The Battle of Public Opinion (Part 2

"Nani?!"

"The Hokage's assistant is related to the death of the Second Hokage?!"

Jiraiya's mind was racing.

[The Hokage's assistant—aren't they talking about that old man, Danzo? How could this be related to the death of the Second Hokage?]

Seeing Jiraiya's confused expression, the songstress smiled mysteriously.

When it comes to gossip, people don't care if you're the Hokage. Even if you're the Sage of Six Paths, you'll end up as their dinner-table talk.

After all, you can control a nation, but can you control the mouths of others?

"Ninja-Sama, you know this, right? The Third Hokage and his assistant were once the bodyguards of the Second Hokage!"

Jiraiya nodded blankly and asked instinctively, "What's the issue? The Second Hokage was their teacher, wasn't he?"

"Oh my, you know that, but you still haven't figured it out?"

The songstress' pretty face turned gossipy as she winked at Jiraiya.

When it comes to gossip, even the most beautiful woman can transform from a pristine beauty into the village auntie gossiping about everyone's family.

Jiraiya frowned, feeling that something was amiss.

At this moment, he didn't think the situation was too serious, but the origin of this rumor was certainly strange.

After all, the Third Hokage was his teacher, so he never believed there was any conspiracy behind Hiruzen Sarutobi's rise to power.

"Well, let me tell you then."

"Rumor has it that the Second Hokage had mastered a ninjutsu that allowed him to teleport over thousands of meters. Isn't that true?"

Jiraiya nodded, affirming:

"I didn't expect you to know this legend of the ninja world. Yes, the Second Hokage mastered the Flying Thunder God technique, known as the fastest in the ninja world."

The songstress sighed before continuing, "Then it seems the rumors are true..."

"I've had other ninjas tell me the same. The village originally said the Second Hokage died while protecting his six disciples."

"But if the Second Hokage had mastered such an advanced technique, why did he die on the battlefield?"

Jiraiya opened his mouth, but suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

Yes, if the Second Hokage had mastered the Flying Thunder God technique, why didn't he just teleport everyone to safety? Why did he need to stay behind?

Doubt began to creep into Jiraiya's heart, though he still managed to explain:

"The Second Hokage's death was the ultimate expression of the Will of Fire, sacrificing himself to protect the future of the village."

"Oh please, you're kidding, right? You just said the current Third Hokage and the Hokage's assistant were once his bodyguards. Even a simple woman like me knows the role of a bodyguard is to protect the Hokage's safety, no?"

Jiraiya became even more confused. He had never given much thought to the circumstances surrounding the Second Hokage's death. He had been too young at the time.

Leaving behind a stack of money bills, Jiraiya hurried out of the room, his mind in turmoil.

The noise coming from the neighboring room soon caught his attention.

A group of ninjas was also discussing the matter.

"If you ask me, the Second Hokage touched too many clan interests when he founded the Ninja Academy, and taking on Sarutobi and the others was a compromise. Look at those disciples—each one comes from a notable clan."

"Sarutobi Clan, Shimura Clan, Akimichi Clan—who knows if they conspired together against the Second Hokage? And now, who's in power?"

A Konoha chunin, swaying slightly, spoke with a knowing tone.

"The Will of Fire? Please, who still believes in that? Hokage sacrificed himself for a few jonin—do they think we common ninjas are so easy to fool?"

"Forget that—what about the battle with the Rain Village? Hanzo released that massive cloud of poison, and the higher-ups still ordered us to charge in. Wasn't that just a death sentence?"

The speaker was a drunk genin whom Jiraiya recognized—one of his subordinates in the Land of Rain.

Jiraiya stayed silent. It seemed the entire district was buzzing with this rumor.

"Only Uchiha Kagami died among the Second Hokage's bodyguards. Isn't that suspicious? Now the Uchiha clan faces constant suppression from the higher-ups. There's probably some dirty secret behind it!"

Jiraiya squinted his eyes, concealing his presence as he quietly eavesdropped from room to room.

He noticed some of the people discussing this weren't insignificant—members from small to mid-sized clans were present.

"Look at the symbol on our Konoha forehead protectors—it's the emblem of the Uzumaki Clan, but now the Uzumaki are all dead."

"The Land of Whirlpools was right within the Land of Fire's borders. Which clan could infiltrate so quietly to wipe them out?"

"It was said that dozens of ninja forces participated in the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools. How could Konoha's Anbu not detect that?"

Jiraiya's expression grew increasingly grim. The situation was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

The rumors were spreading like wildfire, and worse still, events from a decade ago were being dredged up, with perspectives starting to shift.

[This can't go on. This is tearing at the roots of Konoha. I must get to the old man and resolve this.]

With a hurried expression, Jiraiya rushed toward the Hokage's office.

............

At the Root headquarters, Shimura Danzo's usually impassive face was now filled with barely contained fury.

The rumors fabricated by Fuma had struck his deepest insecurities.

Throughout Danzo's life, his greatest fear was anyone bringing up the Second Hokage. It was his only weak spot.

"Those damn Uchiha dare to slander me like this!"

The current rumor running through Konoha painted Danzo as the mastermind behind the Second Hokage's death, while Uchiha Kagami was seen as the sole hero who died protecting him.

The rumor spread so effectively because it had a disturbing logic to it.

Uchiha Kagami died, while the Third Hokage and Danzo survived, taking over as Hokage and his assistant.

If the Second Hokage had truly sacrificed himself for his disciples, why did Uchiha Kagami die?

And why, after Uchiha Kagami's death, did the Uchiha clan face constant oppression from Konoha's higher-ups? It only made things seem more suspicious.

"Danzo-sama, one of our Root squads has been detained by the police force. Should we take further action?"

A Root member knelt before Danzo, awaiting orders.

Danzo gritted his teeth. He hadn't expected Fuma to strike back with such venomous methods.

The accusations Fuma had leveled against him were more than Danzo could bear, despite his reputation as the Shadow of the Ninja and the Root of Konoha.

Fuma's ability to strike at Danzo's vulnerabilities was on par with that of a god.

"I am the future Hokage—I cannot let these Uchiha tarnish my name any longer."

"I should discuss this matter with Hiruzen first." Danzo spoke weakly. The situation had spiraled beyond his control.

Though burning with rage, Danzo had no intention of leading Root to attack the police force.

Danzo's toughness was limited to bullying minor clans and common ninjas, as well as abducting talented children for his Root organization.

But when it came to facing the Uchiha or Fuma, Danzo knew better—he would only mutter curses behind their backs.

He had no doubt that if he led an assault on the police force, Fuma's iron fist would be waiting for him.

............

At the Hokage Tower, a woman with a purple diamond-shaped mark on her forehead sat in the Hokage's chair.

The Third Hokage stood humbly to the side, like a student who had made a mistake, his head bowed.

"Monkey, I must say, I'm quite disappointed in you."

Uzumaki Mito glared at the Third Hokage with a harsh tone.

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