"The Hyuga Clan would never do such a thing!"
Hyuga Hiashi's eyes flickered. Though he had no idea what had happened, he could only explain with an ugly expression under everyone's gaze.
"Only two members of the Branch Family currently know the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, and members of the Main Family would not leave the Hyuga Clan lightly!"
For an instant, he thought of Hyuga Neji.
But remembering that he was only seven years old, he immediately dismissed the thought. He defended himself desperately; otherwise, the Hyuga Clan's hard-earned reputation would be ruined in a single day!
"No need for so much explanation!"
Shimura Danzō said coldly, "What I want is an answer, Hyuga Clan Head. Begin investigating your clansmen immediately. I want to know who among them is suspicious!"
Branch Family?
How could those dogs kept in captivity possess such seasoned Gentle Fist techniques?
It had to be the Hyuga Main Family.
Hearing Danzo's utterly impolite words, Hyuga Hiashi's expression changed drastically. His face darkened as he said, "Fine. I will investigate as soon as possible!"
Damn it!
He could not help cursing inwardly. What the hell had gotten into Danzo?
How could the Hyuga Clan possibly do something so stupid?
This was obviously a frame-up. Who was setting up the Hyuga Clan? Then, an idea suddenly flashed through his mind. His gaze fell on the leisurely Uchiha Akira, and his eyes narrowed.
"What the hell are you staring at?"
Uchiha Akira glared, speaking with complete confidence.
"Didn't you hear Shimura Danzō tell you to check whether the Hyuga Clan's ass is clean?! Hiashi, don't get too cocky. The whole of Konoha is watching, understand?"
The veins on Hyuga Hiashi's forehead bulged with anger.
Those were the very words he had used to threaten Uchiha Akira earlier.
Now, Uchiha Akira was using them to mock him.
"The Hyuga Clan has a clear conscience!"
"Then why are you telling me?"
Uchiha Akira sneered. "You should explain yourself to Shimura Danzō, to Lord Hokage, and to everyone in Konoha."
He waved his hand as if shooing away a puppy.
"Enough, enough. Stop talking and get moving!"
"Don't let your chatter delay business, understand?"
Seeing Uchiha Akira's casual attitude, Hyuga Hiashi was so furious his head hurt. Yet he could only suppress his anger and hurried back to the Hyuga Clan.
Only then did Shimura Danzō's expression improve slightly.
"The other clans will be treated the same way."
His gaze resembled that of an enraged beast as he said coldly,
"Even the Uchiha Clan is no exception!"
Uchiha Akira's words had affected him just now.
But thinking it over, so many Konoha clans rebelling at once did seem unreasonable.
Yet if the Uchiha, who possessed the ability to copy other clans' secret techniques, had rebelled, that would make much more sense.
Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Akira—weren't there exactly three of them? Their traces matched the three ninjutsu used at the scene perfectly.
At that thought, the hairs on his body stood on end!
The Uchiha Clan was not like the Hyuga Clan. If the Hyuga Clan was a docile flock of sheep, then the Uchiha Clan was a pack of wolves that would never rest until they achieved their goal!
If the Uchiha Clan had truly done this...
Did that mean the Uchiha Clan had already become wary of Konoha and of him?
For a moment, his suspicion toward the Uchiha Clan rose to its peak!
Danzo continued with suspicion in his eyes, "I will personally inspect the Uchiha Clan. Anyone who threatens Konoha or disrupts Konoha's peace will be punished."
"Even the Shimura Clan is no exception!"
Though he spoke of the Shimura Clan, his gaze remained fixed on the Uchiha Clan.
Heh.
This time, even if he could not find the culprit, he would still make the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan bleed and pay the price. The existence of the evil Uchiha Clan was itself a mistake!
At the same time, his gaze swept across the smaller clans.
Clans like the Hatake Clan and the Gekko Clan did not even require his personal attention.
Uchiha Fugaku's expression shifted slightly. Suppressing the anger in his heart, he said, "Fine. Then please come with me, Lord Danzo."
But at that moment,
Hatake Kakashi's calm voice rang out. "Danzo, Root's losses do represent the village's peace, but... the safety of Konoha's other people also represents the village's justice, does it not?"
Everyone halted, their expressions unreadable and tinged with surprise.
Kakashi?
The Fourth Hokage's disciple, the current Anbu captain, and a loyal member of the Hokage's faction—what did he mean by stepping forward now...?
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flashed with surprise.
"Of course."
Shimura Danzō's eyes flickered as he said in a deep voice,
"But now is not the time to discuss this nonsense. Kakashi, you are one of Hiruzen's Anbu. Everything must put the village's interests first."
"This time, I will temporarily overlook your offense of disrupting the meeting."
His expression went blank as he turned to leave.
But in the next instant, a voice as cold as ice resounded throughout the Hokage's office.
"Then explain yourself, Danzo! What role did you play in the death of my father, the Konoha White Fang?!"
Like a thunderclap!
Everyone's pupils suddenly contracted.
They had thought they were merely cooperating with Root's investigation today. They never expected such a shocking revelation!
"The Konoha White Fang's death?"
Danzo remained outwardly calm, but a storm raged within his heart!
"Heh, that happened long ago. How could I remember the affairs of a dead man? Besides, the Konoha White Fang's death had nothing to do with me."
How could this be?!
His brow twitched. How did Hatake Kakashi know about this old debt?!
Only Root had known about this matter!
Right.
After Root was attacked yesterday, many of its old record Scrolls had vanished into thin air!
"A dead man? Long ago?"
Hatake Kakashi's once-calm eyes became like icy swords drawn from their sheaths. He suddenly smiled.
"I thought it was in the past too. But today, I learned that it never passed! Lord Hokage, I request a full reinvestigation into the Konoha White Fang's death!"
"Interrogate Shimura Danzō!"
"I suspect he deliberately spread rumors and drove my father to death!"
His eyes were bloodshot, like those of a wounded beast!
"Investigate me?"
Shimura Danzō's gaze turned sinister, as though he had heard something absurd.
"Kakashi, what status do you have? What standing do you have? You think you are qualified to investigate Shimura Danzō? I have acted my entire life with a clear conscience. Everything I have done was for Konoha."
"Your father's death, the Konoha White Fang's death, had nothing to do with me."
There was anger in the way he looked at Kakashi.
The investigation into Root had already made him restless, and now old matters were being dredged up again.
One after another, they filled his heart with rage!
It felt as though an invisible net was gradually closing in, enveloping him!
"Kakashi, could this be a misunderstanding?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said gently, "No matter what, Danzo is part of the Konoha High Command. He would never do such a thing. I investigated your father's death back then as well, and there truly was no problem."
If it had been in the past,
Kakashi would never have pressed further. He had always been rather lazy by nature.
"Then please, Lord Hokage, investigate it thoroughly. Have Ibiki and the Yamanaka Clan investigate personally!"
Hatake Kakashi was stubborn and resolute.
Like a mule that would not turn back until it hit a wall.
"If Danzo truly has no problem, then from this day onward, I am willing to give my life to Danzo!"
Before you continue