Chapter 49:Chapter 49

Kaito's strength is not as overwhelming as it appears. Despite his powerful and unique abilities, they drain a significant amount of chakra.

When he left, he was low on chakra reserves. He could have easily defeated us and taken Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan, but he chose to let us go in exchange for Shisui's eyes.

After Danzo's revelation, Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that Kaito's power was not insurmountable. With over ten thousand fighting ninjas in Konoha, they could eventually wear him down if he faced the entire village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to Danzo's plan, and they both felt relieved. Little did they know that Kaito's strength would undergo a drastic transformation overnight.

***

In the square where the Konoha Center had been cleared, Hiruzen Sarutobi tearfully accused Kaito of his crimes.

His speech followed the plan Danzo had mentioned earlier.

The villagers, ignorant of the true events, scolded Kaito and the group of Uchiha clansmen who had chosen to follow him, just as Danzo and Sarutobi had hoped.

Seeing the villagers solely blame Kaito and not himself, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.

"As expected of Danzo, this plan was his best idea," he thought.

After a while, as the scolding intensified, Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly interrupted.

He had many other things to attend to and couldn't waste time here.

With a look of grief and indignation, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "As Hokage, it is my responsibility for the destruction of Konoha this time!"

"If I had discovered Uchiha's civil strife earlier and figured out a way to deal with it, Konoha, which has been developing for decades, would not have been destroyed in one fell swoop!"

"I am ashamed before the Second Hokage, my teacher, and the villagers who died in this disaster!"

He couldn't help but clench his fists and beat his chest, bursting into tears.

The villagers responded as he hoped, consoling him:

"Lord Hokage, it's Uchiha's fault, not yours. How can we blame Hokage-sama?"

"Yeah! Uchiha has always been rebellious!"

"Please don't blame yourself too much, Hokage-sama!"

...

While the villagers were furious, small groups standing outside the square watched coldly, almost dismissing Sarutobi's performance.

However, as Sarutobi Hiruzen was still Hokage and the patriarch of the Sarutobi clan, they maintained a stoic expression without revealing their true feelings.

These were the big and small families in Konoha.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo completed their operation, Danzo ordered Root to release the family Anbu members.

These families had long known the inside story of last night's events.

Therefore, they were unmoved by Sarutobi Hiruzen's acting.

In secret, they began to discuss:

"I didn't expect Uchiha to be exterminated like this. Sarutobi Hiruzen is truly ruthless!"

"Exterminating the clan wasn't enough. Kaito escaped with some clansmen, and those who stayed in Konoha are weaklings!"

"Right? I didn't expect the split within Uchiha to be so serious. Some still believed in Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"Unfortunately, their loyalty was wasted... Hahahaha!"

"Don't celebrate too soon. We need to consider the consequences. Sarutobi Hiruzen has taken extreme measures this time!"

"Isn't it? I heard that Kaito alone suppressed the combined attack of five Kage-level players, including Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen, and cut off both of Sarutobi Hiruzen's arms!"

"He's only 13 years old, right? What a formidable future!"

"If he grows up like this, within a few years, he might reach the level of Madara Uchiha and the First Hokage! If he takes revenge on Konoha then... What will we do?"

"If that time comes, no one in Konoha will be able to stop him!"

"If that's the case, then let's stay out of it. Anyway, it was Sarutobi Hiruzen who offended Uchiha this time. If we don't act, Kaito won't target us all, right?"

"That's right. Let him and the Sarutobi clan deal with the trouble Hiruzen Sarutobi caused!"

"Exactly. As long as we don't get involved, we won't be in trouble!"

"Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and Hyuga, though you are close to Sarutobi Hiruzen, you should think carefully about this."

Hiashi Hyuga nodded flatly and said, "Don't worry, I won't risk the future of my clan."

Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza looked at Shikaku Nara. As the think tank of the "Ino-Shika-Cho" trio and the smartest person in Konoha, it was up to him to decide.

After a long silence, Shikaku Nara also nodded. If Kaito truly overpowered Konoha, he wouldn't risk the entire family.