Chapter 226: Proving One’s Innocence
“Who exactly made the move to kill?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked down at the scroll and said:
“A Fire Release expert, particularly skilled at lurking···
Although Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi lacked some strength, to cleanly kill them and their guards requires at least jonin level, or even elite jonin.
The one guarding Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Ino-Shika-Cho Formation. This formation excels in both offense and defense, yet they were killed by Fire Release without even a reaction···”
After pondering, Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Among the Senju Clan’s jonin, there’s no one particularly skilled in Fire Release; it doesn’t seem like it.
The Senju Clan now mainly works around Konoha Hospital, and their combat power isn’t as strong as before.
Hatake Sakumo’s subordinates had no time to commit the crime; Kawahoshi is at the stronghold fortress in the Land of Waves direction, and Yamashiro Aoba and Gekko Shizuma are both in the village.
Although Hatake Sakumo is ambitious and wants to push his self-righteous policies, he wouldn’t go so far as to kill fellow villagers for his goals.
Uchiha Clan’s jonin··· could it be the Uchiha Clan?
First, check where the Uchiha Clan’s jonin have been recently.”
After another thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “I will talk to Tsunade, Hatake Sakumo, and Uchiha Kane one by one, requiring them to prove their innocence.
At the same time, Anbu and Root will investigate in secret, not missing any clues.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s death filled Hiruzen Sarutobi with grief.
That was his own nephew, a very promising young man, an important aide he left for his son.
Danzo asked again: “Should we kill a few more? They’re too brazen, daring to counterattack.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said: “First investigate the truth, confirm who the killer is, and after clarifying the truth, use it to force them to yield.
Killing randomly at this time, if caught, will put us on the defensive instead.
The struggle is long-term; don’t rush for a moment.”
Danzo sneered inwardly but didn’t object and turned to leave.
After leaving the Hokage Building, Orochimaru didn’t return to Root Base but went to Konoha Hospital.
On the rooftop of the hospital outpatient building, Orochimaru waited for Tsunade.
“Orochimaru, what do you want with me? By the way, since you returned to the village, you’ve been like a ghost, never seen.”
Seeing Orochimaru’s playful gaze, Tsunade looked down at herself; nothing unusual today, still couldn’t see her shoes looking down.
Orochimaru said: “Tsunade, I underestimated you; I didn’t expect such an explosive counterattack.”
“Counterattack? Who did I counterattack?”
Orochimaru said: “Whether you did it or not, they will assume it’s your, Hatake Sakumo’s, and Uchiha Kane’s counterattack.”
“I don’t understand; what did I counterattack?”
“Shimura Tan, Hiruzen Sarutobi, two special jonin about to take the jonin promotion exam; one died in the Land of Grass, one in the Land of Hot Water.”
“What does that have to do with me? The jonin class is conducting rounds of exams; why would they leave the village and go to other countries?”
Orochimaru explained: “The Land of Rivers’ guardian jonin is from the Shimura Clan, and the Land of Hot Water’s guardian jonin is from the Sarutobi Clan.
They went to help their clans stabilize the situation; in the jonin promotion exam, the Shimura Clan and Sarutobi Clan are at the end, so they had plenty of time.”
Tsunade frowned, immediately realizing the severity of the problem:
“This is slander! I was indeed angry that the Third Hokage rejected my recommendation, but how could I assassinate my own village’s people?
Even Sarutobi Clan or Shimura Clan people, I wouldn’t kill them.
Couldn’t it be that the Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan offended someone else, and that someone, taking advantage of my conflict with the Third Hokage over the jonin recommendation, made the move?
Am I being used as a shield?
No, I’m going to find the Third Hokage; this has nothing to do with me.”
With that, Tsunade jumped off the rooftop and headed toward the Hokage Building.
Orochimaru shook his head repeatedly; half an hour later, Tsunade stormed back angrily.
“Anyway, I explained it clearly enough; it wasn’t me, and I’m not taking the blame.”
Orochimaru thought to himself, was that explaining? That was rubbing salt in the wound.
He could imagine Tsunade arguing with Teacher Hiruzen.
Orochimaru didn’t care about the Sarutobi Clan being retaliated against; he asked directly: “Tsunade, do you support me becoming the Fourth Hokage?”
“Who? You? Orochimaru? You want to be the Fourth Hokage?” Tsunade said incredulously:
“Forget it; better to let Jiraiya be the Fourth Hokage.”
“I’m asking if you support it.”
“I can only say I don’t oppose it.”
“Don’t oppose?” Orochimaru said: “That’s enough; your non-opposition is my greatest support.”
“You really want to be the Fourth Hokage?”
Orochimaru raised his hands, staring at them and said:
“I need strength, I need secret jutsu.
