Tenzo: Damn, Have I Become the Killer?

It was midnight.

The Uchiha Clan Compound was unusually lively.

An important member of the Root Organization and an elite guard of Hokage Assistant Danzo had died.

The body had been found inside the Uchiha Clan Compound.

This was extremely dangerous for the Uchiha clan.

Ryoma had clashed with the Uchiha several times. Now that Ryoma was dead, the Uchiha had become the prime suspects.

And Eiji, being someone highly skilled at framing others, immediately thought of several names.

The first was definitely Shimura Danzō.

That despicable bastard was capable of doing anything except something good.

Even sacrificing his own guard would be perfectly normal to him.

If it was Danzo, what did he want?

Nothing more than dumping the blame on the Uchiha and giving the Hokage an excuse to take necessary action against them.

Wait a second. Eiji suddenly felt that something was wrong.

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

This was clearly Wood Style Ninjutsu.

Across the entire Shinobi World, among those still breathing, only a handful of shinobi could use Wood Style.

There was Tenzo of the Anbu. His Wood Style was mainly used for landscaping.

Danzo's Wood Style could also turn into a giant 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?

You could have simply slit his throat with two cuts.

After pulling something like this, who could possibly take this huge accusation off your hands?

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

The next morning, Konoha's higher-ups received the news of Ryoma's death.

After a brief daze, Danzo realized that he could no longer suppress the corners of his mouth from rising.

Ryoma was dead!

He had died on Uchiha territory without Danzo having to lift a finger!

This was wonderful news.

Regardless of who the real culprit was, Danzo had already labeled him a "Guardian of Konoha" in his heart.

He thought that once he became Hokage, he would have to thank him properly.

He reached the Hokage Building at incredible speed.

With a bang, he shoved the doors open.

"Bastards! Someone has killed a man wantonly in Konoha! Do they think this place is their backyard?"

Danzo stormed inside.

"Hiruzen, we have to act."

Hiruzen nodded. This time, he surprisingly did not contradict Danzo.

"They even used First Hokage's Wood Style. This is nothing less than a provocation against Konoha!"

"Starting today, cancel the leave of the Security Division, the Anbu, and the Root Organization. Put all our effort into finding the killer who murdered Ryoma!"

Danzo snorted. "Exactly. And he used Wood Style!"

Wait?

Wood Style?

Ryoma was killed by Wood Style?

When had the Uchiha produced a shinobi capable of using Wood Style?

Hiruzen handed over Ryoma's examination report.

Danzo stared blankly at the details, his eyes almost bulging from their sockets.

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

The only person in the village publicly known to possess Wood Style was Tenzo.

Setting aside the possibility that he had killed someone in his sleep, there was only one truth: Tenzo had killed Ryoma.

But why would Tenzo do it?

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, he had a different idea.

Tenzo's whereabouts could be confirmed every day, making it difficult for him to find the time to kill someone.

Moreover, given his strength, it was impossible for him to silently kill an elite shinobi of the Root Organization and then quietly dump the body on Uchiha territory.

But Hiruzen knew someone who might possess such strength.

His former student, one of Konoha's Sannin, and now a traitor—Orochimaru.

Orochimaru had secretly conducted Wood Style Experiments for many years. After Hiruzen discovered them, Orochimaru defected from Konoha.

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

As for Eiji, he could be certain this was the work of the Masked Man.

Wood Style Ninjutsu and mysterious space-time ninjutsu.

That boy might as well have announced his ID number too.

Uchiha Kenji.

And the only reason the Masked Man had done this was to drive a wedge between the two sides and gradually make Eiji lose faith in Konoha.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you won't have trouble finding it next time.

He was simply trying to force Eiji to leave Konoha and join the great Moon Eye Plan.

Sigh, Kenji, Kenji. How could you be this stupid?

Danzo considered pinning another charge on the Uchiha.

But after thinking it over, he could not find a suitable excuse.

He could not exactly say, "That naturally evil Uchiha brat stole First Hokage's Kekkei Genkai of Wood Style," could he?

After a brief silence, Hiruzen issued the first order.

"Question Tenzo as a matter of routine first."

"Kakashi, you carried out a mission with Tenzo yesterday. You should go to the Security Division as well."

"Yes, Hokage."

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

Danzo stood to the side, suddenly overcome by an inexplicable fury.

Ryoma had died for nothing.

He had lost another loyal subordinate.

Who would handle all those troublesome tasks in the future?

Security Division, interrogation room.

"Name."

"Tenzo."

"Gender."

"?"

"What were you doing last night?"

Tenzo pointed at Kakashi. "I was patrolling with Senior Kakashi the entire time. I never left his sight."

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

"Yes. I have work records here. They record what happened and at what time."

Eiji suddenly narrowed his eyes. "I understand. Senior Tenzo, look over the transcript. If there are no problems, sign it."

"Please do not leave the village during this period. We may need to contact you at any time."

"Understood."

Tenzo's expression was not very good.

He had been an honest man all his life. Who could have imagined that such a huge accusation would suddenly land on him?

Fortunately, Senior Kakashi could testify for him, and Eiji was reasonable. Otherwise, he really would have had no way to explain himself.

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

"Tenzo was framed. He had no reason to commit such a wanton murder."

Eiji nodded. "Perhaps the shinobi who possesses the Kekkei Genkai of Wood Style has been watching us from right beside us all along."

Kakashi pulled out Icha Icha Paradise and began reading it seriously.

"I think that is very possible. In this Shinobi World, you never know what bizarre thing might happen the next second."

Kakashi made it sound casual on the surface, but all sorts of strange possibilities had already surfaced in his mind.

What was the purpose of the killer who was trying to frame the Uchiha?

Could it be to intensify the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha and force the Uchiha into rebellion?

Who would do such a thing?

Danzo.

He knew Danzo had always regarded the Uchiha as his greatest threat. Now that Eiji was shining so brightly, Danzo must be suffering terribly as he watched.

Eiji suddenly chuckled. "Do you think it is possible that I possess Wood Style Ninjutsu but have simply never used it?"

Kakashi's pupils suddenly contracted.

What the hell was Eiji talking about?

Why was he throwing himself into the fire?

Kakashi put away his book and stared seriously at Eiji.

"Don't say such pointless things. I will uncover the truth and clear Tenzo's name."

At the same time, Zetsu, hidden underground, used a secret technique to quietly appear beside the Masked Man.

After learning that Kakashi intended to uncover the truth, the Masked Man could not help but sneer.

"Useless Kakashi. He cannot accomplish anything. He could not even protect Rin!"

Zetsu likewise mocked the Masked Man. "If you had not used Wood Style to kill someone, they would not even have had a chance to investigate."

The Masked Man paused. "Starting today, I will kill one person every day. I want to see what Kakashi can possibly uncover."

"Wait." Zetsu was sweating profusely. "Did you forget that our original goal was not to kill people, but to force Eiji to leave Konoha?"

"..."

The Masked Man fell silent, and Zetsu fell silent as well.

You absolute idiot. What are you doing?

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

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

"Killing more people is meaningless now. They already know that someone is framing that brat."

The Masked Man nodded. "I will keep an eye on that brat until I come up with a new plan."

Zetsu gave him a deep look and forcibly held back his curse.

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