The Death of White Fang

"The Hyuga Clan would never do such a thing!"

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes flickered, uncertain of what was happening, but he could only force a grim expression and explain under everyone's gaze:

"Only two members of the Branch Family currently know the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, and the Main Family's Hyuga rarely leave the clan grounds!"

For a moment, he thought of Hyuga Neji.

But recalling that he was only seven years old, he quickly dismissed that notion. Thus, he argued vehemently, or else the Hyuga Clan's hard-earned reputation over the years would be destroyed in an instant!

"No need for so many explanations!"

Shimura Danzō said coldly: "What I want is an answer, Hyuga Clan Head. Begin an immediate investigation of your clan members. I need to know who among them is under suspicion!"

Branch Family?

Those caged dogs—how could they possess such seasoned Gentle Fist techniques?

It must be the Hyuga Main Family's doing.

Hearing Danzō's unceremonious words, Hyuga Hiashi's expression shifted sharply. He said through gritted teeth: "Fine, I will investigate promptly!"

Damn it!

He couldn't help but curse inwardly. What the hell was Danzō on about?

How could his Hyuga Clan possibly commit such a foolish act?

This was clearly a frame-up. Who was trying to sink the Hyuga Clan? Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him, and his gaze landed on the leisurely Uchiha Siming, his eyes narrowing.

"The hell are you staring at?!"

Uchiha Siming glared back, speaking with utter confidence:

"Didn't you hear Shimura Danzō telling you to check if your Hyuga Clan's ass is clean?! Hiashi, don't get too cocky—the whole of Konoha is watching you, get it?!"

Hyuga Hiashi's forehead veins bulged with rage.

This was the very threat he had used against Uchiha Siming before.

Now Uchiha Siming was throwing it back in his face to mock him.

"The Hyuga Clan has nothing to be ashamed of!"

"Then why are you telling me that?"

Uchiha Siming sneered: "You should explain it to Shimura Danzō, explain it to the Hokage, explain it to everyone in Konoha."

He waved his hand as if shooing away a stray dog.

"Alright, alright, enough talk. Get going!"

"Don't let your chatter delay the medicine-selling, got it?"

Watching Uchiha Siming's casual demeanor, Hyuga Hiashi's head throbbed with anger, but he could only swallow his fury and hurry back to the Hyuga Clan.

Shimura Danzō's expression finally eased a little.

"The other clans are the same."

His gaze was like that of a furious beast as he said coldly:

"Even your Uchiha Clan is no exception!"

He had been influenced by Uchiha Siming's words earlier.

But now, thinking it over, a rebellion involving so many Konoha clans didn't add up.

However, an Uchiha rebellion—one capable of copying other clans' secret techniques—made far more sense.

Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Siming—weren't these three people? And they matched the traces of the three ninjutsu at the scene.

At that thought, his hair stood on end!

The Uchiha Clan was nothing like the Hyuga Clan. If the Hyuga were docile sheep, the Uchiha were jackals that never stopped until they achieved their goal!

If the Uchiha Clan was truly behind this...

Did it mean the Uchiha Clan was already on guard against Konoha and him?

In an instant, his suspicion of the Uchiha Clan reached its peak!

Danzō's gaze carried suspicion as he continued: "The Uchiha Clan will be personally inspected by me. Anyone who threatens Konoha or disrupts its peace will face punishment."

"Even the Shimura Clan is no exception!"

He spoke of the Shimura Clan, but his eyes were fixed on the Uchiha.

Heh.

Even if he couldn't find the real culprit this time, he would still bleed the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans dry, make them pay. The existence of the evil Uchiha Clan was a mistake!

At the same time, his gaze swept over the smaller clans.

Like the Hatake Clan, the Gekko Clan—none of them required his personal attention.

Uchiha Fugaku's expression shifted slightly, and he suppressed his anger with effort: "Very well, then please come with me, Lord Danzō!"

But just then—

Hatake Kakashi's calm voice rang out: "Danzo, the losses of Root may indeed represent the village's peace, but... the safety of other Konoha shinobi also represents the village's justice, doesn't it?"

The group halted mid-step, their expressions shifting with a trace of bewilderment.

Kakashi?

The Fourth Hokage's disciple, now the Anbu Captain, likewise a loyal Hokage faction member—what did he mean by stepping forward now?

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered with an inadvertent surprise.

"That goes without saying."

Shimura Danzo's gaze flickered as he spoke in a low voice:

"But now is not the time for such idle chatter, Kakashi. You are Sarutobi's Anbu; everything must prioritize the village's interests."

"This time, I shall refrain from holding you accountable for disrupting the meeting."

His eyes turned indifferent as he turned to leave.

But the next moment, a voice as cold as ice rang through the entire Hokage's office.

"Then please give an explanation, Danzo! What role did you play in the death of my father, the Konoha White Fang, back then?!"

Like a thunderclap!

Everyone's pupils constricted sharply.

They had only come today to cooperate with Root's investigation—never had they expected such an earth-shattering revelation!

"The Konoha White Fang's death?"

Danzo remained outwardly composed, but a storm raged within his heart!

"Hah, that matter is long past. How could I possibly remember the affairs of a dead man? Besides, the Konoha White Fang's death has nothing to do with me."

How could this be?!

His brow twitched. How did Hatake Kakashi know about this old grudge?!

This matter was known only to Root!

Ah, right.

Yesterday's attack on Root—many of the old record scrolls had vanished without a trace!

"A dead man? Long past?"

Hatake Kakashi's eyes, which had just been calm, turned as sharp as a drawn blade. He suddenly smiled:

"I used to think it was over too. But only today did I realize it has never been over! Hokage-sama, I request a full reinvestigation into the death of the Konoha White Fang!"

"Interrogate Shimura Danzo!"

"I suspect he deliberately spread rumors and drove my father to his death!"

His eyes were bloodshot, like a wounded beast!

"Investigate me?"

Shimura Danzo's gaze turned icy, as if he had heard something absurd:

"Kakashi, what standing do you have? What rank are you? You think you're worthy of investigating me, Shimura Danzo? I have lived my entire life with a clear conscience—everything I did was for the sake of Konoha."

"Your father the Konoha White Fang's death has nothing to do with me."

His look toward Kakashi carried a hint of anger.

The investigation into Root had already irritated him, and now this old affair was being dredged up again.

One after another—they filled his heart with rage!

It was as if an invisible net was slowly closing in, about to envelop him!

"Kakashi, could this be a misunderstanding?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said gently: "Regardless, Danzo is a Konoha High Command member. He would never do such a thing. I investigated your father's death back then as well, and there were indeed no issues."

If it were the past, Kakashi would never have pressed further—he had always been a lazy sort.

"In that case, I ask the Hokage-sama to investigate thoroughly. Have Ibiki and the Yamanaka Clan conduct the inquiry personally!"

Hatake Kakashi was stubborn and unyielding.

Like a mule that would not turn back until it hit the wall.

"If Danzo truly has no issues, then from this day forward, I will offer my life to Danzo!"