I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 629 Some people aren't blind to the truth; rather, illusions empower them.

"Tatsuma, I want to make a request to you."

Inside the Hokage's office, a weary-looking Minato stood opposite Tatsuma. His tone lacked the boundless familiarity of the past, clearly indicating that he was there on official business.

Tatsuma looked up and asked, "What request? Just say it."

"I heard you rejected the proposal to include Obito on the list of those honored at the memorial?"

Minato looked at Tatsuma with bloodshot eyes and stubble on his chin, a rare sight for him. It wasn't that Minato was vain; he simply wouldn't appear in such an unseemly state.

He's been incredibly busy these past few days, caught between the battlefield and the devastating news from his own disciple: Obito died trying to save Kakashi, his body torn to pieces.

After bringing Kakashi and Rin back to the village, Minato didn't sleep a wink. On one hand, he had to comfort Kakashi and Rin, and on the other hand, he had to face the pressure from the Uchiha clan demanding the return of the Sharingan.

Today, he received another piece of bad news: Tatsuma refused to have Obito Uchiha's name printed on the memorial stone. For once, Minato felt a pang of resentment towards Tatsuma.

If they were alive, they could fight for anything they wanted, but for a Konoha ninja, entering the memorial after the war was the only trace they could leave in this world after death.

But Tatsuma refused, which Minato couldn't understand, not knowing why Tatsuma would do that.

"Would you like to hear the Fourth Hokage's answer, or my own?"

Tatsuma put down his pen, closed the document he was reviewing, tossed it aside, and said to Minato.

Minato hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'd like to hear about the former first. From the village's perspective, I want to know why Obito couldn't enter the memorial monument. He died saving his comrades."

"The procedure is incorrect. His manner of death is not recognized by the village. The village can only temporarily classify him as missing and cannot confirm whether he is dead or has defected."

"Tatsuma, Obito isn't that kind of person."

Upon hearing the word "defection," Minato became somewhat agitated. Tatsuma raised his hand and pressed it down, saying, "This is the Fourth Hokage's answer, the village's answer, objective and without subjective emotion."

"Kakashi and Rin."

"They are not battlefield commanders, nor are they the ninja in charge. They have no right to define Obito's 'death,' you should know that, but you seem to be losing your rational judgment right now."

Tatsuma's voice was calm but forceful, quickly calming Minato down. He said, "But I've already appointed Kakashi as the temporary team leader. Besides, even if I don't have enough authority to make personnel changes to Kakashi, who is also a Jonin..."

"So what about me? I should have enough authority to determine the nature of Obito's death, right?"

"By doing this, you are putting Kakashi and Rin in an unjust position. You can define it as such, but at the same time, Kakashi and Rin will be accused of falsifying the operation, since you did not participate in the operation they reported."

Chen opened the drawer, which contained a converted mini-fridge. He took out two bottles of strawberry milk and said, "Have some sugar; you're clearly running low on energy."

Minato took the opened milk, but didn't drink it. After a moment of silence, he asked, "And what's your answer?"

Tatsuma took a sip of strawberry milk, suppressing his anger at his best friend's questioning, and said, "My answer? That is, we haven't found Obito yet, and I won't assume he's dead."

As he spoke, he looked towards the window and said, "Tianfeng, I heard you swallow. Come in if you want a drink."

Do you have any alcohol?

Tenkasa climbed in through the window. Shuimen looked at him apologetically and said, "Tenkasa, I didn't expect this."

"It's alright, I already know about it, you don't need to blame yourself."

Tianfeng waved his hand. He returned even later than Minato, only coming back after resolving the trouble with the Mist Ninja. After returning, he stayed at the hospital, not to question Kakashi and Rin, but...

Grandma is in the hospital.

He rubbed his swollen and sore eyes, and said with a very nasal tone, "Grandma understands what Obito did. She said he was a good boy and didn't disgrace his parents."

She asked me if, in the future, if she wanted to see Obito, she would only be able to go to the Konoha Cemetery. I…

By the end, Tianfeng's voice even trembled with obvious sobs, because the people he and his grandmother used to visit at the Konoha Cemetery were Obito's parents, who were also the uncle and aunt who had saved his life during the Second Shinobi World War.

He came to the Hokage's office intending to ask why, according to the Uchiha, Obito's name was excluded from the list of those honored on the memorial tablet.

Tatsuma seemed to be right. Why assume that Obito was already dead? Perhaps it was a last glimmer of hope, but at this moment, Tenfu suddenly hoped that Obito's name would not be engraved on the memorial stone, because that would mean that from the village's perspective, they had already accepted that Obito was dead.

Minato looked back at Tatsuma and said, "Tatsuma, I believe you still have hope, but I left the Flying Thunder God Technique seal on Obito, but I can no longer sense it."

The Flying Thunder God Technique seal is far more secure than most sealing techniques. Once imprinted on the body, it is almost impossible to remove. Even if the location of the Flying Thunder God Technique seal can be determined, removing it would require a huge price.

If it were limbs, then perhaps simply cutting off one of the limbs would suffice, but since Minato left the torso, Obito would at least have to be split in two to have any chance of removing the Flying Thunder God Technique.

This also aligns with Kakashi and Rin's accounts. Obito's half-body had already been crushed by a boulder. Given that extent, and several days having passed, how could he still be in such a state?