The village’s strength, the village’s secret jutsu, are all in the Third Hokage’s teacher’s hands.
Several times I asked Teacher Hiruzen for the Scroll of Seals, and each time I was refused.
Teacher Hiruzen said the knowledge in the Scroll of Seals is too powerful; I can’t control it, and it would lead me astray.
I don’t believe there’s any strength I can’t control.
Since Teacher Hiruzen wants to push me to be the Fourth Hokage, then I’ll do it.
Once the strength is in my hands, I’ll use it better.
In this world, there is absolutely no strength I can’t control.”
Tsunade knew she must be the least flawed among the Sannin; looking at the slightly mad Orochimaru, she said:
“The Third Hokage has had the Scroll of Seals for many years; have you seen him master any forbidden jutsu?
Forbidden jutsu requires talent and opportunity; rashly learning forbidden jutsu, self-destruction is the mildest outcome.
Orochimaru, pursuing strength is normal; you and I are both pursuing strength, but don’t pursue strength you can’t bear.
Compared to learning unsuitable forbidden jutsu, better to develop abilities suited to yourself.”
Orochimaru suddenly looked at Tsunade’s forehead and saw the diamond-shaped curse mark there.
“You··· completed that technique?”
Tsunade nodded and said: “Yeah, sealing everyday chakra away, using it in battle; now I’ve done it.”
As soon as Tsunade finished speaking, Orochimaru suddenly rushed forward.
Their figures briefly passed each other.
The rooftop tiles shattered everywhere, cracked into pieces.
Tsunade stood back to Orochimaru, the shadow seal curse mark slowly retracting the diamond mark into her forehead.
Orochimaru’s gaze darkened, then he glanced at the Hokage Building and body flickered away from the hospital rooftop.
He felt even more urgency in his heart.
Tsunade’s strength had qualitatively improved, while he himself had yet to see the dawn.
Shinma hurried with quick steps toward a training ground at the village edge.
In the training ground, Hatake Sakumo was teaching Minato and Kakashi.
Seeing Shinma waving from afar, Hatake Sakumo had Minato instruct Kakashi and came to Shinma’s side.
“Lord Sakumo! A major event happened!” Shinma said urgently:
“In the final round of the jonin promotion exam, two are missing: Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
I heard both were assassinated, and they and their guards all turned into charred corpses.”
Hatake Sakumo’s first reaction was that the Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan have deep foundations, able to assign special jonin guards from within the clan.
Only then did he think, the village won’t suspect it was me, right?
Shinma said beside him: “You recommended me and Shirakumo Hayama for jonin, yet the village revoked both our qualifications.
Shirakumo Hayama was questioned by the Shimura Clan if his improved vacuum sword was stolen from them.
I nearly got killed; if Big Brother Gekko Shizuma hadn’t arrived, I’d be dead.
Now the village high-ranking officials’ nephews are murdered; aren’t we one of the suspects?”
Hatake Sakumo thought and said: “Shinma, make an investigation report.
The report should cover alibis for Gekko Shizuma, Yamashiro Aoba, you, Hayama, and five other special jonin.
Finish the report as soon as possible; I expect the village will demand it sooner or later.”
An Anbu suddenly landed in the training ground.
“White Fang Lord, the Hokage summons you.”
Hatake Sakumo said: “I understand; I’ll go now.”
Entering the Hokage’s Office, after being questioned by the Hokage, Hatake Sakumo said he had always been in the village.
The Third Hokage required Hatake Sakumo and his subordinates to prove innocence and provide a report, and Hatake Sakumo agreed.
It wasn’t him, nor did he order it; Hatake Sakumo wasn’t panicking.
Just as he exited the Hokage Building, Hatake Sakumo saw a mask; it was somewhat like but not the fox.
He had firmly believed he had nothing to do with Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s deaths.
But at this moment, he suddenly hesitated.
No··· it’s not him, right···
If it was him··· Hatake Sakumo kept thinking; if it was the fox, what should he do?
Did he really assassinate fellow villagers?
After leaving the training ground, Shinma went to find Shirakumo Hayama.
Shirakumo Hayama was practicing vacuum sword in his home’s backyard.
Through persistent hard training, Shirakumo Hayama accidentally grasped the knack of single-handed vacuum sword release.
Vacuum sword simplified from three seals to half a hand seal; the hand gripping the sword has the palm against the hilt, fingers forming seals, wind blade flying out with the blade, greatly increasing flexibility.
He was very suited to this vacuum sword technique.
For this, the Shimura Clan questioned him for a long time; if not for Lord Sakumo vouching, he’d still be under investigation.
The Shimura Clan is the village’s wind release great clan; they couldn’t believe a civilian ninja could master such exquisite wind release.
