Tenzo: Damn, I've become the murderer?

Deep in the night.

The Uchiha Clan Compound was unusually lively.

A key member of the Root Organization, the important guard of Hokage Assistant Danzō, was dead.

His body had appeared inside the Uchiha Clan Compound.

This was extremely dangerous for the Uchiha clan.

Ryoma had clashed with the Uchiha multiple times, and now that he was dead, the Uchiha became the prime suspects.

And Eiji, being someone highly skilled at framing others, had a few names flash through his mind.

The first was definitely Shimura Danzō.

That despicable man would do anything except good deeds.

Even sacrificing his own guard was perfectly normal for him.

If it was Danzō, then what did he want?

Nothing more than pinning this blame on the Uchiha, forcing the Hokage to take necessary action against them.

Wait, Eiji suddenly felt something was off.

Ryoma's entire body was pierced by sharp wooden spikes, making him look like a giant hedgehog.

This was clearly Wood Style Ninjutsu.

Across the entire shinobi world, among living, breathing ninja, only a handful could use Wood Style.

Tenzo of the Anbu—his Wood Style was mainly for landscaping.

Danzō's Wood Style could also turn into a large tree.

And the last one was that man.

Uchiha Kenji.

Sometimes Eiji really wanted to laugh. Kenji, when you frame someone, could you at least use your brain?

Even if you'd just slit his throat with two cuts, that would've been fine.

But pulling something like this, who could possibly take this huge black pot off your hands?

"Report this to the Hokage. A dangerous individual has infiltrated Konoha."

The next morning, Konoha's upper echelons received news of Ryoma's death.

After a brief moment of shock, Danzō found he couldn't control the upward twitch of his lips.

Ryoma was dead!

Without him lifting a finger, he'd died on Uchiha turf!

This was truly good news.

No matter who the real killer was, Danzō had already mentally slapped a "Defender of Konoha" label on them.

He thought that if he ever became Hokage one day, he'd have to thank them properly.

He rushed to the Hokage Building at top speed.

Bang—he slammed the door open.

"Bastards! Killing people freely in Konoha—do they think this is their personal backyard?!"

Danzō stormed in.

"Hiruzen, we must act now."

Hiruzen nodded. This time, he didn't argue with Danzō.

"And using the First Hokage's Wood Style—this is nothing short of a provocation against Konoha!"

"Effective today, cancel all days off for the Security Division, the Anbu, and the Root Organization. Devote full strength to hunting down Ryoma's killer!"

Danzō snorted coldly. "Right, and using Wood Style!"

Wait?

Wood Style?

Ryoma was killed by Wood Style?

Since when did the Uchiha have a ninja who could use Wood Style?

Hiruzen handed over Ryoma's examination report.

And Danzō stared blankly at the explanation, his eyes nearly bulging out.

He had studied Wood Style for decades, and he recognized at a glance that this was Wood Style: Impaling Technique.

The only publicly known Wood Style user in the village was Tenzo.

Barring the possibility that Tenzo killed him in his sleep, there was only one truth: Ryoma was killed by Tenzo.

But why would Tenzo do it?

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, he held a different view.

Tenzo's whereabouts could be confirmed every day, making it nearly impossible for him to have time to kill.

Moreover, given his strength, silently killing an elite Root operative and dumping the body on Uchiha territory without a trace was simply out of the question.

But Hiruzen knew one person who might possess such ability.

His former beloved student, one of Konoha's Sannin, now the traitor Orochimaru.

Orochimaru had conducted Wood Style experiments in secret for years, and after being discovered, he fled Konoha.

Based on Hiruzen's understanding of Orochimaru, it was possible that with his skills, he could create another test subject capable of using Wood Style.

As for Eiji, it was clear that the Masked Man was behind it.

Wood Style ninjutsu, mysterious space-time techniques.

That kid might as well have blurted out his ID number.

Uchiha Kenji.

The Masked Man's goal in doing this was simply to sow discord between the two sides, slowly driving him to lose faith in Konoha.

If you enjoy this book and don't want to lose track of it, remember to add it to your bookshelf.

