Shisui's Choice (Please Vote!!)

"Mist Ninja and Amegakure Ninja?"

Upon hearing the Anbu's report, the Third naturally arrived at two possibilities. He looked at Sōken and asked, "Sōken-kun, which side do you think the attackers might belong to?"

"The Mist Ninja!"

Sōken answered casually.

"Oh! Why do you say that? Why not the Amegakure Ninja?"

"If the Amegakure Ninja had the strength to launch an attack of this scale in Konoha, they would have become the Shinobi World's sixth great ninja village long ago. Besides, only those cold-blooded lunatics from the Mist Ninja could probably devise that kind of self-destructive Fūinjutsu. Either they completed the mission and returned alive, or they failed and died without even leaving corpses behind."

Sōken lied without changing his expression.

Wasn't it just making things up?

Everyone was deceiving everyone else; it all came down to who had the deeper tricks. From the looks of it, the Third old man intended to pin the blame on the Mist Ninja. He just did not know how they planned to shift responsibility onto the Uchiha. Still, there was no need to rush. He could simply wait patiently.

"When you put it that way... it does fit the Mist Ninja's style."

The Third nodded in agreement.

Soon afterward, another Anbu arrived with a report. A small base had been discovered in the Forest, containing standard Mist Ninja kunai and other equipment. It was confirmed that the attackers were Mist Ninja spies. Furthermore, the base contained a great deal of information on [Flame Demon] Uchiha Sōken. It was highly likely that the Mist Ninja spies had come for Uchiha Sōken.

As for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, he had most likely just been unfortunate collateral damage.

Sōken understood the implication and slightly raised his brow. So that was the game they were playing. Were they planning to use Naruto to accuse the Uchiha of failing in their duty as guards?

He shifted his gaze to Naruto, who was surrounded by a group of Medical Ninja. Poor Naruto was being thoroughly manhandled by these rough men, examined from head to toe. They had even pulled down his pants to inspect his butt. After what seemed to be a brief argument, one of them broke away and hurried over to the Third.

"How is Naruto?"

The Third stopped questioning them about the Mist Ninja and instantly turned his attention to the Medical Ninja before him.

"Hokage, we found no external injuries on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He appears to have suffered some sort of mental attack, which is why he remains unconscious. Fortunately, the seal is still secure, so there is no need to worry about any complications."

"What about Naruto himself? Is Naruto all right?"

"That is difficult to say. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is too young, and mental trauma is inherently difficult to treat. In many cases, the victim can only rely on their own recovery... The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's condition will require careful observation."

The Third's expression immediately darkened.

Professional! What incredible acting! No wonder he was the Hokage who held office the longest!

Sōken watched coldly from the sidelines.

Of course, he knew exactly what was wrong with Naruto. He had merely been hit by the Mind Body Switch Technique. It was nowhere near as mysterious as that Medical Ninja made it sound. Earlier, Sōken had even planned to wake Naruto up and chat with him. But... if they wanted to put on a show, he would let them. He wanted to see just how far they intended to take it.

The next moment, the accusations arrived.

"Uchiha Sōken!!"

Elder Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses, his icy gaze locking onto Sōken. "Is this how you protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Mental trauma? If the seal had been damaged and the Nine-Tails released... could you bear that responsibility?"

"Why should I bear responsibility?"

Sōken looked astonished. "Mist Ninja infiltrated the village and launched an attack. Isn't that the Anbu's failure? I killed the Mist Ninja attackers. I deserve credit, not blame!"

"The Mist Ninja came for you. Because of your problem, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was injured. That is your fault." This was an outright accusation. Hearing Elder Mitokado Homura's furious voice, the Anbu remained unmoved and continued with their work, though their peripheral vision remained trained on Uchiha Arashiyama and the others.

Anger surfaced on Uchiha Akitaro's face.

Fortunately, Uchiha Arashiyama grabbed Uchiha Hokuto before he could charge out. Compared to the frivolous Akitaro, fourteen-year-old Uchiha Hokuto was the quintessential Uchiha, prideful to his very bones. That very pride had made him exceedingly impulsive and combative.

"Hokuto, Akitaro, stand where you are. Until Sōken gives an order, no one is to make a move. Chihaya, Futaba, Jun, that applies to you as well."

The skill known as an elder's authority activated.

His scarlet eyes swept across them one by one, and the troublesome children settled down. Uchiha Arashiyama silently breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that things had not escalated. He could suppress one or two of them, but if they all started making trouble... he was no match for five people.

"...My problem?"

Sōken stared at Mitokado Homura in astonishment. "The Mist Ninja are likely targeting me because I killed too many of them on the battlefield. If being hated by the Mist Ninja for that is my problem... Hokage, does Elder Mitokado mean that we should not fight enemies for the village? That provoking enemy retaliation while protecting the village is somehow a problem I caused?"

By the end, his voice abruptly rose.

His agitated emotions caused his eyes to flush scarlet. His face was filled with anger and grievance as he looked expectantly at the Third.

Mitokado Homura froze for a moment before flying into a rage. That bastard dared twist his words! He had clearly meant that Uchiha Sōken should not have approached the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and placed him in uncertain danger. Since when had it become an accusation that the village was abandoning heroes who shed blood for its sake?

"Homura, it was merely a slip of the tongue. Do not argue with a young man. Be more broad-minded."

The Third stopped Mitokado Homura from lashing out, then turned to Sōken. "Sōken-kun, Elder Mitokado was overly concerned for Naruto's safety and misspoke. I hope you can forgive him. However, you must also understand that people like you and me are often targets of enemy attacks. Bringing Naruto along while acting was indeed poorly considered. In the future, you should think things through more carefully."

He lightly smoothed things over for Mitokado Homura, then decisively established Sōken's guilt.

He did not even give Sōken the chance to argue, directly defining the nature of the matter.

As expected of the Hokage...

Sōken put away the anger and grievance on his face without offering any rebuttal. As long as they did not clearly state a punishment, he did not care about shouldering a little blame. After all, power rested in the Hokage's hands. If the Hokage wanted to find fault with him, it would be all too easy.

So long as there was no actual punishment, it did not matter how many charges they piled on him.

He might even use this chance to unite the clan.

"Hiruzen, you're far too soft-hearted. If mistakes go unpunished, how will you lead the village in the future?" Utatane Koharu spoke up this time. The woman in her sixties righteously condemned the Third for being "too merciful."

The Third frowned deeply, seeming unable to make up his mind.

Sōken's lowered left hand clenched tightly into a fist. Uchiha Arashiyama and the others immediately stepped forward, their scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan activating one after another. Standing behind Sōken, they issued a silent warning and threat. This sudden development made the Anbu, who had been busy with their respective tasks, instantly stop what they were doing.

Still, no one rashly attacked. They merely prepared themselves for a fight.

Just then, "Hokage, this isn't Sōken's fault."

The one who spoke—

was Uchiha Shisui.

He walked to Sōken's side and looked at the Third and the two Elder advisors. "Leaving aside whether the attacker truly was a Mist Ninja, there are no explicit rules in the village forbidding others from approaching Naruto. Everything Sōken did was in accordance with village regulations. He also had no prior knowledge that a Mist Ninja would come to attack. If you use this as an excuse to punish Sōken... that would be nitpicking."

Shisui's unexpected intervention made Sōken raise his eyebrows in surprise at first, but then a hint of pleasure appeared at the corners of his eyes.

Good man.

At last, Shisui understood which side he was supposed to be on.

As for what Shisui had said... it was not important at all. What mattered most was the change in Shisui's attitude. It gave Sōken greater confidence in carrying out the plans to come.