The next day.
Uchiha Sōgetsu emerged from the ANBU Building with two dark circles under his eyes, rubbing his bleary eyes and yawning.
The sudden eruption of powerful Chakra within the Uchiha Clan compound last night, along with the obvious signs of battle, clearly could not have escaped the Anbu's notice.
Especially during this sensitive period, the Hokage and Danzo had focused nearly all their attention on the Uchiha Clan.
Sure enough, they had summoned him to the Anbu overnight to write a report, recounting everything that had happened last night in full detail.
He had spent the entire night writing reports!
Writing documents before transmigrating, writing reports after transmigrating, was that it?
Damn it. Uchiha Sōgetsu's face was full of resentment. Just as he was planning to head back for some sleep, someone blocked his way.
"Owl, Lord Hokage wants you in his office." The person who stopped him was Elephant, one of the Hokage's personal guard Anbu. His tone remained as cold as ever.
"Yes, I'll go right away." Uchiha Sōgetsu's expression was blank, the very image of an office worker dragging himself to an eight a.m. shift.
At that moment, his resentment shot straight into the heavens.
Elephant inexplicably shivered, giving him a strange look. "You... forget it. Remember to bring this."
As he spoke, he handed over a mask.
A white mask bore the image of an owl, painted in black ink.
The mask... did this mean he was to carry out some mission as an Anbu?
Uchiha Sōgetsu took the mask, put it on, and silently lowered his head as he left.
Hokage Building, office.
Knock, knock, knock!
After a brief knock, Uchiha Sōgetsu pushed the door open. "Lord Hokage, Owl reporting."
"Mm, your timing is perfect, Owl." The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, smoking a pipe, with thick stacks of documents piled beside him. Seeing him enter, he rubbed his brow and said, "I've already heard from Fugaku about what happened last night. Can you tell me how you discovered him?"
So it really had something to do with Black Zetsu. Uchiha Sōgetsu understood at once. "Reporting to Lord Hokage, it was the Sharingan. Perhaps because I am rather skilled in genjutsu, my Chakra perception is particularly sharp."
"The Sharingan..."
The Third Hokage fell into thought, his fingers lightly tapping on the desk.
There was something strange about this matter from beginning to end, forcing him to wonder who had truly been pulling the strings behind it.
Especially at this extremely sensitive and critical moment.
The Hokage Election had made these people emerge one after another. Even Danzo was nearly unable to restrain himself any longer.
"Why did he appear at a time like this?" The Third Hokage had a headache. He gently pressed his throbbing temples and casually took two reports from a drawer. "These are the reports Jiraiya and Orochimaru submitted early this morning. Read them, then tell me what you think."
In truth, he had already known the outcome without reading the reports.
Although Orochimaru had failed to stop Black Zetsu, he had directly taken half of Black Zetsu's cells using sealing techniques, intending to secretly study them later.
To be honest, he was not surprised by that outcome.
After all, that was Black Zetsu, the ultimate filial son. No matter what, he had come from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, so he had to possess at least this much ability.
However, in front of the Third Hokage, he still needed to put on an act.
The reports were largely identical. The only difference was that Orochimaru had concealed his theft of Black Zetsu's cells, as well as Black Zetsu's identity and origins.
Closing the reports, Uchiha Sōgetsu pretended to ponder for a moment before saying, "Lord Hokage, I suspect he is a spy sent by another village. His purpose is to seize the Uchiha Clan's Kekkei Genkai and incite internal conflict in Konoha, then launch a war when we are at our weakest!"
His deduction was based on the future plot, combined with Konoha's chaotic internal political situation.
As for exposing Black Zetsu's identity?
Only an idiot would do that. Revealing that fellow's identity in advance would only cost him his plot advantage.
And if he considered an even worse possibility, who knew whether the Sage of Six Paths, who had been hiding in the Pure Land all this time, might intervene to keep the plot on track?
As a qualified spectator, he could guide the plot appropriately, but he absolutely could not tear up the script.
"Click. What you said makes a great deal of sense."
After hearing his deduction, the Third Hokage gave him an approving look. Then he flicked away the ash, exhaled a smoke ring, and said, "However, I am worried about something else."
"Something else?" Uchiha Sōgetsu froze.
"That's right. That is also why I called you here."
The Third Hokage reached into a drawer, took out an ancient-looking scroll, and handed it to him.
The scroll was extremely old, its surface covered in dust and showing signs of damage. It was clear that it had not been kept in good condition.
"Warring States Sealing History Scroll?" Uchiha Sōgetsu stared at the words on it, even more confused. "Lord Hokage, what is this?"
"This scroll records dangerous individuals sealed by the great clans of what is now Konoha during the Warring States Period." The Third Hokage set his pipe aside and clasped his hands together. His brow furrowed deeply, and a worried expression appeared on his face. "I had nearly forgotten about this matter myself, but the person who appeared last night suddenly reminded me of it."
"You mean that person may have been a dangerous individual sealed during the Warring States Period?" Uchiha Sōgetsu put on a shocked expression.
He had not expected that after taking advantage of Black Zetsu, he would instead make a new discovery.
The Warring States Sealing History Scroll had never appeared in the original story, nor had there ever been any mention of dangerous individuals being sealed away.
"Judging from Jiraiya and Orochimaru's reports, it is highly possible." The Third Hokage said in a deep voice, "A person skilled in Yin Release Ninjutsu is rare in the present-day Shinobi World. While he may indeed be a spy from another Hidden Village, I suspect he may also be a dangerous individual sealed away by our ancestors."
"What do you mean?"
Uchiha Sōgetsu had roughly guessed the mission the Third Hokage intended to assign him. "You want me to investigate the locations marked on the scroll one by one and determine whether those seals still remain?"
"Correct. Only you can carry out this mission." The Third Hokage gave him another approving look. "Though the Warring States Period was long ago, and those who were sealed may have died long since, we still need to investigate before we can rest easy."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Uchiha Sōgetsu readily accepted the mission. "I will inspect the seals one by one according to the locations marked within the scroll."
"This mission is S-Rank."
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe again, put it to his mouth, and took a deep drag. Smoke curled through the air. "Therefore, I have assigned someone else to assist you. He is waiting for you at the Konoha Gate."
"Understood, Lord Hokage. I will prepare to depart at once and meet up with him." Uchiha Sōgetsu put away the scroll recording the seal locations, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.
He made it sound nice, calling it assistance. Wasn't it surveillance?
Still, thinking about it, that was perfectly normal. Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's personality, how could he possibly send only a member of the Uchiha Clan on such an important mission?
Politics was an art. Unfortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi had learned only the barest surface of it.
Uchiha Sōgetsu left the office, gripping the scroll in his hand as a faint smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Warring States Sealed History... interesting. Let me think about how I can make use of it."
Dear readers, please vote more and keep up the follow-up reading rate. The new-book period is far too difficult, and I need everything, especially Moon Tickets. I can only update twice a day for now, but I'll make it up to you all once the book goes premium, okay?~
Before you continue