To force him to leave Konoha and join the great Moon Eye Plan.

Sigh, Kenji, Kenji, how could you be this foolish.

Danzo thought about pinning another charge on the Uchiha.

But after mulling it over, he couldn't find a suitable excuse.

He couldn't very well say that the inherently evil Uchiha brat had stolen the First Hokage's Wood Style Kekkei Genkai, could he?

After a brief silence, Hiruzen issued his first order.

"First, conduct a routine interrogation of Tenzo."

"Kakashi, you were on a mission with Tenzo yesterday. Head to the Security Division as well."

"Yes, Hokage."

Eiji and Kakashi left the office to find Tenzo at the Anbu.

Meanwhile, Danzo stood to the side, a sudden surge of inexplicable anger rising in his heart.

Ryoma had died for nothing.

Another loyal subordinate lost.

Who was he supposed to dump these messy tasks on now?

Security Division, interrogation room.

"Name."

"Tenzo."

"Gender."

"?"

"What were you doing last night?"

Tenzo pointed at Kakashi. "I was on patrol with Senior Kakashi the entire time. We never left each other's sight."

Eiji turned to Kakashi. "Is what Tenzo said true?"

"Yes, I have a work log here, recording what happened at each hour and minute."

Eiji suddenly narrowed his eyes. "I understand. Senior Tenzo, please review the statement. If there are no issues, sign it."

"Don't leave the village for now. We may call on you at any time."

"Understood."

Tenzo's expression was grim.

He had lived an honest life his whole time, never expecting to be saddled with such a massive black pot.

Thankfully, Senior Kakashi could vouch for him, and Eiji was reasonable enough, or this situation would have been impossible to explain.

Kakashi gave Eiji a look, and the two stepped outside the Security Division.

"Tenzo is being framed. He has no motive to commit such random murders."

Eiji hummed in acknowledgment. "Perhaps the ninja who mastered the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai has been watching us all along."

Kakashi pulled out Icha Icha Paradise and began reading intently.

"I think it's very possible. In this shinobi world, you never know what bizarre thing might happen next."

On the surface, Kakashi spoke lightly, but inside, a flood of strange thoughts was already surfacing.

What was the true purpose of this culprit trying to frame the Uchiha?

Was it to escalate the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha, forcing them into rebellion?

Who would do something like this?

Danzo.

He knew Danzo had always viewed the Uchiha as a thorn in his side, and now Eiji was shining too brightly.

Danzo must have been watching, and it must have been eating at him.

Eiji suddenly let out a soft laugh. "What if I told you there's a possibility I've mastered Wood Style Ninjutsu but never used it?"

Kakashi's pupils sharply contracted.

What the hell was Eiji saying?

Why would he willingly jump into a fire pit like this!

Kakashi put away his book and looked at Eiji seriously.

"Don't say such pointless things. I'll find out the truth and clear Tenzo's name."

Meanwhile, Zetsu, hidden underground, used a secret technique to quietly slip over to the Masked Man's side.

After learning that Kakashi was going to investigate the truth, the Masked Man couldn't help but sneer.

"Useless Kakashi. He can't do anything. He couldn't even protect Rin!"

Zetsu sneered back at the Masked Man. "If you hadn't used Wood Style to kill people, they probably wouldn't even have a lead to investigate right now."

The Masked Man paused. "Starting today, I'll kill one person every day. Let's see what Kakashi can dig up."

"Wait," Zetsu said, nearly breaking into a sweat. "Have you forgotten our real goal isn't to kill people, but to force Eiji to leave Konoha?"

"..."

The Masked Man fell silent, and Zetsu fell silent too.

What the hell are you doing, you big idiot!

Can the great Moon Eye Plan really succeed in your hands?

Zetsu felt his blood pressure rising and wanted to find a cool place to rest.

"Killing more people is pointless now. They already know someone's framing that brat."

The Masked Man grunted. "I'll keep an eye on that brat until I come up with a new plan."

Zetsu gave him a long, hard look, barely holding back from cursing out loud.

You don't have a damn plan. You're even dumber than that idiot Madara.