"And another thing," Tatsuma said, glancing at Minato and Tenka, "you don't seem to realize that the obstacle preventing Obito from entering the Memorial Monument isn't me."

"Who is that? Who disagrees?"

Tenka's pupils emitted a faint red glow, and Minato was somewhat puzzled. Tatsuma didn't keep them in suspense for long before continuing, "The obstacle lies with Kakashi and Rin."

You all know these two children and are willing to believe in them, but you don't seem to realize the impact of the Sharingan being transplantable.

If Kakashi's eyes are not recognized by the Uchiha clan, who believe that his eyes were obtained unjustly, then after Obito's name is engraved on the memorial stone, rumors will circulate in the village that he wants to team up with the Uchiha clan to go out and kill them to steal their Sharingan.

If it's just a rumor, that's fine. But if another similar incident actually happens, the Uchiha clan and the village, who have worked so hard to integrate to this point, will collapse overnight, and the relationship may even become more strained.

To have Obito's name engraved on the memorial stone, the Uchiha clan must first acknowledge the legitimacy of Kakashi's Sharingan origins, and the village and the Uchiha clan must unite to make this a completely isolated case.

From now on, anyone from outside the Uchiha clan who obtains the Uchiha's bloodline limit through Sharingan transplantation will be stripped of it or even killed.

As Chenma spoke, looking at the two who were digesting the information, he continued, "Of course, there is another way, which is for Minato to become the Fourth Hokage. In order to seek cooperation, the Uchiha would naturally accept that Kakashi has the Sharingan easily."

"Because Kakashi and Obito are both your students, but they are not my students, I cannot make decisions for them. Even if I make a promise, the Uchiha might not believe it. Do you understand?"

Shuimen remained silent for a long time. Tianfeng hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'll go back and talk to the clan leader."

Tatsuma raised his hand to stop him, saying, "There's no need to rush. Given the current situation, Obito definitely won't be able to become a member of the Memorial Monument at this stage. As for the next stage, the heroes of the previous stage won't be counted towards the next stage's quota."

"So... Obito's name can't be inscribed on the memorial stone?"

Minato sighed, and Tatsuma shrugged, saying, "It's cruel for Obito, but that's the truth, assuming he's already dead."

However, my personal suggestion is not to be so pessimistic. Don't assume that Obito is dead. Maybe Kakashi and Rin just made a mistake due to their lack of experience.

For Kakashi's sake, you must do the same. Go find Obito, and no matter the outcome, you must not give up. You must convey this attitude.

Upon hearing this, Minato pondered for a long time and understood what Tatsuma meant. If he, as the teacher, also hastily closed the case, then Kakashi would definitely suffer even more attacks.

They might even spread rumors that Kakashi killed his own teammates in order to seize the Uchiha's bloodline limit. The rumor-mongers might not be able to prove their claims, but Kakashi wouldn't be able to disprove them either.

As for rumors, if they cannot be disproven, then they are considered "true." Even if they are disproven, the conclusion of the disproving statement may be questioned due to the lack of credibility of the person who made the statement.

This is the "mechanism" of the social game. You can't escape the social game, so you have to accept these mechanisms. Unless Kakashi stays away from people, he will inevitably hear these voices.

The only thing to do is to reduce it. For example, Minato, as a teacher, should set an example by not giving up on the search for Obito. After Kakashi recovers, he should also do something for Obito, such as helping to find Obito or doing something right, and then give the credit for the reputation to Obito.

Moreover, as long as the search and rescue process continues, some people will believe, or rather, evade the truth. For example, Obito's grandmother was willing to believe it as long as the village stated that Obito was not proven to be dead.

Even if you already have the answer in your heart, this belief can become a source of spiritual support.

After thinking it through, Minato nodded and said, "I will do that, but I hope the village can step in and mediate the current escalation of the Uchiha's emotions."

"This is what I can do. I will also help you find Obito. Perhaps a miracle will happen and bring Obito back?"

Tatsuma comforted him again, and Minato nodded. Then he felt a little dizzy and closed his eyes to adjust. When he opened his eyes again, he had no choice but to drink a sip of overly sweet strawberry milk to relieve his discomfort.

Tianfeng also spoke up, saying, "I will also help mediate. I will not give up on finding Obito. I hope a miracle can really happen."

"Alright, go back and rest. Get your energy back. The way you are right now, it's hard to believe you still have any hope for Obito."

After speaking to Minato, Tatsuma looked at Tenka and asked, "How's it going on your end?"

Tianfeng shook his head and said, "This is very bad. When we arrived with Lord Shuo Mao, Senior Dai had already activated the Eight Gates Formation. Although Nonoyu managed to keep him alive, we don't know how long he can hold on."

Tatsuma, your medical ninjutsu.

Tatsuma shook his head and sighed, "With all eight gates open, life is like a burst dam; no matter how much life force is supplied, it's useless unless we find a way to close the eight gates. I'll go and see, and do my best."

"it is good."

Tianfeng nodded, then said, "I never expected that the housewarming gift I gave you would turn out to be such a troublesome affair."

Upon hearing this, Minato felt a pang of guilt. Both sides could have avoided this terrible tragedy by simply being a little more attentive. Instead, they disappointed the village and caused so much trouble for Tatsuma, who was about to take office.

Tatsuma waved his hand and said, "This is the problem that the Hokage should solve. If you think like that, you're only hurting the real sufferers. Don't say things like that again."

(End of this chapter)