Konoha Village.
The streets were bustling with people, but every face showed signs of exhaustion.
Recalling the events of the past year:
First, the Uchiha clan defected, then the Nine-Tails rampaged.
Immediately after, war broke out with Kumogakure.
Not long after, the Allied Shinobi Forces, organized by the various daimyo, ended in failure.
After a series of events, both the shinobi and villagers of Konoha lived in great hardship.
Many toiled daily for their livelihood, yet even a full meal became a luxury.
They had never imagined that Konoha would one day fall to such a state.
Suddenly, several swirling vortexes appeared in the sky.
Immediately after, a large number of objects began to fall from the vortexes towards the ground.
The expressions of the Konoha villagers instantly turned to terror.
"Oh no, enemy attack!"
"They're explosive tags! Everyone, quick, take cover!"
"Help! I don't want to die yet..."
The villagers fell into a panic, clutching their heads and scattering in all directions.
But very quickly, they realized something was amiss.
The vortexes in the sky had vanished, and the expected explosions never occurred.
Many, curious, cautiously returned to the streets, only to discover that what had fallen from the sky were not explosive tags at all, but rather objects resembling letters.
"Strange, what's going on?"
"I don't know, is this some kind of village drill?"
"Everyone, look! These envelopes say 'Thank You Letter' on them!"
Seeing no danger, the Konoha villagers began to curiously pick up the envelopes from the ground.
The cover of each envelope bore the words "Thank You Letter."
This left everyone utterly bewildered.
All this trouble, just to deliver some thank you letters?
Even if they wanted to thank them, did they really need to write so many?
They were almost scared to death just now!
Filled with intense curiosity, the Konoha villagers began to open the envelopes on the ground.
The next second, their expressions immediately turned to anger.
Because these thank you letters were all written by those scoundrels from Kumogakure!
"Thank you, brothers of Konoha, for sending strong individuals like the Uchiha clan and Hatake Sakumo to our Kumogakure; you are truly good people..."
"You might not know this, but we used to be so poor in Kumogakure; many couldn't even eat their fill. But ever since the Uchiha clan came to our village, our Kumogakure has had so many mercenary missions that we can't even finish them all. Even with price increases, employers are lining up to snatch up slots. From this perspective, Konoha, you are truly our benefactors. I can't talk anymore, I have to go eat some yakiniku. Now I have eight small barbecue meals a day and I'm always stuffed to death, but there's nothing I can do, I have too much money to spend..."
"Brothers of Konoha, now that our Kumogakure has defeated the Allied Shinobi Forces, we are the strongest ninja village in the ninja world. But guess what? You lost ten thousand people, while we had no casualties. Achieving such a glorious record is, in the end, thanks to the Uchiha clan, whom you looked down upon. You know Uchiha Yuzuru, right? He killed several thousand of you with one strike. Hehehe..."
"Oh, and you might not know this, but the Uchiha clan actually has so many ninjutsu scrolls and training resources. They truly are a prestigious ninja clan. Every ninja in our Kumogakure has benefited greatly, and their strength has improved significantly..."
"Also, our Land of Lightning is undergoing infrastructure development. Roads, bridges, houses... all sorts of facilities are being built to be incredibly beautiful. We've really had our eyes opened. But don't worry, we don't have to pay a single penny; your reparations are more than enough..."
"Thinking about it now, if it weren't for your entire village rejecting the Uchiha clan, how could we be living such good lives now? Words cannot express our gratitude. If we ever meet again, we'd be willing to kowtow to you. For now, we can only write this thank you letter to express Kumogakure's gratitude to Konoha."
"Furthermore, we must especially thank Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. If it weren't for them constantly suppressing the Uchiha clan and seizing their property, the Uchiha clan would not have left Konoha. If it weren't for them pushing Hatake Sakumo out as a scapegoat, the White Fang, who shook the ninja world, would not have come to our Kumogakure. Such good people must live a long life! We hope they can always control the power of Konoha, otherwise, the ninjas of our other villages would be the first to disagree. Thanks again!"
"Almost forgot, my Uchiha brother asked me to tell you that after leaving Konoha, they found that there was no rain outside at all. Everyone treats them like treasures, and they are living very comfortably now. Don't worry."
"Finally, one question: since the people you disliked have left the village, you must be living happily now, right?"
"..."
Reading the contents of each thank you letter, the faces of the Konoha villagers turned crimson, filled with both shame and anger.
Many swayed unsteadily, nearly fainting on the spot from sheer rage.
Their lives used to be abundant, while the ninjas of Kumogakure struggled to eat and dress warmly.
But now, it was completely reversed: they starved three times for every nine meals, while those scoundrels from Kumogakure were feasting on barbecues!
In two wars, they had lost so many comrades, yet Kumogakure's ninjas had almost no casualties... Not only were their mercenary missions endless, but their large-scale infrastructure projects were even funded by reparations—money that each of their families had desperately scraped together!
And they even said they hoped Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura would live long lives and firmly hold Konoha's power, claiming that if they didn't support these people, they would be the first to object... What business is it of yours who we choose as Hokage?!
You just enjoy seeing these guys continue to harm us, don't you?
Finally, they even dared to ask if they were happy... Don't you scoundrels know if we're happy or not?
If Kumogakure were the ones dying, paying, and starving, would you be happy?
It's infuriating!
These scoundrels from Kumogakure are absolutely infuriating!
How is this any different from having a powerful attack launched right in their faces?
Life was already difficult enough, and now they had to endure face-to-face mockery... What sins had they committed to deserve this?!
But no matter how angry they were, the villagers of Konoha couldn't help but want to see what else the Kumogakure ninjas had written in the other envelopes.
And so, they read and cursed, and many even continued for an entire day and night.
It wasn't that they weren't tired; they were simply too frustrated to sleep.
When the sun rose again, the Konoha villagers' eyes were bloodshot, looking almost comparable to the Uchiha clan's Sharingan.
The most envious thing in the world is not that someone is doing better than you, but that someone you once looked down upon, who was by your side, now lives the life you've always dreamed of after leaving you, while your own life gets worse by the day... The streets of Konoha were still crowded, but an eerie silence had fallen.
After an unknown amount of time, someone spoke in a hoarse voice: "Do you think if we go apologize to the Uchiha now, they would be willing to come back?"
"Konoha was founded by the Uchiha clan; this is their home!"
No one answered him, because the truth was evident.
Unless the Uchiha clan had all gone mad, how could they possibly return to Konoha?
But that remark made the Konoha villagers all begin to wonder—
If the Uchiha clan hadn't left Konoha, would their lives have become like what the Kumogakure ninjas described in their thank you letters?
The answer was self-evident.
Because before the Uchiha clan left Konoha, they had already enjoyed the kind of life that the Kumogakure ninjas were now experiencing.
Their lives were stable, and they had no worries about food or drink.
All the changes that had occurred in Konoha Village now were inextricably linked to the departure of the Uchiha clan.
At this moment, the Konoha villagers began to regret; they finally realized that they seemed to have lost something incredibly important...