However, what Sarutobi Hiruzen said about taking in young children without families from other clans was even more absurd. Who would go to a village where even its own ninjas hid in the shadows for no reason?
"Sarutobi, do you think it's possible that Xiao Li was still on the mountain and hadn't died? After all, although Kakashi caught up to the person who captured Rock Lee in the mountains, he never saw Rock Lee there, let alone his body!"
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's displeasure, Mitokado Homura changed the subject.
"Kakashi's ninja dogs could smell Rock Lee's scent disappearing inside the cave. It was related to a secret technique used by the mountain tribes—a technique in which one used one's own body and flesh as a sacrifice to send information to one's companions after being captured. Rock Lee suddenly vanished inside the cave, so he had clearly used that secret technique."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke with a furrowed brow, then said thoughtfully, "I just don't know... what did Rock Lee in the mountains want to say, and who was he trying to tell?"
"Well, if that's true, then this is troublesome."
Utatane Koharu also frowned.
"However, more than a day has passed, and no other news has spread. Does that mean Rock Lee in the mountains didn't die and didn't use the secret technique, or that he used it but failed?"
Mitokado Homura pulled the discussion back on track.
"No, the secret technique shouldn't fail. If he successfully used it but no one else has said anything... perhaps that person isn't in the village right now? Could Rock Lee in the mountains have sent the message to Mirai?!"
After giving it some thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly felt that the more he considered this deduction, the more likely it seemed.
"Junzhang wouldn't have