Chapter 82
Rebellion in the Shadows
During the time Zixu was away, a series of unpleasant incidents occurred in the village.
There would always be people in the world who lacked conviction—those who simply followed the crowd. When the decision they once supported didn't meet their expectations, they would lash out, blaming the ones who led the way while never once reflecting on their own choices.
Back when Zixu and Orochimaru were present, things remained under control. The ninja still played the role of decent people, knowing the consequences of defiance. But with Zixu gone and Orochimaru buried in his research, many discarded their pretense.
"Bah! Laughing and joking with those damn civilians every day—it's disgusting. Have they really forgotten who they are?" spat a middle-aged man with a thick beard and a deep cross-shaped scar on his forehead, so deep it exposed the bone. He sat in the shade of a tree, his expression one of sheer disdain.
A group of men and women surrounded him, laughing along. A few bore the red flame crest of the Hyuga clan on their backs.
"You're just lowly commoners. Do you really think you can stand as equals to us? Hah! What a joke. If things keep going like this, where are the rules? It's absurd! Ninjas are supposed to be superior," sneered another, his words met with nods of agreement.
Many among them regretted ever following Zixu. They had thought leaving Konoha meant freedom—an escape from strict rules, a life of indulgence. Some believed that as the so-called "founding fathers" of the village, they could simply live off their past glory, never having to work again.
But reality was far from their expectations. Here, they had to work. Hunt. Collaborate with civilians.
No more free meals. No more privileges. Worse yet, they were expected to help with farming. It was unbearable.
Some, especially among the Hyuga branch members, struggled to adapt. They had fled Konoha's oppression but still clung to their old hierarchy. Though deep down they knew their entitlement was misplaced, change did not come easily.