MM Racing Chapter 11 Konoha's Crisis of Trust
Chapter 11 Konoha's Crisis of Trust
At this time of day, the streets are usually already bustling with activity.
Early risers would set up their stalls, and groups of children would run past on their way to the ninja academy, carrying rice balls they had just bought.
Today is different; the atmosphere is a bit eerie, and the streets are very quiet.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed open the side door of the Hokage Building.
He changed into casual clothes and was holding a new pipe.
This is a habit he has maintained for decades.
Every morning, he would take a walk around the village, greet the villagers, buy them some breakfast, and show the Naruto's approachable side.
He went out into the street.
Several vendors who were cleaning in front of the shop saw him.
If it were yesterday, these people would have immediately stopped what they were doing, put on a big smile, and greeted the Third Generation Lord with a "Good morning."
Now, the vendors saw the familiar figures and felt a little awkward.
Then the roller shutter was pulled down, and the shop closed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's raised hand froze in mid-air.
Before I could even smile, I was turned away.
He could only pretend nothing was wrong and continue walking forward.
A patrol of ninjas, the Uchiha Police Force, approached from ahead.
In the past, the Uchiha clan always walked the streets with their heads held high, looking down on people.
The villagers feared them and loathed them.
This Uchiha team is different today.
Leading the group was Uchiha Tetsuka.
He didn't scold passersby with a stern face as he usually did.
He stood ramrod straight, his expression calm, even tinged with a sense of tragic grandeur.
Several bolder villagers gathered around.
"Um... officers of the security force," an old man selling vegetables asked, mustering his courage, "Was what was shown on the sky last night... real? Are the higher-ups really going to kill you all?"
Tiehu stopped and glanced at the old man, but did not get angry.
"The truth is right there." Tetsuka's voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear. "The Uchiha clan shed blood for the village. We never thought of betraying them. It's just that someone couldn't tolerate us."
"So...they don't even spare the children?" an elderly woman holding her grandson asked tremblingly.
Tie Huo's eyes dimmed slightly, but then became firm again.
"If it weren't for that shopkeeper, the clan chief's son would have died last night."
After finishing his speech, Tiehuo led his team to continue their patrol.
They walked past Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He was too lazy to bow or greet anyone, and didn't even glance at the Hokage.
At this point, I felt like it was a good thing I didn't beat this old guy up; why was he even greeting me?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand gripping the pipe became even more unnatural; how dare these people ignore him, the Hokage?
This means that the Uchiha clan has completely severed any remaining reverence for the Hokage Building.
The surrounding villagers began to whisper among themselves.
"It seems it's true..."
"The Uchiha clan is so pitiful."
"Let's stay away from the Hokage Building from now on, who knows who'll be next."
These sounds reached Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears.
He quickened his pace.
This street, which I've walked for decades, now feels so unfamiliar.
A corner of the commercial street.
This is the liveliest place in the entire Hidden Leaf Village.
The once quiet alley is now packed with people.
The doors of the Illusionary Dojo were tightly closed, and a long queue had formed outside.
The composition of the people queuing was extremely diverse.
There were ordinary people, most of whom were there out of curiosity to see what the magical shop that could play movies on a dome looked like.
There are also ninjas from various clans.
Several members of the Hyuga clan stood under the shade of a tree, veins bulging around their Byakugan, trying to see through the illusions inside the shop.
The members of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans gathered together to discuss the intelligence gathered the previous night.
There are also spies from major countries who have infiltrated Konoha. They usually wear civilian clothes and are no different from ordinary people.
The commotion last night was so great that it couldn't be contained at all, and various factions are now investigating.
"Open the door, manager!"
"What time is it? Why aren't you open yet?"
"We want to see the truth!"
Several ordinary people crowded at the front, banging on the shop door.
They lacked reverence for the world of ninjas; in their eyes, it was more like a newly opened entertainment venue.
I came expecting to see a movie.
"Don't push! You're stepping on my foot!"
"Excuse me! I'm from Daming Prefecture!"
The situation briefly spiraled out of control.
The security detail was not responsible for maintaining order.
The Uchiha clan simply stood on the periphery and watched coldly, showing no intention of intervening.
The sound of the door lock turning rang out. The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
The door opened, and Roy came out.
He was wearing a simple black long gown and holding his signature teacup.
He frowned as he looked at the dense crowd outside the door.
This is so noisy, it's impossible for anyone to get any sleep.
He opened the shop to collect Destiny Points, as well as to earn ninjutsu and resources.
It's not for opening a vegetable market.
"Boss! I want to see that dome!"
"Give me a ticket!"
"I want to play that dungeon too!"
Several civilians in the front row waved the banknotes in their hands, ready to rush in.
Roy glanced at the group of people, and an invisible pressure descended upon them.
The person at the very front buckled at the knees and knelt directly on the ground.
The crowd behind them slammed on the brakes, and terrified screams erupted.
Everyone remembered the scene last night when the Root ninjas all knelt down.
"This is not an amusement park."
"This is a training ground, a place for cultivation, and even more so, a place where one faces life and death."
He hung a wooden board on the doorknob.
He also didn't forget to write two lines of text.
[Open today.]
[Non-ninjas, please proceed with caution; poor people, please stay away.]
The crowd erupted in uproar.
"What do you mean? Are you looking down on ordinary people? Do you think we're poor?"
"We have money! Why can't we come in?"
Roy pointed to the few people kneeling on the ground. These people were still a bit unconvinced and wanted to argue with Roy.
The pressure vanished instantly.
The men scrambled to their feet, their legs still trembling.
"It must be stated that if an ordinary person enters a dungeon, nine times out of ten they will die."
Roy's tone was flat.
"The pain, the experience of death, and the murderous aura of the ninjas there are all real."
