Chapter 194: Public Opinion Erupts
Knock, knock, knock...
It was still early morning when a knock sounded at the door of the Sarutobi Clan residence.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had only fallen asleep in the middle of the night, was jolted awake. His wife, Biwako, was still sound asleep beside him.
Grumbling, he threw on a coat and made his way to the door.
A masked Ninja stood before him.
"What is it?" Hiruzen asked, his voice edged with irritation. His face showed signs of exhaustion, and his patience was already wearing thin from the poor night's rest.
"Lord Hokage, it's bad," the Anbu Ninja said urgently. "A large number of villagers have gathered in front of the Hokage building, demanding an explanation from you. More villagers are still arriving. You should come and take a look."
Hiruzen's sleepiness evaporated as alarm set in. "What explanation?" he asked, his tone sharper.
"It's the same rumor as before," the Anbu explained quickly. "They're saying that because you didn't go to war, many lives were lost. This time, the crowd is much larger, and they're demanding a reasonable explanation."
The Ninja's concise explanation spared him Hiruzen's temper, but the news was still troubling.
"No force is to be used. Notify Counsellor Homura. I'll be there immediately," Hiruzen said firmly. While frustrated, he wasn't reckless enough to suppress the situation with violence. He turned back to change into his Hokage robes.