Konoha: I’m Naruto’s Brother — Gilgamesh Chapter 39 39: Rumors and Whispers

"So Danzo has already taken that child away?"

"I understand."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kakashi Hatake and answered calmly.

Who in Konoha's upper ranks didn't know whose children the Uzumaki brothers really were?

Their surna was Uzumaki, but with those blond heads of hair and those blue eyes, it was obvious to anyone with half a brain who they were.

So it was only natural that Kakashi knew they were his teacher's sons.

"That child... he'll be okay, right?"

In the end, Kakashi couldn't stop himself from asking.

"It's nothing serious. This will be beneficial to him. He'll be fine."

That was all Hiruzen could say.

Most of the Anbu who had once belonged to the Fourth Hokage's faction still respected Kakashi.

Although Hiruzen had gradually absorbed them over the years, Kakashi remained an extrely useful tool.

He was also the Third Hokage's grand-student, which made him one of "their own."

Hiruzen trusted him more than most.

"Yes, sir."

Since the Third Hokage had said so, what else could Kakashi do?

He could only withdraw and continue protecting Naruto.

But when he returned to the Uzumaki house, he froze.

There were two shadows visible in the window.

For a mont, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.

He quickly pressed himself against the wall and listened.

It was clearly Uzumaki Shuji's voice.

"???"

Kakashi was completely baffled.

"Captain, Root inford us that Uzumaki Shuji will be taken away during the day and returned in the afternoon. Normally, only one person is assigned to protect him here."

One of Kakashi's subordinates stepped forward to explain.

Hearing that, Kakashi let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Even if Uzumaki Shuji was entering Danzo's tiger's den, as long as he ca ho every day, the situation wasn't too bad.

Kakashi had no idea what was really happening.

But if the child was safe, that was enough.

...

The next day, whispers began spreading throughout the village.

At first, the rumors were limited in scope.

But they still reached Hiruzen's ears.

The mont he read the intelligence report and saw what people were discussing, his face darkened with shock and anger.

"Who did this?"

"The Uchiha?"

"The Hyūga?"

"Who dares be so bold?!"

Hiruzen was furious.

He imdiately dispatched Anbu to track down the source of the rumors.

When Fugaku Uchiha heard the news, even he was stunned.

"Could this be... the Uzumaki clan?"

That was the only possibility he could think of.

No other clan in the village had the guts to pull sothing like this.

And most of Konoha's major clans stood with Hiruzen anyway.

After all, they had all shared in dividing up the Senju clan's assets.

That was why, even while the Senju and Uchiha were targeted, the other clans had remained silent.

They were beneficiaries.

For the past few days, life for the Uchiha had been growing increasingly difficult.

But today, Fugaku suddenly felt lighter.

Attention had shifted elsewhere.

At the very least, Hiruzen would have less ti to trouble Uzumaki Shuji.

...

Things did not die down as Hiruzen had hoped.

Instead, the rumors spread further and further.

Ordinary villagers began openly discussing them.

The major clans kept quiet on the surface, but even among their lower-ranking mbers, private conversations had started.

The facts were impossible to ignore.

The Senju Clan was gone.

The very clan that had founded Konoha.

The first two Hokage had both been Senju.

And now, the suppression of the Uchiha was happening in plain sight.

In the past, Danzo had manipulated public opinion, steering everyone to believe the Uchiha were villains.

But now, many of the smarter people in the village sensed that sothing was deeply wrong.

Clan leaders strictly ordered their people to stay quiet and avoid causing trouble.

No one was allowed to discuss the issue publicly.

"Who is behind this?!"

Using the Telescope Technique and his crystal ball, Hiruzen carefully observed the village.

Not only had the discussions not stopped—they were growing more intense.

And the Anbu had uncovered nothing.

All they found were sheets of paper that had mysteriously appeared in villagers' hos.

So civilians had even been placed under genjutsu and started spreading the information themselves.

If a major clan had been responsible, Hiruzen would have had them arrested imdiately.

But these were civilians.

The Anbu had no authority to openly interfere in matters unrelated to shinobi.

They could only secretly abduct people for questioning.

Officially, matters involving ordinary villagers fell under the jurisdiction of the Uchiha Police Force.

But given his current relationship with the Uchiha, Hiruzen would never lower himself to ask Fugaku for help.

"This was planned."

"There is a problem within the village."

Koharu Utatane spoke gravely.

All four mbers of Konoha's leadership were present.

"Couldn't this be the work of the Uchiha?"

"If genjutsu was involved, that is their specialty."

Homura Mitokado asked doubtfully.

He and Koharu were more concerned with Konoha's external affairs and border defense.

Village matters were largely handled by Danzo.

When it ca to competing with the Uchiha for power, they were far less adept.

"Danzo, did your people discover anything?"

Hiruzen turned to his old friend.

In the past, problems like this would have been eliminated before they ever surfaced.

The current situation left him deeply dissatisfied.

"My forces have been focused on locating the surviving Uzumaki."

"After the attack on Root, we suffered heavy losses."

"I do not have enough manpower to handle both matters."

Danzo replied expressionlessly.

Hiruzen stared at him for a long mont.

For the first ti, he felt that sothing about his old friend was off.

But it never crossed his mind that Danzo might have betrayed him.

Instead, he assud Danzo was deliberately dragging his feet because he was enjoying Hiruzen's embarrassnt.

After all, Hiruzen believed he understood Danzo's petty thoughts better than anyone.

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