Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

And yet, Hiruzen Sarutobi—he couldn't even enjoy the fruits of that fortune. He took a winning hand and played it into a complete mess.

The First Great Ninja War—shouldered by the Senju and Uchiha clans—was fought and won by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who led Konoha in defeating the four great nations and deterring the entire ninja world, forcing the outmatched nations to retreat to their own hidden villages.

Even later, during the Kinkaku and Ginkaku Force rebellion, as the Second Hokage's elite guard, he not only failed to protect him but also allowed the Second to stay behind and fight alone, leading to the Second being ambushed and killed.

In the end, it was sheer luck that the entirely passive Hiruzen managed to make it back alive—and inherit the title of Hokage.

The Second Great Ninja War—it was "White Fang of Konoha," Sakumo Hatake, who slew Sasori's parents. It was through Dan Katō's death and Nawaki's sacrifice, and the desperate efforts of Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, that they earned the grudging peace symbolized by the humiliating title of "Legendary Sannin" bestowed by Hanzo of the Salamander.

And once again, Hiruzen stood on the sidelines, not participating in any of the battles.

The Third Great Ninja War—it was Might Duy, who with a single move turned the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist into just three; it was the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, who led a young Kakashi to destroy the Kannabi Bridge; it was the likes of Shisui the Body Flicker and others who carved out a name through blood and fire to bring about peace.

And yet again, Hiruzen did nothing. Just idly coasted through it all.

Looking back on these three great wars, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally understood—this so-called golden age of Konoha was nothing more than a glorified lie he fabricated himself.

To put it kindly, he "commanded strategy from behind the scenes, winning from a thousand miles away." To speak the truth—it was cowardice. Clinging to life. Avoiding death at all costs.

Even when it came to enjoying, he still managed to ruin Konoha.

The Senju clan was gone. The Uzumaki clan was gone. The Uchiha clan was nearly wiped out. The Hyūga clan was growing more distant and disillusioned.

If this continued, he would become Konoha's eternal sinner.

"Danzo… Orochimaru…" Hiruzen closed his eyes in pain. He wished to die like a true hero—not from illness or old age.

"So let me die like a ninja—openly, honorably, truly in battle!"

"Let me be brave just once more. Let me return to the battlefield. That is the last dignity I have left as a shinobi!" Hiruzen opened his eyes.

But unfortunately, he would never achieve that. Making gods is easy—but destroying them is even easier. A mistake is still a mistake—and some things can't be undone.

"If apologies were enough, what would we need the Konoha Military Police Force for?" said Uchiha Itachi to Kakashi.

"A repeated lie becomes the truth."

"Three men talking make a tiger."

So goes the ancient saying: the power of public opinion is terrifying. Once a group begins to speak in unison, the will of the individual is swept away. Right becomes wrong, wrong becomes right. It can no longer be refuted, no longer resisted.

Such is human nature.

The Third Hokage and Danzo committed so many wrongs. Naruto endured so many injustices. They even pushed the fragile-hearted Sakumo Hatake to suicide. And now? It all ends just like that?

No. It cannot.

So the only option left—was to amplify the pressure. Let Danzo and the Third Hokage feel the people's fury. Let them feel the crushing weight of public opinion.

Let them feel the pain that Naruto and Sakumo Hatake felt.

At the press conference, Hiruzen had acted like everything was flawless, seamless—believing he'd spun the perfect narrative, that the matter was closed.

He thought he had safeguarded Konoha's image. But he underestimated the people's hearts. He underestimated what truly mattered to the villagers.

And in doing so—he chilled the hearts of the very people he swore to protect.

Justice lives in the hearts of the people.

The ANBU had driven the crowds away, but no one could quench the burning fury in their hearts. No one could calm the tide of anger and despair.

"A storm is coming…" Though all seemed quiet, behind that facade lay countless moments of agony and hopelessness.

"As expected… in the end, it's all just officials protecting each other," someone said bitterly.

"Yeah… if Danzo-sama would just come out and prove his innocence, wouldn't that be the end of it? Why won't he?"

