Signs

"Fugaku, could they already know Muchuan's cover was blown? News about him has spread throughout Konoha," Sanada said.

"It's possible. I'll go to Shanshui Village myself. Take more Security Force members with you and keep watch on the other information handoff point as well.

"Arrest any suspicious ninja the moment they appear."

Sanada nodded.

Fugaku said goodbye to the others and vanished with a Body Flicker Technique. Shanshui Village was not far from Konoha. In just under an hour, it came into view.

Shanshui Village had a small population, unlike Konoha, which had over ten thousand ninja alone. Konoha was more like a city than a village.

Shanshui Village had just over three hundred residents, nearly all civilians. Finding a hidden spy among them would not be easy.

With a Transformation Technique, Fugaku took the appearance of an ordinary civilian and slipped into Shanshui Village. News about Muchuan had not spread there. The village had no ninja, and its residents paid little attention to news from Konoha.

The village headman was named Yanhe He. Every day, he took several strong men from the village out hunting.

Yanhe was returning with several villagers now. They carried their prey and looked delighted.

Fugaku swept his Sharingan over them. These villagers had pitifully little Chakra, not even enough to reach the most basic Genin level.

Fugaku walked straight toward Yanhe. The instant their eyes met, his Sharingan put Yanhe under hypnosis.

"Headman, I need to speak with you."

Yanhe nodded, showing no sign that he had been hypnotized.

The two left the village and entered a dense grove nearby.

Fugaku turned and looked straight into Yanhe's eyes with his Sharingan.

"I'll ask, and you'll answer. Has anyone in your village gone missing recently or suddenly dropped dead?"

"No."

Fugaku nodded. His target might