A Traitor Among Us!

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

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

A dark and stormy night, perfect for murder and arson.

For some reason, Shimura Danzo felt a chill, and the way the Senju Clan members passing by looked at him made him extremely uncomfortable.

Danzo's mood was complicated at the moment, while his good friend Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared calm and composed.

"Fortune or misfortune, it cannot be avoided."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said faintly. "Man is the knife, I am the fish. We've reached this point, what else can be done? It's just death. I'm not afraid of death, only regret that I haven't fulfilled my master's dying wish."

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickened his pace. Shimura Danzo, seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi 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 Sarutobi saw two Jonin from the Senju clan standing beside Mito Senju.

Kiwa Senju and Kiharu Senju. These two ninjas, they already knew them, 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 Shimura Danzo's hearts pound.

If the next scene wasn't handled well, the trees planted in the Senju family's courtyard would probably grow even more luxuriantly.

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the others, seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo finally arrive, gave them wry smiles. Their eyes carried a hint of relief. Standing there earlier, looking at the surrounding Senju clan ninjas, had been an unbearable experience.

Mito Uzumaki, seated at the front, remained silent, her face devoid of emotion. After an initial glance at Kagami Uchiha, she never looked at them again, simply sitting in her chair and slowly drinking tea.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were well aware of their status. They were like rootless duckweed, easily manipulated. The power of their families behind them held no deterrence. In Konoha, among the powerful bloodline 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?

Torifu Akimichi and Kagami Uchiha were different. One was the son of the Akimichi clan head from the Ino-Shika-Cho secret jutsu family, and the future Ino-Shika-Cho combination of Konoha. Kagami Uchiha was a genius of the Uchiha clan, not only the Uchiha's darling but also taken under Tobirama Senju's wing. This was more to maintain the relationship between the Hokage and the Uchiha, holding extraordinary political significance. Both of these two were safe.

Previously, the Senju clan ninjas had been staring intently at them. Under the dual pressure of psychological stress and the danger of death. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu always felt they were being stared at, because the two of them were the easiest to bully. Mito Uzumaki's silence and tea drinking clearly indicated she was waiting for someone, waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo. No, she was waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage designated by their teacher Tobirama Senju. Shimura Danzo and the other two were in the same predicament, merely additions.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo stood at the door, not entering, looking at the extraordinary scene. For a moment, a string in their minds seemed to snap, and their heads buzzed.

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

"Since you're here, come in."

These simple words made Danzo's scalp tingle, his feet rooted to the spot. He turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, wondering how he would handle this.

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

Shimura Danzo quickly followed, walking behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.

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

"Bang!"

The sound made Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Torifu Akimichi, and Kagami Uchiha tremble. How terrifying!

Inside the room, Shimura Danzo and the other four looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, their meaning clear. You should speak now. You are the future Third Hokage. If you don't step up, who will?

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt their gazes, swallowed, and forced himself forward to ask:

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

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

"I remember telling you before."

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

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

Mito Uzumaki slammed the table, her powerful voice questioning them. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others' faces turned panicked. The six of them exchanged bewildered glances, still unaware of 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 bared her fangs, her gaze sweeping over Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others. The chakra around her body began to surge, revealing the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's power. A chaotic, malevolent aura washed over everyone.

I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die!!!

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

"I swear to the heavens, I stayed inside my house all day and didn't go out anywhere. I haven't seen anyone except the medical ninja sent by the Senju clan."

"If I leak the news of Tobirama-sama's death, may I... may I die a horrible death!"

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

"Wiped out!!"

Utatane Koharu, the only woman present, had a relatively fragile will. Facing Mito Uzumaki's full power, she couldn't last more than a few seconds before resorting to desperate oaths, as if confessing everything.

"I swear too, I swear too!!"

"I swear too!!"

Utatane Koharu's emotions broke down, dragging the remaining five people with her. They devolved into mere echoes.

"Hmph, swearing is enough?"

"I need an explanation!!!"

Mito Uzumaki was not someone easily fooled. If these brats didn't cough up some useful information, she wouldn't hesitate to use some special methods.

Extracting information from an enemy's mind was a specialty of Konoha's Anbu.

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

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

"Mito-sama, the source of the news has been found. It all came from shops belonging to the Uchiha clan."

As the words fell, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi all looked towards Kagami Uchiha.

Kagami Uchiha wore an expression of utter astonishment.

Me?

I want to showcase the characteristics of each character in Konoha during this period, and lay the groundwork for future plot developments. I want to write the Hokage I envision in my heart, after all, Kishimoto's logic in his manga has quite a few loopholes.

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