Chapter 426 Prepare for the worst?

Done! !

At this moment, these two words were the only ones left in the Third Hokage's mind.

He couldn't imagine what he would face if the things in the scroll had spread in the village.

Not only him, but also Utane Koharu, Mito Kado En, Shimura Danzo, and the families behind them.

No one can escape, no matter what.

"Hiruzen, what happened?"

The Third Hokage's reaction after reading the scroll seemed a bit too big. Utatane Koharu subconsciously bent down to pick up the scroll, but when her eyes swept over the scroll, her whole body froze.

Mizuto Menen tilted his head to take a look, and although he only saw the words "misappropriation of funds" in large letters, he already understood that the Third Hokage's misappropriation of the village's financial funds had been exposed.

Once the villagers know about this, everyone present will become a sinner in the village.

"Someone is coming!!!"

After a brief moment of shock, the Third Hokage came to his senses and shouted.

"Hokage-sama."

The Hokage's guards rushed into the office.

"Notify the Hokage's guards immediately. Also, send someone to notify the police department and ask them to cooperate with you to disperse all those who are protesting against the war outside. If they are unwilling to leave..."

The Third Hokage had a gloomy face and said, "Catch them all and interrogate them one by one."

"........."

Do you really want to do this?

The Hokage's guards were completely stunned.

If the protesting villagers were dispersed, once the matter became a big deal, it would have a great impact on the reputation of the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage had remained silent the whole time and did not disperse these people because he was afraid that it would affect his own reputation.

"Why, do I need to say it a second time?"

Seeing that the Hokage's guards were stunned, the Third Hokage's tone became cold.

He certainly knew that dispersing the protesting villagers would affect his reputation.

But does he dare not disperse them?

Someone has already spread the news in the village that he embezzled the village's financial funds for his family's use. If these people are allowed to gather together, who knows what kind of trouble will arise.

Even if his reputation would be affected, the Third Hokage had to cut the Gordian knot, disperse the crowd, and then investigate, arrest, and interrogate them one by one.

Find out who spread the news and who planned the conspiracy.

If he doesn't act quickly, once the news spreads, Sarutobi Hiruzen will be ruined.

By then it won't just be a matter of damaged reputation. He might not even be able to become Hokage.

If a small minority of a village is against you, your position is stable.

When there are a lot of people in the village who oppose you, you will face more and more doubts.

When everyone is against you, you will have to move on from the position of Hokage.

"Yes!! Hokage-sama."

The Hokage's guards reacted, quickly agreed, and left the Hokage's office as quickly as possible.

"Damn it, who on earth did this? Is he trying to overthrow Konoha's high-ranking officials? Such a vicious plot."

As soon as Utane Koharu opened her mouth, Tsunade started rolling her eyes.

How dare you say that?

Don’t you know what you have done?

"Tsunade, has the Anbu started investigating the suspects?"

The Third Hokage didn't care about Utane Koharu's complaints, nor did he want Utane Koharu to complain, to prevent this old woman, who was always causing trouble but could not do anything good, from saying something offensive.

Hearing this, Tsunade sat on the sofa, crossed her arms over her chest, and answered unhappily:

"Jingyi gave me the information and asked me to deliver it to the Hokage's office, which means that the Anbu has begun to investigate. You can rest assured about this. Although he and you are not on good terms, it is only because of a dispute caused by certain people and certain things."

The Third Hokage was worried that Shizuka was behind this matter and that the Anbu would not help.

Once Jingyi's shadow is behind him, and once the Anbu does nothing, he will be in big trouble.

Fortunately, Tsunade gave him some reassurance.

The conflict between Jingyi and you is because of certain people and certain things, and does not involve other things. The Anbu will also cooperate with the investigation and will not hinder it.

"That's good."

The Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief.

Tsunade sneered, crossed her legs, and sneered:

"Sure, old man, you are already suspecting Jingyi. Don't you think about it yourself? If Jingyi really wants to do this, why would he wait until now?

And the news was spread in the village. Wouldn't it be better to spread it from outside?"

"Ahem! That's not what I meant."

The Third Hokage was embarrassed: "Tsunade, don't worry, I don't doubt Jingyi, and he doesn't need to do this."

Tsunade was right. If Shizuka really wanted to do such a thing, he would not spread the news in the village because it was meaningless and would make people suspect him. He would just spread it outside.

If you spread it in the village, there is a risk of being intercepted and suppressed. If you spread it outside, when these bad things spread throughout the entire ninja world, can you, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stop it?

"You'd better keep your word."

Tsunade was too lazy to listen to this bullshit. Her credibility with the Third Hokage was decreasing:

"In short, you three, no, and Shimura Danzo, you all need to be mentally prepared and make plans for the worst. Since someone has deliberately sent people to infiltrate the villagers to spread such news, it means that the other party has already got some leverage over you."

Speaking of this, Tsunade got angry and couldn't help but curse:

"You have the ability to embezzle the village's financial funds, but you are incapable of cleaning up the mess. Old man, you really disappoint me."

The Third Hokage could only accept the scolding from Tsunade helplessly. Utane Koharu and Mito Kado En dared not say a word, for fear that Tsunade would direct her anger at them.

After all, he is also a beneficiary.

Worst case scenario... The Third Hokage frowned deeply.

What's the worst case scenario?

Can't become Hokage?

Or become the sinner of the village?

I'm afraid it will be both.

When something happened to Shimura Danzo, he could still cover it up, but once these things were confirmed, no one would help him, Sarutobi Hiruzen, to cover it up.

"Xiaochun, go inform the elders and clan leaders of several families and ask them to come to the Hokage's office."

The Third Hokage had not made up his mind before, but now he had no choice as a bigger thing had happened. The Third Hokage decided to select a group of ninjas from the Sarutobi and Shimura families to cooperate with the Sand Village to attack the Iwagakure and make as many contributions as possible.

When things break out to the point where they cannot be reversed, merits and demerits can offset some of the impact.

"it is good."

Utane Koharu wanted to fly away from the Hokage's office. She didn't want to stay in this damn place for a moment longer.

It was so uncomfortable, Tsunade was staring at them as if they were criminals.

Utatane Koharu has been unhappy for a long time, but she can only bear it. If she wants to explode, she lacks the confidence and may be scolded by Tsunade. If the situation gets out of hand, she may even be labeled as the village's criminal.

So it’s better to leave as soon as possible and leave these matters to the Third Hokage.

Tsunade will at least give the Third Hokage some face.

"Men Yan, the war depends on you."

The Third Hokage looked at Mito Kado En meaningfully, reminding him, old friend, we need to perform meritorious deeds as soon as possible and eliminate the influences that are unfavorable to us.

"it is good."

Mitomon En also knew these principles, so he did not refuse and accepted the appointment to lead the ninja troops to the battlefield.

It's just the right time to avoid the whirlpool of public opinion in the village.