Chapter 99: Referring To Positions During Work Hours
Anbu is the Hokage’s direct violent organization. The Hokage is too busy, so it is generally managed and commanded by the Anbu Minister instead.
At this time, with the Hokage present, Yoru only needed to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi at all times, which was much more comfortable than following Danzo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi patrolled back and forth inside and outside the cave several times, constantly inquiring about details.
Yoru answered what he could, and for what he couldn’t, he also gave some guesses and suggestions.
There were too many mysteries surrounding Uchiha Madara.
Several clan heads leading reconnaissance ninjas returned.
Hyuga Elder, Inuzuka Ryō, and other clan heads came to the Hokage’s side, shaking their heads one after another.
Inuzuka Ryō took the lead and said:
“Hokage, Uchiha Madara’s retreat was very secretive, and with the heavy rain all around, none of us detected any traces of his departure.
I judge that the hundred-meter giant in the cave was a Summoning Jutsu; otherwise, moving such a large giant would not be so concealed.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said, “Thank you for your hard work. Please guard the cave entrance. I have some matters to discuss with the Senju and Uchiha clan heads.”
In the empty cave, only the Hokage’s side remained, along with Senju Hanaki and Uchiha Kane, the two clan heads.
Hiruzen Sarutobi first looked at Uchiha Kane and asked, “Clan Head Zhong, does the Uchiha Clan still have any channel of contact with Uchiha Madara?”
Uchiha Kane shook his head repeatedly:
“Hokage, when Uchiha Madara first defected from the village, we had already completely severed ties with him.
Please believe the Uchiha Clan. We are in the village—how could we defect, how could we have contact with a criminal like Uchiha Madara.
I know nothing about Uchiha Madara’s affairs.
What puzzles me more is, even if it is Uchiha Madara, why would he have Wood Style.”
Yoru thought to himself, here it comes—Uchiha Kane was starting to shift the blame.
He had no choice; if Uchiha Madara’s blame was pinned down, the Uchiha Clan couldn’t bear it.
Upon hearing this, Senju Hanaki’s expression was one of sadness and pain:
“This is what I want to ask you too—why does a Uchiha possess our Senju Clan’s historically most precious bloodline limit?
Uchiha Madara is from the Warring States Period; at that time, marriage between the Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan was absolutely impossible.
Has the Uchiha Clan been secretly conducting human experiments?
Did the geniuses who went missing from our Senju Clan end up on your Uchiha Clan’s experiment tables?”
Just as the two were about to argue, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, “Stop! Don’t dwell on Warring States Period matters!”
After pondering, he said:
“Uchiha Madara’s matter is too important. Clan Head Hanaki, Clan Head Zhong, you two are responsible for forming an investigation battalion, starting from here, to search and reconnoiter Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara’s intent to destroy Konoha is unyielding; we cannot leave him unchecked.
I believe the Nine-Tails’ seal transfer riot was very likely done by Uchiha Madara.
The Nine-Tails was once Uchiha Madara’s summoning beast; he has always wanted to take it back, but that night Konoha had too many people, so he didn’t find an opportunity.”
Senju Hanaki was unwilling to accept the Third Hokage’s statement, but she couldn’t find a reasonable rebuttal in the short term.
The Senju Clan and Uchiha Clan were already at sharp odds due to the Nine-Tails seal transfer chaos; now having them form a joint investigation battalion together was like pouring oil on the fire.
Uchiha Madara came from the Uchiha Clan and mysteriously mastered the Senju Clan’s Wood Style—besides the Senju and Uchiha ninja clans, who else could investigate?
Senju Hanaki and Uchiha Kane had no choice but to agree, though the escalation of conflicts between the two sides was inevitable.
When the two sides fought to the point of no return, Hiruzen Sarutobi would mediate at the right time—this was what Hiruzen Sarutobi was best at.
Senju Hanaki painfully closed her eyes. With Uchiha Madara still alive, the village would pin the Nine-Tails seal transfer riot on him.
But Senju Hanaki always felt that things were not that simple.
After leaving the cave, Senju Hanaki had two Senju guards collect the three corpses of the Senju Clan.
Senju Hanaki looked at the three bulging bags and murmured, “Notify Tsunade at the time of burial; otherwise, Tsunade won’t be able to bear it…”
Soon after, a Senju guard suddenly said, “Patriarch! There’s the First Hokage’s Necklace on Dan’s body!”
