There's a Traitor Among Us!

"Hiruzen, Mito-sama, you called us here so late, did something happen?"

Danzō Shimura walked beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, muttering softly. He looked at the moon hanging high in the sky, which had been bright moments ago but was now obscured by dark clouds.

A dark night with strong winds, perfect for murder and arson.

For some reason, Danzō felt a chill. The way the Senju clan members they passed looked at him made him extremely uncomfortable.

Danzō's mood was quite complicated, while his good friend Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared calm and composed.

"If it's a blessing, it can't be avoided; if it's a disaster, it can't be escaped."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said faintly, "When others hold the knife, I am the fish. We've reached this point, what else can be done?"

It's just death, he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wasn't afraid of death. He only regretted not fulfilling his master's dying wish.

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickened his pace. Danzō, seeing Hiruzen speed up, quickly followed.

Inside the room

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Kagami Uchiha, and Torifu Akimichi had arrived at Mito Uzumaki's room a little earlier than them.

Standing at the door, Hiruzen saw two Jonin from the Senju clan standing beside Mito Uzumaki.

Senju Momoki and Senju Momoki. He already knew these two ninjas; they were Jonin of the Senju clan.

Inside the room, two rows of Senju clan ninjas stood, waiting for the two of them as if for a trial.

Such a grand scene made Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura's hearts pound.

If they handled the situation poorly, the trees planted in the Senju family's courtyard would likely grow even more luxuriantly.

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the others, seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura finally arrive, gave them wry smiles.

Their eyes held a trace of relief. Standing there moments ago, looking at the surrounding Senju clan ninjas, had been an unbearable experience for them.

Mito Uzumaki, seated in the main hall, said nothing and showed no expression. After an initial glance at Kagami Uchiha, she didn't look at them again, simply sitting in her chair and slowly drinking tea.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu knew their positions well; they were like rootless duckweed, easily manipulated as anyone pleased.

The backing of their families held no deterrence. Among Konoha's powerful bloodline clans and secret jutsu clans, they were like transparent figures, unnoticed. No one cared about them or the thoughts of their families.

If they died, they died. Who in the vast Konoha would dare say anything?

It was different for Torifu Akimichi and Kagami Uchiha. One was the son of the Akimichi clan head, from the Ino-Shika-Cho secret jutsu family, and the future Ino-Shika-Cho of Konoha.

Kagami Uchiha was a genius of the Uchiha clan, not only cherished by the Uchiha but also having been taken under Tobirama Senju's wing. This was more to maintain the relationship between the Hokage and the Uchiha, holding extraordinary political significance.

These two, no matter what, were guaranteed to be safe.

Previously, the Senju clan ninjas had been constantly staring at them. Under the dual pressure of psychological stress and the threat of death, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu always felt they were being stared at, because they were the easiest to bully.

And Mito Uzumaki remained silent, only drinking tea, clearly waiting for someone. Waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura.

No, she was waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage designated by their teacher Tobirama Senju. Danzō Shimura and the other two were in the same situation, merely supplementary.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura stood at the door, not entering. Faced with such an unusual scene, a string in Hiruzen's head seemed to snap, and a buzzing filled his mind.

Mito Uzumaki put down her teacup and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura outside the door, saying calmly:

"Since you're here, come in."

These simple words made Danzō's scalp tingle. His feet felt rooted to the spot, and he turned to look at Hiruzen, waiting to see what he would do.

Hiruzen's mind, after a brief moment of confusion, finally cleared at Mito Uzumaki's words. He took a deep breath, composed himself, and strode into the room.

Danzō Shimura quickly followed, walking behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura entered, the Senju clan ninjas standing by the door immediately closed it.

"Bang"

The sound made Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Torifu Akimichi, and Kagami Uchiha flinch.

So scary!

Inside the room, Danzō Shimura and the other five people looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, their intentions clear.

You should speak now. You are the future Third Hokage. If you don't step up, who will?

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt everyone's gaze, swallowed, and forced himself forward to ask:

"Mito-sama, you called us here so late, did something happen in Konoha?"

Mito Uzumaki looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Their eyes met for a few seconds, making Hiruzen's heart race.

"I remember telling you before."

"Tobirama's death is not to be revealed by anyone."

"But this afternoon, the entire Konoha knows!!"

Mito Uzumaki slammed the table, her powerful voice questioning them. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others turned pale with panic, the six of them looking at each other, not understanding what had happened.

This afternoon, they had all been alone in the rooms prepared by the Senju clan, either resting or receiving treatment from the Senju clan's medical ninjas.

"I need an explanation!"

Mito Uzumaki's eyes flashed with ferocity as she scanned Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others. The chakra within her began to surge uncontrollably, revealing the Nine-Tails' chakra, its chaotic and malevolent aura sweeping over everyone.

They're going to die! They're going to die! They're going to die!!!

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Danzō Shimura cried out in their hearts.

"I swear to the heavens, I stayed inside the house all day today and never went out. Other than the Medical Ninja sent by the Senju clan, I haven't seen anyone else."

"If I leaked the news of Lord Tobirama's death, may I... may I die a terrible death!"

"I swear upon my family, I absolutely did not leak any information, or may my entire family be wiped out!"

"Wiped out! Wiped out!!"

"."

Utatane Koharu was the only woman present, and her will was relatively fragile. Facing a fully unleashed Mito Uzumaki, she couldn't hold on for more than a few seconds before resorting to oaths and curses as if she were confessing everything!

"I swear too! I swear too!!"

"I swear too!!"

"."

Utatane Koharu's emotional breakdown triggered the emotions of the remaining five people, turning them into a chorus of repeated oaths.

"Hmph, swearing is enough?"

"What I need is an explanation!!!"

Mito Uzumaki was not someone who could be easily fooled. If these brats didn't spill any useful information, she wouldn't mind using some special methods.

The Anbu of Konoha were quite skilled in extracting information from the minds of enemies.

Just as they were frantically swearing and trying to prove their innocence, the door was suddenly pushed open.

A person walked in from outside, Senju Momoki. As soon as he entered, he spoke:

"Mito-sama, the source of the news has been found. It all came from an Uchiha clan shop."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi all turned to look at Kagami Uchiha.

Kagami Uchiha looked utterly bewildered.

Me?

I want to showcase the characteristics of Konoha's various figures during this period and lay the groundwork for future plot developments, writing the Hokage as I envision them. After all, Kishimoto's manga has quite a few logical loopholes.

Finally, I request comments, collections, and recommendation tickets. Hehehe.