Even Metal and Stone Can Be Opened

Minato Namikaze never expected Yatsuhashi to answer in such a way.

Although it differed from the scenario he had envisioned, looking at Yatsuhashi's righteous expression, perhaps the situation was not as dire as he had imagined.

Minato Namikaze then produced an intelligence scroll.

This was the precise information obtained after Genma Shiranui and Ebisu traveled to the Land of Water and met with the spies embedded in Kirigakure.

"It contains the details of the battle between Uchiha Obito and Karatachi Yagura in the Land of Water, and the activation of the Mangekyo Sharingan..."

At this point, he could clearly see Yatsuhashi's expression flicker.

But Minato did not stop; he continued at a measured pace.

"However, when combined with other intelligence from Konoha, the real Uchiha Obito should have perished at Kannabi Bridge long ago, so we have verified that the person was an impostor."

"Furthermore, this person posing as Uchiha Obito is highly likely to have been lurking within the team assigned to the S-rank mission carried out by Root at the time."

"Do you have anything to say, Yatsuhashi?"

Faced with Minato's relentless pressure, Yatsuhashi quickly recovered from his initial change in expression, returning to his composed and unhurried demeanor.

"That is indeed highly likely!" Yatsuhashi said decisively. "I suspect that the one posing as Uchiha Obito at the time was the team leader, Murata Masasuke!"

The corners of Minato's mouth curled up slightly, and a hint of playfulness flashed in his eyes: "Then, regarding the iron tower that was knocked away by brute force while escorting the Third Hokage, was that really done by Might Guy?"

"Of course!" Yatsuhashi replied with a serious face. "The Eight Inner Gates is truly worthy of its reputation; it cannot be underestimated!"

Minato asked with a smile: "Then what about the destroyed houses and the massive cracks that appeared on the street tonight?"

"That has to do with the Masked Man!" Yatsuhashi suddenly sat up straight, his face solemn. "He told me himself that his name is Madara Uchiha. He even tried to recruit me into some secret organization, but I refused him righteously! After all, how could I ever betray the village?!"

"Hm?" Minato, who had been prepared to see how Yatsuhashi would explain himself, saw his own expression change upon hearing the name Madara Uchiha.

"Is that true?"

Yatsuhashi swore on his honor, even showing a hint of lingering fear as he said, "Absolutely true!"

"He told me himself at the time that he was Madara Uchiha and invited me to join their secret organization, but I refused him righteously, which is why we had a disagreement and ended up fighting!"

The more Yatsuhashi spoke, the more agitated he became, as if he had truly experienced a life-or-death choice. "If it weren't for his advanced age and failing health, and his strength having severely declined, I fear I wouldn't have been able to hold out until the Anbu reinforcements arrived."

Minato fell silent.

Because in his mind, he recalled the report sent earlier by the Barrier Team, who had discovered through their investigation that the Masked Man had entered the village using an ancient code from the era of the First Hokage.

Furthermore, the Anbu who had just pursued the Masked Man had also provided feedback.

The target's strength was overwhelming, and relying solely on a single Three-Tomoe Sharingan, It nearly wiped out their entire squad.

Not to mention capturing him.

The code used by the Masked Man and the strength he displayed both matched the name Yatsuhashi had mentioned with uncanny precision.

How could Minato Namikaze not take this seriously?

Even so, Minato Namikaze did not choose to believe his words blindly.

He had already made up his mind to send someone to verify the body of Madara Uchiha.

After the battle at the Valley of the End, the body of Madara Uchiha was supposed to have been sealed deep within the mountains by the Second Hokage.

Thinking of this, Minato Namikaze looked at Yatsuhashi again.

This time, the habitual gentle smile on his face vanished, replaced by the solemn authority befitting a Hokage.

"Yatsuhashi, I want you to tell me yourself: you are not a rogue ninja, and you have no intention of betraying the village, right?"

Faced with this sudden interrogation, Yatsuhashi, who was always slick and accustomed to maneuvering through situations, felt his heart jolt violently. "Yes!"

Almost as a conditioned reflex, Yatsuhashi gave the most resolute reply.

Hearing this answer, the frost on Minato Namikaze's face melted instantly, and he returned to being the warm, spring-breeze-like Fourth Hokage.

"Since you say so, then I believe you."

