"That's complete nonsense! Our Uchiha clan is nothing like that!"
A young Uchiha suddenly stepped forward from the crowd and shouted angrily at Sarutobi Asuma.
Everyone knew the truth.
When the fighting in the Land of Water began, it was almost entirely the Uchiha who were holding the front lines.
If reinforcements had not arrived in time, they might never have returned.
Even so, the Uchiha clan had forced the enemy to pay a far heavier price.
On the battlefield, when Uchiha shinobi witnessed their brothers fall before their eyes, nearly all of them awakened the Sharingan.
With the boost granted by the Sharingan, they had barely managed to hold their ground against enemies several times their number until reinforcements arrived.
And now—
Their sacrifices were being mocked.
How could anyone endure that?
"That's right!"
Other Uchiha members stepped forward, their voices filled with anger.
"Hahaha," Sarutobi Asuma laughed coldly."You're all Uchiha. Of course you'll speak for yourselves. Do you really think everyone here will believe you?"
"How could they not believe it?" the young Uchiha snapped back."Everyone saw how desperately we fought!"
He turned sharply toward a ninja who had once fought back-to-back with him in the Land of Water.
"You were there. You know exactly how the Uchiha fought with their lives! How did it suddenly become 'hiding behind others and stealing credit'?"
The man did not speak up for the Uchiha.
Instead, he replied indifferently.
"Really? I don't know."
Silence fell.
One side was the Uchiha clan, who enforced the law within the village and had long been resented.
The other side was the son of the Third Hokage, the center of attention.
It was obvious who most people would choose to support.
The Uchiha members looked toward other former comrades who had once fought alongside them.
But all they saw were cold, distant eyes.
Despair crept into their hearts.
They had always spoken bluntly, yes—
But they had done nothing wrong.
They had only enforced Konoha's laws.
So why…
Why were even the achievements they earned with their lives being denied?
"Do I even need to say more?" Sarutobi Asuma sneered, looking at the crowd."The Uchiha rose to fame with tricks like these. It's honestly disgraceful."
His smile grew more arrogant as he spoke louder, stirring emotions.
"So this is the true face of the Uchiha clan! I used to think they were just arrogant—but I never imagined they were thieves who stole their comrades' military achievements!"
"That's right!" someone shouted."I always thought the Uchiha were just misunderstood. But now that so many people are exposing them, it turns out they really are despicable!"
"I propose that the Hokage strip the Uchiha clan of their authority! How can villains like this hold such power?!"
"Yes! We demand the Hokage revoke the Uchiha clan's authority!"
Voices piled on voices.
One accusation led to another.
Soon, more and more people joined in condemning the Uchiha.
Even trivial matters from daily life were dragged out and exaggerated.
"Did you know? Once an Uchiha didn't even throw trash into the bin!"
"So that's proof they're villains!"
Others eagerly added their own so-called "memories," piling insults onto the clan.
"Anything else you want to say?"Sarutobi Asuma looked provocatively at the Uchiha group, his eyes filled with mockery.
The Uchiha members felt rage surge in their chests—
Yet they couldn't release it.
"Hmph."
A cold snort rang out.
Uchiha Ryu stepped forward.
In an instant, he pushed through the crowd and appeared directly in front of Sarutobi Asuma.
"You—"
Asuma felt his vision blur.
Before he could react, a pale hand rapidly expanded in his pupils.
Pah!
A sharp, resounding slap echoed across the square.
Everyone froze.
A deep red handprint appeared on Sarutobi Asuma's left cheek.
Crack!
The sound of bones twisting rang out in the sudden silence.
"You—!"
Asuma turned his head, raising a finger toward Ryu—
Pah!
Another slap landed.
A second red handprint bloomed on his right cheek.
Ryu didn't stop.
He raised his hand again.
Pah! Pah! Pah!
Three crisp slaps rang out in succession.
Asuma's face was now swollen and crimson, resembling a pig's head.
Ryu lifted his hand again.
"Stop—!"
A shout came from the side, but it was too late.
Pah!
The slap landed.
"Uchiha Ryu! Are you bullying people just because you can?!"
The ninja who had earlier sided with Asuma rushed forward, shouting angrily.
Pah!
Ryu ignored him completely.
Another slap struck Asuma.
"Damn it!"
Seeing persuasion fail, the man cursed inwardly and charged at Ryu.
After all—
Asuma was the Third Hokage's son.
If he helped him now, he might gain access to a B-rank ninjutsu and rise to elite genin status.
Even his future children could benefit.
At that moment, he completely ignored the rumors about Uchiha Ryu's terrifying strength.
Ryu didn't even glance at him.
He raised his hand again.
"Stop!"
The man reached Ryu in a few steps and grabbed his arm.
Pah!
The slap still landed on Asuma's face.
The man holding Ryu's arm suddenly found himself airborne.
His mind went blank.
Then—
A terrifying force dragged him downward.
The crowd scattered in panic.
Bang!
The man crashed heavily onto the stone pavement.
His body slammed brutally against the ground.
"What's going on here?!"