Maruboshi Kosuke removed the barrier, the water curtain dropped, and Aozora, Torifu, and Kosuke walked out.
Aozora returned to Hachidai and Shisui, quickly explaining the situation.
"...This is the current situation. Family shame should not be aired in public, especially as the village's leadership. If the Hokage loses his dignity, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore Elder Torifu and Elder Kosuke hope this matter can be resolved internally."
After hearing Aozora's explanation, Shisui nodded. He completely understood why they were focusing on the bigger picture and fully supported Aozora's choice to step back.
Although somewhat dissatisfied, Hachidai also nodded. He trusted Aozora to make the wisest decision.
Even so, both of them made requests.
Shisui said, "Let me go with you!"
The Third had repeatedly targeted Aozora, and his disappointment toward the Third had become complete. He was afraid that Aozora might fall into danger again.
Hachidai added, "I came here representing my clan leader. My presence can express the Uchiha Clan's position."
Aozora was now just a commoner. Even Shisui, once considered the top expert in the clan, had lost that reputation since Fugaku awakened the Mangekyou. Neither of them was able to represent the Uchiha Clan anymore.
Aozora thought for a moment, then ran up to Elder Torifu and made a request.
Torifu considered it briefly before agreeing.
Aozora explained the situation to the surrounding Uchiha members and villagers, preparing to head to the Hokage Tower with Torifu and the others.
Just then, various clan leaders from Konoha's major ninja clans, along with elite Jonin, arrived at the plaza one after another, all requesting to attend the meeting.
Seeing this, Torifu and Kosuke exchanged glances. They realized it was impossible to keep the matter under wraps within the ninja ranks. Now the only thing they could do was contain it among the upper echelons.
After discussing briefly, the original plan for a private explanation changed into an impromptu high-level meeting.
Elder Torifu looked around and announced, "Given the seriousness of this matter, the village has decided to hold an emergency high-level meeting to address and explain everything."
After saying this, Torifu maintained order while Kosuke went to the Hokage's office to ask Sarutobi Hiruzen for his opinion—in other words, to notify him.
Inside the Grand Conference Room of the Hokage Tower.
Konoha's upper echelons quickly took their places. Clan leaders like Hyuga, Akimichi, Nara, Yamanaka, Inuzuka, and Aburame all wore solemn expressions.
As Aozora slowly walked by, his pace wasn't fast, giving most of the higher-ups enough time to learn about what had transpired.
At such a critical moment—right before the Hokage election—something like this happened, and everyone knew exactly what Hiruzen was thinking.
This meant one thing: suppressing the Uchiha so his disciple Jiraiya could take power.
Honestly speaking, most ninja focused their minds on training rather than wasting energy on political struggles, which was why they especially hated such tactics.
Yet the Third relentlessly employed the same tactics, squandering all the prestige and goodwill he had accumulated over years as Hokage.
Fugaku, having followed the entire situation closely, upon hearing about the high-level meeting, quickly rushed to the meeting room. Shortly afterward, the Third, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Jiraiya, and others entered the conference room with grim faces.
Though the Third sat at the head of the table, under everyone's scrutinizing gazes, he looked like nothing more than a common criminal.
Once everyone was present, Uchiha Torifu stepped forward and opened the meeting, saying, "Everyone's time is valuable. Now, please allow Uchiha Aozora and Jonin Yamato to explain everything that happened."
Aozora gave a slight nod and stepped forward to address the room.
Without further ado, Aozora activated his Sharingan and used a Genjutsu to fully recreate the experience of being accused and attacked without warning by Anbu.
After everyone had watched, Aozora turned directly to Yamato and asked, "Have I distorted the facts?"
Yamato remained silent for a moment before giving a slight nod. Seeing this, others in the room one by one shook their heads.
Uchiha Torifu let out a deep sigh. Back when he was young, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been willing to give everything for the village. He never imagined that in old age, Hiruzen would fall so far.
Aozora scanned the room and stated, "The truth is already clear. The Anbu falsely accused me of defection and overstepped their authority by arresting me. As for what happens afterward, it's obvious—coercing false confessions through torture, all to tarnish our clan head's reputation..."
Hiruzen continued waiting for Koharu Utatane or Homura Mitokado to speak, but to his surprise, both remained completely indifferent this time, as if entering some kind of deep meditation.
Down below, Nobusuke could no longer endure it and stood up, interrupting Aozora.
"Silence! This is nothing but your subjective speculation. Lord Hokage would never do such things! If you were truly innocent, how could Lord Hokage convict you? Surely he would clear your name!"
