Deputy Chief of Root
The Root building.
Minato frowned as he looked at the report in his hand.
Thanks to the medical experts' overnight diagnosis, the poison that killed the unfortunate man and the method of poisoning were investigated and clarified. The poisoned Senbon was tucked inside the envelope among a thick stack of large bills. It was estimated that he was pricked in the finger while counting the money, and he died in less than half a minute.
This method was so simple and brutal that it was outrageous. Ironically, it exploited a loophole in people's thinking, and with one careless move, the unsuspecting and unlucky person fell victim to it. Therefore, it was very difficult to find out the identity of the poisoner through this method.
In other words, the only way to find out the identity of the man in black is to use poison, but this path has also encountered obstacles.
The poison used to infuse the Senbon was indeed very special. It took effect extremely quickly, was extremely potent, and had an extremely complex composition. It was definitely made by a master, a conclusion that was reached in a short time.
The crucial problem now is that the person who created this poison is far too skilled, and their style is unlike any known or documented expert in poisons. This has left the medical department and Root experts scratching their heads. Where the hell did this guy come from? It's like seeing a ghost...
Is the true nature unclear?
Minato tapped his index finger lightly on the table, Minato his brains. This matter seemed more complicated than he had anticipated.
However, it wasn't entirely fruitless. Since the poison maker was so skilled, it was most likely related to the Sand Village.
The formulation of poisons is a highly rigorous, specialized, and extremely risky discipline.
Every year, the number of Sand Village ninjas who die in accidents while researching poisons exceeds three digits, including some Jonin death.
The Sand Ninja's superb skill in using poison is the result of generations of people's fearless efforts. Almost every master of poison-making has some connection to the Sand Ninja. Without the experience of predecessors, talent alone cannot make it in this field.
Therefore, the person who poisoned the body is most likely a Sand Ninja.
The Shinobi World is a small place, and everyone has their own designated spot. The number of skilled ninjas is limited, and it's impossible for a bunch of unknown masters to exist.
Is there anything unusual about the Sand Village delegation?
The Minato issue echoed in the empty office.
"So far, everything is normal. The Sand Ninja have not done anything out of line, and all members of the delegation are under the round-the-clock surveillance of six Hyuga Clan experts."
A cold, stiff voice came from the darkness.
"... Is there not a single flaw?"
Minato scratched his head in frustration.
His intuition told him that this matter must be related to the Sand Village, but the Sand Village and Konoha had been allies for more than ten years. If he couldn't find any clues about the other side, he couldn't resort to force. Rasa, the leader of the Sand Village delegation, was Kazekage candidate and a sure thing to become the Fourth Kazekage. He was not someone to be trifled with.
"But what is it all for? A mere section chief, with only Chunin -level strength, what value does he have...? And what is being traded?"
His slightly thin body was buried deep in the large seat. Minato frowned and suddenly spoke.
"... Let me report again on the investigation results regarding that unfortunate fellow who died."
"Nozawa Kawa, born in Konoha in the 22nd year... After graduating from the Ninja Academy, he joined the Western Border Defense Force... He suffered a severe head injury during a battle with the Sand Ninja and was sent back to Konoha to recuperate... He passed the Administration Department's review and entered the Archives Bureau, responsible for compiling statistics on Sand Ninja casualties on the Western Front..."
A calm, emotionless voice mechanically reported the investigation results once again.
"Sunagakure... Sunagakure ninja again...?"
Minato had a vague suspicion that this seemingly ordinary Nozawa Kawa was likely a spy planted by the Sand Village, a high-level agent who kept his true abilities hidden.
Despite being allies now, Konoha and Sunagakure have never stopped infiltrating each other. Today they may be drinking and laughing, but tomorrow they may be drawing their swords against each other. There is no shortage of treachery and deceit in the Shinobi World. Moreover, Sunagakure is different from Rain Ninja. As one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, Rain Ninja cannot match.
We must never let our guard down.
The deceased Nozawa Kawa was very likely a spy for the Sand Village.
"If this Nozawa Kawa is a spy, then what information has he obtained over the years...? Go and investigate again, from the moment he entered the Administration Department... no, from the moment he set foot on the western Border Defense Force, I need to know all the classified documents he has come into contact with... This matter will be handled by Itachi."
After weighing the options, Minato assigned the task to his younger subordinate.
"Should we hand it over to the Deputy Chief?"
The voice in the shadows showed a rare slight fluctuation.
"Let Itachi handle it. If necessary, his pupil technique can be very useful. I know he's busy tracking that 'ghoul' right now, so let someone else handle it for now. At least... at least after the Sand Village delegation leaves, he can continue to take over."
"Yes, Lord Commander."
Minato's will is firm, so there is no room for further objection.
Despite his gentle and refined appearance, Minato's authority within Root is absolute, and no one can shake his prestige.
Someone secretly left to deliver the Lord Commander's orders.
In the depths of a park to the north of the village stands a half-new Memorial Stone.
There are many Memorial Stones in Konoha. Whenever the name on one Memorial Stone is engraved, a new Memorial Stone is erected.
The Memorial Stone here is the newest one built Third Shinobi War. Not many names are inscribed on it, and most of the space is still empty, left for future generations.
Memorial Stone, the young man carrying a great sword silently gazed at the names on the stone, his handsome face bearing a faint sadness, and deep tear troughs inherited from his father.
He was Uchiha Itachi, a genius whose life was filled with tragedy and was short-lived.
Now, he is one of the two brightest rising stars among the younger generation of the Uchiha Clan, the young Deputy Chief of Root, and a strong contender for the position of Fifth Hokage nominated by the Uchiha Clan —a young man with a promising future.
He gently touched the cold Memorial Stone with his palm, then, without turning his head, asked directly, "How's the investigation going?"
"It's been confirmed. The Sand Village has been ransacked by ghouls this time. Led by clans like Shizuin and Okukan, the family cemeteries of all the Sand Village's powerful clans have been vandalized. However, strangely, the remains of the dead have not been damaged. So, although Shizuin and the other clans are furious, they haven't done anything irrational."
Wearing a yellow chrysanthemum-patterned mask, the Root ninja knelt on one knee and reported the intelligence he had gathered in a deep voice. (To be continued)