Minato Namikaze stepped forward and gently patted Yatsuhashi on the shoulder.

"Get some rest. I will order the withdrawal of everyone monitoring you, and there will be no further investigations into you. Once you have recovered, just go back and report to Kakashi in the Anbu as usual."

Having said that, he turned to leave the hospital room.

After all, combining the previous intelligence with this interrogation, Minato Namikaze had obtained the answers he wanted even without Yatsuhashi saying more.

Since that was the case, he had no reason to continue pressing Yatsuhashi.

After all, the other party had never harmed the village; on the contrary, both times he had acted to complete missions assigned by the village.

Furthermore, the Uchiha Clan members all had some psychological issues to varying degrees—this was the original text written clearly in the files by the Second Hokage.

Rather than continuing to pressure Yatsuhashi, it was better to just let it go.

Moving forward, he only needed to have Kakashi, who was also in the Anbu, keep a close eye on Yatsuhashi.

Minato Namikaze believed that with Kakashi's guidance, Yatsuhashi would not go astray.

Just as Minato Namikaze was about to leave the room, Yatsuhashi's hesitant voice sounded behind him.

"Lord Hokage... I, I just want my parents and myself to live well."

Minato Namikaze stopped in his tracks, turned back, and smiled: "I promise, you will all live well in the village; there is no need to worry too much about that."

The hardest thing in this world to catch is such unreserved sincerity.

This left Yatsuhashi, who was always calculating and slick, feeling at a loss for what to do.

Facing such pure goodwill, he even somewhat clumsily spoke the truest thoughts from the bottom of his heart.

Upon finally receiving the personal promise of the Fourth Hokage, Yatsuhashi felt his entire being lighten significantly.

He took a deep breath. "Lord Hokage, there are at least two more things I need to tell you."

"Oh? Go ahead."

"Uchiha Obito is still alive, and so is Madara Uchiha."

"..."

Minato Namikaze's smile froze instantly on his face.

His pupils contracted violently.

The statement that Uchiha Obito was still alive struck his heart like a thunderbolt.

Yatsuhashi watched Minato's rigid expression.

He hesitated for a moment, then swallowed the second piece of information that had been on the tip of his tongue.

"The last thing... I think I'll save it for later."

"No problem, there's no rush."

Minato's voice was somewhat dry as he forced a smile.

"As long as it doesn't harm the interests of the village, you are welcome to come to the Hokage Building to find me at any time."

With that, Minato Namikaze closed the door to the hospital room.

Where on earth did that kid Yatsuhashi learn all this?

It wasn't that he wasn't interested in the last thing Yatsuhashi had to say, but rather that the news of Uchiha Obito being alive had already stirred up a monstrous storm in his heart.

He now urgently needed to verify the authenticity of this information.

"Whew..."

Only after Minato Namikaze had truly departed did Yatsuhashi let out a long sigh of relief.

He slumped limply against the hospital bed.

When facing Minato just now, he had been far less composed than he appeared on the surface.

After all, he was facing the Yellow Flash.

Yet, he hadn't expected Minato to take the initiative to resolve the hidden danger of being interrogated by the Anbu for him.

He had even given him the most important of promises.

This feeling of being unconditionally trusted caused Yatsuhashi, who had originally felt no sense of belonging to Konoha, to inevitably develop a bit of goodwill in his heart.

However, Yatsuhashi's newly relaxed state of mind quickly tightened again.

He looked at the moon outside the window, his eyes turning cold once more.

Yatsuhashi knew clearly that even if he avoided the tragic fate of the Uchiha Clan, Madara Uchiha's plans would inevitably affect him and his family.

The life trajectory of Uchiha Itachi had already been disrupted by him, and as for Madara Uchiha, Yatsuhashi certainly would not choose to sit and wait for death.

Just as he was pondering in his heart how to deal with Madara Uchiha's plans, "Whoosh—"

A purple figure slid into the hospital room as silently as a ghost, landing lightly by the bedside.

Yatsuhashi frowned. "Anko Mitarashi?"

Anko Mitarashi crossed her arms over her chest, looking at him with a half-smile.

"What, are you that unhappy to see me?"

However, before Yatsuhashi could answer, Anko took advantage of his physical discomfort to strike first.

The two were tightly entwined on the hospital bed, clearing the clouds to see the sun.

Not a word was spoken throughout the night, until dawn broke.