourth Hokage's prestige.

At that time, the situation would probably not be much different from now, with the angry villagers agreeing to let the ordinary Minato continue as Hokage?

It would just mean a few more people taking the blame.

When the time comes, the Third Hokage would still ascend to power and take charge of the situation.

Some things here are truly frightening upon careful thought.

So, Hitoshi genuinely doesn't care for the so-called higher-ups or the power center of Konohagakure. It's all rotten to the core, truly not as satisfying as creating one's own paradise.

As for crossing over to experience being the Hokage?

That's not a big problem; he could discuss it with Tsunade later. He swears he'll just do it once.

On this side...

Fugaku, after being enlightened, slapped his thigh in excitement.

"Yes, it's Danzo's doing!"

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