Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was sitting behind a large desk, with his hands folded to support his chin. The pipe was placed on the ashtray at the corner of the desk. The tobacco had long been burned out, leaving only a piece of cold ashes.
A woman stood across from the desk.
She was wearing ANBU style black clothes, and her mask was taken off, revealing a pale and beautiful face.
Sarutobi Tsukikage.
ANBU Deputy Captain is the daughter-in-law of Third Hokage and the widow of Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
"The Chakra fluctuations remaining on site have been confirmed."
Sarutobi Tsukikage opened the investigation report in his hand and continued reading.
"The smoke residue of Ash Pile Burning covered the entire Stone Slab ground outside the main entrance of the trading company. Judging from the diffusion range and burning depth, there were at least four Elite Jonins releasing this technique from different angles at the same time."
Mitokado Homura was sitting on the chair next to him. When he heard this, he frowned.
Ash Pile Burning, Sarutobi Clan's signature Fire Release.
Elite Jonin, the only person in Konoha who can use this technique to this extent, is Sarutobi Clan.
"In addition, the damage to the main hall of the trading company has been confirmed to be caused by a Chakra compound attack with five different attributes."
"The five attributes of fire, water, wind, earth, and thunder were released at the same time, and the intersection produced a compound chain reaction. This technique..."
She paused, raised her eyes, and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"The traces are completely consistent with the confession, but...Five Release: Great Combo Technique!"
The office was quiet for three full breaths.
Then Mitokado Homura suddenly stood up from the chair.
"Hiruzen!"
His voice was high and shrill, and the chair was bounced against the wall behind him, making a muffled sound.
"You are too impulsive! It's not like this! I know you had a big argument with Mechuan Steward this afternoon, and the vampire Avarice really deserves to die!
But you shouldn't... you shouldn't take action yourself!
You are pushing Konoha into the fire pit!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the hand that was supporting his chin and raised his head. The veins on his forehead swelled. Rage said, "I didn't do it!"
Utatane Koharu stood up from the chair.
Her movements were very slow, and the crutch tapped lightly on the wooden floor. She walked to the desk, reached out and patted Hiruzen Sarutobi on the shoulder, her movements very light.
"Hiruzen, it's really not that bad."
Her voice was very low, with a bit of helplessness, a bit of regret, and a bit of complexity that said "I understand you but I don't agree with you."
"Mechuan That bastard really deserves a beating. Five Rings Trading Company has been very greedy in making money from us over the years.
But you are dignified Konoha Hokage!
You can't be so motivated! You can find an excuse and send a few ANBU to smash a window, which is better than setting fire to the building yourself."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's shoulders trembled slightly under Utatane Koharu's palm.
"It really wasn't me!"
His voice rose half a degree, with a sense of suffocation that almost overflowed from his throat.
He raised his hand and waved away Utatane Koharu's hand, stood up, put his hands on the desk, and leaned forward slightly.
"Think about it carefully! If I really wanted to touch Five Rings Trading Company, would I do it myself? Or would I use my own signature Ninjutsu?
And I brought four Ash Pile Burning who know how to Sarutobi? Am I crazy or stupid? This is obviously a frame-up! Someone is deliberately impersonating me! Putting the blame on the Sarutobi Clan!"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu looked at each other.
There was the same suspicion in the eyes of the two people - apart from Hiruzen Sarutobi and Sarutobi Clan, where else could there be such a configuration?
Hiruzen Sarutobi saw that look and felt like crying.
He slumped back into the chair, leaned back on the chair, and looked up at the ceiling. There was a thin crack on the ceiling, extending from the edge of the lamp holder to the corner of the wall.
He stared at the crack, and suddenly felt that he, like the crack, was being opened bit by bit by boundless resentment.
He also knows that his words are not very convincing!
If he were someone else, he would definitely be suspicious.
The four subordinates are proficient in the Sarutobi Clan's signature Ninjutsu Ash Pile Burning, or Elite Jonin level.
The leader knows how to use Five Release Great Combo Technique. Konoha is the only one who can use the five attributes Ninjutsu to this extent at the same time. Hiruzen Sarutobi.
What's even worse is that he even has sufficient motives!
Just this afternoon, he and Mechuan Steward had a heated argument in Hokage Office.
Mechuan Steward patted the table and asked him to give an explanation for Ono Ichiro. He patted the table and told Mechuan Steward to go back to the Chamber of Commerce.
The roars of the two men penetrated the walls of the office, and everyone in Hokage Building could hear them clearly.
Less than half a day after the quarrel, Five Rings Trading Company was served with his signature Ninjutsu.
This suspicion is that yellow mud falls off your crotch, and you can't even wash it off after jumping into the Naka River!
Got, got, got...
The sound of a cane hitting the ground came from outside the door, and the sound was fast and urgent.
The door was pushed open suddenly.
Shimura Danzō broke in with a cane and stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, Rage condemned:
"Hiruzen, I know you are confused!"
"But I never expected that you would be so confused!"
"Just attack Five Rings Trading Company..."
"You're so stupid that... you left so many flaws!
Four men who know how to use Ash Pile Burning? You use Five Release Great Combo Technique yourself? Why don't you just write 'Hiruzen Sarutobi is here for a visit' on the wall!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi jumped up from the chair.
"I didn't do it!"
He Rage roared, the sound exploded like a thunder!
Hokage's robe unfolded behind him, making a hunting sound. His wrinkled face turned red, and veins popped out on his forehead.
He stared at Danzo, took a few breaths, then raised his hand and pointed at the door.
"Also... you are no longer Hokage Advisor! You are not qualified to participate in such a big event! Get out!"
Danzo didn't move.
He stood in the center of the office with a cane, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi with one eye, and half of his face under the bandage twitched slightly.
Then he growled back:
"For Konoha, for the overall situation, I must stand up!"
His voice was higher and louder than Hiruzen Sarutobi. The crutch struck the ground three times, each time like adding an exclamation mark to his words.
"Do you know how much material circulation Five Rings Trading Company controls Konoha?
Medicinal materials, cloth, rare metals, Explosive Tag, Kunai... which of them did not come in through their channels?
If you burn down their trading company, the price of these supplies will increase several times tomorrow!
The day after tomorrow, the other four countries will unite to sanction Konoha! The day after tomorrow, His Highness Daimyo will send someone to hold him accountable!"
His chest heaved violently, and the anger in his one eye almost burst out.
"You old fool! Do you want... let me help you wake up!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's fists clenched loudly. His Chakra robes surged out of his body, and his Hokage robes flew violently in the violent airflow.
The documents on the desk were blown into the air, the pipe rolled out of the ashtray, spun twice on the table, and fell to the ground.
"I am Hokage!"
"You are nothing now... get out!"
Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's face that was about to burst a blood vessel and was silent for a breath. Then he turned around and walked towards the door with a cane. He took two steps and stopped again.
He didn't look back, his voice was hoarse and cold.
"You'll regret it!"
Danzo opened the door hard and stepped out.
Bang.
The door was slammed shut!
The dust on the door frame rustled down, and the portraits of Hokage hanging on the wall tilted slightly.
There was a dead silence in the office.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stood there, hesitating to speak, with helpless and entangled expressions on their faces.
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell back on the chair, breathing heavily. His hands clenched and unclenched on his knees, and his palms were covered with sweat.
Sarutobi Tsukikage was still standing in front of the desk, his face expressionless, but his eyes flashed with murderous intent.
She didn't speak, just bowed slightly, then turned around, pulled Opening Gate, and retreated silently.