The next day, Konoha's celebrations continued, but those with keen instincts had already sensed something unusual.
The peace treaty, which should have been signed promptly, had been delayed for some unknown reason. Then rumors began to spread.
Word had it that Kumogakure had ulterior motives for coming to Konoha to sign the treaty, and that trouble might arise between the two villages.
However, the rumors soon collapsed on their own. That evening, Konoha and Kumogakure publicly signed the peace treaty.
The villagers of Konoha were in high spirits, and every household was filled with joy.
At that moment, only the Hyuga Clan was shrouded in a suffocating atmosphere.
Hyuga Hiashi bowed deeply before a woman who was sobbing uncontrollably, his face full of guilt.
She was Neji's mother, and also Hyuga Hiashi's sister-in-law.
Just before the treaty was signed, his brother had chosen to sacrifice himself to protect the Main Family's Byakugan, dying in his place.
"I, Hyuga Hiashi, will make Kumogakure pay for this!" Hyuga Hiashi straightened, turned, and left.
After returning, Hyuga Hiashi summoned a group of clansmen and issued a series of orders.
Some of those orders targeted Kumogakure, while others targeted the Konoha High Command.
By agreeing to Kumogakure's conditions this time, the Third Hokage had effectively abandoned the Hyuga Clan. From that point on, the clan would no longer support him and would remain neutral within Konoha.
To express his displeasure, Hyuga Hiashi even specifically had several Hyuga clansmen who served in the ANBU directly under the Third Hokage resign.
The Third Hokage felt guilty over Hyuga Hiashi's dissatisfaction and naturally did not blame him.
After that, the protective forces around the Third Hokage were greatly weakened.
After all, the Hyuga Clan was Konoha's most prestigious clan after the Uchiha, possessing the Byakugan, one of the three great Dōjutsu, with its exceptional powers of perception. Without its protection, the Third Hokage's future outings would become far less secure.
After the celebrations, Fugaku, the Uchiha Clan's leader, chatted with his wife, Mikoto.
Uchiha Fugaku said gravely, "The Third Hokage's decisions have been utterly disappointing!"
"He's far too weak when dealing with outsiders! To settle this affair with Kumogakure, he actually abandoned the Hyuga Clan, which has always supported him. I don't think he's fit to be Hokage!"
Listening to her husband's complaints, Uchiha Mikoto sighed softly. "After the Nine-Tails incident, the Fourth Hokage and his wife died, and the new jinchūriki still can't fight on the battlefield. Not long ago, even Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, defected. Konoha is no longer the powerful village it once was."
Hearing his wife's words, Fugaku also sighed. "Konoha may have suffered heavy losses, but with the full support of our Uchiha Clan, no other force would dare start a war lightly!"
"Ultimately, it all comes down to the Konoha High Command's wariness and distrust of our Uchiha Clan!"
"If the Third Hokage can abandon the Hyuga Clan now, what future is there for our Uchiha Clan, which he never trusted to begin with?"
"Rather than let that happen, we might as well..."
Mikoto was startled. "Fugaku, are you planning to...?"
"We need to consider this carefully. Let's watch the high command's attitude first. We still need to build our strength." Fugaku nodded slightly. "Shisui needs another year or two to hone his skills. By then, he'll surely have grown stronger than me. And there's Itachi..."
"Fugaku, whatever happens, I'll support you. Just please don't let the children suffer. I know you have high hopes for Itachi, but I hope you'll spare Sasuke and give him a happy childhood..." Mikoto said with a sigh.
Fugaku nodded gently.
The Third Hokage stood in his study, frowning deeply at the Scroll of Seals before him.
He said to a masked ANBU beside him, "Kakashi, summon your ninja dog. Someone has gone through the Scroll of Seals. I need you to help me find whoever touched it."
Kakashi, who was serving in the ANBU, nodded, bit his finger, and performed the Summoning Technique.
With a poof, a pug named Pakkun appeared before them.
"Yo, Kakashi!" Pakkun greeted him, then addressed the Third Hokage. "You're here too, Third Hokage!"
"Yes. Sorry for the trouble, but I'd like you to identify whoever tampered with the Scroll of Seals," the Third Hokage said with a kindly smile.
"No problem! Leave it to me!" Pakkun promised confidently, then brought his nose close to the Scroll of Seals and began sniffing.
After sniffing for quite a while, Pakkun said awkwardly, "Third Hokage, whoever did this was very careful about covering their tracks. The scent has been removed, so I can't identify them either."
"Ah... all right. Thank you for your efforts." The Third Hokage sighed in disappointment.
After sending Pakkun back, Kakashi spoke. "Lord Hokage, I believe they came for a particular technique in the Scroll of Seals. But whoever they are, even if they obtained information on the forbidden techniques inside, they couldn't possibly master one in such a short time."
"Besides, since they came for a technique, they'll reveal themselves sooner or later. When that happens, we'll naturally be able to find them," Kakashi said reassuringly.
"I know, but forbidden techniques getting out poses far too great a threat to Konoha as it is now. What's more, if Kumogakure, our prime suspect, really did take a forbidden technique, they might launch a war against Konoha once they've worked out how to use it!" Deep worry appeared on the Third Hokage's face, and he seemed to have aged all at once.
Kakashi considered this. "Lord Hokage, I don't think it's that simple. The person after the Scroll of Seals may not necessarily be from Kumogakure."
"Oh? Kakashi, tell me what you think." The Third Hokage looked slightly surprised.
"They acted right when Konoha and Kumogakure were signing the peace treaty, and Hinata Hyuga happened to be abducted at the same time. That led to a lapse in security at your home. After the guards around it were knocked out, no one noticed for a full two or three hours. If I were from Kumogakure, I would definitely have taken the Scroll of Seals outright and left Konoha."
"But they didn't do that, so I don't think they're very likely to be from Kumogakure," Kakashi explained.
The Third Hokage had now grasped the key point as well. Suddenly recalling Orochimaru, who had defected not long ago, he ventured, "You mean someone in the village covets the forbidden techniques in the Scroll of Seals? And because they still intend to live in Konoha, they didn't want to provoke a search? Just like when Orochimaru secretly read the forbidden techniques back then?"
"Yes. After all, if the Scroll of Seals went missing, you'd certainly send people to conduct a massive search. But under the present circumstances, even if you wanted to investigate, you'd have absolutely nowhere to start."
"As expected of you, Kakashi. Your mind is even sharper than mine, and I'm Naruto!" the Third Hokage said, generous with his praise.
"You're too kind, Lord Hokage." Kakashi shook his head. "By comparison, this person's mind is far more frightening!"