Almost Exposed

Uchiha compound.

Inside the infirmary.

Shin-getsu leaned against the headboard, holding a scroll on basic Fire Release in his hands.

Fugaku had sent it over last night.

Although it was only basic Fire Release theory, it was incredibly useful for Shin-getsu right now.

The original owner's ninja foundation wasn't bad, but given his young age, his exposure had been limited.

To truly become stronger, he had to build up from the basics: chakra nature transformation, hand seal speed, and meridian control.

The traits the system gave him could enhance his talent and abilities.

But without knowledge and training, the effects of those traits couldn't be fully realized.

Shin-getsu read with great focus.

Just then, the door was pushed open.

Uchiha Tekka walked in.

His expression was grim, but upon seeing Shin-getsu, he managed to force a smile.

"You're awake?"

Shin-getsu put down the scroll.

"Senior Tekka."

Tekka waved a hand.

"Don't be so formal."

"We went to the Hokage Building today."

Shin-getsu's eyes flickered.

"What was the result?"

Tekka sneered.

"The Hokage agreed to form an investigation team and allowed the Police Force to participate."

"But he isn't willing to notify the other clans."

Shin-getsu was not surprised.

"What about a deadline?"

Tekka was taken aback.

"How did you know there was a deadline?"

Shin-getsu said calmly, "If there were no deadline, the so-called investigation could be dragged out indefinitely."

Tekka looked at Shin-getsu with even more appreciation.

"Seven days."

"The clan head forced the Hokage to agree to provide preliminary results within seven days."

Shin-getsu nodded.

"That's not bad."

Tekka sat down to the side and lowered his voice. "But I have a feeling they're definitely going to try to pull a fast one."

"They'll likely claim it was the work of enemy village spies."

Shin-getsu glanced at him.

"Cloud Village."

Tekka's body stiffened.

"How did you know?"

Shin-getsu said indifferently, "If they need a scapegoat, Cloud Village is the most suitable choice."

"It's not the first or second time they've coveted Konoha's bloodlines."

"The clan should know about that incident with the Hyuga."

Tekka's gaze sharpened.

Of course he knew.

Cloud Village had once attempted to kidnap Hyuga Hinata, and the matter was only settled when Hyuga Hizashi was forced to die for it.

This incident was no secret among the ninja clans of Konoha.

If they pinned the blame on Cloud Village this time, it would indeed be easy for some people to accept.

Tekka gritted his teeth.

"Then what do we do?"

"Are we just going to watch them sweep this under the rug?"

Shin-getsu did not answer immediately.

He tapped his fingers lightly against the scroll.

It was an open secret that Danzo would shift the blame onto the Cloud Village.

The Hokage Building also had the motive to accept this outcome.

Because doing so would provide the Uchiha with a "culprit" while simultaneously preventing Root from being exposed.

But the question was, would the Uchiha believe it?

They would not.

Yet, mere disbelief was useless.

The scapegoat narrative had to be rendered untenable.

Shin-getsu asked, "Are those two corpses still in the clan compound?"

Tekka nodded.

"They are."

"The clan head had them sealed away."

Shin-getsu continued, "Are there any unusual marks on the bodies? For instance, traces of Root training, a cursed seal on the tongue, or the residue of some sealing jutsu?"

Tekka's expression shifted.

"A cursed seal on the tongue?"

Shin-getsu paused internally.

Damn it.

I spoke too soon.

Root members were universally branded with the Cursed Seal of Rood-Tongue Eradication to prevent them from leaking Danzo's secrets.

But this was information that the current Shin-getsu should not have known.

Tekka stared at him.

"How did you know they might have a cursed seal on their tongues?"

The air in the hospital room suddenly went quiet.

Shin-getsu did not panic.

In moments like these, the more one explains, the more holes appear.

He looked up at Tekka and said calmly, "When I fought the second person last night, he tried to bite through his tongue."

Tekka frowned.

"Bite his tongue?"

Shin-getsu nodded.

"At the time, I thought he was trying to commit suicide."

"But thinking back on it, it didn't seem like he was trying to kill himself."

"It looked more like he was confirming something."

"If they really were death-knights raised by some organization, it wouldn't be strange for them to have a seal on their tongues to prevent leaks."

This explanation was half-truth and half-fabrication.

But the logic held up.

Tekka looked thoughtful.

"Now that you mention it, that is indeed possible."

"I'll have someone check when I return."

Shin-getsu cautioned, "Be careful with the inspection."

"If there really is a seal, it might be triggered."

Tekka nodded with a grave expression.

