Chapter 641: Aoba's Words
The Konoha ninjas now understood what was happening. Cold glints flickered in their eyes as they realized that the village was caught in a power struggle centered around Minato.
Someone was after Minato's life!
This person's goal was to kill Minato and prevent him from becoming the Fourth Hokage.
The situation had become crystal clear. Everyone knew what kind of person would do this, but no one openly discussed it—after all, not just anyone could command the Root. Could it really be Danzo acting alone?
Impossible!
Everyone was aware that the Third Hokage was lurking behind the scenes. Perhaps he was the mastermind.
Indeed, after Minato's troubles, the Third Hokage stood to benefit the most.
Ninjas think expansively, especially in battle, willing to delve into secrets to imagine greater conspiracies. Their gaze shifted to Sakumo, dressed in his half-sleeve Hokage robe.
Perhaps...
Sakumo's half-sleeve Hokage robe was also connected to these events?
Tempers flared among the Konoha ninjas, their fingernails digging into their palms, their joints whitening from the strain. They had always seen the Third Hokage as a benign and righteous figure. The collapse of this image was a heavy blow.
Everything had changed.
Accepting this new reality meant there was no going back.
They could no longer look at the Third Hokage the same way.
This realization made them rethink past oddities:
Why couldn't such a powerful village like Konoha find a successor for the Hokage?
Why did the Second Hokage choose Sarutobi Hiruzen as his successor just before dying?
Why did his good friend, Uchiha Kagami, die so suddenly?
Why had there been numerous disappearances in the village without any resolution?
Why did Sakumo, despite his significant achievements, only receive a half-sleeve Hokage robe, seemingly close yet so far from actually becoming the Hokage?
Why did the Root come out to target Minato?
Why? Why? Why?
Endless questions surfaced, pointing to longstanding mysteries that now seemed linked to the Third Hokage.
"Sakumo-sama, what should we do now?"
"Shouldn't we do something?"
"We can't just stand by and watch this happen, can we?"
"Minato is not only facing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist but also Konoha's Root ninjas!"
"It's heartbreaking to think about!"
"If it weren't for Minato arriving just in time, we would all be dead now. His great deeds have likely sparked jealousy from above…"
"We can't just leave like this!"
The ninjas spoke fervently, displaying strong resentment. They were unwilling to let the matter rest, feeling as if fleeing would brand them as cowards who deserted the battlefield, a stigma they could never forget.
A deep sense of helplessness gripped them, feeling as if they were in the battle yet simultaneously detached from it, participants yet merely spectators.
They wanted something else!
These circumstances were unacceptable!
At this moment, everyone felt as if they were under a scorching sun, their anxiety unbearable. They couldn't accept the situation yet felt powerless to change it. Their eyes turned to Sakumo, seeking some strength from him.
Sakumo sighed deeply, his sense of powerlessness apparent. Facing the recent surge of Root ninjas, he felt like this was the last straw.
He couldn't stop it.
His strength was considerable; he could fend off two, three, or even ten Root ninjas, but he was helpless against such a large group of ninjas conspiring to assassinate a single target.
Such a scenario was unprecedented, not just in Konoha's history but in the wider ninja world.
"I can't think of any solution," Sakumo admitted, his gaze downcast and his posture defeated. His expression mirrored the others', though as their leader, he restrained himself from appearing too disheartened. Yet, his inner turmoil was palpable to all present.
The atmosphere grew tense; everyone was silent and sad, lost in thought. Each ninja wanted to help, but none could make a decisive move.
Suddenly, a cough broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention to a seemingly ordinary corner of the room.
The source of the sound was Aoba, disguised among them. Even Sakumo, standing in front of him, couldn't detect Aoba's true identity.
"I think we should return to Konoha," Aoba stated plainly, having intended to remain a silent observer but realizing the ninjas were losing direction. His intervention was meant to prevent their emotions from overriding their judgment, which could compromise Minato's strategies.
"Why?"
"Why? Why?"
The ninjas were perplexed by Aoba's suggestion, fixated on him. They had been ready to assist Minato, unwilling to flee the battlefield—they were prepared to die there, having accepted that possibility when they first joined the fight.
"We wouldn't be any help to Minato if we returned; we'd only be a burden. The best thing we can do is to make it back to Konoha safely. Our survival would be the greatest support we could offer him," Aoba explained, aware that those who lived to tell the tale would speak for Minato, solidifying his accomplishments.
"If they're so afraid of us returning, then that's exactly what we should do," he added as he surveyed everyone, challenging everyone with his gaze.
"We must believe that Minato will return to Konoha triumphantly!"
This statement resonated deeply, reinforcing the belief that their continued survival was crucial for supporting Minato through the ongoing political conflict. The scene ended with a heavy sense of responsibility settling on everyone's shoulders as they contemplated their return to Konoha—not as deserters, but as heralds of Minato's eventual victory.
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