While the Ito family was enjoying a sumptuous meal, the Third Hokage was dealing with Might Guy, who had brought Senju Kotoha to report the incident.
"That's what happened." Might Guy explained the sequence of events in detail.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat silently, pipe in hand, after hearing the whole story.
Senju Kotoha was a child he had personally selected, and he had high hopes for her. He had always taken special care of her. As the Third Hokage, he knew more than anyone about Senju Kotoha's background and experiences.
But no matter how he thought about it, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't figure out why Senju Kotoha would try to assassinate a child who had nothing to do with her.
What could a child of just over four years old have experienced? Eating, playing, training, and sleeping—there was no room for hatred. As for some blood feud involving her parents, that was even more absurd. It had nothing to do with the child who'd been attacked.
He had someone verify Senju Kotoha's identity, confirming that she wasn't an impostor.
"You're saying the victim was a child named Ito Makoto?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
"That's right. He's my student." Might Guy answered honestly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had someone pull up Ito Makoto's records.
As a military city, Konoha kept records for every resident. Their family histories, when they had entered Konoha, and what work they did were all documented.
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced through Ito Makoto's records and looked surprised.
According to the records, Ito Makoto was a child who had been expelled from the Uchiha Clan.
"The Uchiha Clan?" he murmured.
He hadn't expected the victim to have once belonged to the Uchiha Clan.
That gave him an idea. Perhaps this child could serve as a pawn to gain leverage over the Uchiha.
But after