"I understand."

Shin-getsu continued, "There is one more thing."

Tekka asked, "What is it?"

Shin-getsu said, "If the Hokage Building comes out with the result that they were Cloud Village spies within seven days, the clan must not be the first to refute it."

Tekka frowned.

"Why?"

Shin-getsu said slowly, "First, look at the evidence."

"Since they want people to believe it, they will certainly prepare evidence."

"The more evidence they prepare, the more loopholes there are likely to be."

Tekka's eyes brightened slightly.

"You mean, we should follow the evidence they provided?"

Shin-getsu nodded.

"If they produce the corpses of Cloud Village ninjas, we investigate the source of the corpses."

"If they produce Cloud Village ninja tools, we investigate the circulation of those tools."

"If they produce intelligence scrolls, we investigate the handwriting, the paper, and the sealing techniques."

"The truth might be hidden."

"But a fabricated truth will always have seams."

Tekka felt a tremor in his heart as he listened.

Is this child really nine years old?

Why did he feel as if he weren't talking to a brat who had just awakened his eyes, but rather discussing a case with an experienced Anbu captain?

However, shock aside, Tekka felt more excitement than anything else.

The Uchiha were in desperate need of people like this.

The clan was not lacking in those who could fight.

What they lacked were people who could see through the dark schemes of the higher-ups.

Tekka stood up.

"Fine."

"I'll go investigate the corpses right now."

He walked to the door, then suddenly turned back.

"Shin-getsu, once your injuries heal, come to the Police Force training grounds."

"I will personally teach you shurikenjutsu and close-quarters taijutsu."

Shin-getsu's heart stirred.

"Thank you, Senior Tekka."

Tekka grinned.

"Don't thank me."

"You have a brain, and you're ruthless enough."

"It would be a waste if you didn't get stronger."

Having said that, he turned and left.

After the door closed, Shin-getsu leaned back against the headboard.

The system prompt sounded shortly after.

[Host has influenced the Uchiha Police Force to change their investigative direction.]

[The Root's line of fabricated evidence has been interfered with prematurely.]

[Obtained Causality Points: 600.]

[Current Causality Points: 2300.]

A flash of joy crossed Shin-getsu's eyes.

Two thousand three hundred.

He was only seven hundred away from the two-tomoe Sharingan.

As long as he triggered one more key change, it would be enough.

He looked down at the Fire Style Scroll in his hands.

Strength.

He needed strength too badly right now.

A brain could lay out plans.

But in this world, what ultimately decided life and death was power.

A smart person without power was merely a piece on the chessboard that was slightly harder to capture.

A planner with power was the one holding the pieces.

Shin-getsu slowly closed his eyes and began to circulate his chakra according to the methods in the scroll.

Fire-attribute chakra flowed through his meridians.

His chest felt slightly warm.

He could sense that his affinity for Fire Style was not low.

The Uchiha were, after all, a clan naturally adept at Fire Style.

Coupled with the [Chakra Control] trait, his speed in learning basic ninjutsu should be quite fast.

After only a moment, he opened his eyes again.

Because there were faint footsteps outside the door.

It wasn't Tekka.

It wasn't Fugaku.

The footsteps were light and steady in rhythm.

They carried the habit of someone deliberately suppressing their presence.

Anbu?

Shin-getsu's gaze turned cold.

The door was not knocked upon.

But outside the window, a figure landed silently on a distant rooftop.

The other party did not approach.

They were merely observing.

Shin-getsu did not activate his Sharingan.

Nor did he show any signs of abnormality.

He continued to lower his head and look at the scroll, as if he had discovered nothing at all.

But in his heart, he had already made a judgment.

They were the Third Hokage's men.

Not Root.

The aura of Root was colder, more like that of a tool.

This observer kept their distance and lacked killing intent; it was more like simple surveillance.

The Hokage's Anbu have come as well.

Shin-getsu sneered inwardly.

It's certainly getting lively.

Danzo was watching him.

The Third Hokage was also watching him.

Within the Uchiha, they regarded him as a newly emerged genius.

The younger faction of the Police Force had begun to gravitate toward him.

He had planted the seeds of doubt in Shisui and Itachi.

The situation was progressing in the direction he desired.

But the more this was the case, the less he could afford to slacken.

Because the higher-ups of Konoha were not fools.

And Danzo was certainly not a dead man.

Within seven days, they would definitely take action.

Shin-getsu turned the first page of the Fire Style Scroll, his eyes calm.

Then come.

Let's see who reveals their flaw first.