Chapter 11

After a moment of confusion, he finally couldn't help but ask, "Itachi awakened the Sharingan?"

"No," Uchiha Jin replied. "Preparing for the future."

Uchiha Shisui fell silent.

These things are far too important!

But thinking it was a request from Lord Jin, he pondered for a moment before speaking.

"I know Izanagi and Izanami. I'll just hand Itachi the scrolls in a moment."

"As for the greatsword and sword techniques, my family has them. I'll bring them to Itachi later."

"Explosive tags and ration pills, I imagine the Clan Head won't refuse."

"No problem, I agree!"

Uchiha Shisui's expression remained calm.

Yet Uchiha Jin looked utterly bewildered and shocked.

Good heavens!

The items he wanted didn't require the clan or the village to pay at all; Uchiha Shisui himself was covering most of it.

So the clan only needed to provide a few ration pills and explosive tags?

He had never realized before that Uchiha Shisui was also a wealthy man!

But then again, it made sense.

After all, Uchiha Shisui's branch was considered part of the main Uchiha line.

His grandfather was none other than Uchiha Kagami!

Just as he prepared to speak again, a masked Anbu ninja suddenly appeared in the courtyard.

"Uchiha Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Jin."

"The Hokage orders Itachi both to proceed to the Hokage Tower."

"Immediately! Right now!"

Uchiha Jin and Uchiha Shisui exchanged a glance, each seeing surprise in the other's eyes.

However.

Since it was the Hokage's order, the two dared not hesitate and immediately headed for the Hokage Tower.

Along the way.

Uchiha Shisui remained calm, while Uchiha Jin's eyes flickered slightly.

Yes.

He likely already knew what this was about.

If his guess was correct, it must be that yesterday's incident had been discovered.

Thinking of this, his mood grew heavy.

Although he never expected to keep the matter completely hidden, the village's reaction speed still exceeded his expectations.

Too fast!

What happened last night was not only discovered today, but the investigation had already reached him.

After all, at the scene in the Forest of Death, he had even left behind a Hidden Cloud ninja corpse!

However, it didn't matter.

He trusted his own skills in covering his tracks and was confident that no traces at the scene pointed to him.

Ten minutes later.

The two arrived directly at the Hokage Tower and pushed open the Hokage's office door.

Uchiha Jin narrowed his eyes slightly.

Yet upon seeing the crowd in the office, he couldn't help but let out an exclamation.

The Konoha F4, led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, were all present; in addition, there was Uchiha Fugaku, Jonin Commander Shikaku Nara, Analysis Commander Inoichi Yamanaka, the Anbu Black Ops Captain, and others...

Most likely, this Anbu Black Ops Captain was Sarutobi Arashi, wasn't he?

After all.

The Hokage would never entrust such an important department as the Anbu Black Ops to anyone else.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind the office desk, looking at the two young men before him, a hint of contemplation in his eyes.

Moments later.

He turned to Uchiha Jin and asked with a smile.

"Uchiha Jin, correct?"

"According to the Anbu Black Ops investigation, Itachi and Uchiha Yoshio, along with two others, apparently had some contact yesterday."

"Now those three are missing, and Itachi were the last person to have contact with them."

"I need Itachi to tell me everything Itachi know, exactly as it happened."

"This matter is very important!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in a gentle tone.

He did not mention what had actually happened, simply asking directly.

No mention of death, only disappearance!

This was normal.

After all, Uchiha Jin's level was too low for such an important matter.

Unless they had fully confirmed his involvement, they certainly would not have told him the specific details.

Seeing this, Uchiha Shisui frowned.

As a genius who frequently dealt with the higher-ups, he knew very well that such a grand display could not possibly be just because of the disappearance of a few Uchiha.

Precisely because of this, his worry grew even deeper.

He truly feared that Uchiha Jin might be somehow involved in this matter.

Meanwhile.

