Chapter 34: Redistributing the Blame.

"After investigation, the Uchiha clan has no connection with the Nine-Tails' chaos, the guard squad had no contact with the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, and all Uchiha were within the barrier at the time, unrelated to the Uchiha clan."

The Uchiha clan's suspicion was cleared, a cause for celebration.

Fugaku's face beamed with joy.

"When the turmoil occurred, I was battling the Nine-Tails, and although I saw the Tomoe in the Nine-Tails' eyes, some things were overlooked due to the urgency of the situation. This was my negligence."

"However, Danzo ordered the Uchiha away from the battlefield without my confirmation, ultimately leading to disaster."

"For this incident, Shimura Danzo bears the primary responsibility, and as the Hokage, I too am greatly at fault, but at the time, I was not the Hokage, and everything was under the command of the Fourth Hokage."

So you're still passing half the blame to the Minato?

Hyuga Hitoshi was shocked to see the old village chief, thick-faced and undeterred by everyone's gaze, still passing the blame.

That's so like you, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He knew that the old village chief would somehow smooth things over, but it's wrong to throw the blame on the deceased.

According to the Third Hokage, it was the Fourth Hokage who failed to restrain Danzo, leading to his autonomous action?

But aren't you treating everyone like fools?

Everyone knows Danzo is your man.

"Additionally, Hatake Kakashi's Sharingan is a transplant acquired later in life. Tests have shown that he currently does not possess the ability to control the Nine-Tails, but the words of Patriarch Hitoshi must be taken seriously."

Pausing briefly, the old village chief looked towards Hyuga Hitoshi, visibly shaken by the issue of the Sharingan's aura.

"Patriarch Hitoshi, can you stand by your words?"

If what Hyuga Hitoshi said was true, then there could only be two conclusions to this matter. The old village chief's question was clearly a way to shift the blame elsewhere.

"I never lies. Kakashi's Sharingan indeed shares the same aura as the one that controlled the Nine-Tails, and Patriach Fugaku can attest to this," Hyuga Hitoshi said, scratching his head in an honest manner.

"That's right, it's Obito's eye."

Brother Fugaku stepped forward without hesitation, even revealing Obito's identity.

"Thus, I believe that the Nine-Tails incident can be characterized as someone using Obito's eye, or it was Obito himself who did it!" the old village chief declared gravely.

In the corner, Kakashi looked up, his eyes filled with confusion. His late friend's Sharingan continued to drain his chakra, reminding him of past events.

"Obito... is already dead."

He believed in Obito, his hoarse voice defending his friend.

Or rather, he couldn't believe that if Obito were alive, he would do something that resulted in the death of his own teacher and teacher's wife.

That was Uchiha Obito of Konohagakure, who once aimed to be Hokage!

How could he possibly do such a thing?

Kakashi thought the Third Hokage's speculation was disrespectful to the deceased, but he dared not voice his objections too loudly.

What was more terrifying were the old village chief's next words.

"Whether Obito is truly dead is merely your word, but what is certain is that one day, Kakashi's eye may grow powerful enough to control the Nine-Tails."

"I suggest that Kakashi be placed under strict surveillance to prevent any mishaps."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Kakashi's fate was sealed; he was truly abandoned.

Perhaps in the future, he would be cast out by the Third, allowing the villagers to vent their anger.

Indeed.

After all, that eye could control the Nine-Tails.

With Obito gone, Kakashi would have to bear those dark burdens.

In fact, this outcome was not too bad for Kakashi.

If it weren't for the limited time, if the Third Hoakge wasn't under great pressure, if Danzo wasn't also sitting in the corner with him, Kakashi's eye wouldn't be safe at all.

A Sharingan capable of controlling the Nine-Tails was too tempting for the higher-ups, but now they dared not claim it for themselves!

Even now, the old village chief still carried the suspicion of using Obito's other eye to control the Nine-Tails incident. If one were to delve into conspiracy theories, was Obito's death orchestrated by the old village chief from the start to cover up today's Nine-Tails chaos?

Was it all to launch the Nine-Tails chaos and reclaim the position of Hokage?

Therefore, after considering all this, the old village chief couldn't possibly take Kakashi's eye under the guise of surveillance.

As for Danzo...

"During the Nine-Tails chaos, Shimura Danzo issued orders without permission, causing immense damage to the village. His crimes are even worse than those of the mastermind behind the scenes! He should pay with his life!"

Would you really execute Danzo?

Brother Fugaku let out a cold laugh, "Not surprisingly, there will be a 'but' following."

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone in the meeting room to hear clearly. Fugaku was expressing his dissatisfaction; he hoped more for the Third Hokage to resign in guilt, but Fugaku also knew that with war approaching, changing the Hokage was simply not possible.

Upon hearing the words, the old village chief paused, glanced at Fugaku, and coughed.

"However!"

Hmph, I won't say 'but'!

"Considering the urgency of the situation at the time and not knowing immediately who was controlling the Nine-Tails, Shimura Danzo's presumptuous actions are understandable, but while he may escape death, he cannot escape punishment!"

"Relieve Danzo of his Konohagakure higher-ups duties, remove him from his position as the head of the Root, and send him to the battlefield to atone for his crimes!"

It's like he's just making noise!

Uchiha Fugaku, with a look of shock, even with his intelligence, could tell that this was just a slap on the wrist!

His position as a Konohagakure higher-up was dispensable, hardly a punishment.

Being removed as the head of the Root sounds serious, but thinking about it, the Root has long been his one-man show. Is sending someone else to take over effective? Isn't it still all Danzo's if he just installs one of his cronies?

What's more disgusting is this 'sending to the battlefield to atone for his crimes.'

It's blatantly giving Danzo an opportunity for a comeback!

Everyone present is no fool; they naturally understood the old village chief's intention.

Yet, they all tacitly refrained from saying anything.

The reason is simple.

War is coming, and Konohagakure needs to gather all its strength to possibly withstand the onslaught of Kumogakure Village. Danzo deserves to die, but he should die on the battlefield.

In the end.

The pre-war meeting's blame-sharing session came to a close.

In it, the old village chief, Sarutobi Hiruzen, lost face and substance, taking the blame for improper command and dereliction of duty.

The old village chief's right-hand man, Shimura Danzo, lost his position, taking the blame for overstepping his authority and being responsible for the village's losses.

And the old village chief's top general, the Anbu squad leader, the son of Konohagakure's White Fang, Hatake Kakashi, took the blame for inheriting Obito's Sharingan, becoming the most severely wronged, even having to be monitored by the village in the future, now completely bewildered.

But what no one expected was that Uchiha Obito, rumored to have died, ended up taking the most severe blame at the end of the meeting. The reason being, if Obito hadn't died, his eyes wouldn't have been used, and the Nine-Tails incident wouldn't have happened, so everything was Obito's fault, and he must be held responsible!

This news shook Konohagakure!

Later on, it was said that the monument in the memorial park bearing Obito's name was smashed to pieces, with many angry villagers spitting on the monument, and in the dead of night, some even left unmentionable substances.

Of course, when Hitoshi heard this news later on, he expressed understanding.

You see...

Actions are observed by the heavens, and the eyes of the people are sharp. The guilty have their debts, and this just fits, doesn't it?

One can imagine that if Obito knew this news, he would be very comforted, right?

---------------------------------------

You can read 15 chapters ahead on patre on

patr eon.com/JYouyi