The Unspoken Suspicion

"Could this have been the work of Wandering Ninja?"

A plump man whose build was rather unusual among ninja spoke.

He had red hair and wore suspender-style armor, with the red character for "food" on his chest.

He was Akimichi Choza, head of the Akimichi Clan. Though every member of his clan was plump, they were the "Cho" of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

"No. Although there are Wandering Ninja within the Land of Fire, they are generally weak. Even Jonin among them are few and far between."

"To ambush and kill a three-man team consisting of one Elite Jonin and two Jonin, it would take at least two Elite Jonin leading the attack. Wandering Ninja could not accomplish that."

Nara Shikaku shook his head.

"Among rogue ninja, there are quite a few with the strength of Elite Jonin. Could rogue ninja have done it?"

Aburame Shibi asked.

"Hard to say. Rogue ninja generally do not take the initiative to attack ninja from other villages, but if there was a bounty in the black market, they might very well be targeted by rogue ninja."

As he spoke, Nara Shikaku turned his gaze toward a man with long blond hair.

"Inoichi, was there a bounty for Shimura Ryoma in the black market?"

"No. As far as I know, there was no bounty related to Shimura Ryoma in the black market."

The blond-haired man answered.

His name was Yamanaka Inoichi, head of the Yamanaka Clan. His clan was the "Ino" of Ino-Shika-Cho.

Due to his clan's secret techniques, his role in the village involved intelligence. That was why Nara Shikaku had asked him.

"Then we can rule out the possibility of rogue ninja. That only leaves the possibility that another ninja village was responsible."

"This is also the most likely possibility. After all, only other ninja villages could effortlessly dispatch a force of two Elite Jonin along with numerous elite ninja."

Nara Shikaku said.

"Third, the deaths of one Elite Jonin and two Jonin are rare, heavy losses since the Third Shinobi World War."

"We must investigate which force was responsible as quickly as possible and give them the response they deserve. Otherwise, Konoha's prestige will be utterly ruined."

After hearing Nara Shikaku's analysis, Shimura Danzō looked toward the Third Hokage.

If those who had died belonged to another clan, he naturally would not have cared. What did the lives or deaths of members of other clans have to do with him?

Even if they were from the same village, he did not consider them comrades.

But the dead were members of the Shimura Clan. They were his clansmen and subordinates.

That was why he was so eager to urge the Third Hokage to send more people to investigate this matter.

"He is right."

The Third Hokage glanced at Shimura Danzō.

He knew exactly what Shimura Danzō was thinking.

However, one thing Danzō had said was correct: if this matter was mishandled, Konoha's prestige might indeed be ruined.

Therefore, this matter not only had to be investigated, it had to be thoroughly investigated.

He began issuing orders.

"Head Yamanaka, contact the spies hidden within the other four great ninja villages and investigate the movements of their Elite Jonin over the past few days."

"Head Inuzuka, send a team of clan members skilled in tracking to join the search party and assist in searching for and tracking the enemy."

"Head Hyuga, send a team to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water to investigate whether any ninja have illegally crossed the border in recent days."

Order after order was issued. Most clans received assignments, either participating in the search or investigating the borders.

The Uchiha Clan received no orders and was one of the few clans that had not been mobilized.

It was not because the Third Hokage was showing the Uchiha Clan special consideration, but because he did not want the Uchiha Clan to participate in this kind of collective operation.

It would disrupt the plan to isolate the Uchiha Clan and would not be conducive to that isolation.

Uchiha Fugaku was not surprised by this situation.

This was what was normal now. If the Third Hokage had allowed the Uchiha Clan to participate in the operation, he would instead have wondered whether there was some scheme behind it.

If it had been the original owner of this body, he would certainly have chosen silence at a time like this.

But Fugaku did not intend to remain silent. He wanted to see whether he could join this operation and break this atmosphere of isolation.

"Hokage, the Uchiha Clan is deeply grieved by the deaths of Shimura Ryoma and the other two. We are willing to do our part and send people to participate in this operation."

"Hm?"

The Third Hokage looked at Uchiha Fugaku with some surprise.

He had not expected Uchiha Fugaku, who had always chosen silence when faced with such matters, to break that silence.

However, allowing the Uchiha Clan to join the operation and break their isolation was impossible.

He spoke.

"I am very pleased that the Uchiha Clan Head has such intentions."

"However, the Uchiha Clan bears the important responsibility of maintaining village security. At a time like this, patrol personnel must not be reduced."

"They can change from three shifts to two. That way, the number of patrol personnel will not decrease. It will be more tiring, but for the sake of the fallen ninja of the village, I believe they will understand."

Though he had been refused, Uchiha Fugaku did not intend to give up so easily and continued, "The village has not reached the point where exhausted personnel need to stand watch. However, I understand the Uchiha Clan Head's eagerness to contribute."

"I will have Uchiha Shisui represent the Uchiha Clan in this operation. Surely there can be no objection to that?"

With just a few words, the Third Hokage defused Uchiha Fugaku's "offensive" and made a symbolic "compromise" by assigning Uchiha Shisui to the operation.

In truth, Uchiha Shisui's participation had long been a settled matter, since he had already sided with the Third Hokage.

"Everything will be arranged according to the Hokage's wishes."

Uchiha Fugaku did not continue pressing the matter.

Although he knew that Uchiha Shisui had already sided with the Third Hokage and, strictly speaking, could no longer be considered one of the Uchiha Clan—

His efforts this time had not been without benefit.

Even if Uchiha Shisui had already sided with the Third Hokage, as long as he still bore the Uchiha surname, Shisui's actions would inevitably make people think of the Uchiha Clan.

Moreover, if Fugaku's guess was correct, the Third Hokage had originally intended for Uchiha Shisui to conceal his identity and participate in the mission under an Anbu codename.

Having Uchiha Shisui participate under the Uchiha Clan's name was already a success.

"Good. Since the Uchiha Clan is willing to do its part, I am sure Head Shimura is deeply grateful as well."

The Third Hokage nodded and quickly settled the matter, preventing Uchiha Fugaku from changing his mind.

"Thank you, Uchiha Clan Head."

Having been mentioned by the Third Hokage, Shimura Daisuke could only thank Uchiha Fugaku reluctantly.

What kind of relationship did the Shimura Clan and the Uchiha Clan have?

It would not be an exaggeration to say they were like fire and water.

With relations between the two sides so poor, how could Uchiha Fugaku possibly be so proactive over the deaths of Shimura Ryoma and the other two?

Clearly, Uchiha Fugaku wanted to use this chance to break the Uchiha Clan's current isolation, treating Shimura Ryoma's death as an excuse.

That was why his thanks were so reluctant.

"No need, no need. After all, we are fellow villagers. Helping is only natural."

Uchiha Fugaku replied in high spirits.

Nothing felt better than killing the other side's people and then making them thank you for it.

The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed. As he left the meeting room, Nara Shikaku's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

There was, in fact, another possibility regarding the deaths of Shimura Ryoma and the other two.

That was, the ones who had killed them might have been a clan within the village that had conflicts with the Shimura Clan.

But such a possibility absolutely could not be voiced without conclusive evidence.

Once spoken aloud, it would inevitably cause the clans to become suspicious of one another.

Therefore, he did not mention that possibility.