Chapter 23: The Chief Culprit.

The disturbance ended quickly.

Even the villagers and ninjas passing by didn't know what had happened, and the fight was already over.

This is how battles between ordinary ninjas usually go.

The habit of killing with one strike was formed during the war period.

This is a world of high offense and low defense, where unless there's an exception, even someone as strong as a Kage-level could be killed with a single stab, a super shadow can get sick, and reaching the level of Rikudou Sennin means having to become a spirit due to the exhaustion of one's lifespan.

Of course, Otsutsuki Hagoromo is just a beggar version of the Otsutsuki, even providing shoes for the orthodox Otsutsuki is a bit of a struggle.

In short, the real battle between ninjas is decided in an instant.

It's a competition of talent, strength, and intelligence.

One side is fully prepared, while the other is still in internal strife, never even considering that the Uchiha might suddenly strike, so it's only natural that Kakashi and the others were defeated.

Moreover, this is in the village, on the streets of Konohagakure that have just experienced disaster, not suitable for using Ninjutsu to cause destruction and disturbances.

Therefore, after being pinned to the ground, Kakashi and the others gave up resisting.

After all, this is Konohagakure!

Whatever happens will surely be reported to Hokage-sama, who will uphold justice for them.

The evil Uchiha clan, acting in front of everyone, the higher-ups will surely not let them off!

This is their true thought.

So now, under their masks, their faces are filled with shock, looking at the approaching Uchiha Fugaku with disbelief, and the same thought arises in their minds.

The Patriarch of the Uchiha clan has gone mad!

Is he really going to stage a coup?!

"Patriarch, this kid has the scent of Sharingan!"

Just then, Uchiha Satoshi seemed to find an opportunity to show off, grabbing Kakashi's collar and pointing at the gap in the mask on his face.

"Excellent! Perhaps he is the chief culprit of the Nine-Tails' chaos!"

Fugaku nodded solemnly, thinking that it all fits perfectly! Isn't this what framing is?

"After all, my Uchiha have been fighting for Konohagakure for years, countless clan members have died outside, it's not impossible that their Sharingan were stolen by petty thieves and then used."

Affirming Uchiha Satoshi's actions, Fugaku looked around at the bewildered onlookers, then coughed and spoke again.

"Everyone, there's no need to panic! This is just a normal operation by the guard team to maintain the village's order!"

An operation by the guard team?

The villagers looked at each other, then remembered that the guard team had indeed been patrolling the village repeatedly recently. So, it seemed reasonable to find some petty criminals.

"Moreover, according to my analysis as the team leader, these people are likely intricately connected to the Nine-Tails' rampage!" Fugaku said with a stern face, pointing at the Anbu ninjas.

"Since the disturbance, they've been hiding in the corners, constantly spying on our every move. I have enough reason to believe that they are waiting for an opportunity to leave the village and report to the real mastermind behind the scenes. By then, they'll know the village is vulnerable."

"To think of the worst, war might follow soon!"

"I, as the team leader, wanted to play the long game to catch the big fish, but considering the gravity of the situation, who knows if they have secret ways to communicate? So I had to take the risk and act swiftly to capture them!"

"Although it startled the villagers, I did all this for the village, and I believe you all will understand my predicament!" After a passionate explanation, Fugaku bowed respectfully!

And in the crowd, those arranged by Hitoshi to sing his praises started to cheer one after another.

"Well done!"

"Good catch! Kill those beasts!"

"I thought it was the Uchiha clan who caused the Nine-Tails' rampage, but it seems I misunderstood them! They've been breaking their backs for the future of the village."

"If you think about it, it's true. The Uchiha clan may like to show off, but they've never made a big mistake, and many of their clan members have died in battle for the village. It's possible they were used by someone with an agenda."

"Exactly! Didn't they say that white-haired one has the Sharingan? Maybe he's the one who controlled the Nine-Tails!"

"..."

Thwack!

An egg hit Kakashi's mask dead center.

This snapped the shocked Kakashi back to reality. He wanted to defend himself, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Should he openly tell everyone that they were sent by Hokage-sama to monitor the Uchiha clan?

Even if his political sense wasn't sharp, he knew that saying so would only further escalate the situation. Kakashi didn't care about the Third's prestige being damaged, but causing such a stir at this critical juncture would only add to the village's despair.

By now, if Kakashi couldn't see that he'd been played, he might as well go back to the drawing board.

The Uchiha clan must be prepared to break ties with Hokage-sama!

Didn't you see that the guard team members aren't planning to take off their masks? That clan probably knows very well the identities of Kakashi and his companions.

They've known they were being watched all along!

Thanks to the mature system built by the Second Hokage, Anbu members usually don't reveal their identities during missions. Most of them wear black cloaks and masks to stay hidden. Now, pinned to the ground, they can't even show their forehead protectors.

So what Uchiha Fugaku just said was incredibly plausible!

They don't know they are Konohagakure Anbu!

If he were Uchiha Fugaku, he might further escalate the situation.

Indeed, Fugaku's subsequent words confirmed his suspicions.

"Our captain will escort these suspects to the central square for a public trial and questioning! To ensure fairness and transparency, we invite everyone to join us!"

His words obviously stirred the emotions of the villagers.

Despite being calmed down since the Nine-Tails incident, this did not mean they had forgotten their deep-seated hatred, nor did it mean they had an outlet for their feelings.

Now, these suspected culprits of the Nine-Tails chaos were the perfect targets for their pent-up anger!

And indeed, it was so.

As Fugaku finished speaking, the villagers who had gradually gathered looked at the suspects pinned to the ground with a gaze that seemed to devour them, even with an air as if they wanted to rush over and slaughter them on the spot.

This startled Uchiha Fugaku himself, who was there in person.

In a daze, he saw a knife named 'villager,' its sharpness sending chills down his spine, eerily similar to the knife that killed Hatake Sakumo.

He swore he had only slightly stirred everyone's emotions, following brother Hitoshi's method. But the force of public opinion that brother Hitoshi spoke of was even more formidable than now.

The effect was somewhat unexpected.

On the ground.

"Do something, Kakashi."

This sentence appeared in the mind of Kaden, who was pinned down.

"If we don't do something, things seem to be getting out of control."

There was a way to break the deadlock.

All they needed to do was stand up, self-destruct together, and then voluntarily take the blame, admitting their mistakes, and take the pressure that was about to be placed on the Hokage onto themselves.

Well, it seemed these people weren't giving them a chance.

When Kakashi struggled to find his companions' bodies stiffening more than the next, their gazes more vacant than the last, he realized he had underestimated the Uchiha.

But it seemed the Uchiha had also underestimated him.

Alright, this must be Obito's power, which had increased his resistance to the Sharingan's Genjutsu considerably, at least enough to speak.

Taking a deep breath, Kakashi planned to self-destruct and take the blame, admitting his identity and that this action was his own doing, unrelated to the Hokage. With his influence, he should be able to do it, right?

But the next second, the face of White Fang flashed through Kaden's mind.

Eh?

That's not right.

Why should I take the blame for the Hokage?

That doesn't seem like my job.

Kakashi paused, and in that moment, he thought of a lot.

He thought of his deceased father, his former comrades, his teacher who died for the village, his mother who was cursed and blamed even after death for having a child, and the child who would inherit the demon fox's name in the future.

Heh, to hell with Konohagakure, to hell with the Hokage!

If all his companions were controlled, why should he, this piece of trash, not be controlled?

With that thought.

Kakashi's head tilted, his body stiffened, and he chose to let go.

In the distance.

Hitoshi retracted his sharp gaze, then walked over with a look of surprise on his face.

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