Shinma came to Shirakumo Hayama’s home and told him the news of Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s deaths.
While practicing, Shirakumo Hayama said: “Something like that happened; you didn’t tell Lord Sakumo first?”
“I did.”
“You did? Then Lord Sakumo didn’t scold you for gloating, that they’re the village’s companions?”
“I’m not stupid; how would I show gloating in front of Lord Sakumo.” Shinma said:
“Tell me where you were half a month ago and who can prove it; I need to write alibis for us all.”
“What? The village suspects we did it?”
When humiliated by the Shimura Clan, Shirakumo Hayama hated them thoroughly.
As if wind release belonged exclusively to the Shimura Clan, no one else in Konoha could practice it.
Now suspected as the killer, Shirakumo Hayama was even more annoyed.
They can harm fellow clansmen; could Shirakumo Hayama do such a thing too?
He sighed and honestly said where he was half a month ago and who could prove it.
He hadn’t left the village, easy to clear suspicion.
Shirakumo Hayama thought and suddenly said:
“Shinma, last time you were in danger because someone secretly tipped off Lord Sakumo; this time someone killed Shimura Tan and Hiruzen Sarutobi; do you think··· these two are the same person?”
Shinma was stunned; he had never thought of it that way.
Could it be?
Shinma said: “Is Lord Sakumo cooperating with some force? That force has excellent intelligence and strikes ruthlessly?”
Shirakumo Hayama nodded; he thought the same. He said:
“If it’s true, that’d be good; Lord Sakumo is good in every way, just a bit too mild.
I heard from Yamashiro Aoba that during the Second Hokage’s reign, Lord Sakumo carried out many extremely dangerous missions in Anbu, sacrificing many companions, so he values companions greatly.
But it’s different now.
Anbu during the Second Hokage’s time didn’t turn inward with ninja swords; can you still trust today’s Anbu?
I heard today’s Anbu is extremely extreme, long violating the Second Hokage’s original intent in establishing Anbu.
Especially one called Copper Fox, emerging as extreme and brutal.
I fought alongside him in the Land of Whirlpools; he even saved me once; at first I thought Copper Fox was a powerful Anbu.
When he interrogated Hozuki Ringo, I heard Hozuki Ringo’s screams.
My impression of Copper Fox changed from gratitude to fear.
That scream was like a vengeful ghost.
I was terrified; I’m a special jonin, yet I’d never heard a ninja scream so miserably.”
If Yoru were here, he’d definitely defend himself.
Back then, it was slander that Hozuki Ringo leaked the water iron cannon secret jutsu, so Hozuki Ringo wailed like a ghost; it wasn’t really extreme interrogation methods.
Shinma nodded repeatedly; he’d heard the name Copper Fox many times, indeed brutal.
While Shinma was writing the innocence proof report, Uchiha Kane was even more frantic.
The Senju Clan and White Fang’s side have fewer people now, easier to prove innocence.
The Uchiha Clan was different; over 900 clansmen.
Screening over 900 people with solid evidence was too difficult.
As soon as Uchiha Kane started self-investigating, he found Anbu and Root tracing the Uchiha Clan.
Suddenly, the Uchiha Clan Compound was in panic, not knowing why Anbu and Root didn’t even pretend, various investigations of Uchiha ninja.
Especially Uchiha Clan’s jonin and special jonin had to write self-reports proving they weren’t in the Land of Grass or Land of Hot Water half a month ago.
If it were just investigating these people, fine, but Root demanded Uchiha Kane provide a list of Uchiha ninja missing on the battlefield over the past decade, proving they weren’t traitor ninja.
Perhaps some Uchiha ninja, using battlefield disappearance, secretly became traitor ninja, turning against Konoha to assassinate Konoha fellows.
In the First Great Ninja War and Second Ninja War, the Uchiha Clan had at least 50 ninja whose bodies weren’t found, i.e., missing.
Impossible to meet Root’s demands.
From Root’s attitude, if the missing couldn’t prove death, they’d definitely be traitor ninja.
Hatake Sakumo’s home.
Kakashi played until exhausted; kids drain energy like powering off, went upstairs to sleep.
In the first-floor living room, ninja dog Pakkun stared at Hatake Sakumo opposite.
Hatake Sakumo closed his eyes, arms crossed over chest, lost in thought.
Pakkun waited quietly for half an hour, no decision from Hatake Sakumo.
Pakkun couldn’t help but speak:
“Sakumo, no more hesitation; Shinma nearly died, still can’t see it?
As long as Konoha High Command wills it, one mission can send a Leaf Ninja to death.
Decide whether to let me see the fox, and if meeting the fox, whether to break ties with him; decide quickly.”
