The scene displayed on the screen paused, but it once again shattered the perceptions of everyone in Konoha, and indeed, the entire Shinobi world.
The one who had volunteered as bait for his comrades was a member of the Uchiha Clan—the very clan branded as 'evil' by Konoha's leadership—while Shimura Danzō, the one who labelled them an evil clan, stood unharmed before everyone, having effectively sacrificed others.
How utterly ironic.
"Shimura Danzō, I never expected you to be such a coward, only knowing how to flee!"
"And this isn't the first time, from what I understand, is it?"
"He constantly claims willingness to sacrifice his life for Konoha, yet in the end, he's merely a coward who needs others to protect him!"
"And protected by a member of the Uchiha Clan, the very group he despises most. It's truly laughable!" the Fourth Raikage mocked.
The relentless sarcasm made Danzō feel too ashamed to face anyone.
At that time, Uchiha Kagami was considered the greatest genius of the Uchiha Clan. His death caused a significant stir. The Uchiha Clan demanded a proper explanation, but Danzō lied, claiming Kagami was killed by the enemy during the battle, covering up the fact that Kagami had sacrificed himself so Danzō and the others could escape.
"Danzō! You never told me the truth back then!" Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted him angrily.
...
You must understand, Uchiha Kagami was a shinobi who embodied the Will of Fire, transcending the boundaries between clan and village.
If Uchiha Kagami hadn't died, given his strength and standing within the Uchiha Clan, Konoha and the Uchiha could likely have coexisted much more harmoniously.
But Danzō's selfishness destroyed that possibility.
Hiruzen even suspected that if Kagami had lived, the Uchiha Clan might have avoided their eventual tragic fate of annihilation!
"Hiruzen! Everything I did was for Konoha's sake! If the truth came out, the Uchiha Clan would undoubtedly resent us!" Danzō argued.
"Hmph! As if I trust you!" Sarutobi Hiruzen retorted, displeased.
(T/N: Hiruzen priority list-
His clan>Kohona>Danzō)
Regardless, Sarutobi Hiruzen clearly possessed a greater sense of duty than Danzō at that moment; otherwise, he wouldn't have decisively volunteered when the Second Hokage suggested someone act as bait.
"Neither of you has room to talk now!" the Fourth Raikage spat disdainfully.
Since Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage, he was rarely seen on the front lines during the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars! He directed things from behind the scenes, letting the younger generation fight and die, even sending a twelve-year-old like Senju Nawaki to the battlefield.
Is that how a Kage should act?
"A true Kage stands at the forefront, protecting everyone behind them! They don't flinch, even facing tens of thousands of shinobi!"
"Isn't that right, Third Tsuchikage?" the Fourth Raikage asked with a smirk.
"Hmph!" Ōnoki grunted, clearly angered by the reminder. The Third Raikage had famously fought ten thousand of his Iwagakure shinobi for three days and three nights, killing thousands before finally dying of exhaustion. That event remains a sore spot for him, a painful memory he'd rather not revisit.
...
Meanwhile, the Konoha civilians gathered in the square were seeing the Uchiha Clan in a new light. In just a short time, watching the screen, they witnessed the strength of the Uchiha Clan and the noble character of individual members like Kagami—aspects they'd never been told about. In their minds, the Uchiha Clan had always been portrayed as violent, ruthless, cold, arrogant, and callous. But now, they were realizing that history is often written by the victors, and perhaps the Uchiha were simply the losers in Konoha's internal conflicts.
...
Suddenly, the screen switched again.
[Under the cover of night, a one-eyed Mist Shinobi led his subordinates, racing towards the Land of Fire.]
[Suddenly, two of his subordinates behind him collapsed, crying out in agony!]
["An illusion? But when...?" Ao muttered, sweat beading on his forehead.]
[Activating his stolen eye, he scanned ahead. "Byakugan!"]
[Several hundred meters away, he spotted four Konoha shinobi. One of them had a green Chakra flaring within his eyes, looking at them coldly.]
["Retreat!"]
[''But Captain...'']
[''That's Konoha's renowned Shunshin user, Uchiha Shisui! We're no match for him. Fall back!'']
[Reluctantly, the remaining two Kiri ninja helped their comrades affected by the genjutsu and retreated swiftly.]
[Meanwhile, Shisui remarked calmly, "That should keep the Mist shinobi away for a while."]
...
Silence fell upon the scene.
As the shinobi featured in the embarrassing retreat, Ao felt deeply ashamed. He couldn't believe his most humiliating moment was being broadcast for all to see, like flogging a dead horse.
"Ao, your decision to retreat was decisive and correct," Terumī Mei reassured him, offering praise instead of blame.
"Lady Mizukage, I..." Ao felt like crying but couldn't. He hadn't wanted to run, but they were facing Uchiha Shisui!
"Wow, he's so cool!" Ino sighed.
Shisui's prowess displayed in these scenes had captured the hearts of many kunoichi.
Who wouldn't want to be associated with such a powerful and seemingly noble shinobi?
Sadly, he was already dead.
And how did he die? Could someone so powerful truly have been killed by an enemy?
...
(T/N:Tsk~ Who gonna tell Ino about that, Heh!)