While Shimura Danzō was telling the story of his beating.
Yanbai had also secretly sent the animals to investigate.
After they finished discussing compensation with the group.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's "occupational habit" kicked in, and he began pushing his luck. He insisted on knowing which little bastard had beaten him.
Granted, Yanbai, who had created the illusion for the practical class, was the true culprit.
But since they all knew it was an illusion, that none of it was real, any child who took his anger out on innocent people needed to be taught a lesson.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's decades as a diplomat had not been for nothing.
He was a master of rhetoric. His lofty, righteous words even stirred up the other three old fellows beside him.
Just then, Yanbai received the report from the Animal Detectives.
Yanbai looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi helplessly. "Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure you want to know who the culprit was?"
Yanbai's expression and choice of words already gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a bad feeling.
But he had been the one to propose it, and he had already fired up his three old classmates. How could he back down now?
So Yanbai summoned Shikaku Nara and whispered a few words in his ear, telling him to bring so-and-so and the others over.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other three could not quite catch the names.
But they heard the latter half of Yanbai's instructions clearly. "If they dare run, tell them I've already paid their emotional distress compensation for them. Nobody leaves this place while owing me money."
"The forest and the animals will tell me where they are."
"Not even suicide will work. If they die, I can still drag them out of the Yellow Springs for some 'correction.' I mean every word!"
Those last