Chapter 566: Bad News One After Another

"We discovered some secret scrolls. Based on their contents, Lord Danzo appears to have collaborated with an unknown force and the Rain Village to kill Sosuke."

The Anbu ninja reported while handing the recovered scroll to Sarutobi Hiruzen with both hands.

"Unknown force... Could it be related to Uchiha Madara?" Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately thought of Uchiha Madara, but his expression remained impassive.

Until the investigation was complete, intelligence about "Uchiha Madara" must not be leaked, or it would cause conflict.

The Uchiha clan already had a history of coup attempts, and now Shimura Danzo's death was somehow linked to the name "Uchiha Madara."

Not only those ninjas who already held prejudice against the Uchiha clan, but even Sarutobi Hiruzen himself couldn't help but feel some suspicion toward the Uchiha clan.

He didn't think the entire Uchiha clan was problematic, but he believed it was highly likely that there was a faction loyal to "Uchiha Madara" within the clan.

For the harmony and stability of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't want others to know this intelligence, including the other two Konoha leaders.

Sarutobi Hiruzen opened the scroll and instantly recognized it as Shimura Danzo's handwriting—a secret scroll written by Shimura Danzo himself.

After carefully reading the entire scroll, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and dismissed the Anbu.

The scroll contained very little information about the unknown force, nor did it mention "Uchiha Madara." It mainly covered Shimura Danzo's arrangements for the siege against Sosuke.

Before approaching Sarutobi Hiruzen, the cautious Muyue had already conducted a thorough sweep; everything Sarutobi Hiruzen could know was what Muyue wanted him to know.

For example, the scroll that claimed to help Shimura Danzo obtain Wood Release had been disposed of by Muyue first thing.

"Release!"

When there was no one in the office, Sarutobi Hiruzen gathered chakra and formed hand seals; the characters on the scroll twisted rapidly, changing.

To outsiders, this seemed like an ordinary secret scroll, but after careful reading, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as a decades-old friend of Shimura Danzo, discovered hidden information within.

"Hiruzen, if you are reading this scroll, I must have been killed." That was the first sentence Sarutobi Hiruzen saw.

"Sigh." Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a deep sigh.

If Shimura Danzo had not died, he indeed would never have discovered this scroll—after all, while Danzo was alive, there was no way to have the Anbu thoroughly search the Root headquarters.

"This operation was extremely dangerous. Even though I was well prepared, there was still a risk of death. But I had to go. If successful, Konoha would be rid of a major hidden threat, and I could also learn some of Uchiha Madara's secrets."

Seeing the words "Uchiha Madara," Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze sharpened.

"Uchiha Madara's methods are extremely powerful. He can freely enter even the most secretive places in Root, and he also has considerable influence in the ninja world."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was somewhat surprised. So "Uchiha Madara" had actually negotiated a cooperation with Shimura Danzo right in Konoha?

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply. The Anbu's defenses were not much stronger than Root's. If Uchiha Madara could come and go in Root freely, he could do the same in Anbu.

"How did he get past the great barrier?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression soured.

The entire Konoha was covered by a massive barrier. Whether entering through the main gate, digging underground, or flying down from the sky, one should have been detected by the barrier.

"The Uchiha clan is not to be trusted. Uchiha Madara is definitely connected to them."

Just from the handwriting, Sarutobi Hiruzen could feel Danzo's suspicion of the Uchiha, which was also why he had to prevent the intelligence from leaking.

This intelligence was far too detrimental to unity.

"Uchiha Madara could kill even someone as prepared as me. He surely has sinister designs on Konoha. Keep a close watch on Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Orochimaru, to prevent Uchiha Madara from using them to undermine Konoha."

"Hiruzen, protect Konoha."

With that, the content of the scroll came to an end.

Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his furrowed brow, feeling the threat of "Uchiha Madara" from Danzo's words.

However, Shimura Danzo himself did not have much understanding of "Uchiha Madara," so the scroll naturally lacked concrete information about him, mostly consisting of inferences based on the current situation.

"And Danzo, you were too overconfident." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed helplessly.

According to Muyue's intelligence, Shimura Danzo was killed by Sosuke, but in this scroll, Danzo believed that if he died, it must have been due to Uchiha Madara's underhanded tactics.

