"Betraying the village?"
The moment Tsunade said that, the entire Hokage Office fell deathly silent. Even Koharu Utatane, who had been accusing Uchiha Yue, froze in place.
That was right. Just as Tsunade had said, during wartime, every ninja village forbade any of its members from exchanging intelligence with any ninja from an enemy village. If someone was discovered exchanging intelligence with an enemy ninja, that ninja would be considered to have betrayed their own village—just like Koharu Utatane now.
It did not matter when Koharu Utatane had obtained that intelligence from Kirigakure. As long as Kirigakure was currently Konoha's enemy, obtaining intelligence from Kirigakure amounted to betraying the village. That was why, when Koharu Utatane had deliberately stated that the intelligence in her hands came from Kirigakure, clever people like Uchiha Yue and Orochimaru had immediately found a way to turn the tables on her. All Orochimaru needed to do was give Tsunade a slight reminder, and Tsunade could help Uchiha Yue strike back, couldn't she?
As for Koharu Utatane, her entire face had turned pale. Clearly, she too feared the charge of betraying the village. After all, Koharu Utatane was merely one of Konoha's Council of Elders. In terms of strength, she did not possess the ability to lead ninja forces against enemy ninja armies. Thus, only while she remained in Konoha and held the title of a Council of Elders member could she wield authority and stand above ordinary ninja.
But what if Koharu Utatane lost her title as a member of Konoha's Council of Elders and the power to oversee Konoha?
By then, not only Koharu Utatane—even the clan she belonged to would likely face an enormous threat!
Then, after Tsunade's forceful words fell, Koharu Utatane turned her pale face toward Shimura Danzō and Mitokado Homura,