Malphegor
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IUTT: Ch. 76
🕑 Added 2025-05-20 00:13:15 +0000 UTCThese people claimed that the Third Hokage never intended to abandon their allies, but rather, he simply couldn't bear to let go of Konoha. That was why he made such a painful decision.
A small portion of those who said such things even went so far as to highly praise his accomplishments over the years, singing his praises enthusiastically. Whenever they had the chance, they would tell others that he was their idol.
In their view, he was the greatest Hokage in history, surpassing even the First and Second Hokage in achievements, something they considered obvious and undeniable.
They believed his strength was also superior to that of the First and Second Hokage, because he had mastered more jutsu than the two of them combined. Calling him the strongest Hokage, they said, was completely justified. Every decision he made was for the good of Konoha. He could not possibly have had even the slightest selfish intent.
Anyone who questioned or expressed dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage, they claimed, was an ungrateful traitor who would bite the hand that fed them. Under such lofty accusations, many people in Konoha became afraid to express their opinions in public.
Several people had already been scolded by fanatical supporters of the Third Hokage. Though not physically assaulted, they were berated harshly, faces pointed at and voices raised, before retreating home.
There was also another rumor, this one about Tsunade.
The general idea was that Tsunade was selfish, that in a crucial moment she disregarded the village's interests and rashly chose to help the Land of Whirlpools. Such behavior, they said, was utterly shameful.
What? You say Tsunade and Ashina are relatives?
Even if they were relatives, so what if they were her parents? The village's interests came first!
What if she angered the ninjas of other villages, leading them to unite and attack Konoha? Then she would become Konoha's sinner.
What? You say they were just looking for an excuse to go to war?
If they were truly determined to wage war, wouldn't they find another excuse even if she wasn't involved?
Then don't hand them an excuse!
Handing them a reason like that was extremely irresponsible.
What? You say one person can't make a decisive difference on the battlefield? That Tsunade was only representing Konoha's attitude?
Even if one person couldn't change the outcome, if Tsunade killed too many enemies, it could still cause discontent among the other ninja villages, which would be harmful to Konoha. Besides, the Hokage already stated he would not aid the Land of Whirlpools. Tsunade's actions were a betrayal of the Hokage's decision.
What? You say the Hokage hasn't publicly said anything, maybe he secretly supports her?
Idiot. If the Hokage really felt that way, why send only one person?
Clearly, it was Tsunade acting on her own. The Hokage just didn't expose her, out of concern for her dignity.
What? You say the Land of Whirlpools has helped us a lot over the years, and is one of Konoha's closest allies, so we have an obligation to help them?
So if your best friend asked you to die for them, would you do it? Would you?
Besides, there were so many sick people in Konoha waiting to be treated. Now that Tsunade had left, what would happen to those patients?
What? You say even if she stayed in Konoha, she wouldn't be in the right state of mind to treat patients?
See? She is an irresponsible person. No matter how heartbroken she is, she shouldn't have walked away from her duties.
The Third Hokage would never use such an excuse to neglect his work.
What? You say even the patients themselves said they understood Lady Tsunade and just hoped she would be safe on the battlefield?
They must be a bunch of people who don't care about Konoha's interests! Even in times like these, they don't firmly support the Third Hokage's stance.
No wonder they got sick!
---
After these two rumors spread, and with a small group of people frantically fanning the flames and viciously attacking anyone who disagreed, Konoha began to feel eerily strange.
Out on the streets, people didn't even dare greet each other openly; they only nodded in passing. Everyone was afraid that saying the wrong thing would get them caught and endlessly criticized, to the point of feeling sick to their stomachs.
But by this point, even the dullest person could sense that something was off.
Why was there such fanatical praise of the Third Hokage and such harsh belittling of Tsunade? What was the intention behind this?
During Hiruzen's years in office, because Root had not yet been established, he had always acted with extreme caution, afraid of leaving any stains on his Hokage legacy. Therefore, he hadn't had the opportunity to gradually brainwash the people of Konoha over a long period.
Although the villagers did recognize him as the Hokage, the First Hokage had only been dead for thirteen years, and the Second for just eight. Except for children born in the past eight years, who didn't grow up hearing tales of the First and Second Hokage?
While many people thought the Third Hokage was fine, how could he possibly be compared to the First and Second? What qualifications did he have?
The more people praised and elevated Hiruzen, the more dissatisfaction grew among those who resented him. As for those few dozen who aggressively attacked Tsunade, many believed they had been planted by the Third Hokage himself.
Their goal? To help him escape public scrutiny over the situation, shift the blame onto Tsunade, and make her the target of everyone's anger. But the way they went about it was far too crude, so much so that it seemed like they were outright deceiving the villagers.
Some believed that something suspicious was going on and that the Third Hokage probably wouldn't stoop to such actions.
But people were emotional.
Even the most rational person couldn't help but feel some level of dissatisfaction toward Hiruzen when faced with such overwhelming rumors. As for whether anyone actually agreed with those attackers and became resentful of Tsunade?
To be honest, almost no one did.
Who was she?
She was fucking Senju Tsunade! Granddaughter of the First Hokage!
Her choosing to work at Konoha Hospital was already considered a tremendous contribution. Even if she suddenly decided not to continue, who would dare criticize her?
Besides, Mito was still alive.
With the Land of Whirlpools on the brink of destruction, how heartbroken must she be? Under such circumstances, how could Tsunade just stand by and do nothing?
She had gone to the hospital for the sake of the people of Konoha, yet people treated it as if it were only her duty.
She helped the Land of Whirlpools out of basic human compassion, yet was being viciously criticized and slandered.
So while Konoha appeared calm on the surface, in truth, turbulent undercurrents were swirling beneath.
Many people didn't speak in public, but once they got home, they lashed out furiously at those fanatics who were crazily praising Hiruzen and demeaning Tsunade. And as they cursed those people, their anger inevitably extended to Hiruzen himself.
Although he was still the Hokage, and only a few dared to directly insult him out loud, the dissatisfaction had already taken root. But it wasn't just the villagers of Konoha who were acting unusually, Hiruzen himself was in a strange state of mind.
---
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen felt like his head was about to explode.
What the hell was all this?
He had indeed longed for a group of people to stand up and lavish praise on him, elevate him as the greatest Hokage in Konoha's history, and have the entire village echo the sentiment.
That was his dream scenario.
But not like this, not in these circumstances.
If the villagers had gradually accepted him, and came to respect and admire him from the heart, he would have been overjoyed. But now it was clear that these people were lifting him up with ulterior motives, such an insincere kind of flattery was meant to destroy him.
And on top of that, they were dragging down Tsunade in the process. Had they gone mad? Did they think things weren't chaotic enough already?
Who was doing all of this?
Knock knock knock!
"Come in!" he responded quickly to the knock at the door.
A ninja from the Yamanaka clan entered and said to him, "Hokage-sama, the matter has been investigated!"
"Speak!" Hiruzen urged eagerly.
