As Fugaku watched Chikage quell the chaos with just a few words, the weight on his chest finally lifted.
He walked over to Chikage and asked in a low voice:
"You said they were peripheral members. Were they sent by Danzo to cause trouble?"
Chikage nodded.
"Right now, Danzo and Root are the prime suspects."
"But that's only an assessment. Once we get them back to the Konoha Military Police Force for questioning, we'll see if we can get them to name whoever's behind this."
He patted the carriage.
"Don't worry, Clan Head."
"I brought him a few local specialties from the border, too."
Chikage walked to the back of the carriage and yanked off the tarpaulin covering it.
Sunlight flooded the carriage.
Four men in black bodysuits and animal masks lay neatly arranged inside.
Black iron chains etched with runes were wrapped all around them, and they were unconscious.
The entire crowd fell silent.
Fugaku sucked in a sharp breath.
He recognized those masks and outfits at a glance.
They were Root's elite assassins!
Yashiro's jaw nearly hit the ground.
"Chikage..."
"You tied up Root's men and brought them back?"
Chikage patted the edge of the carriage, his tone casual.
"I went to investigate the smuggling case and happened to catch them moonlighting as assassins at the border."
"I figured they were important leads, so I brought them along."
"These men certainly weren't cheap. Lord Danzo even resorted to poisoned blades to make sure I stayed."
Chikage took a sealing scroll from his backpack and waved it in front of Fugaku.
"I've got both physical evidence and witnesses."
"Clan Head, wouldn't you call this a major achievement?"
Fugaku felt as though his brain could no longer keep up.
He had thought it would be a miracle if Chikage came