Exposure

As Sarutobi Hiruzen collapsed, the surrounding Anbu, led by Kakashi, immediately swarmed in to escort the Third Hokage to the Medical Department.

Before long, under the all-out emergency efforts of numerous medical ninja, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally came to, his complexion gradually returning to normal.

"How is the Hokage?" Kakashi asked the medical ninja.

"The Hokage is out of danger. It was merely a case of extreme agitation causing a temporary collapse. He just needs to recuperate for a period of time," the medical ninja sighed.

Hearing this, the many Anbu in the infirmary, including Kakashi, breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Konoha had just suffered a massive upheaval; the Uchiha Clan, the Sarutobi Clan, and the Shimura Clan had been wiped out in succession. If the Third Hokage were to fall at such a time, it would spell disaster.

Just then, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes. "Kakashi..."

"Hokage-sama, are you alright?" Hearing this, Kakashi hurriedly helped Sarutobi Hiruzen sit up, while another person tucked a quilt behind him.

"I am out of danger." Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long breath, though his spirit remained listless. He asked in a deep voice, "What is the situation?"

Looking at the Hokage's increasingly aged and frail face, Kakashi felt a pang of heartache. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Aside from Asuma and Konohamaru, no one in the entire clan survived."

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued to ask, "Are there any clues regarding the perpetrator?"

Kakashi gathered his thoughts and said, "The Analysis Department is still searching, but judging by the modus operandi, the killer appears to be the same person who murdered Sarutobi Shinnosuke."

"Furthermore, we discovered a concealment barrier around the Sarutobi compound capable of isolating sound, scent, and even chakra sensing."

"Coupled with the fact that the killer seemed to know the timing of the Uchiha massacre in advance, they specifically chose that window to strike while our attention was focused on the Uchiha district."

"This resulted in our Anbu being completely unable to detect any movement within the Sarutobi compound."

"If not for Asuma running out of the barrier, I fear we would still be unaware of the situation inside even now."

There was one more thing Kakashi did not say.

As the family of the Third Hokage, the Sarutobi Clan, while not as dazzling as the Uchiha or Hyuga, was a truly transcendent existence in Konoha.

Even if someone had noticed something amiss inside, no one would have dared to go in and investigate.

This was the true reason why no one had discovered the annihilation of the Sarutobi Clan for several hours.

"Bastard." For the first time, Sarutobi Hiruzen lost his composure in front of his subordinates. He spat out an oath and commanded sternly, "Quickly, use all your strength to wake Konohamaru and Asuma! Additionally, go to every courtyard of the Sarutobi family, select two corpses of genin or chunin, and send them to the Analysis Department. Having committed such a crime, we absolutely cannot let the killer go unpunished."

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Everyone responded respectfully and scattered.

After Kakashi left, Shimura Danzō walked in, leaning on his cane. "Hiruzen."

"What? Are you here to see me make a fool of myself?" Sarutobi Hiruzen glared at Danzō, his voice cold.

"No, I am here to stand with you against our common enemy." Danzō's face was grim.

Just moments ago, he too had learned that his own clan had been wiped out.

The entire clan had been slaughtered, not a single living soul left behind.

"What does this mean?" A flash of surprise crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes.

"It is not just you; my clan has also been destroyed. All eighty-seven members, not one survived." As he said this, a crack echoed as the cane in Danzō's hand was crushed to powder.

He had always been a man who loved to preach that "a ninja must be capable of self-sacrifice."

Yet, when it truly came to his own kin, he found himself unable to accept it.

With his entire clan wiped out, the Shimura Clan was now extinct, and he felt deep shame before the Shimura ancestors.

Just then, news finally arrived from the Konoha Analysis Department: "Hokage-sama, Department Head Yamanaka Inoichi has successfully extracted the memories from before Sarutobi Shinnosuke's death."

Shortly after, Yamanaka Inoichi, head of the Analysis Department, arrived at the Konoha Hospital in person with the results.

"Hokage-sama, Danzō-sama. Because of the large number of seals left in Shinnosuke-sama's brain, it took quite some time. Following the Hokage's orders, I only read the memories from the final five minutes of Shinnosuke-sama's life. Please, take a look."

As Yamanaka Inoichi finished speaking, the curtains in the infirmary were drawn shut. The room plunged into darkness, and a light projection suddenly appeared.

In the projection, Shinnosuke and the other four were lurking at the entrance of the Uchiha compound.

The first four minutes were largely uneventful, until four minutes and fifteen seconds in, when Shinnosuke's wife received an order and left the spot.

At four minutes and twenty seconds, an unidentified object resembling a human head suddenly fell, drawing the attention of the remaining four Anbu.

At four minutes and twenty-five seconds, an Anbu was pierced through the chest by a sharp blade.

At four minutes and thirty-five seconds, the killer finally revealed their true form: a young man wearing Anbu attire and a smiley-face mask.

"Fujiwara Chiya." Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō exclaimed in unison.

Yamanaka Inoichi paused the projection and handed Chiya's file to the two men. "Hokage-sama, Danzō-sama, it is indeed hard to believe, but according to intelligence from Anbu Captain Kakashi, Fujiwara Chiya should have already died. His mask and blade were missing, and even his corpse was stolen."

"Furthermore, this mysterious person's strength is far greater than the Chiya we remember, so we cannot accurately determine the identity of this individual."

"Continue playing it," Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a deep voice.

At four minutes and forty seconds, two Anbu were decapitated by the mysterious figure.

At four minutes and forty-five seconds, Sarutobi Shinnosuke had his wind blade caught by the mysterious figure with a single finger.

At four minutes and fifty seconds, Sarutobi Shinnosuke was struck in the chest.

Ten seconds later, he lost consciousness completely, and the recording ended.

Upon seeing the speed displayed by Chiya, Danzō could no longer control his emotions and shouted, "It is him! Hiruzen, this is the guy who severed my left arm back then!"

"Can you be certain?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned; the situation seemed to be spiraling further toward an uncontrollable state. One had to remember, that mysterious individual had snatched away Shisui's right eye, the Kotoamatsukami.

"It is absolutely him. Whether it be the swordsmanship or the Body Flicker technique, there is not a second person in the current Shinobi World capable of such feats," Danzo stated with ironclad certainty.

"But Chiya was only eleven at the time. He hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy, hadn't learned any ninjutsu, and hadn't received any proper guidance. How could he have become this strong?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's brow furrowed deeper as he turned his head toward Yamanaka Inoichi. "Inoichi, you haven't shown this footage to anyone else, have you?"

"No, Lord Hokage. Per your orders, aside from myself, no one else is aware of it," Yamanaka Inoichi replied solemnly.

"Have any other members of the Sarutobi or Shimura clans investigated this?" Sarutobi Hiruzen continued to ask.

ps: First update. Requesting recommendation tickets and monthly votes.

Thanks to [Quasar] for the 5000 Qidian coin tip, thanks to [Dark Star Emperor] for the 3000 Qidian coin tip, thanks to [zk Sour Lemon] and [Hu Yiyi] for the 100 Qidian coin tips, and thanks to [Pipi's Sorrow] for the 400 Qidian coin tip.

Extra update today.