The last voice faded, and a young man with spiky brown hair and brown eyes emerged. He wore a dark green jumpsuit, strikingly similar to Uzumaki Naruto's.
Sarutobi Funari perked up at the sight, the dejected slump in his shoulders vanishing. "Nawaki!" he cried, pointing towards Aizen with a pout worthy of a kicked puppy. "That guy with the glasses, Aizen, bullied me before! I haven't dared to leave my house for weeks!"
That's right, this was Senju Nawaki, the original Senju who was Hollowfied during the Second Shinobi World War, and the grandson of the First Hokage!
"You're Senju Nawaki, heir to the Senju clan. What a coincidence. I was hoping to speak with you. As a descendant of the First Hokage, shouldn't you defend your classmates from bullies like him? Are you telling me, a direct bloodline of the Senju, that you condone such behavior?"
Aizen's words, delivered with a righteous air, were clearly meant to manipulate the bystanders. Both Funari and Nawaki were caught off guard, speechless for a moment.
Nawaki, overwhelmed, stammered, "I-I..." This wasn't how things were supposed to go! He came to help his younger brother, not to appear like the aggressor.
Aizen, with a masterful use of Genjutsu in the form of public perception, had effectively pinned Nawaki as an uncaring Senju who neglected his fellow villagers. Nawaki, flustered, tried to defend himself, "Nonsense! He was the one who bullied Funari, and I'm here to stand up for him! We would never bully our own people!"
"Nonsense? Ask any student here! Everyone knows Funari's reputation for bullying. He clearly picked on my friend, and I simply intervened. Now you claim I'm the aggressor? The tables have truly turned, haven't they? Is this the conduct befitting the grandson of the First Hokage?" Aizen feigned disappointment, shaking his head dramatically.
With Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Fugaku, and Senju Nawaki present, their presence naturally drew a crowd of curious onlookers.
Aizen's words caused a subtle shift in Senju Nawaki's gaze. A sliver of doubt flickered in his eyes.
Most were familiar with the "Sarutobi Clan Brutes." Even those unaware of their deeds had likely heard whispers. Funari, leveraging his clan affiliation, reigned as a schoolyard tyrant. Many teachers even turned a blind eye.
The idea of someone bullying him seemed ludicrous. Nawaki felt a growing pit in his stomach, a gnawing suspicion.
'Could Funari have fabricated the entire story? Was he the villain all along'? A wave of betrayal washed over him.
Senju Nawaki, despite being a student, remained oblivious to the school's undercurrents. His focus on training left him out of the loop. Furthermore, his association with the Hokage being his second grandfather disciple, instilled a fear of speaking ill of the Sarutobi clan in his presence.
After all, common perception painted Hiruzen as a sly fox.
Senju Nawaki, though a bit naive, wasn't a simpleton. With some thought, he pieced together the key details. His gaze couldn't help but shift towards the Sarutobi Clan.
When Sarutobi Funari saw the apprehensive crowd and his leader's wary eyes, he nearly flinched.
"You have to believe me, Nawaki-sama! I wouldn't lie to you!" Konohagakure pleaded, his face plastered with a mask of desperate sincerity.
Aizen, internally, couldn't help but scoff at the performance.
Even Senju Nawaki was slightly taken aback by the convincing act. Due to the close ties between the Senju and Sarutobi clans, and his lifelong friendship with Funari, he struggled to believe his friend could be a bully.
On the sidelines, after observing the charade for a while, Minato and Fugaku grasped the entire situation.
"No wonder Aizen mentioned not having the opportunity to fight me today," Minato muttered, finally understanding.
Uchiha Fugaku rose and addressed Senju Nawaki solemnly, "I can vouch for Aizen. He wouldn't bully classmates. Likewise, I can attest that the Sarutobi Clan isn't exactly known for their exemplary behavior," Minato added seriously.
Disgust flickered across Nawaki's eyes as he glared at Funari. As a fellow academy student, Nawaki held no sympathy for those who bullied civilian students with their clan status.
Unlike Aizen's unknown background, Minato and Fugaku carried significant weight in their words. As top students, they wouldn't lie to protect a bully.
This essentially confirmed the truth.
The Sarutobi group, surprised by Minato and Fugaku's support for Aizen, hung their heads in shame. Nawaki glared at Funari, anger simmering within him.
However, Nawaki recognized the situation. Aizen was challenging a member of the prestigious Sarutobi clan, and Funari was a childhood friend. Nawaki felt conflicted.
"Aizen, you're right," Nawaki began, offering a sincere apology. "My friend was clearly in the wrong. I apologize to your friend on his behalf. I'll take him back and ensure he receives proper punishment."
Aizen remained unfazed.
He anticipated future complications.
Nawaki shifted his gaze and locked eyes with Aizen. "However, you can't take matters into your own hands. While he deserves punishment, the Academy or I can handle it, not you."