Who Was Telling the Truth?

Sunagakure's people arrived quickly.

The one leading them was Chiyo, who had retired many years ago but returned to managing affairs over the past two years.

Orochimaru set out with Kakashi, Sai, and dozens of skilled Anbu.

Although some people discussed Orochimaru leaving the village, it was not much of an issue.

Ordinary villagers all believed that the Fourth Hokage was still in the village.

Only some of the elders knew that the Fourth Hokage had been away from the village for some time.

During this time, all governmental affairs had been handled by Shikaku.

Besides, with the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God, he could return to Konoha at any time, so no one was worried.

The Sarutobi Clan Members who had recently been wandering around everywhere were nowhere to be seen today.

Sarutobi Clan Compound.

The Sarutobi Clan had not originally claimed any land. It was only after its members gradually returned to Konoha that they enclosed the area where they lived.

Today, the Sarutobi Clan had gathered here for a clan meeting.

The Sarutobi Clan had never had a tradition of holding Clan Meetings.

But given the Sarutobi Clan's recent decay, everyone knew this was merely an excuse from Third Elder Takashi Sarutobi.

Still, some elite Sarutobi Clan Members had sealed off every entrance and exit to the compound.

This prompted much discussion among the clan members.

Inside the council hall sat the three elders—Sarutobi Kō, Daigo Sarutobi, and Takashi Sarutobi—as well as Asuma.

Below them were dozens of minor leaders from the Sarutobi Clan.

These people had mostly returned to Konoha from elsewhere. They had no roots in Konoha and mostly had no family either.

Many of them belonged to the Sarutobi Anbu. They were essentially the Sarutobi Clan's strongest force.

This clan meeting had been proposed