"All right," the Third Hokage said. "One of you is a Konoha Elder, and the other is the future heir of the Uchiha Clan. Don't make baseless accusations here without evidence.
"The consequences of searching someone's memories are too severe. Konoha can't afford to lose two capable people at once.
"In fact, losing either one of you would be more than Konoha wants to bear.
"Fugaku, Tenjo, the Security Force will have to track down the killer. I'm counting on you this time. Investigate thoroughly. No matter which country in the Shinobi World dared to commit this crime, Konoha will not let it go."
In the end, the senior officials offered Elder Ize's family a few words of comfort before leaving.
After finding no evidence at the scene, the Security Force had no choice but to withdraw.
The enemy had covered their tracks perfectly, but Fugaku didn't care. To him, Ize's death meant nothing more than the loss of an irrelevant old man.
As for a seat on the Elders Council for Uchiha Tenjo, Fugaku would secure it for him.
That afternoon, Fugaku and Uchiha Tenjo talked in the Security Force office.
"Father, what do you make of this?"
Uchiha Tenjo smiled. "Do you take me for a fool just because I'm the Uchiha Clan Leader? Elder Ize was already disabled. He had no value to outsiders. Who would go after him for no reason?
"I've heard about the four Hokage Faction members meeting. There's a good chance they were behind it. I just never thought they would do something like this."
"Father, the Shinobi World may be brutal, but it's still fairly clean compared with the filthy power struggles between nations. Strength matters here, after all.
"Power struggles within a Ninja Village are more about who's willing to sink