Aftermath

The susanoo smash might not have been the end of the Konoha collapse, but it was the biggest highlight of the entire thing.

A susanoo shape hole had formed into the grounds of Konoha, it had almost become an attraction and eclipsed many other earthshaking news.

News like the annihilation of four clans, the death of third Hokage at the hands of the missing nin Orochimaru, sand village's surrender to Konoha and the rebel Itachi returning to the village.

"Have you heard, Itachi, that Uchiha traitor was working on the orders of the village the entire time!"

A middle aged woman gossiped with another similar aged woman.

Who was also in the full mood to discuss the news floating around Konoha.

"I was so shocked! But it's to be expected, he is Mr Shin's brother after all, how could he be a traitor!"

"And you know, I have also heard another news."

Calling her 'friend' near her, the woman whispered.

"The previous Hokage's entire clan was attacked and killed during the Konoha attack."

"Supposedly it's Itachi who kept the losses to a minimum, if it weren't for him entire Konoha would have been destroyed, not only four clans."

The first woman had her hands on her mouth from shock, the duo might be thinking they were discussing very important news, but they couldn't be more basic.

Because this kind of discussion was around every corner, edge and center of Konoha.

The rumer mill that killed white fang and made Naruto's life miserable wasn't something only Hiruzen knew how to use, Shin knew it too.

"So brother, how does it feel to come back?"

Asked Shin with his hands behind his head, a hollow eyed Sasuke was sitting besides him with a helpless Itachi on the other side.

Shaking his head Itachi said.

"Shin, I am more worried about Sasuke right now! He's not responding!"

Waving his hand in the air Shin shut Itachi up, then patted Sasuke on the back, although Sasuke didn't respond, Shin knew his brother well enough to understand he was simply coming to terms with many things.

"Sasuke just got to know how the Uchiha massacre happened, what you had to do and now that he knows I can revive mom and dad, his brain has crashed."

"Give him some time, he'll return to normal."

Itachi didn't share the same happy go lucky attitude as Shin did, he was the older brother and had a lot to worry about as well.

Like this appointment letter for instance.

"Okay, forget about Sasuke for once, but Shin.. why am I getting this..?!"

"A Hokage appointment letter?! Even if you pull your strings, a traitor like me getting into that position is bad reputation for Konoha!"

Shin snorted softly, this is where his brother was a fool at, this kind of political game was something which went completely over his head.

Explaining to his foolish genius brother was Shin's duty, so he did just that.

"Brother, but you aren't a traitor!"

Itachi gave him a stare.

"I killed our clan."

"It was that madara dude who controlled you, next."

Twitching his eyes, Itachi said.

"I have worked in many shady places for akatsuki."

Waving his hand Shin said lightly.

"Genjutsu my brother, you were controlled again, wasn't Mizukage controlled too? You aren't even a kage, what could the little old you have done about it?"

"Konoha's heart aches for the sheer torture you had to go through all these years!"

Now It wasn't only Itachi but even Sasuke's eyes twitched at this shameless display.

Remaining silent for a second Itachi tried to find more reasons.

"But I am not approved by the villagers, I can't be the Hokage?"

Shin directly laughed out loud at that, if this was some other educated population that would be true, but here? In Konoha? Approval was a joke.

"Big deal, White fang was approved, then he wasn't, remember when third had to step down because he was so bad at his job and caused Konoha huge losses?"

"A few years later, the old man was back at his seat, you think people forgot about their huge losses brother?"

Itachi silently shook his head with sadness, and Shin continued.

"Then why do you think he could come back? Were people missing the feeling of an old man peeping on their daily lives that much?"

Just remaining quite was Itachi's answer, he was older now, although he knew not how to think the political way but he was still a genius, he could learn and learn he did.

Shin was much better suited for the position than him, frankly that was his thought on the matter right now.

"Shin, why don't you be the Hokage? I am even being considered because of you."

Nodding his head at that Shin clarified this part to Itachi clearly.

"My stupid brother, but I am the Hokage!"

After a few seconds Itachi's eyes went wide.

"I am.. just a puppet Hokage..?"

Smiling his best smile Shin laughed.

"Of course, just like the fourth was to the third! After this stunt of ours my position has solidified within Konoha clans."

"But if I become a Hokage, I am supposed to be impartial to the Uchiha clan, at least on paper."

Bringing his hands up Shin counted on his fingers.

"Hyuga, Aburame and Fuma are our solid allies, Nara has decided to come to us now, so Ino Shika Cho are also allies."

"Some disaster fell on Sarutobi, Shimura and the two idiot's clans, so it's only us Uchiha who have to take charge!"

Itachi was speechless again, it was him who massacred the clans, it was Shin who planned out the entire thing and collected allies.

And now they became the hero's who had to step in not because they wanted to because they had to?!

Was the position of Hokage Uchiha wanted so much this easy for Shin...?

"I.. I understand where Uchiha went wrong, we all thought too much like a Ninja clan."

This was the true idea of Itachi, and Sasuke's as well.

If this was how everything worked, no wonder they couldn't do a thing and got destroyed step by step.

Picking up the Hokage appointment letter, Itachi somehow felt he didn't need to worry about this anymore.

'I'll just be a puppet with peace of mind, let Shin worry about other things.'

"I'll do it.. I'll be your puppet Hokage."

Itachi decided to formally accept, he now simply didn't care enough about the position, he only had one more thought remaining.

After his Father and Mother are back, how was he supposed to apologize to them.