The necklace was made of hard material and had been preserved.
Senju Hanaki took the necklace, stored it away, and prepared to return it to Tsunade.
Yoru followed Hiruzen Sarutobi all the way back to Konoha Village.
Another seven days passed on the road, and the next full moon was not far away.
Upon returning to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi took Yoru directly into the Hokage Building.
Only the Kiiroinu Captain was waiting in the Hokage’s Office.
“Fox, tell me the real details in full.”
Yoru understood that the Third Hokage wanted to know exactly what Danzo had done.
This time, Yoru recounted everything in minute detail.
Encountering three Konoha ninjas controlled by Uchiha Madara, then being chased and killed by Kato Dan, with Aries, Yagura, and others dying in battle, escaping using Yamanaka Clan Secret Jutsu.
Encountering Danzo, who took him to find Uchiha Madara; the two fought, and Danzo traded one Mangekyo for an escape opportunity.
“What? You mean that eye is ruined?”
Yoru was stunned—Danzo hadn’t reported this to Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Had some rift developed between these two?
When Ushi-ga Mountain heavily damaged Hidden Stone Village and Oonoki, Anbu had hyped it as Danzo’s greatest achievement, but it was later stopped by the Third Hokage.
Perhaps these two now had some conflicts.
It was just unknown when Anbu and Root would split, with Danzo independently leading Root.
Yoru said, “Yes, Hokage, that eye turned into a grayish dead eye.”
“Continue.”
Yoru then said that Danzo found Kato Dan and, at the cost of another Mangekyo, killed Kato Dan.
Then came Yoru’s suggestion to send Kato Dan’s corpse into Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence.
Everything related to Danzo, Yoru had to tell the truth.
If he concealed anything, and Hiruzen Sarutobi compared notes with Danzo, he would be done for.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had a pipe in his mouth, smoking continuously.
Soon, the Hokage’s Office was filled with smoke, somewhat choking.
Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi said:
“Good, I know everything now. Fox, your performance was good, exceeding my expectations.
Quickly complete a mission report and have Kiiroinu pass it to me.”
“Yes, Hokage.”
Yoru went to the Anbu Base to write the report.
After the Fox left, Kiiroinu said, “Father, before this mission, the sacrificed Aries once said that he noticed the Fox’s chakra had been completely depleted abnormally on the Night of Sealing. This time…”
“Use titles during work hours.”
“Yes, Hokage.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi said:
“Kiiroinu, no need to dwell on those details. The Fox emerged unscathed from Danzo’s hands— no major problem.
If the Fox had issues, with Danzo’s personality, he would have dealt with him long ago.
The Fox is a talent, worth focused cultivation.
Anbu lacks good hands; strong jonin all want to join the Jonin Meeting. Jonin like you who burn solely for Konoha are too few.
If you’re not at ease, observe a bit more, but don’t affect the heavy use of the Fox.
If you want to take over Anbu, you need several independent captains as subordinates. The Fox’s growth speed is astonishing and worth cultivating.”
“I understand.” Kiiroinu said, “It’s just a pity that the Fox is a civilian ninja. If he were a ninja of our Sarutobi Clan, or of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, it would be great.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, “Cultivate the younger generation of the Sarutobi Clan and Ino-Shika-Cho Clans slowly; no need to rush.”
In the Anbu Base, Yi saw the returning Fox and turned to find Danzo.
Danzo said:
“It seems Hiruzen Sarutobi trusts the Fox greatly. With Hiruzen Sarutobi’s kind face but black heart, if the Fox had issues, he would have killed him long ago.
Suspend the investigation on the Fox; just observe lightly from now on.”
Yoru finished writing the mission report and personally handed it to the Kiiroinu Captain before leaving the Anbu Base.
He returned to the village; his squad was still at the Front Line Camp.
This full moon cycle was the most grueling and painful.
In the latter half of the night, Yoru entered Tsuruzuki Izakaya and shouted, “Boss, give me the best sake!”
Qiao Yi saw that Miqu had returned and hurried over, whispering in Yoru’s ear:
“Do you want spicy sake or salty sake?”
Yoru was confused:
“Sake comes in salty? Oh! I get it. I won’t drink salty sake, but I want you to repay with your sweet springs!”
The two went to the backyard.
Half an hour later, Yoru said, “Change the bedsheet. This isn’t repaying with sweet springs—this is clearly a fountain repayment!”
