Uchiha Clan Joins the Investigation

Hoshiryu Uchiha chuckled softly when he heard that.

"How could I? I just have someone in mind."

Mito Uzumaki thought for a moment upon hearing this, then seemed to realize something.

"You mean this has something to do with someone around Hiruzen?"

Hoshiryu Uchiha was not surprised that Mito Uzumaki had guessed it.

After all, there had been something off about Hiruzen Sarutobi's behavior, making him an easy target for suspicion.

As the Hokage, he had no reason to lay hands on children. It would bring him nothing but harm.

Since it was not Hiruzen Sarutobi, yet he had still acted strangely—

That meant he had already identified a possible mastermind.

And that person had to be connected to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Otherwise, he would have arrested them already.

So Hoshiryu Uchiha nodded. Without beating around the bush, he said to Mito Uzumaki, "I suspect Elder Danzo. He's the only one in the village who fits the criteria."

"I also heard that he established an entirely new department called Root, and this war has dealt Root considerable losses."

"So Danzo has a motive to kidnap children and use them to build up his department."

After hearing this, the train of thought that had still been somewhat muddled in Mito Uzumaki's mind instantly became clear.

She immediately felt regretful. She had gone to find Hiruzen to avoid alerting the enemy, but it had turned out to be an unnecessary move.

Although Hoshiryu Uchiha had informed her of the news at once, some children must already have been taken.

What Mito Uzumaki had done now was undoubtedly pushing those children into the fire.

Seeing the sadness on Mito Uzumaki's face, Hoshiryu Uchiha comforted her.

"Grandma Mito, don't panic. We still have time."

"Assuming Elder Danzo really did it, once he receives the news, he'll definitely move to destroy the evidence immediately."

"There'll be a gap in time. We can play along and send people to watch Elder Danzo. That way, we can rescue those children."

After hearing him out, Mito Uzumaki studied Hoshiryu Uchiha carefully and said with some emotion, "Sometimes, you really don't seem like a child. You're a little too mature."

After sighing, she found herself in a difficult position. The Senju Clan was severely short on manpower now.

No matter what, Danzo was not someone a Chunin or Genin could keep watch over.

The Senju Clan's experts were all holding the front lines. She could not abandon the Senju battlefront and pull those people back.

If she went herself, she would be too conspicuous, and using the Transformation Technique would only make her easier to detect.

Thinking of this, Mito Uzumaki turned her gaze toward Hoshiryu Uchiha, hoping he could provide an answer himself.

Hoshiryu Uchiha had anticipated this long ago.

He pointed at his Clan Crest, then looked at Mito Uzumaki's suddenly enlightened expression and said, "There aren't many people in the village who can keep an eye on Danzo now, but the Uchiha Clan will definitely have a way."

"Only a small portion of them have been allowed onto the battlefield. Most of those with ability have been kept behind under the excuse that the village needs the Military Police Force, so..."

Hoshiryu Uchiha had wanted to continue, but Mito Uzumaki could no longer wait.

She feared that if she delayed even a moment, those children would die.

Mito Uzumaki impatiently pulled Hoshiryu Uchiha away.

The two used the Body Flicker Technique all the way there. With their deliberate concealment, no one could detect them.

Before long, they arrived at Uchiha Ang's residence.

At that moment, Uchiha Ang was clutching at his already sparse hair while dealing with official documents.

As the Uchiha Clan's Second Elder and the leader of its various factions, especially with the Sharingan experiments needing to be carried out during this period—

The ever-increasing pile of official work was giving him a splitting headache.

Just as he tore out another handful of hair and grumbled to himself, he suddenly heard a tapping sound against the window.

He immediately became alert, activating his Three-Tomoe Sharingan as he looked toward the source of the sound.

Once he saw who had come, he relaxed slightly.

Uchiha Ang knew Mito Uzumaki.

And the changes in Hoshiryu Uchiha's eyes made him completely lower his guard.

Being able to awaken the three tomoe and stand beside Mito Uzumaki was enough to prove their identities.

Though he did not know why they had come to see him, they certainly were not here to harm him.

Uchiha Ang opened the window and let them inside.

After entering, Mito Uzumaki did not even have time to straighten her disheveled hair from the journey before saying directly:

"There is an important matter in the village right now that requires the Uchiha's help."

"I need you to select an elite team to monitor Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. Can you do that?"

With the children's lives at stake, Mito Uzumaki now displayed the bearing of a formidable woman.

To be safe, she had even placed Hiruzen Sarutobi's other two close friends under surveillance.

Uchiha Ang was greatly shocked. Every one of the three people Mito Uzumaki wanted him to monitor was part of Konoha's upper echelon.

That made him hesitate somewhat, but after glancing at Hoshiryu Uchiha, he still nodded and said, "Lady Mito, leave it to the Uchiha."

Seeing him agree, Mito Uzumaki continued uneasily, "Time is of the essence. Make the arrangements now. This concerns the lives of many children in the village, so you must act quickly."

Hearing that it concerned children, Uchiha Ang understood somewhat.

Sure enough, anything urgent enough to make even Mito Uzumaki this anxious could not be a minor matter.

To actually dare lay hands on the village's children—they really weren't afraid of death.

He then grew somewhat excited. Restricted to the village, the Uchiha had no opportunity to earn military merit or prestige.

Nor was anyone among the upper ranks willing to speak up for the Uchiha. Without merit or prestige, no Uchiha could rise into the upper echelon.

It was like exploiting a bug, trapping the Uchiha in an awkward position where they could neither advance nor retreat.

But if the Uchiha successfully stopped this incident and saved the children—

The prestige and credit they gained would come even faster than from killing enemies.

After saying his farewells, he left eagerly.

Judging by his attitude, he was even more invested in this matter than Mito Uzumaki.

Hoshiryu Uchiha and Mito Uzumaki exchanged glances, then laughed helplessly.

At that moment, Mito Uzumaki finally let go of the anxiety in her heart.

As someone who had lived through the Warring States era, she understood the Uchiha's capabilities better than anyone.

Other than the Senju Clan, the Uchiha could crush any other ninja clan.

Now that this matter had been handed to the Uchiha, she could finally calm down and think things through carefully.

What had once been uncertain had been confirmed by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

His words and behavior had inadvertently revealed a great deal of information.

The worse outcome had, in fact, already come to pass.

As the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not chosen the correct path. Instead, he had sheltered the criminal.

Although it was not yet certain that it was Danzo, every clue pointed toward him.

And if Danzo truly tried to silence the children, then Hiruzen would not be able to escape responsibility either.

So Mito Uzumaki began considering who could serve as acting Hokage after the Hokage was removed from office.

Or rather, who could become the Fourth Hokage.