Crow

At the Security Force, the Third Hokage left the cell and went to the office to review the evidence the Security Force had gathered recently.

Not one piece of evidence proved beyond doubt that Muchuan was a spy. But ninja had never needed absolute proof to investigate a spy. Once they found something suspicious, they had plenty of ways to verify it.

To many powerful people, any suspicious detail counted as evidence. Often, they simply trusted their own judgment. No one in Konoha had taken that further than Danzo when he ran Root.

Fugaku arrived quickly and entered the meeting room, where he greeted the Third Hokage and the Uchiha leaders.

"Fugaku, I need the Uchiha with the strongest Pupil Power—someone who can hypnotize Muchuan," the Third Hokage said. "Your father recommended you."

Surprise crossed Fugaku's face, though he knew he had the strongest Pupil Power in the Uchiha. The Mangekyo Sharingan had transformed it in a way the Three-Tomoe Sharingan could never match.

"Father thinks too highly of me," Fugaku said. "The Uchiha has no shortage of talent. Every senior here ranks among the family's strongest. Perhaps every father sees his own child as the best.

"But since Father recommended me, I'll do everything I can to make Muchuan tell us the truth."

The Third Hokage nodded. Uchiha Tenjo might have exaggerated a little, but he could not gauge Fugaku's strength. Even Fugaku's completed missions offered little indication of his true abilities.

Each mission had forced the Third Hokage to discard his previous assessment and reevaluate Fugaku's strength.

In the temporary cell, footsteps drew closer. Muchuan looked up, his expression calm. He knew he was unlikely to get out, but as an Iwagakure Jonin, he refused to disgrace himself before Konoha.

He had considered every way his cover might