The Cause of White Fang's Death—Revealed!
Seeing the Second Hokage's explosive reaction, Icheng suppressed his laughter and continued speaking in the group chat.
[Konoha Salted Fish]: This matter is indeed related to Sarutobi Hiruzen, but hear me out first!
[Konoha Salted Fish]: There was something suspicious about White Fang's mission failure!
[Senju Tobirama]: Did he make a mistake during the mission?
[Konoha Salted Fish]: The problem isn't the mission itself but what happened afterward.
[Konoha Salted Fish]: A failed mission is usually classified information. So why did the entire village know about it? Don't you find that strange?
[Hatake Kakashi]: Admin-sama… are you saying the Third Hokage deliberately spread the news?
[Konoha's White Fang]: That's impossible! Why would Lord Third do such a thing?
[Konoha Salted Fish]: Why would he do it? You really don't know?
[Konoha's White Fang]: I… should I know?
[Konoha Salted Fish]: White Fang of Konoha—one man who frightened Sunagakure during the Third Great Ninja War! You were even seen wearing Hokage half-sleeves, a symbol of leadership! Your reputation was immense!
[Konoha's White Fang]: Hokage half-sleeves? No, no, that wasn't Hokage attire!
[Uchiha Madara]: You may not have considered it Hokage attire, but others certainly did!
[Uchiha Izuna]: Big brother is right!
[Konoha's White Fang]: So… what does this have to do with my death?
[Uchiha Madara]: Hahaha! It's simple—the higher you rise, the more you threaten those in power.
[Konoha's White Fang]: …??
[Konoha Salted Fish]: Exactly! Given your prestige, if Konoha were to choose the next Hokage, you would be the obvious choice!
[Uchiha Izuna]: But someone with your personality would be difficult to control, wouldn't they?
[Senju Hashirama]: Why do you say that?
[Uchiha Izuna]: If he were easily controlled, he would've become the Fourth Hokage instead of being driven to suicide!
[Konoha Salted Fish]: That's right! If White Fang could have been controlled, the position of Fourth Hokage wouldn't have gone to Namikaze Minato!
[Namikaze Minato]: …Indeed. At that time, Senior White Fang had more prestige than I did.
[Konoha Salted Fish]: So, the Third Hokage needed a successor he could influence—someone like Namikaze Minato.
[Konoha Salted Fish]: But there was a problem. Minato's reputation wasn't as high as the Sannin or White Fang's. The Sannin had left the village, but White Fang remained!
[Hatake Kakashi]: So… are you saying the Third Hokage orchestrated my father's downfall?
Uchiha Fugaku: Don't say it… This fits Sarutobi Hiruzen's character too well!
Fourth Raikage, A (Ay): You Konoha shinobi are really something else. All this scheming—just for the Hokage's seat?
Senju Tobirama: Hmph! Unlike your Cloud Village, where the Raikage's position is simply handed down, we hold a higher standard.
Third Raikage: Heh! Maybe so, but tell me, what kind of "high standard" leads to the deaths of two of Konoha's greatest heroes just to keep the Hokage's seat?
Fourth Kazekage, Rasa: Huh? Two? Who are you referring to?
Third Raikage: Who else? Namikaze Minato! Are you sure Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't just let him die on purpose?
Senju Tobirama: Third Raikage, don't spout nonsense!
Third Raikage: Nonsense? Then tell me—how did Namikaze Minato die?
Fourth Raikage, A (Ay): Sealing the Nine-Tails. I already mentioned this before!
Third Raikage: If Minato could do it, why couldn't Sarutobi Hiruzen?
Senju Tobirama: Minato used the Reaper Death Seal, a Forbidden Jutsu. The Monkey (Sarutobi Hiruzen) wouldn't have known this technique!
Konoha Salted Fish: He did know it!!
Senju Tobirama: ? ? ? How would I not know this?! ? ?
Konoha Salted Fish: You've been dead for decades—how would you know what happened after your time?
Third Raikage: This is hilarious. So Hiruzen knew the Reaper Death Seal, yet a 20-year-old had to sacrifice himself instead? If he was really the "Professor" of Ninjutsu, wouldn't it have made more sense for him to seal the Nine-Tails?
Third Raikage: By the way, Fourth Hokage, what was Sarutobi Hiruzen doing while you were fighting the Nine-Tails?
Namikaze Minato: …Changing his clothes.
Third Raikage: ? ? ? He had time to change clothes?!!
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Seeing the conversation shift back to Namikaze Minato's death, Icheng's eyelid twitched.
These guys—like real detectives—could piece together an entire conspiracy from the smallest clues. Maybe that's just the caliber of Kage-level minds.
Even someone like the Third Raikage, who seemed straightforward and battle-hardened, had such a sharp mind!