"Without the protection of chakra, your minds will collapse instantly, turning you into idiots."
These words sent chills down the spines of the civilians present.
Turn into an idiot?
My initial enthusiasm for joining in the fun instantly cooled down.
Roy's gaze passed over the civilians and fell upon the ninjas mixed in with the crowd behind him.
"As for ninjas."
"Our store operates on a membership system."
"A regular membership card costs 100,000 taels. It only allows you to experience the basic training grounds."
"VIP membership card requires payment of C-rank or higher ninjutsu mastery, or an equivalent amount of chakra infusion."
"Supreme VIP requires an S-rank forbidden technique or a bloodline limit factor."
Roy held up three fingers.
"Want to know the secrets of the future? Want to change your inevitable fate?"
"Then show some sincerity."
Everyone present gasped in shock.
100,000 taels? Why don't you just rob someone?
This is the entire reward for a B-level mission.
For an ordinary Chunin, this is almost half a year's savings.
Do you also want ninjutsu tips? Bloodline limit?
This feels like making money faster than robbery.
"That's too expensive!"
"Exactly, who would spend so much money on an illusion?"
Discontented murmurs arose from the crowd.
Roy smiled.
"expensive?"
"Do you know how much Sasuke Uchiha spent last night?"
The entire room fell silent.
"He used a C-rank ninjutsu to save the lives of his entire clan."
"How much do you think your lives are worth?"
No one spoke; this logic was impeccable.
If we could truly foresee the future, if we could truly change our inevitable fate of death.
Let alone 100,000 taels, some people would be willing to give up their entire fortune.
"Get out of the way."
A lazy voice rang out.
Genma Shiranui walked out with a senbon needle in his mouth.
He pulled a bulging money bag from his pocket and slapped it into Roy's hand.
"100,000 taels, I want to open a card."
He was a witness to last night's events.
He witnessed the sky at Ichiraku Ramen, and the breathtaking scene kept him awake all night.
As a special Jonin, he had been stuck at a bottleneck for a long time.
If this place can truly provide a test of life and death...
"A wise choice."
Roy put away his money pouch and handed Genma Shiranui a white card.
"Who else?"
"I!"
"I want to do it too!"
With someone taking the lead, the ninjas who were still observing could no longer sit still.
The Hyuga clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio emerged.
There were even a few unfamiliar faces who were wrapped up tightly and pushed their way forward.
Roy looked at the ever-increasing money pouches and ninjutsu scrolls in his hands, and his smile became more genuine.
Business is coming in.
Hokage Building.
The office curtains were drawn tightly shut.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in a chair, his eyes heavily puffed up.
He didn't sleep all night.
The crystal ball displayed the grand scene at the entrance of the Illusionary Dojo.
Seeing the ninjas who were usually so respectful to him now scrambling to give money and ninjutsu to the mysterious shopkeeper, Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a terrible mood.
"Hiruzen!"
Xiaochun, who was turning over to her room, pushed open the door and entered.
The senior advisor's face was contorted with anger as he slammed his cane heavily on the floor.
"What are you doing? Why haven't you sealed off that store yet?"
Mitokado Yan followed behind, his face equally gloomy.
"That shop owner is openly collecting Konoha ninjutsu! He's undermining the village's foundation! It must be shut down immediately! Arrest him and take him to the interrogation department!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head.
Looking at my two old friends.
"Grasp?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed to the crystal ball.
"Danzo led dozens of Root elites to capture him last night. And what happened?"
"They all knelt down."
"Danzo is still lying in the Root's medical room; his jaw is broken."
The two advisors were speechless.
They also saw the intelligence from last night.
The ability to suppress dozens of ninjas instantly without needing to form hand seals—who among you has ever heard of such a thing before?
Even if we send someone, are we confident in our ability to succeed?
"We can't just let this go unchecked!" Koharu Utatane said sternly. "What if he releases any more footage that's detrimental to the village? What if he sells Konoha's secrets to enemy countries?"
"Shutting down shops now will only incite public anger."
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples.
"The Uchiha clan has already declared that anyone who touches that shop will be going to war with them."
"The villagers also regarded that place as a sacred place to uncover the truth."
"Forcing it will only alienate everyone."
"Then what should we do? Just watch?" Mitokado asked.
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the corner of the office.
In the shadows stood a silver-haired figure.
Kakashi Hatake.
Kakashi has been standing guard in this corner since last night.
He did not ask about White Fang or the Uchiha clan.
But his aura had changed, becoming colder and more distant.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that Kakashi also had doubts.
The cause of his father's death, and justice in the village.
We must keep him calm.
We also need to find out the details about that shop owner.
"Kakashi."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.
"Your subordinate is here."
"I'm giving you a task."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and walked to the window.
"Remove your ANBU gear and change into civilian clothes."
"Go to that store in your own name."
"Let's experience what a dungeon is like."
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and stared into Kakashi's eyes.
"I need to know what's there."
"I want to know what the source of the mysterious shopkeeper's power is."
"besides……"
Hiruzen Sarutobi paused for a moment.
"See if there are any records about your father, Hatake Sakumo."
This is a risky move.
If Kakashi discovers a truth inside that is detrimental to the higher-ups, he might completely defect.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice.
In the entire Anbu, only Kakashi possesses the Sharingan, enabling him to see through the essence of genjutsu.
Only Kakashi's strength would allow him to escape unscathed in the event of an accident.
Furthermore, Hiruzen Sarutobi bets on Kakashi's bond with the village.
Kakashi, who could abandon his comrades for the sake of a mission, has stood before the memorial stone for over a decade.
Overall, it should still be under control.
Kakashi remained silent for a long time, so long that Koharu, who was about to switch dorms, was about to get angry.
"Yes."
Kakashi finally responded, and his figure vanished instantly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's unease grew stronger and stronger.