The corpse lay motionless on the ground. Though its face was aged, its features were still recognizable.
"He looks much older than I remember, but there's no doubt. It's him!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in shock.
"To think Madara outlived Lord Hashirama. What has he been doing, hiding all these years?"
Danzo, too, spoke in a daze.
The corpse before them filled them with shock and disbelief.
They had doubted the words of the man in the spiral mask, but with the evidence before them, they had no choice but to believe him.
"What is that mysterious man in the spiral mask after?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked gravely, looking at Danzo.
His instincts told him that his companion would have an answer.
"I know him. He's a member of the Akatsuki!"
Danzo's eyes flickered as he spoke.
"The Akatsuki? That mercenary organization operating across the nations?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
"Yes, them. But what happened last night makes me suspect they may also have been in contact with Namikaze Sui."
Danzo spoke gravely, his eyes solemn.
He had secretly contacted the Akatsuki to eliminate members of the Uchiha Clan, so he knew very well how powerful the organization was.
"Just how much have you been hiding from me?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded angrily.
"Tell me everything you know about this organization!"
"If they're connected to Namikaze Sui, this probably isn't as simple as it seems!"
Danzo took a deep breath, realizing the severity of the situation. He drew another breath and spoke solemnly.
"The members of the Akatsuki are rogue ninja from various nations. According to the intelligence I've gathered..."
"Orochimaru is among them, along with that mysterious man in the spiral mask just now. He calls himself Madara Uchiha, but with Madara's corpse here, he clearly isn't."
"Judging by his eyes, however, he