The Trial Begins, White Fang's Practice!
After taking Sarutobi Hiruzen back to Kakashi, the father and son exchanged a meaningful glance before heading straight back to the village.
Meanwhile, Kaito ended the live broadcast, leaving the audience a little unsatisfied.
[Fourth Raikage, A]: Why didn't you just kill Sarutobi Hiruzen? Why are you still keeping him alive?
[Third Tsuchikage, Ohnogi]: You don't understand, do you? White Fang went through so much back then; how could he just kill him so easily?
[Fourth Kazekage, Rasa]: You mean, White Fang is going to torture him?
[Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei]: Probably not. I guess he'll bring Sarutobi Hiruzen back and hold a village meeting.
[Fourth Raikage, A]: A village meeting? What for?
[Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei]: To criticize Sarutobi Hiruzen. Expose all the terrible things he did and make sure his reputation stinks for ten thousand years!
[Fourth Raikage, A]: Doesn't everyone already know what he did?
[Uchiha Izuna]: That's different. What you see in the group isn't the same as what you see in real life.
[Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei]: Exactly, drag him out in public, expose him, maybe someone will throw rotten eggs at him.
[Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei]: If it were me, I'd make him kneel before the graves of all the Hokage and the fallen heroes, and apologize to them.
[Senju Tobirama]: Heh~ The most poisonous woman's heart!
[Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei]: What did you say!?
[Uzumaki Kushina]: I'm pretending I didn't hear that!
[Tsunade]: Second Grandpa!?
[Uchiha Mikoto]: Nidaime, isn't that a bit too much?
[Senju Tobirama]: Cough, my bad. I misspoke.
[Senju Hashirama]: I'm laughing so hard, Tobirama, looks like you finally got your comeuppance!
[Senju Tobirama]: Big Brother... you really are something!
[Konoha Salted Fish]: Goodness, I haven't been here for a while, and you guys are already at it?
[Konoha's White Fang]: Thank you, Administrator, for your help this time. If you need anything in the future, just let me know!
[Hatake Kakashi]: Thank you, Administrator, for helping my father avenge his past. But in the future, I'll handle things personally, so I can't refuse!
[Konoha Salted Fish]: Hands up, everyone! Raise your hands!
Kaito read the messages from White Fang and Kakashi in the group, smiling as he added a few more thugs to his roster.
It was late at night, and Kaito didn't plan to stay out any longer. He used space ninjutsu to return home and prepared to sleep.
The night passed quietly, but early the next morning, Kaito woke up to loud noises outside.
"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?"
Kaito walked out of the room and grabbed a passerby, feigning confusion.
"Ah! Don't you know? Kakashi-sensei and White Fang-sama have returned with the Third Hokage."
"We're in the Hokage Building now, preparing to hold a public trial where the people of Konoha will judge the Third Hokage's actions!"
The passerby quickly ran off towards the Hokage Building, blending into the growing crowd.
"Oh! So it's starting soon? I'll have to go and watch the spectacle!" Kaito muttered, turning towards the Hokage Building. He then went inside to freshen up before heading out.
After washing up and getting dressed, Kaito made his way directly to the Hokage Building.
As he approached the scene, he spotted Kakashi and White Fang standing on the high platform. In front of them knelt Sarutobi Hiruzen, his wife, and son, bound and humiliated. Surrounding them were more people from the Sarutobi clan, all bound by rope, kneeling in the same position.
Kaito didn't recognize all the faces, but the family crest on their clothing clearly identified them as members of the Sarutobi clan. It seemed that after returning the previous day, Kakashi and White Fang hadn't paused for a moment. Instead, they had gone straight to the Sarutobi clan compound to bring this reckoning.
Kaito wondered what the two were planning—whether they intended to completely wipe out the Sarutobi clan or simply punish those who had wronged them.
On the high platform, White Fang glanced at the crowd below, his eyes cold. He stepped forward slowly and addressed the gathered villagers.
"The people of Konoha, you must all know me, and you know why I stand here today."
"That's right. I am here for vengeance. My goal today is to judge Sarutobi Hiruzen and the entire Sarutobi clan for their betrayal and crimes!"
The crowd erupted in exclamations. Most of the commoners seemed to support White Fang, their faces filled with approval. However, there were also murmurs of dissent. A few people, especially from powerful families such as Shimura Danzō's faction, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura, wore concerned expressions. They didn't want to see Sarutobi Hiruzen fall.