S-Rank Rogue Ninja, Joins Akatsuki

"As you instructed, I only probed the memories from the five minutes prior to their deaths. Without a doubt, they all fell at the hands of a mysterious figure resembling Fujiwara Chiya. Furthermore, during my analysis, I witnessed this mysterious figure utilizing ninjutsu similar to Kakashi's Lightning Style: Chidori. Based on my assessment, it is highly probable that the one performing these techniques was merely a Shadow Clone."

As he spoke, Yamanaka Inoichi played the footage of Chiya's Shadow Clone using the Chidori Sharp Spear and Chidori Senbon to slaughter dozens of Sarutobi Clan ninja.

Watching the scene on the recording, which played out like a butcher slicing through vegetables, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo fell silent, their expressions growing increasingly grave.

"Inoichi, seal these images away. I will send men to recover the bodies of Shinnosuke and the others shortly. From this moment on, classify this as a top-secret matter for Konoha. No one is to access it without my direct order," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, rising from his bed to address Yamanaka Inoichi.

"Understood." Yamanaka Inoichi responded respectfully, packed away his equipment, and vanished from the room.

As the curtains were drawn and light returned to the room, Danzo spoke from the side: "Hiruzen, Fujiwara Chiya once learned the Chidori from Kakashi. Given that boy's talent for ninjutsu, it wouldn't be strange for him to have spent a year fully refining it. All signs point to Chiya. In my view, the boy must have faked his death; otherwise, how could his corpse have vanished into thin air? You must issue the order."

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not answer immediately upon hearing this.

He, who was always soft and weak toward the outside world but struck with an iron fist internally, always hesitated at critical moments.

He had not been blinded by hatred.

Because regardless of whether it was truly Chiya who slaughtered his entire clan, the situation had already far exceeded the control of the man known as the strongest Hokage in history.

Given the strength displayed by that individual, even if he were to dispatch the Funeral Squad to hunt him down—

Setting aside whether they could even catch him, even if they did, it would be nothing more than throwing their lives away.

After all, Konoha had already lost the Uchiha Clan and the Sarutobi Clan in succession, with the Shimura Clan caught in the crossfire.

The village simply could not withstand another blow.

If his wrong decision led to Konoha suffering heavy losses once again, the cost would far outweigh the gains.

At that point, would he still be able to sit securely in his position as Hokage?

After much deliberation, Sarutobi Hiruzen provided a solution he deemed stable: "Send out the notification. Fujiwara Chiya is suspected of murdering members of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. Effective immediately, he is to be classified as an S-rank missing-nin, alongside Uchiha Itachi."

"Are you just going to let that boy off so easily?" Danzo's eyes were bloodshot, his heart filled with unwillingness.

"What else would you have me do?" Sarutobi Hiruzen revealed his true nature of being a bully only to his own, snapping harshly: "Not to mention that Fujiwara Chiya died in plain sight of everyone, even if he were the true culprit, where would you find him? And if you found him, how would you capture him? He was able to wipe out your clansmen and mine single-handedly in such a short time. If I sent you, could you catch him?"

"This..." Hearing this, Danzo's tone immediately weakened.

No matter how much he refused to admit it in his heart, the strength displayed by that mysterious figure had indeed far exceeded the scope of what an ordinary ninja could handle.

Unless they used human-wave tactics and filled the gap with lives, there was truly no way to capture the opponent.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said impatiently: "Enough. This matter must be handled gradually.

I assume that even if I don't say it, you are aware of the situation in Konoha.

The most pressing matter is to stabilize the overall situation. Also, I will still announce your punishment tomorrow.

If you truly care for the village, you should accept the punishment calmly.

As for other matters, do not involve yourself too deeply.

I will have people follow up on the Fujiwara Chiya situation in secret."

He intended to spend a massive fortune, sparing no cost, to issue a bounty at the Underground Exchange, determined to find Chiya and exact revenge.

Regardless of whether Chiya was the killer or not.

He wanted to see the man alive, or see his corpse if he were dead.

Even if it wasn't him, even if he were truly dead, he had to obtain the body and extract from his brain exactly who had stolen his mask and blade, so as to uncover the true culprit behind the murder of his Sarutobi clansmen.

The Uchiha Clan, the Sarutobi Clan, and the Shimura Clan had been wiped out.

Two S-rank missing-nin had appeared in Konoha simultaneously.

This was undoubtedly a bombshell.

Uchiha Itachi, S-rank missing-nin, crime: slaughtering the entire Uchiha Clan.

Fujiwara Chiya, S-rank missing-nin, crime: suspected of slaughtering the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, and suspected of murdering multiple Anbu members of Konoha.

Once the two wanted posters were released, they immediately shocked every ninja and civilian in Konoha.

They could still understand Uchiha Itachi; after all, under the suppression of Konoha's high-level officials and the influence of the Konoha Military Police Force system, almost the vast majority of people held no great affection for the Uchiha Clan.

They viewed them as lunatics.

And with Uchiha Sasuke, a survivor, serving as ironclad proof, it didn't seem strange that such a deranged act of genocide had occurred.

But Fujiwara Chiya was a different story.

It wasn't just the Anbu members like Kakashi who had seen 'Chiya's' remains; even the vast majority of Konoha's civilians were unwilling to believe such a thing.

Setting aside whether he had the strength to wipe out the Sarutobi Clan, backed by the Third Hokage, and the Shimura Clan, backed by Danzo—

Even if he did, he had no motive.

One must remember.

In the eyes of the public, Chiya had always been an elegant, kind, and polite ninja who loved the village and cherished his comrades.

Before he joined the Anbu, especially during his time as a genin and chunin, he was highly respected by the villagers.

Even veteran elite jonin of Konoha like Kakashi held him in high regard.

That he had suddenly become an S-rank missing-nin was truly hard for people to believe.

Of course, this was only temporary.

Given the propaganda methods of the Konoha F4.

It wouldn't take long before over ninety-nine percent of Konoha's population would harbor hatred toward Chiya.

If they say you're guilty, you're guilty.

They could paint white as black.

Not to mention that this was already black to begin with.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had issued a bounty on Chiya, labeling him an S-rank missing-nin.

Chiya was unaware of this.

Even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

Because at this moment, he had already arrived at the Akatsuki base in the Land of Rain, following Tobi.

This was a country where it rained for at least half the year.

It was also the most miserable country in the world of Hokage.

A dedicated land for war.

Situated at the intersection of the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth.

Sandwiched between three great nations.

It had suffered endlessly from the ravages of war.

Chiya, Tobi, and Uchiha Itachi arrived at Amegakure by boat.

Perhaps because he knew guests were arriving today.

Nagato did not activate the Rain Tiger at Will Technique.

Chiya was also relieved that he didn't have to become a drowned rat.

Following Tobi, Chiya and Uchiha Itachi boarded a small boat and drifted downstream along the river.

"In the organization, everyone calls me Tobi. I'm not an official member, just an intern without much talent, so you two need to watch your attitude toward me from now on."

At this moment, Uchiha Obito had cut his hair short, and his mask had changed from the original tiger-striped one to an orange, swirl-patterned mask.

He stood at the bow of the boat, arms crossed, speaking to the two of them.

ps: Second update, requesting recommendation tickets and monthly votes.