The Inside Man

After trying each of the Wood Release ninjutsu that consumed the least chakra, Uchiha Fugaku ultimately discovered that he could not use any Wood Release ninjutsu at all.

With the current concentration of his Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, it was insufficient for him to use any Wood Release ninjutsu.

He was not overly disappointed by this.

"Although I can't use Wood Release, my original goal has been achieved—and surpassed!"

It was indeed somewhat regrettable that he could not use the legendary Wood Release, but his purpose in refining White Zetsu's corpse had already been achieved.

He had successfully stopped his eyes from going blind. Not only that, but the damage already inflicted on them was being repaired.

At most, it would take a month for his eyes to fully recover, restoring them to their original state.

"I should be able to use the ninjutsu that White Zetsu can use. Those few techniques may not be powerful, but they're extremely practical."

"Unfortunately, things were too urgent at the time. I had no chance to capture White Zetsu alive and interrogate him. The next time I encounter White Zetsu, if I get the chance, I can try to get those techniques!"

He thought to himself.

The situation had been extremely urgent. If he had not decisively killed White Zetsu and had instead captured and interrogated him, he would likely have encountered Nagato's Deva Path clone.

Even capturing White Zetsu's clone and taking it away would not have worked. With White Zetsu's clone as dead weight, he would have been unable to escape the search of Nagato's Deva Path clone.

White Zetsu's clone would never willingly help him conceal its aura. Bringing along a White Zetsu clone that could not conceal its aura meant being discovered by Nagato's Deva Path clone was inevitable.

The next morning, Uchiha Fugaku glanced at the beautiful woman sleeping beside him, a hint of springtime exposed, then quietly rose, dressed, and left the bedroom.

After breakfast, he headed to the Military Police Force.

"Captain."

"Captain."

Amid the greetings from the Military Police Force members, he entered his office.

Quite a few documents had already piled up on his desk, accumulated during his absence.

He reviewed them one by one and approved them.

Knock, knock, knock!

There was a knock at the door. After he responded, a man with black hair tinged slightly brown stepped into the office.

The man was Uchiha Yakumi, whom his predecessor had regarded as his right-hand man.

The Military Police Force had been able to function normally during his absence largely thanks to this man.

"Captain, I have an important matter to report!"

Uchiha Yakumi glanced warily toward the door, his expression solemn.

"Soundproof barrier—"

Seeing Uchiha Yakumi's serious expression, Uchiha Fugaku understood that what he was about to report was no ordinary matter.

Uchiha Fugaku cast a soundproof barrier, setting up a sealed barrier within the office to prevent any sound from leaking out.

"You may speak."

"Captain, there has been a discovery regarding the traitor in the clan that you ordered me to investigate!"

Uchiha Yakumi said in a low voice.

After receiving Uchiha Fugaku's order, he had been secretly investigating the clan's traitor. Not long ago, he had finally made a discovery.

"You've found something? Who exactly is the traitor?"

Uchiha Fugaku hurriedly asked.

The traitor hidden within the Uchiha Clan was like a bone lodged in his throat, leaving him deeply unsettled.

"One person we have identified is Uchiha Sen, though we cannot rule out the possibility of other traitors!"

Uchiha Yakumi answered.

"It's him!"

Uchiha Fugaku was startled upon hearing the name.

Uchiha Sen was a member of the Uchiha Clan who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and possessed the strength of an Elite Jonin.

Within the Uchiha Clan, he was one of the few rational clan members, much like the Second Elder, Uchiha Moru.

He had never expected this man to be the traitor hidden within the Uchiha Clan.

"Can you be certain?"

He asked somewhat skeptically.

"There's no doubt. He possesses a summoning scroll used by the Anbu to transmit messages. I saw it with my own eyes while hiding in the shadows."

Rare anger appeared on Uchiha Yakumi's face.

"I never thought the traitor would be him!"

Uchiha Fugaku sighed.

An Elite Jonin—and one of the few rational Elite Jonin in the Uchiha Clan who did not spend every day talking about a coup d'état.

He had originally felt quite gratified, yet he had never expected the other man to be a traitor, a thorn lodged in the Uchiha Clan's throat.

"According to the investigation, Uchiha Sen's father was an outsider, while his mother was from the clan. After his father died in battle, he returned to the Uchiha Clan and took the Uchiha surname."

"He should have come into contact with the Third Hokage before that, joined the Anbu, and secretly become a traitor planted within the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Yakumi said.

"His father was an outsider."

Surprise showed in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes. He had not expected Uchiha Sen to have such an identity.

With that background, Uchiha Sen's sense of belonging to the Uchiha Clan was likely limited. And having encountered the Third Hokage, an expert at brainwashing, it was no wonder he had been brainwashed into becoming a traitor.

"Captain, how should Uchiha Sen be dealt with?"

Uchiha Yakumi asked.

"Since he has become a traitor, he cannot be allowed to live!"

Killing intent appeared in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes.

He would never show mercy to such a treacherous traitor.

As for Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, they were merely exceptions.

Uchiha Shisui also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, and he had no confidence that he could defeat and kill Uchiha Shisui.

As for Uchiha Itachi, those eyes were necessary for him to obtain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, so he could not be killed for the time being.

"To avoid alerting the Third Hokage, it would be best if his death could appear unrelated to the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Fugaku added.

"Make Uchiha Sen's death appear unrelated to the Uchiha Clan?"

Uchiha Yakumi pondered this.

"Captain, how about we strike when he accepts a mission? If he dies during the mission, it will make his death appear unrelated to the Uchiha Clan."

"It is indeed a good method."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded.

Although the young and middle-aged ninjas of the Uchiha Clan joined the Military Police Force and became its members,

they also accepted village missions in their spare time to hone their combat skills.

They could assassinate Uchiha Sen while he was carrying out a mission and make it appear to be the work of enemy ninjas.

That way, Uchiha Sen's death would appear unrelated to the Uchiha Clan.

"Keep watch on Uchiha Sen's movements. The moment you discover that he has accepted a mission requiring him to leave the village, inform me immediately."

"Also, Uchiha Sen may not be the only traitor hidden within the clan. The investigation into traitors within the clan must continue."

He gave his orders.

"Yes."

Uchiha Yakumi answered respectfully.