After thinking it over, Sarutobi Hiruzen put away the scroll and summoned an Anbu, ordering, "Inform Muyue to come to the Hokage's office."

The Anbu ninja nodded, left the office, rushed to find Muyue, and brought him back to the Hokage's office.

"Third Hokage-sama." Muyue spoke with respect, but there was a hard-to-hide look of fatigue on his face, as if he hadn't slept well or something.

"You've worked hard. Having to teach class today after something like this happened." Sarutobi Hiruzen remarked.

Although Mu Yue did not report the matter of Shimura Danzo at the first opportunity during this incident, Mu Yue's various performances and actions made Sarutobi Hiruzen even more satisfied with Mu Yue.

"It's only a few hours of lessons, it won't affect anything. Besides, Third Hokage-sama, you are still working, how could I let myself stagnate because of this?" Mu Yue said seriously.

"No wonder Danzo wanted to entrust Root to you. When he first created Root, he was just as hardworking as you are now." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Sarutobi Hiruzen handed the scroll to Mu Yue.

Mu Yue was currently the only ninja in Konoha besides him who knew of the existence of "Uchiha Madara," and he also had an extraordinary relationship with Shimura Danzo. Sarutobi Hiruzen believed Mu Yue had the right to know.

After reading the scroll, Mu Yue showed surprise. "Uchiha Madara actually entered Konoha!"

Of course, he was faking it.

Mu Yue had long known the contents of this scroll.

His sealing techniques had already surpassed Kushina, and he also had extraordinary perception abilities such as the Byakugan's Clear Sight World. How could he fail to notice the tampering Shimura Danzo had done to the scroll?

However, because the hidden contents of this scroll would not affect Mu Yue's plans, he had not dealt with it.

With Uchiha Madara drawing the fire, Konoha would not pay so much attention to the Ninja Sect.

Mu Yue could only say that Shimura Danzo was truly cautious. Even in a secret scroll he himself had written, he did not write all the information due to the risk of exposure. The matters of Wood Release and the Rinnegan were not written at all, as if he was only intent on eliminating Sōsuke.

Someone like him probably only becomes sincere when giving his last words.

"Describe the scene you saw at that time in more detail. Was it really only Sōsuke who killed Danzo?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said.

Since Shimura Danzo was so certain in the secret scroll that his death would be related to "Uchiha Madara," Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that Sōsuke might be connected to "Uchiha Madara."

Perhaps this incident was a scheme involving both Sōsuke and "Uchiha Madara."

"Only Sōsuke and Danzo-sama were fighting. The others were quite far away, and there were no signs of them intervening," Mu Yue nodded and said.

Shimura Danzo underestimated Sōsuke and overestimated himself and Uchiha Madara.

"I see..." Sarutobi Hiruzen showed a thoughtful expression.

Shimura Danzo's were merely speculations, while the information Mu Yue provided was reality. So naturally, one should base deductions primarily on Mu Yue's information.

However, according to Mu Yue's information, many of Shimura Danzo's ideas revealed problems.

"Your training team should recruit new members. Having only one member all along is not proper." Suddenly, Sarutobi Hiruzen thought of something and said.

"Although Shisui is young, he is mature. He is quite a talented person."

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt the Uchiha had problems, but at this critical moment, having the Anbu openly investigate the Uchiha would cause trouble. So he thought of a good method: using the Uchiha to defeat the Uchiha.

Both of Mu Yue's Uchiha disciples could be trusted one hundred percent. If not for Obito's personality being unsuitable for staying in the Anbu, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have prepared to let both of them join the Anbu.

"Shisui indeed has the talent to become an Anbu," Mu Yue nodded and replied.

He guessed Sarutobi Hiruzen's intention, but this was not a disadvantage for Shisui.

The Uchiha problem involved too many aspects; it could not be completely resolved only within the Uchiha clan. It required considering both inside and outside the clan.

Mu Yue's idea was to use the training team as a springboard for Shisui to train his abilities and also to polish Shisui's resume.

Although both became Anbu, Shisui's situation was different from Itachi's.

First, Itachi entered the regular Anbu, while Shisui entered the training team exclusive to Mu Yue, which could basically be regarded as Mu Yue's personal Anbu.

As a teacher, Mu Yue certainly would not let his disciple suffer a loss.

