It's definitely him!

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others exchanged glances before beginning to recount the sequence of events, starting from the Wood Release experiments initiated after the end of the Second Great Ninja War, all the way to the subsequent prohibition of those experiments.

Finally, they confessed everything to Minato Namikaze: how Shimura Danzō had quietly restarted the Wood Release experiments, and how he had obtained a successful test subject that had been kept hidden until now.

"Minato, I believe the most urgent priority is to find Kinoe. If he falls into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, the consequences will be unimaginable."

There seemed to be a hidden meaning in Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, one that Minato Namikaze did not immediately grasp.

Seeing the puzzled expression on Minato Namikaze's face, Sarutobi Hiruzen was just about to explain, but Shimura Danzō seized the conversation, saying, "Setting aside the Wood Release, the mere fact that a person like Kinoe went missing from the Root training base is enough to warrant a thorough investigation. Within Konoha, besides us, there is only one person with the capability to pull off such a feat—Masaki Uchiha."

Upon hearing Shimura Danzō say this, Minato Namikaze was about to offer a defense for Masaki Uchiha, but after a rapid shift in thought, he held back.

Let's see what else that old man Danzō has to say.

Even if he is just trying to shirk his own responsibility.

But this scapegoating is a bit of a stretch, isn't it?

Everyone knows you have a grudge against the Uchiha Clan, but this accusation is so clumsy that no one is going to buy it.

Seeing the skeptical look on Minato Namikaze's face, Shimura Danzō felt a flicker of annoyance, but he patiently continued, "In all of Konoha, besides you and Hiruzen, only Masaki Uchiha has the ability to abduct Kinoe from the Root base without being detected on the spot."

"I am not being arrogant, but even Hiruzen's student, Jiraiya, could not sneak into the Root base and abduct someone without making a sound."

"Although I am at odds with Masaki Uchiha, I still hold his strength in high regard."

"So, that covers the suspect based on capability; now, let's talk about motive."

"Everyone knows that the Uchiha and Senju clans fought for thousands of years before the village was even founded, and they understand each other very well."

"Especially after the battle at the Valley of the End between Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju, the Uchiha Clan has become increasingly desperate for the power of Wood Release."

"Therefore, he has the motive as well, which is why I suspect him."

After saying all this in one breath, Shimura Danzō felt a bit thirsty, so he picked up the teacup on the table and drained it in one gulp.

The others were stunned; if one followed Shimura Danzō's logic, it was indeed possible that Masaki Uchiha could have done this.

But, how do you know the Uchiha Clan is so desperate for the power of Wood Release?

Is this genuine intelligence, or just something you said to shift the blame?

As if sensing their suspicious gazes and knowing what they wanted to ask, Shimura Danzō said expressionlessly, "I still have a mole within the Uchiha Clan."

"That mole has been helping me collect intelligence on the Uchiha Clan for a long time, so it is perfectly normal for me to have obtained this information."

How is that normal?! Minato Namikaze roared internally: Who just casually plants moles in ninja clans?

If discovered, wouldn't it be the Hokage whose reputation suffers?

So you, Danzō, have become Teflon now? When something happens, the Hokage takes the blame; when nothing happens, you keep looking for trouble?

Good grief, how is it that as soon as I succeed as Hokage, there are countless pits already dug for me?

Just as Minato Namikaze was feeling aggrieved, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke up, "In that case, let's list him as a suspect."

The words had barely left his mouth when Minato Namikaze interrupted.

"No. Without evidence, no one can be listed as a suspect."

"Doing so brings only harm and no benefit; it will even chill the hearts of our allies in the village."

"I firmly oppose this!"

Minato Namikaze immediately stepped forward to stop Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Hmph."

"Then what do you suggest?"

After exhaling a cloud of thick smoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen stared straight at Minato Namikaze.

"Before you arrived, I carefully surveyed the scene and discovered some clues," Minato Namikaze said with confidence.

Upon hearing this, everyone's interest was piqued.

One must know that the scene of a ninja battle usually leaves behind traces.

Through these traces, one can reconstruct the battle as it unfolded.

Of course, when Kage-level ninjas fight, the scale is vast, making reconstruction very difficult.

Therefore, this discovery by Minato Namikaze was quite significant.

"Please, Fourth Hokage, let us hear it." The two elders exchanged a look before asking.

"At the location where the Wood Release was found, I observed the movement patterns of three people. Because the traces were fresh, I was able to examine them very carefully."

"There should have been two adults and one child. The small one was about 10 years old; that would be the Kinoe you mentioned, right?" At this point, Minato Namikaze paused and looked at Shimura Danzō.

Shimura Danzō simply nodded, indicating that was correct.

"Judging by the footprints, after these two adults abducted Kinoe to this location, they waited for a while—or perhaps they woke him up—and then a battle occurred. Based on the outcome, Kinoe was subdued in one move and then taken away from the Forest of Death."

"It was as if they intentionally let Kinoe unleash a ninjutsu for us to see, or rather, for everyone to see."

"It is because of this that we have the traces of Wood Release ninjutsu. Synthesizing the situation at the scene, I feel that these two individuals definitely did this on purpose, and this matter is not over yet."

Minato Namikaze rubbed his chin, pondered for a moment, and continued, "It's just that I can't figure out why, if they had already abducted the person, they would briefly wake him up halfway, and in such a remote location as the Forest of Death?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others were also pondering the motive behind these two individuals' actions.

Just as the rest were still deep in thought, Shimura Danzō suddenly shouted, "This old man has discovered a suspicious point!"

Everyone's gaze was drawn toward him.

Seeing their faces filled with questions, Shimura Danzō felt a slight, smug smile form in his heart: "Fourth Hokage, when you arrived at the scene, were there any villagers and members of the Police Force gathered there to watch?"

Hearing that this was the question Shimura Danzō was asking, Minato Namikaze spoke as if he had just had a sudden realization: "They were already there before I arrived."

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the rest of the Konoha F3 also understood what Shimura Danzō meant.

Logically speaking, if Wood Release were to appear, even if the villagers received the news first, they would certainly report it to the Hokage.

Instead of just standing there watching, especially with such a large crowd of onlookers.

Furthermore, the Anbu who received the news reported the intelligence to the Fourth Hokage as quickly as possible.

However, it felt as though these villagers had received the news even earlier than the Anbu.

Moreover, the actions of the Police Force were also abnormally fast.

But, everyone must not forget, there are members of the Uchiha Clan currently in Minato Namikaze's Anbu.

"It must be him!"

Shimura Danzō's voice was filled with surprise.