Konoha: This Uchiha is extremely sneaky

Chapter 43 The White Teeth Incident

The next morning.

After finishing his morning lessons, Uchiha Toshiro was browsing through ingredients at a family-owned food shop.

Yesterday, I enjoyed a sumptuous meal at Sister Meixiang's house.

But today, he was preparing lunch and dinner. This reminded him of the past, of the wonderful times when he was pampered and fed. It seems there was a reason why being kept and clinging to powerful figures was so prevalent in his past life.

"Aunt Yuriko! This pork isn't very fresh! Change it to beef. Hmm! This beef rib will do, weigh 10 jin."

"Toshiro, I'm not exaggerating, but today's beef was just slaughtered and delivered in less than two hours. If you miss today, you won't get such fresh ingredients next time!"

"Oh! Then I'll have 20 jin!"

"You have excellent taste! Well then, this spinach is yours for free! The price is 3000 taels, and I've rounded it down!"

Prices in the ninja world are incredibly high. 20 catties of beef can cost nearly 3,000 taels. Keep in mind, in a ninja supplies shop, a kujutsu (a type of weapon) only costs 800 taels, and a shuriken (a type of sword) is only 200 taels.

"Aunt Yuriko is a real businesswoman; her business is sure to flourish in the future!"

"Haha! You're so sweet! These scallions are free for you too!"

Thank you!

While chatting with Aunt Yuriko, the owner of the grocery store, she listened intently to the conversations of the adults on the street outside.

"Have you heard? I heard that a ninja violated the village's rules, causing a mission to fail and resulting in significant losses for the Land of Fire?"

A woman who got up early to buy groceries spoke mysteriously to her companion.

"Really? If something like that happens, the Hokage will definitely punish him!"

"I've heard about it too! I've heard about it too! But I heard that the ninja is Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang!"

Before the woman who had spoken first could even express her opinion, a housewife who was buying fish nearby quickly interjected.

"White Fang! No way! Everyone says he's the village hero, that he's saved many of his comrades!"

"It's true! I've heard quite a few people talking about it here today."

At this moment, the shop owner couldn't help but chime in. He had also heard a lot of discussion about this matter that morning. The accounts were all similar: Sakumo Hatake, the hero of Konoha known as "Konoha's White Fang," had failed his mission, causing significant losses to the Land of Fire.

Has it really come to this? The person behind this is truly...

Toshiro muttered to himself.

In other words, in the Naruto world, these are the uncultured natives who haven't been bombarded with information. Having been influenced by the online world of their previous lives, such simplistic methods of manipulating public opinion are simply appalling.

It's ridiculous that the missions of a ninja of Hatake Sakumo's caliber could be leaked so easily. Having studied at the Ninja Academy for two years and understanding the ninja's secrecy, Toshiro knew all too well the tricks of the trade.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage Building of Konoha, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had just started working, received a report from his subordinate.

After quickly skimming through the document, the Third Hokage frowned deeply, pondered for a moment, and then summoned his personal ANBU.

"Go to Root! Bring the Hokage to assist Shimura Danzo. Please come here!"

He issued the order calmly, then ignored his subordinate who had vanished in an instant. Instead, he took a deep drag of his cigarette and began to think quietly.

That report was sent from the Hokage's office, by the department that monitors public opinion within the village.

Early in the morning, they noticed this unusual shift in public opinion. Although they didn't know who was secretly guiding things, the subordinates, who were somewhat aware of the sensitivity to such matters, dared not be careless. They quickly wrote a report and submitted it to the Hokage for his review.

The Third Hokage wasn't kept waiting long; less than 20 minutes later, the door to the Hokage's office was pushed open from the outside.

The man who walked in was a middle-aged man who was nearly fifty years old.

His hair was a spiky, unruly frizzy mess, and his forehead was wrapped in white bandages. The bandages slanted downwards, covering his injured right eye. Only his left eye was visible, a sharp, vulture-like eye staring intently at the Third Hokage and the spot where he was sitting.

"Danzo! What exactly are you trying to do? Are you unilaterally inciting public opinion to attack the meritorious Jonin of the village?"

Before the man could speak, the Third Hokage preemptively launched an attack, sternly questioning the newcomer.

"Do you realize how damaging this will be to the village's heroes?"

"Unauthorized action! Do you even respect me as the Hokage?"

Before anyone could even sit down, the Third Hokage launched into a barrage of questions, as if to express his rage.

"A hero of the village? Does the damage he caused to the village and the Land of Fire deserve the title of hero?"

"The true heroes of the village are those who silently sacrifice everything to protect peace and the village! Not him, Sakumo Hatake!"

Danzo Shimura, the leader of Root and the Hokage's advisor who called himself the secret protector of Konoha, remained unfazed. His curt reply left the Third Hokage momentarily speechless.

【Don't you understand, Garlic Mountain? Peace in Konoha can't be maintained by just empty words. It's been maintained through the silent sacrifices of 'us' that Konoha has always enjoyed.】

Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting behind the Hokage's desk and wearing the Hokage's hat, in front of him.

Danzo Shimura's thoughts were in turmoil.

"That's no excuse for you to send people to slander him behind his back. You should know that the reason he failed this mission was to save his comrades' lives!"

"Saving his comrade's life? Ridiculous! As a ninja, your duty is to complete your mission! Yet he betrayed his duty to rescue his so-called comrade! Isn't it inevitable for ninjas to sacrifice themselves during missions?"

"If everyone followed his example, do you know what the consequences would be?"

"The completion rate of tasks in the village will plummet! If this continues, the village will receive fewer and fewer assignments! Can you accept these consequences?"

To his utter surprise, his former comrade offered such profound wisdom. For a moment, the Third Hokage was caught in a dilemma. Which was more important, the mission or his comrades? The Third Hokage hesitated, unsure of what to do.

"Hiruzen, Hatake Sakumo, believes in saving his comrades as his ninja way. His reputation has grown steadily over the years, to the point that even the Legendary Sannin avoid his attacks!"

(End of this chapter)