After giving some guiding opinions on the future development of the training team, Mu Yue left the Hokage's office. Sarutobi Hiruzen continued handling official business and arranged for the Anbu to continue investigating.

This time it was not just within Konoha; Sarutobi Hiruzen began investigating the Land of Rain.

As the place of Shimura Danzo's sacrifice, the Land of Rain definitely had related intelligence that he currently did not possess.

However, before the Anbu could investigate important information related to Shimura Danzo's death, one bad news after another arrived in Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands.

"News of Danzo-sama's death has leaked!"

"Unusual movements from Kumogakure in the Land of Hot Water!"

"The number of spies in the Land of Fire has surged recently!"

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was overwhelmed by the deteriorating situation day by day, the wooden door of the Hokage's office was pushed open directly, and Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado walked into the Hokage's office together.

"Hiruzen, Danzo is dead!" Homura Mitokado said somewhat sorrowfully.

His relationship with Shimura Danzo was not as close as that between Shimura Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen, but they were not strangers either. They had once braved life-and-death situations together and often attended meetings concerning Konoha's future.

With such a comrade now dead, even though Homura Mitokado had some criticisms of Danzo's political views, he could not help but feel a trace of grief.

"I know." Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his forehead and sighed.

He had kept the confidentiality work so well, yet now news was flying everywhere. That could only mean Sousuke or "Uchiha Madara's" side was making moves.

"If you knew, why didn't you tell us earlier?" Koharu Utatane said with some dissatisfaction.

"Danzo was, after all, a member of our upper ranks."

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, she knew he must have received the information long ago.

After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen had always been on good terms with Shimura Danzo. Upon learning of a friend's death, Hiruzen should not have been so calm.

"This matter is very complicated. I wanted to investigate some intelligence before informing you." Sarutobi Hiruzen offered a brief explanation.

Shimura Danzo's death involved too many things, and "Uchiha Madara's" side moved too quickly, ultimately leading to this situation.

"Let's go to the meeting room." Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and said.

Now that things had come to this, he had no choice but to disclose some intelligence.

In the meeting room, Sarutobi Hiruzen handed over the confidential intelligence he had recently gathered for the advisors to review, while also explaining matters concerning Shimura Danzo.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not reveal the existence of "Uchiha Madara." He only said that a rogue ninja organization was causing trouble.

"How foolish! Instead of reporting such important intelligence to the village, you acted on your own!" Koharu Utatane could barely control her emotions.

She now wished she could slap Danzo's corpse. It was one thing for him to court death on his own, but he had also dragged Konoha into a crisis.

"Ahem, Koharu, Danzo did sacrifice himself for the village after all." Homura Mitokado coughed twice lightly as a reminder.

Danzo may have been foolish, but the dead are to be respected. Criticizing him now was somewhat inappropriate.

Only then did Koharu Utatane notice that Sarutobi Hiruzen was staring at her with a grim expression.

Mindful of their relationship, Koharu Utatane silently closed her mouth. The dead Danzo need not be cared about, but the living Hiruzen was still the unyielding Hokage.

"Notify Kumogakure, warn Orochimaru to be careful, and then dispatch more ninja to patrol the border."

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not say anything to Koharu Utatane but instead turned the conversation to concrete countermeasures.

"We must crush Kumogakure's arrogance and let others know that we Konoha are invincible." Homura Mitokado nodded in agreement.

Why did Kumogakure choose this moment to act? It was simply because they saw an opportunity.

What Konoha needed to do was shatter Kumogakure's ambitions, letting others know of Konoha's strength, so that the turmoil from Danzo's death would dissipate.

Of course, if Konoha showed weakness in this process, then perhaps it would no longer be just Kumogakure. Many would be happy to beat a drowning dog.

After the meeting ended, it was almost quitting time, but Sarutobi Hiruzen did not go home immediately. Instead, he returned to the Hokage's office and stood before the large floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at Konoha.

"I need to add more burdens to Muyue." Sarutobi Hiruzen put down his pipe, exhaling wisps of white smoke.

Originally, he had wanted Muyue's training team to develop naturally, but now the situation was growing increasingly chaotic. He needed a stronger Anbu.

I haven't dared to turn on the air conditioner these past two days; it nearly cooked me.

July in Guangdong without air conditioning—one stay and you can't even make a sound.

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