Yashiro Uchiha sneered. "Captain Kakashi, you should understand this perfectly well too, shouldn't you?"
"If those Anbu were truly pursuing and interrogating prisoners, why weren't they wearing their exclusive Anbu masks?"
"If they had worn masks, Aoki and Yamamoto would naturally have known their identities. Even if they still questioned them, they never would have rashly attacked!"
"This was clearly meant to lure them into a trap!"
"Not to mention, since that female spy could severely injure Aoki and Yamamoto, the seal on her body must have already been undone. If so, why would she silently endure the torture and abuse of those Anbu?!"
"Anyone with eyes can see that this was all nothing more than a conspiracy and a trap!"
Kakashi Hatake, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Ibiki Morino remained silent.
Of course, they could see it clearly as well.
But...
The person involved was the former Anbu captain, Lord Hokage's biological son!
If they reported this...
Seeing this, Yashiro Uchiha grew even more furious.
"Captain Kakashi, Qianyu appointed you to lead this investigation. Are you going to engage in favoritism and protect him?!"
"Are you worthy of his trust?!"
Kakashi Hatake exchanged glances with Ibiki Morino and Inoichi Yamanaka.
Ibiki Morino shrugged.
"I don't care. All I want is the truth."
Inoichi Yamanaka said solemnly.
"Kakashi, the decision is in your hands."
"Although you brought Ibiki and me in to investigate with you, we are ultimately only carrying out our duties. You are the person Uchiha Qianyu and Lord Hokage appointed to take charge."
Kakashi Hatake sighed.
"I understand."
The investigation report scroll in his hand felt as heavy as a mountain.
Kakashi Hatake understood that Lord Hokage had agreed to Qianyu's request and put him in charge partly to test him and determine where he stood.
And once this report was submitted, it would probably...
"Because..."
"I think that in the entire Anbu, at least you somewhat resemble a human being."
Uchiha Qianyu's words suddenly echoed through Kakashi Hatake's mind.
At the same time, another Uchiha clan member's face, always wearing a bright smile, faintly surfaced in his thoughts...
Kakashi Hatake took a deep breath.
"Elder Yashiro, please rest assured. I will..."
"Report the truth to Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi at His Wits' End!
"The Mangekyō Sharingan?!"
Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi had smoked his pipe all night long. Smoke filled the room, so thick and pungent it was suffocating.
After hearing Uchiha Shisui's report, his expression changed drastically!
As the disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood the terror of the Mangekyō Sharingan!
Back then, Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha had both awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. That was why the two brothers could fight the Senju Clan, which had produced two Hokage, to a standstill.
Hiruzen Sarutobi coldly looked at Uchiha Shisui.
"Shisui, I will not blame you for failing to strike a killing blow."
"But I want to ask you something..."
Uchiha Shisui knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head at all.
"Please ask, Lord Hokage."
"If you and Uchiha Qianyu truly went to war..."
"What are your chances of winning?!"
Uchiha Shisui breathed a sigh of relief. If Hiruzen had asked anything else, he might have felt somewhat guilty.
But when it came to strength...
"Please rest assured, Lord Hokage!"
"Uchiha Qianyu's Mangekyō Sharingan has only just awakened. In terms of Eye Power, he is far inferior to me. Moreover..."
"No one can compare to the Dojutsu of my Mangekyō Sharingan."
"And I possess the ultimate secret art within the Mangekyō Sharingan..."
"Susanoo!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded as well, and his expression improved considerably.
"Susanoo?"
"That truly is a legendary power..."
"I remember my teacher saying that it was the third power one could finally master only after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan and then awakening the Dojutsu of both eyes..."
Uchiha Shisui could not help feeling immense admiration.
"Lord Hokage, you truly deserve your title as the Professor of Ninjutsu."
"Even within the Uchiha clan, not many people know these secrets."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head indifferently.
"These are all the results of my teacher's research into the Uchiha clan."
Although Uchiha Shisui had absolute confidence, Hiruzen Sarutobi still found it difficult to dispel the anxiety in his heart.
At that moment.
It was already fully light outside.
While he was discussing matters with Uchiha Shisui, the door to the Hokage's Office was suddenly knocked on again.
"Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart stirred.
"Is that Kakashi?"
"Come in."
Kakashi Hatake, wearing a fox-like mask, pushed open the door and entered.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared into the eyes beneath his mask, as though trying to see through him completely.
"Well, Kakashi, did the investigation yield any results?"
Kakashi Hatake nodded heavily.
"Yes. This is the report Inoichi, Ibiki, and I reached after our joint investigation."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took it from his hand. After only glancing through it twice, he furrowed his brows tightly.
"This is..."
Kakashi Hatake sighed. "Lord Hokage, I'm afraid..."
"What Uchiha Qianyu said was true..."
"Captain Shinnosuke... I mean, Captain Shinnosuke likely did indeed arrange an ambush to retaliate against Uchiha Qianyu, seriously injuring two members of the Police Force, Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamikaze."
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Shisui exchanged glances.
Naturally, neither of them was surprised.
Because they had known from the start that this was the truth.
What truly surprised Hiruzen Sarutobi was...
Kakashi Hatake's attitude and stance.
"Is that so..."
"Kakashi, are you saying that Shinnosuke truly deserved to die?"
Kakashi Hatake hurriedly said, "No, Lord Hokage. I have never thought that."
"Although... I do not approve of Captain Shinnosuke's actions, still..."
"I also absolutely do not approve of Uchiha Qianyu's extreme methods."
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "If you were Uchiha Qianyu, what would you do?"
Kakashi Hatake froze for a moment, but he still answered honestly.
"I would probably do everything in my power to seek justice for my subordinates as well..."
"It is only that my methods would not be so extreme."
The image that appeared in his mind...
Was Uchiha Obito's resolute face, along with the words he had once said to him.
"In the shinobi world, those who break the rules are called trash."
"But those who do not cherish their comrades..."
"Are worse than trash!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at him meaningfully.
Before you continue