The Price of Making Mistakes

Two days later, Uchiha Sen's body was discovered and brought back to Konoha.

After it was brought back, the body was immediately sent to the Analysis Division and handed over to the ninja most skilled in analysis.

Several hours later, several somewhat fatigued men and women emerged from the Analysis Division.

At their head was a man with long blond hair, wearing a green flak jacket beneath a red cloak.

This man was Yamanaka Inoichi, the Clan Head of the Yamanaka Clan.

"Clan Head Inoichi, the Hokage requests your presence!"

An Anbu Ninja appeared beside Yamanaka Inoichi and spoke to him.

Led by the Anbu Ninja, Yamanaka Inoichi entered a room.

Inside, the Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing Yamanaka Inoichi arrive, the Third Hokage set down his pipe and asked,

"Were you able to read Uchiha Sen's memories from before his death?"

Even the Anbu members did not know Uchiha Sen's true identity, but naturally, he was an exception.

Uchiha Sen had been the informant he planted within the Uchiha Clan, where he had been undercover for a full sixteen years.

Upon learning of Uchiha Sen's death, his first thought had been that Uchiha Sen's identity as an informant had been exposed and that he had been purged by the Uchiha Clan.

Therefore, once Uchiha Sen's body had been transported back, he had immediately ordered Yamanaka Inoichi, the ninja most skilled in analysis, to examine it.

"Uchiha Sen's brain tissue was damaged, making it impossible to read his memories. I was unable to retrieve them."

Yamanaka Inoichi shook his head.

Although he could tell that the Third Hokage placed great importance on Uchiha Sen's death, he did not think much of it.

Though Uchiha Sen was a member of the Uchiha Clan, he was also a member of Konoha—and an extremely important one with the strength of an Elite Jonin.

It was only natural for the Third Hokage to take the matter seriously.

"His brain tissue was damaged?"

The Third Hokage pondered.

With the brain tissue damaged, any intelligence that could be obtained would undoubtedly be greatly reduced.

Conversely, that also suggested Uchiha Sen's mind contained crucial information about his death—information the enemy did not want outsiders to learn.

If the Uchiha Clan had done it, the Sharingan would inevitably have been exposed during the fight.

To prevent that crucial information about his death from being leaked, they would certainly have damaged his brain.

From this point alone, the Uchiha Clan was highly suspicious.

"Yes. Aside from the damage to his brain tissue, both of his eyes were also removed," Yamanaka Inoichi answered.

"What was the cause of death?"

The Third Hokage was not surprised that his eyes had been taken.

The Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan and the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan were both extremely powerful Kekkei Genkai.

Through certain methods, it was even possible to create a corresponding Kekkei Genkai wielder.

Even if the killer had no use for them, the eyes could be gifted or sold to someone else.

No enemy who killed Uchiha Sen would pass up his eyes.

That fact alone provided no useful information.

"The cause of death was the wound that pierced his chest. First, some sharp object stabbed into his body, then numerous spikes emerged from within and destroyed his body."

Yamanaka Inoichi described it in detail.

"A Wood Release Kekkei Genkai?"

A sharp light flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes.

Based on the description, these were clearly injuries inflicted by the Wood Release ninjutsu Wood Style: Cutting Sprig.

"Yes. The injuries are identical to those suffered by the previously slain Anbu members. They were determined to have been caused by Wood Style: Cutting Sprig."

"Either it was done by the same person, or by someone else who also possesses a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai," Yamanaka Inoichi said.

"Could it have been staged to frame someone?"

After a moment of silence, the Third Hokage asked.

If the wounds really had been inflicted by Wood Release, then the matter had nothing to do with the Uchiha Clan. Uchiha Sen's identity as an informant had not been exposed, nor had he been purged by the Uchiha Clan.

But if it had been staged, then the Uchiha Clan was undoubtedly highly suspicious.

The key question now was whether the wounds left behind had been fabricated to frame them.

"It is unlikely to have been staged."

Yamanaka Inoichi shook his head.

"Judging from the reaction of Uchiha Sen's muscles, all of his injuries should have been inflicted in the instant before his death."

"Other than Wood Style: Cutting Sprig, it would be difficult to accomplish that through staging," Yamanaka Inoichi added.

"Furthermore, Uchiha Sen had no other injuries. There was only this one fatal wound. He was killed in a single strike."

"The attacker was extremely strong, likely already Kage-level. Based on this, the person who killed Uchiha Sen should be the same one who killed the Anbu squad."

"I understand. You may leave. Repair the body, then return it to the Uchiha Clan."

The Third Hokage waved Yamanaka Inoichi away.

It was basically certain that Uchiha Sen's death had merely been an accident. He had been attacked by a ninja hostile to Konoha, rather than being purged by the Uchiha Clan after his identity as an informant was exposed.

As for the possibility that someone in the Uchiha Clan possessed a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, that was impossible.

The Uchiha Clan had no such techniques, and more importantly, they did not possess Hashirama Cells.

A body lay inside a coffin, covered by a white cloth. It was Uchiha Sen's returned corpse.

"Sen, open your eyes..."

An elderly woman with graying hair leaned over the coffin, weeping bitterly as she cried out Uchiha Sen's name in heartbreak.

She was Uchiha Sen's mother, Uchiha Ume.

Those who had been close to Uchiha Sen had all gathered nearby, except for those currently away on missions.

Among them were those who had agreed to drink with Uchiha Sen after returning from their missions.

But that promise would never be fulfilled.

Uchiha Fugaku and the other higher-ups of the Uchiha Clan had also arrived, their expressions grim.

The death of an Elite Jonin was no small matter for the Uchiha Clan.

Before this, they had already convened a clan meeting over it.

Since he made a mistake, he must pay the price!

As he looked at the grief-stricken elderly woman, Uchiha Ume, a trace of pity rose in Uchiha Fugaku's heart, but he quickly cast it aside.

Everyone had to pay for their mistakes. Otherwise, there would be no distinction between right and wrong.

Uchiha Sen had served as the Third Hokage's informant and betrayed the Uchiha Clan, so death was the punishment he deserved.

Uchiha Ume, who had lost her son in old age, was pitiful—but during the night of the clan massacre two years from now, would the entire annihilated Uchiha Clan not be pitiful as well?

It was because of moles like Uchiha Sen, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi that the Uchiha Clan's situation would worsen, eventually leading to the night of the clan massacre.

If he wanted to change the outcome of the clan's destruction, then these moles had to be eliminated one by one.