https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-195-The-Uchiha-Clan-Leaves-the-Village-The-Village-s-Reaction/12553506/
Chapter 194: The Uchiha Clan, Beloved by the Konoha Villagers
Chapter 194: The Uchiha Clan, Beloved by the Konoha Villagers
Unaware of the truth, the Konoha villagers cheered for the returning Uchiha clan as if they were heroes.
The Konoha ninjas witnessing this scene exchanged confused glances.
"Since when did the Uchiha clan become so beloved by the villagers of Konoha?" Asuma Sarutobi lit a cigarette, perplexed by the warm reception. He was, after all, very much aware of the Uchiha clan's previous reputation in the village.
Kakashi, gazing at Sasuke's retreating back, calmly replied, "The dead deserve respect. People tend to show great kindness to those who have passed away. Take the Uchiha clan massacre, for instance; even villagers who initially held negative views of the Uchiha would go out to pay their respects and mourn their loss. Ultimately, no matter the disagreements, we are all family. The villagers are now embracing the Uchiha with open arms, embodying this very spirit of kinship."
"Additionally..." Kakashi's eyes flickered, choosing to leave the rest unsaid.
He was well aware of another reason for this unexpected welcome.
The Uchiha clan had never enjoyed a harmonious relationship with the villagers, partly due to the individuals' personalities but mostly fueled by the Konoha higher-ups behind the scenes.
Ordinary villagers had little to clash with the Uchiha over. The Uchiha's arrogance kept them aloof from the common folk most of the time.
The only real interaction came when the Uchiha, as part of the security forces, carried out their duties.
One might argue that the Uchiha were strict and unyielding in their enforcement of the law, perhaps even lacking in compassion.
However, they treated everyone equally, be it a villager, a ninja, or a member of the shinobi clan. Their justice was blind to status or connections.
So what if your father is a Sarutobi and your uncle is the Third Hokage? To the Uchiha, rules were rules, and everyone was held to the same standard.
As a result, the villagers' perception of the Uchiha was largely limited to seeing them as difficult to get along with and unyielding. It didn't extend to fear or hatred.
The reason it escalated to such extremes was the hidden manipulations of the Konoha higher-ups, who harbored resentment towards the Uchiha clan. They employed various tactics to influence the villagers, spreading fabricated stories to further isolate the Uchiha.
As for the identities of these higher-ups, well, out of respect for the dead, let's leave it at that.
It was only after the Uchiha clan's annihilation that the villagers of Konoha realized they hadn't been as terrible as imagined.
While their methods may have been harsh, they had always been fair and just, ensuring equality for all, which was of utmost importance to the common folk.
Looking at the current members of the Konoha security forces, they were certainly more amicable, but their work efficiency couldn't match that of the Uchiha. Their attempts to please everyone often led to less effective outcomes, and many tasks were not handled as well as during the Uchiha's time.
This contrast caused many villagers to reminisce about the good old days of the Uchiha clan.
Moreover, upon reflection, the villagers realized that they had never shared any deep-seated grudges with the Uchiha.
The Uchiha hadn't taken advantage of them or plotted against the village, so why had they allowed themselves to be filled with such fear and hatred toward the clan?
Adding to this was the decline in Konoha's overall strength and deterrence following the destruction of the Uchiha clan, which resulted in a significant drop in commissioned tasks and a village-wide economic downturn that lasted quite some time.
As the Uchiha clan returned, the villagers of Konoha couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, including anticipation and guilt.
This outburst of emotions led to the passionate welcome they were currently receiving.
"But you all forget one crucial point," Kakashi sighed heavily as he watched the excited villagers, "The Uchiha of today are no longer the Uchiha of the past."
At that moment, Jiraiya also understood Hagoromo Otsutsuki's intentions.
"He's planning to throw us into the fire!" Jiraiya exclaimed with a bitter smile.
Perhaps they didn't know the specifics, but their simple minds would undoubtedly point the blame at the higher-ups of Konoha.
As it turned out, the Konoha leadership had indeed played a disgraceful role in this matter.
After all, the order to annihilate the Uchiha clan, from the old to the young, regardless of hawkish or dovish factions, and regardless of innocence, had come from them. It was they who had given the command to Uchiha Itachi.
And if he hadn't carried it out, they would have done it themselves.
"Yu Yi Xuan Yue really knows how to play the game. These actions will not only create chaos within Konoha but also unite the Uchiha clan," Jiraiya thought to himself, shaking his head as he noticed that the Uchiha clan members showed no hesitation in their steps and, in fact, seemed even more determined amidst the villagers' enthusiastic cheers.
Tsunade, standing beside him, bluntly said, "Good! I'll take the blame and resign. You can become the Hokage then."
Hearing this, Jiraiya was startled and quickly waved his hands in refusal. "That won't do! Now that we're in this situation, Tsunade, you must not act rashly."
In the following moments, Jiraiya did his best to dissuade Tsunade from her impulsive decision.
Up ahead, within the Uchiha formation,
Uchiha Izumi faced the enthusiastic villagers' cheers and various questions with a smile on her face, but it was the kind of smile that kept people at a distance.
Her eyes lit up when she spotted a particular stall, and she said, "It's been a long time since I've eaten the dumplings from that store. I'm going to go try them again."
Seeing this, Uchiha Sasuke's mouth also watered, and he headed towards a nearby takoyaki shop that he used to frequent.
This wasn't because they still held any affection for Konoha.
On the contrary, it was precisely because they no longer had any attachment that they wanted to experience it one last time.
Seeing that each of his clan members had found their own destinations,
Sasuke thought for a moment and then turned his gaze towards a shop with a sign that read "Ichiraku Ramen" in the distance.
"Welcome!"
"I'll have a bowl of tonkotsu char siu ramen."
Sasuke walked into the empty Ichiraku Ramen shop. Looking at the place, which was exactly as he remembered it, he noticed the absence of a certain yellow-clad figure who used to sit there often.
As he had done in the past, he ordered a bowl of ramen.
"Coming right up!"
With unwavering passion for his work and his ramen, Teuchi immediately acknowledged the order with a loud reply and quickly served a bowl of ramen that looked and smelled delicious.
Then, for the first time, he looked at his customer.
At first glance, the customer seemed vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place him.
However, it didn't take long for realization to dawn on him.
"Sasuke?"
"Yes."
Sasuke nodded calmly.
"It really is you! It's been a long time since I've seen you! I remember you used to come here with Naruto all the time."
"That's right." Sasuke picked up his chopsticks and began eating swiftly.
Intrigued, Teuchi asked, "Will you be coming back often? It's been a while since I've seen you around."
"I won't be coming back. I've defected from the village," Uchiha Sasuke stated calmly, revealing the truth.
"That's a shame. Even if you've defected, Sasuke, why don't you—"
Teuchi suddenly paused, his eyes widening as he realized what Sasuke had just said.
He had almost forgotten that Sasuke's surname was Uchiha, and the news of the last Uchiha's defection from the village two years ago had caused quite a stir.
But he was getting old, and it was only when the young man in front of him mentioned it that he recalled the incident.
Should he still report this to the authorities?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
