There's a Traitor Among Us!

"Danzō, Lady Mito summoned us at this hour. Do you know what happened?"

Shimura Danzō walked beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, muttering under his breath. He glanced up at the moon, which had been shining brightly just moments ago but was now hidden behind dark clouds.

A moonless, windy night—the perfect time for murder and arson.

For some reason, Shimura Danzō felt a chill. The way the Senju Clan Members they passed looked at him made him deeply uncomfortable.

Danzō was feeling rather uneasy, but his good friend Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed calm and composed.

"Blessings and misfortune are both beyond our control. What's meant to happen will happen."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said it evenly. The situation was already beyond their control. What else could they do?

There was nothing to do but accept death. Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't afraid to die; he only regretted that he hadn't fulfilled his master's dying wish.

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickened his pace. Seeing him hurry, Shimura Danzō quickly followed.

Inside the room

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Kagami Uchiha, and Torifu Akimichi had arrived at Mito Uzumaki's room a little before the other two.

Standing at the entrance, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw two Senju Clan jōnin beside Mito Uzumaki.

Kiwa Senju and Kiharu Senju. They already knew the two ninja well; both were jōnin of the Senju Clan.

Inside stood two rows of Senju Clan ninja, waiting for the two of them as if this were a formal trial.

The imposing scene made Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō's hearts pound.

If they handled what came next poorly, the trees in the Senju Clan's courtyard would probably grow even more lush.

When Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the others saw Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō finally arrive, they gave them bitter smiles.

There was even a hint of relief in their eyes. The two of them had been standing here, surrounded by Senju Clan ninja, and it had been an awful experience.

Mito Uzumaki sat at the head of the room without saying a word. Her face showed no emotion. After briefly sizing up Kagami Uchiha at the start, she hadn't looked at any of them again. She simply sat in her chair and slowly sipped her tea.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu knew their place. They were like rootless duckweed, easy to manipulate however anyone pleased.

Their clans wielded no influence. Among Konoha's powerful bloodline clans and secret-technique clans, they were practically invisible. No one cared about them or what their clans thought.

If they died, they died. Who in all of Konoha would dare say a thing?

Torifu Akimichi and Kagami Uchiha were different. One was the son of the Akimichi Clan Head, a member of the Ino-Shika-Cho secret-technique clans, and part of Konoha's future Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

Kagami Uchiha, meanwhile, was a prodigy of the Uchiha Clan and one of the clan's most cherished members. His apprenticeship under Tobirama Senju was not only about his talent; it also served to maintain relations between the Hokage and the Uchiha, giving it great political significance.

Neither of them was likely to be in danger.

The Senju Clan ninja had kept their eyes fixed on them. Under the combined weight of the psychological pressure and the threat of death,

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu couldn't help feeling that the ninja were watching the two of them in particular, since they were the easiest targets.

Mito Uzumaki had said nothing, only sipped her tea. It was clear she was waiting for someone—Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō.

No, she was waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third chosen by their teacher, Tobirama Senju. Shimura Danzō was in the same position as the others; he was just along for the ride.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō stood at the door without entering. The extraordinary scene left them momentarily dazed, their minds ringing.

Mito Uzumaki set down her teacup and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō outside the door. She said calmly:

"Since you're here, come in."

It was a simple statement, but it made Danzō's scalp prickle. His feet felt rooted to the spot. He turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, waiting to see what he would do.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind had gone blank for a moment, but Mito Uzumaki's words brought him back to his senses. He took a deep breath and strode into the room, composed.

Shimura Danzō hurried after him, walking behind Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō entered, the Senju Clan ninja standing beside the door immediately shut it.

"Clack!"

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

That was terrifying!

Inside the room, the other five all looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Their meaning was obvious.

This was when he was supposed to speak. He was the future Third. If he didn't step up, who would?

Feeling their eyes on him, Hiruzen Sarutobi swallowed and forced himself to step forward and ask:

"Lady Mito, you called us here so late. Has something happened in Konoha?"

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

"I remember telling you before."

"No one was to let word of Tobirama's death get out."

"But by this afternoon, all of Konoha knew!"

Mito Uzumaki slammed a hand on the table and demanded an explanation, her voice forceful. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others looked alarmed. The six exchanged glances, still unsure what had happened.

That afternoon, they had each stayed in the rooms prepared for them at the Senju Clan compound. They had either rested or received treatment from the Senju Clan's Medical Ninja.

"I need an explanation!"

A fierce look flashed in Mito Uzumaki's eyes as she scanned them one by one. The Chakra within her began to surge. Nine-Tails Chakra emerged, its chaotic, evil aura sweeping over everyone.

We're dead! We're dead! We're dead!!!

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō cried out inwardly.

"I swear to heaven, I stayed in my room all day and never went out. I didn't see anyone except the Medical Ninja sent by the Senju Clan."

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

"I swear on my clan that I absolutely didn't leak any information. Otherwise, may my whole family die!"

"Every last one of them!"

"..."

Utatane Koharu was the only woman present, and she was relatively fainthearted. Facing Mito Uzumaki with her full aura unleashed, she couldn't hold out for even a few seconds before blurting out a string of oaths as if confessing her family's guilt.

"I swear too! I swear!"

"I swear too!"

"..."

Utatane Koharu's emotional collapse set off the other five, and soon they were all repeating themselves like broken records.

"Hmph. You think an oath is enough?"

"What I need is an explanation!"

Mito Uzumaki wasn't easy to fool. If the brats didn't give her anything useful, she wouldn't hesitate to use special methods.

Konoha's Anbu were experts at extracting information from an enemy's mind.

Just as the group was frantically swearing oaths to prove their innocence, the door suddenly opened.

Someone walked in from outside. It was Tomoki Senju. As soon as he entered, he said:

"Lady Mito, we've traced the source of the news. It all came from shops belonging to the Uchiha Clan."

At his words, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi all turned to look at Kagami Uchiha.

Kagami Uchiha stared back, stunned.

Me?

I wanted to show the personalities of Konoha's various characters during this period and lay the groundwork for what comes later, writing the Naruto story as I see it. After all, that old man Kishimoto left plenty of logical holes in the manga.

Finally, please leave a comment, bookmark, and vote. Hehe.