"All we want is to see his eyes—are they Sharingan or not? Just let us see his arm—is it Hashirama cells or not? That's all we're asking—and they still won't agree?" someone cried out, sobbing.

"So many died in the Nine-Tails' attack… the human experiments enraged heaven and man alike—and you're telling us it just ends like this?

What a joke! All that talk about capturing Orochimaru—yet in all these years, has any ANBU, has any shinobi, ever really been assigned to go after him?"

"And the worst part—Naruto grew up right here in Konoha! You mean to tell me we didn't see his suffering? The rest of the world may not know, but we in the village know! Don't we?"

"Officials protect their own. The victims have no recourse. The evidence is clear as day—and yet the guilty walk free!"

"When I heard the Third's speech today, I was shaking with rage. In the middle of summer, I was soaked in cold sweat, my hands and feet numb. Is there any hope left for Konoha?

For us—children of small clans, of commoners—how are we supposed to survive for you to be satisfied?

Tears fell uncontrollably… this village is full of oppression for us at the bottom. When will we finally stand tall?"

"O heavens! O earth! First Hokage, Second Hokage—open your eyes and see! Is this glorious era what you wished for?! Is this the successor you chose?!" someone sobbed uncontrollably at the Konoha Memorial Stone.

"You promised! No more children on the battlefield!"

"And yet look! Under the Third's rule, Uchiha Itachi was four years old when he went to war. Your own bloodline—Nawaki, the Senju clan's last hope—died at just twelve in the Second Great Ninja War!"

"Hiruzen Sarutobi speaks one thing, does another. Look at the other Kage—when have they not led from the front in times of war? Even the Third Raikage fought ten thousand ninja on his own, three days and three nights, until he died of exhaustion."

"Now look at Hiruzen—he sends children to die, while he hides in the village, enjoying a peaceful life!"

"My child… only ten years old. Just ten—and already sent to war."

"During the Second War, Konoha's forces in the Land of Rain were nearly wiped out. The only survivors were Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade—and they were humiliated by Hanzo, who labeled them the Legendary Sannin."

"Hanzo earned his title of 'Demi-God' through battle. But Hiruzen Sarutobi? A man who hid from combat, letting his students fight for him—he shamelessly let his flunkies crown him 'Professor of Ninjutsu' and 'Strongest Hokage.'"

"And the most ridiculous part—he proudly accepted it!"

"What's most heartbreaking—our hero, the White Fang of Konoha, Sakumo Hatake, who struck fear into the hearts of Suna with just a short blade, who brought glory and renown to Konoha—do you know how he died?

He died because those cowards, those who hid in the village and feared death, envied his achievements and drove him to suicide!"

"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze—young as he was, carved a name as the Yellow Flash, sweeping through enemy lines and forcing other villages to issue standing orders: 'If encountered during a mission, abort immediately—no questions asked.'"

"And such a hero… in the end, died using the Reaper Death Seal to protect the village and seal the Nine-Tails."

"And what did Danzo do as a senior advisor of Konoha? He stood by and watched. He ordered Root to provide no support."

"Ha! Second Hokage—take a good look! These are your disciples!"

"Even sadder—the hero of the Fourth Hokage era, the Yellow Flash's own son, Naruto Uzumaki, was persecuted by Danzo and the Third. Scorned, left hungry, clothed in rags, raised in an orphanage, treated unfairly—and even the inheritance Minato left him was seized by the village!"

"And that's not all—what's most tragic, is that all the heroes who died in the Third Great Ninja War—after death, their property was confiscated by the village. Their children were sent to orphanages, left without even the most basic food or clothing."

"If not for the newly appointed Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Itachi, donating a hundred million ryo today—those kids might've starved to death!"

"Ha ha ha! So this is the so-called 'glorious era' spoken of by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo!"

The people of Konoha, upon hearing these anguished cries, were deeply moved as well.

It brought tears to those who heard it, sorrow to those who witnessed it.

Even the ANBU—usually emotionless—felt a wave of cold despair in their hearts.

Is this really the Konoha we risk our lives to protect?

"This glorious era, just as you wished"—how is it that the more we hear it, the more it stings?

The deeds of the Third Hokage and Danzo truly chilled the hearts of the people.