Even Uchiha Jin, who knew his own nature well, felt momentarily dazed, but quickly snapped back to his senses.

He did not hesitate.

He immediately bowed slightly and began to recount the events slowly.

"Yesterday at noon, after I finished my meal, I was indeed blocked by Uchiha Yoshio and the other two."

"They wanted to fight me."

"I was no match for them, so I panicked and fled, finally hiding at the edge of the Forest of Death."

"As for what happened after that, I don't know."

"Finally, when evening approached and Uchiha Yoshio still hadn't chased me down, I thought they had given up, so I went straight home to sleep."

"..."

Uchiha Jin spoke calmly and steadily.

After finishing, he lowered his head and bowed, offering no further words.

Yes.

Having lived in Konoha for so many years, he was thoroughly familiar with the village's ways.

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared kind and benevolent in the village, in truly formal occasions, he placed great emphasis on the rules of hierarchy.

Someone like him, a mere small fry, had no right to ask questions.

The others listened with slightly furrowed brows, yet no one spoke.

Silence!

Everyone was thinking, weighing the truthfulness of his account.

And just at that moment.

Uchiha Shisui could no longer hold back and immediately spoke up.

"Hokage, what exactly has happened?"

As a genius, he naturally enjoyed certain privileges.

Just as in front of him, Uchiha Jin could not speak, yet he felt no such pressure.

However, regarding this.

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not answer; instead, after a moment of silence, he took a deep breath and spoke calmly.

"Very well, I understand."

"Uchiha Jin, Itachi may return."

"But not a single word of today's events may be spoken."

"Leave."

Uchiha Jin did not hesitate.

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, he already understood that this matter no longer concerned him.

Clearly.

He had no right to participate in the discussions to follow.

After bowing slightly, Uchiha Jin turned and left.

Once he had left the office, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the Anbu member beside him.

"Shin'nosuke, Itachi speak."

As a subordinate of Sarutobi Hiruzen and captain of the Anbu squad, Sarutobi Shin'nosuke did not hesitate upon hearing this and briefly recounted last night's events.

Then, he spoke calmly.

"In itself, the deaths of the three Uchiha are not a major matter."

"Under normal circumstances, this matter should be adjudicated by the Uchiha clan."

"However, an unexpected development has arisen."

"Last night, beside those three Uchiha, there was also the corpse of a Hidden Cloud ninja."

"And even more strangely, whether the three Uchiha or the Hidden Cloud ninja's corpse, all brains had been destroyed."

"Even with the direct intervention of the Yamanaka Jonin from the Analysis Division, their memories could not be accessed."

"Therefore, a problem has emerged."

"Does anyone recall that two years ago, the Hidden Cloud sent a small squad, concealing their identities, to our Hidden Leaf Village to steal a Kekkei Genkai, but after investigation, it was discovered that one Hidden Cloud ninja had gone missing?"

"At that time, the Yamanaka Jonin naturally examined the memories of all the Hidden Cloud ninja they captured."

"Coincidentally, it has arrived."

"The moment the Yamanaka Jonin saw the Hidden Cloud ninja's corpse from last night, he confirmed it was the Hidden Cloud ninja who went missing two years ago and whom we could never find."

"So, the question arises."

"Is this another attack by the Hidden Cloud?"

"Or did someone within our Hidden Leaf Village act, and this so-called Hidden Cloud ninja's corpse is merely a decoy used to confuse the investigation?"

"After all, since the Hidden Cloud is involved, we must treat this with utmost caution!"

"This is also why Uchiha Jin was summoned for questioning; after all, Uchiha Jin had a grudge against these three Uchiha."

In an instant.

As Shin'nosuke spoke, everyone fell silent.

Everyone was thinking.

After a long while.

Sarutobi Hiruzen finally set down his pipe and spoke in a somber tone.

"Very well."

"This is the situation; let us all discuss it."

"First, let us discuss whether there is any possibility that Uchiha Jin is involved in this matter?"