Chapter 37: Uchiha Itachi Returns to the Village!

Izumi, you guessed right.

In her moment of emotional outburst, the secret she blurted out had spread across Leaf Village’s streets and alleys within mere hours—like wildfire through dry grass.

No matter where she followed her senior, people whispered. The topic of conversation shifted from “Senior Iizumi” to “Hokage’s Eldest Son.”

Clearly, the other members of the Uchiha clan had no obligation—or desire—to keep the Third Hokage’s eldest son’s secret hidden.

Instead, upon learning of the hidden truth tied to Hiruzen Shintetsu, they were thrilled—eagerly spreading the “sensitive intel” far and wide.

Rumors about the Hokage always traveled fast.

And they only grew wilder, twisted further with each retelling.

—“They say the Hokage’s son slaughtered countless War Orphans, which is why the Uchiha Police Force’s demon finally killed him!”

—“No wonder so many War Orphans vanished from the village orphanage—maybe they were turned into human experiment subjects?”

—“What if the village stops just using War Orphans… and starts targeting others?”

—“Is the Hokage really letting this happen? Otherwise, why would his own son be the mastermind behind these experiments?”

—“Stop spreading nonsense! Watch your children closely—those high-and-mighty ones only see us as disposable tools.”

—“I heard the Hokage’s eldest son murdered dozens of Leaf villagers!”

—“……”

“I’m sorry, Senior…” Izumi lowered her head, voice trembling. “I never thought things would spiral like this. I… I think I’ve ruined your teacher’s reputation.”

Tears welled up, but she couldn’t cry. She hadn’t expected the rumors to grow so absurd—so close to the Hokage himself.

And this was only after a few short hours.

If this continued for days…

What would be left?

For the first time, Izumi felt the true terror of public opinion.

An endless tide of malice now surged toward a man who was already dead. Even as an observer, she felt her skin crawl.

She couldn’t even imagine what it must be like for someone still alive to carry such a burden—crushed beneath the weight of hatred and lies.

“Shintetsu’s teacher should have foreseen this,” Uchiha Iizumi said quietly. “You did nothing wrong, rookie.”

Izumi froze.

She looked up, watching the villagers who had just turned furious at the mention of Hiruzen Shintetsu’s crimes.

“Even if the truth is distorted,” Iizumi continued, “it’s made some people finally see just how monstrous the darkness in the Ninja World truly is.”

Her voice softened.

“They’re beginning to understand the difference between justice and evil. If they learn from this—if they reject such wickedness—then the Ninja World still has hope.”

“That’s a good thing.”

“You did well.”

A spark flared in Izumi’s dull eyes. Her moist, glistening gaze shimmered with sudden warmth, blurred by unshed tears.

She quickly wiped her eyes.

“Y-yes!!” she stammered, not knowing why—only that she had to respond, fiercely.

Maybe… just maybe… she had finally, finally, been praised by her senior.

“Senior… I think we should always reveal the truth behind things. Not just whisper it to a few people—but make the whole village aware of what evil really looks like.”

“Senior… wouldn’t that make things better?”

Her courage grew—just a little.

Not much, but enough.

Then she realized she’d just been giving advice to her superior.

“Ah—I mean, that’s just my foolish opinion! Please ignore it—”

“Good.”

“Huh?”

Silence.

—

“Hokage-sama,” an Anbu Ninja whispered into the Hokage Tower, “rumors about Senior Shintetsu are spreading rapidly. Some of them touch on the truth—but most are exaggerated, twisted beyond recognition.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi inhaled deeply.

Piles of documents lay untouched on his desk.

Grief over his son’s death clung to him like a shroud.

When he spoke, his voice was hoarse, strained with exhaustion—his face aged as if decades had passed in a single night.

“What rumors?”

The Anbu repeated them.

Hiruzen’s brow furrowed.

“Where did they start?”

“Reports suggest… they originated from the Uchiha clan.”

Hiruzen fell silent.

The Uchiha clan…

“Should we stop them, Hokage-sama?”

Hiruzen rubbed his temples, weary.

“The harder we try to silence them, the more they’ll believe. Just like with Naruto—every time we try to stop villagers from calling him a demon fox, they only grow more convinced he is one.”

—

Root Base.

“Danzō-sama,” a Root ninja reported, “the public sentiment has shifted.”

“We spread rumors about Uchiha Iizumi last night as you ordered. But now… suddenly, everyone’s obsessed with the Hokage’s eldest son—what he allegedly did.”

“And Uchiha Iizumi?”

“He’s already so infamous, the villagers have grown numb to it.”

Danzō sneered.

He knew full well that these rumors wouldn’t shake Iizumi—after all, he wasn’t Kakashi, that fragile boy. The Uchiha brat wasn’t easily broken.

He’d sent Anbu to spread the lies only to widen the rift between Iizumi and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But he hadn’t expected the tide to turn so unpredictably.

Still…

“Hah. If the Hokage’s son’s name is ruined, the monkey father will suffer too. Whether it’s the cursed Uchiha boy or the old fool—the outcome is the same.”

Danzō’s voice was cold, quiet.

“Keep fueling the fire. Let Shintetsu’s name be dragged through the mud. And if possible… toss a few of the filthiest accusations onto that monkey’s doorstep.”

“Yes, Danzō-sama!”

—

One day passed.

In the minds of Leaf Village’s people, Hiruzen Shintetsu had become a monstrous scientist—someone who abducted villagers for twisted experiments and preyed on those with rare bloodline limits.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to defend his son’s name.

But the storm of public opinion had long since broken free of control.

Just like what had happened to Kakashi years before.

And through it all…

Someone had returned.

“Hmph. Half a month,” Uchiha Itachi murmured, standing silently at the village gate with two Anbu under his command.

A faint, gentle smile curled at the corner of his impassive face.

“I wonder… has Sasuke missed me?”

…

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end