"Hahahahaha—"
Upon hearing this, Aozora laughed, holding his head, almost laughing his eyes out.
Nobusuke snapped angrily, "How dare you laugh in front of these Konoha leaders?"
Aozora stopped laughing maniacally and countered, "Since you told a joke, why shouldn't I laugh?"
Nobusuke frowned upon hearing that and asked, "What exactly are you implying?"
"Heh!" Aozora sneered. "I was previously falsely accused of slaughtering civilians. So much time has passed, yet the Third still hasn't uncovered the truth—who gave you the face to claim the Third will clear my name?"
Hiruzen couldn't bring himself to look up. At the time, Aozora had already retired, and the other two hadn't caused any trouble either, so naturally, he had let the matter drop.
Aozora continued, "Also, the matter of Hizashi has yet to be resolved by the Hyuga clan. How can the village, which he sacrificed himself for, not even erect a memorial stone (a symbol of honor for fallen shinobi) for him... Truly heartbreaking!"
Hyuga Hiashi nodded in agreement, saying, "Exactly. Can the village really just let go of Hizashi's matter? Even if we gave up seeking responsibility from Hidden Cloud for peace's sake, how can the village refuse to set up even a memorial stone internally?"
Immediately, Hiruzen hurriedly replied, "The village will never forget Hizashi's sacrifice. But it's unrelated to today's topic—we'll discuss it later..."
He hesitated briefly before suddenly turning on Aozora. "If you didn't join Akatsuki, why did you follow Orochimaru's coded message into the woods?"
Upon hearing this, quite a few people below looked toward Aozora, waiting to see how he would respond.
Aozora looked at Hiruzen mockingly and retorted, "What else could it be for? Obviously to kill him!
Regardless of his intention, he cost me my right eye. With a chance for revenge, why wouldn't I take it?
That's also why the Police Force arrived so quickly—they originally came to assist me in killing Orochimaru."
The others nodded in agreement. Aozora's explanation indeed made sense.
After finishing his explanation, Aozora suddenly asked, "Lord Third, you ordered Jonin and Anbu to capture me. May I ask what evidence you have? On what grounds do you slander me for defecting to join the Akatsuki organization?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his eyes slightly and responded after a moment of silence, "I received an intelligence report from my subordinates... and I only instructed the Anbu to invite you here for questioning. It was simply that Yamato and the Anbu were a bit overly aggressive..."
In truth, he had received intelligence reports from Orochimaru long ago. Previously, he had just been collecting information covertly, but Aozora hadn't shown any signs of wrongdoing.
Now seeing that Fugaku had a high chance of securing the Hokage seat, he was forced to act early. For extra precaution, he had even mobilized the powerful Yamato.
As long as Aozora could be captured, his underlings could interrogate him for results, which would completely ruin Fugaku's and the Uchiha clan's reputation and credibility.
However, he never expected that Yamato plus over a dozen Anbu members couldn't defeat Aozora, and instead ended up being captured by the Police Force.
"Received intelligence?"
"Overly aggressive?"
Aozora sneered again, his voice filled with mockery and disdain.
"What intel did you get exactly? And if it was on the Akatsuki, tell me — did that intel include their base, the identities of their members, or even their abilities?"
"You used Orochimaru's secret letter as bait, had an Anbu who knew him well impersonate him, and laid ambushes deep in the forest. And you still call this a misunderstanding or just overstepping?"
The series of questions from Aozora left the Third speechless.
The intelligence Orochimaru had provided was extremely limited, making him doubt whether Orochimaru was merely trying to sow discord. This was also why he hesitated for so long before taking action.
The other senior officials present in the Meeting Room shook their heads helplessly as the Third found himself rendered mute.
The Third, eyes lowered and expression darkening, exhaled deeply before stating, "This misunderstanding happened because of the orders I gave, and I'm willing to take full responsibility... From today onward, Konoha's administrative duties will be temporarily handled by the Elders until a new Hokage is selected..."
As the Third went on with the same old speech, Shikaku Nara couldn't help but yawn.
Choza Akimichi turned his gaze elsewhere and muttered, "Apologizing… again? Taking full responsibility… again?"
Inoichi Yamanaka showed disappointment as well, saying, "Third… the Hokage selection's in two days. At this point, your resignation changes nothing — the Uchiha won't let it slide!"
Other senior officials also sighed and shook their heads. The once-revered 'Legendary Ninja Hero' was now reduced to endlessly apologizing and taking the blame.
Just then, Aozora spoke up: "Hold on!"
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