At the same time, at the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was dressed in battle armor and preparing to head to the scene.
Although the ANBU under his command had reported that Uchiha Fugaku had already rushed there at the first opportunity,
Hiruzen Sarutobi still couldn't feel at ease.
After all...
Today, just one week after the end of the Nine-Tails' Rampage, another vicious incident targeting all of Konoha had suddenly occurred.
As the leader of a village, he couldn't simply stand by and watch.
Just then.
Three figures walked in from outside.
Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed the ANBU and faced his three old classmates.
Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō.
"Hiruzen, the investigation has yielded new results."
Utatane Koharu spoke first.
"We suspect that the Uchiha Clan lured the Nine-Tails here."
Mitokado Homura nodded. "I believe everyone knows that the only thing capable of controlling the Nine-Tails is the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan."
"..."
Faced with the theory put forward by his three old classmates a week ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi froze for a moment.
Why are they bringing this up again?
"It was the Uchiha Clan that summoned the Nine-Tails here," Shimura Danzō stated calmly.
"..."
Faced with Danzō's assertion,
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
"After the war, the Uchiha Clan's attitude, the 'black-box shelving' of Uchiha Fugaku during the 'Fourth Hokage' election, and the Uchiha Clan's many grievances against the village over the years..."
In front of Hiruzen Sarutobi,
Shimura Danzō spoke bluntly about all the shady operations Konoha had carried out.
"The Uchiha Clan's movements... the Root under my command has already investigated them thoroughly. It is a fact that they harbor discontent toward the village..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "That is because of grudges accumulated over many years..."
"Not only that."
Shimura Danzō interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Even Uchiha Fugaku, a