Time passed slowly. The western sun dyed the azure sky yellow!
Inside the Senju Clan Compound.
"Creak-!"
The side hall's doors, which had been closed for a long time, opened again.
Uka Senju held a teacup in one hand and a pastry in the other. Hiding behind Mito Uzumaki, he looked toward the hall at the sound!
He'd found the perfect spot to watch the show.
With the Nine-Tails in front of him as a shield, he was super safe and super well hidden!
First Elder Sawagen Senju entered the hall with two middle-aged men and saluted. "Second Uncle, Rikima and Moshige are here!"
After reporting, he turned and closed the doors.
The hall, which had just brightened a little, instantly darkened again!
As the doors shut, the two middle-aged men in Senju clan robes bowed as well. "Greetings, Second Uncle. Greetings, Lady Mito!"
Looking at the two men before him, the Second Elder smiled kindly and gave a slight nod. Once they had straightened up,
his distinctive elderly voice rang out in the side hall. "Today, the clan received information saying there's something rotten within the clan!"
"So after discussing it, we decided to start our investigation with the two of you, who have had the least contact with outsiders!"
"Rikima, Moshige, what do you think of your Second Uncle's decision?"
Uka, watching from the back, nearly choked on his pastry. He hurriedly took a few sips of tea to wash it down.
He really hadn't expected the Second Elder's way of investigating to be so unique.
They were investigating a spy!!!
He'd just announced their purpose. What was the point of investigating now?
Then he suddenly remembered that this wasn't the technological world from his previous life.
Here in the Shinobi World, they could examine memories. They had a sure way of doing it, so... why hide anything?
Thinking of that, he understood a little better.
The middle-aged man with black hair and eyes, a square face, and muscles that bulged beneath his long robe stepped forward first and saluted. "Second Uncle, Sister-in-law Mito, since the information says that and you want to investigate, then start with me!"
"Once you're done, I can sit down and have some water. I've spent all day arguing with that brute, Fifth Brother, and I'm pretty thirsty!"
His solid voice rang out. Seeing how willingly he'd volunteered, the others in the hall couldn't help laughing at his attitude.
Uka also recalled the middle-aged man's background.
Rikima Senju, the half-brother of Hashirama and Tobirama.
After Tobirama's death, he became the current military authority of the Clan Leader's Line.
He commanded the last fully staffed company in the Clan Leader's Line.
His only flaw was that he was an illegitimate child.
Mm... that had also kept him out of consideration for inheriting the clan leader's position.
"Second Uncle, if you want to investigate... then go ahead!" said the other middle-aged man, who had black hair, brown eyes, and a long, horse-like face, sounding reluctant.
Seeing the obvious difference in their attitudes, the Second Elder smiled and beckoned. "Come on, Moshige. You don't look willing, so your Second Uncle will investigate you first!"
Moshige Senju, the horse-faced man, flushed with anger at those words, looking thoroughly unwilling.
He stood there dithering for a long while before finally shuffling over to the Second Elder.
Sitting on a cushion, he moved his lips and stammered for ages before lowering his head!
Seeing Uncle Moshige's attitude, Uka frowned slightly from his hiding place behind Mito Uzumaki.
He'd heard about Moshige Senju. He was famous in the clan for being an oddball.
His parents had died early, so he disliked talking to people.
Over time, he'd become a "social phobic"!
After the First Shinobi World War, the clan had spent a long time considering what to do with him and decided he'd be difficult to place.
In the end, they had him live alone in the secret vault as its guard.
He was very satisfied with that arrangement. After all, he didn't have to see anyone for ten days or half a month there, which suited him perfectly.
Of course, the clan could let him guard the secret vault alone because Moshige Senju was an Elite Jonin of the Senju clan.
But how had a social phobic become an Elite Jonin?
Uka could only say that his social phobia needed "psychopath" added to it.
He was so antisocial that he killed everyone, and his methods were extremely cruel. If that wasn't psychopathic, what was?
If he didn't kill Senju or his comrades, the clan would have had to put him down!
Looking at the reluctant Moshige, the Second Elder smiled and exchanged a glance with Mito Uzumaki.
Then he suddenly shouted, "Rikima Senju!"
"Ah..." Rikima Senju, the muscle-bound man, responded instinctively.
The moment he looked up, his whole body went limp like a noodle.
Seated in the back, Uka Senju clearly saw the sudden turn of events!
Before the Second Elder's shout had even left his mouth, a golden chain shot out from behind Mito Uzumaki and wrapped around Rikima Senju.
Before the shout ended, the First Elder had also moved behind Rikima Senju and struck the back of his neck hard with his right hand.
Looking at the muscle-bound man lying on the ground, Uka silently gave the old men a thumbs-up.
They were fast, and they worked together so well!
In less than a second, they'd taken down an Elite Jonin!
Moshige Senju, still kneeling reluctantly, had been startled by the shout. Then he'd seen this happen right in front of him!
His eyes widened, his mouth hung open, and his long head swung back and forth between the three clan leaders and the man on the ground.
"Why are you still standing there? Move aside! What are you gaping at? Want to show off how long your face is?" Seeing that the man was under control, the Second Elder dropped his usual kindly manner and spoke irritably to the long face in front of him.
"Oh, oh!" Coming to his senses, Moshige Senju hurriedly stood up and moved aside!
The First Elder, who had knocked Rikima out, lifted his robe with his right hand and crouched beside him, moving both hands in quick succession.
After a series of sharp cracks, he dislocated all four of Rikima's limbs.
He brushed off the nonexistent dust on his hands and lifted Rikima onto the cushion in front of the Second Elder with one hand.
Pulling back Rikima's hair to reveal his forehead, he said calmly, "Second Uncle, it's done!"
Watching the First Elder's... elegant performance, Uka shook his head speechlessly!
Rikima had been too clever for his own good.
Would those three old foxes believe him just because he showed his loyalty?
What normal adult would be willing to have their memories examined?
He was a powerful man, and he'd lived for decades. Who didn't have secrets? Was he really that loyal?
Without answering, the Second Elder formed the "Wei" seal with one hand.
Ninja Art: Mind Reading Technique
As Chakra rippled, he placed his left hand on Rikima's forehead and closed his eyes!
"Born during the Warring States period... his mother raised him alone for eight years... then she was killed by a passing ninja!"
"A man wearing red armor arrived... killed the murderer... revealed his identity... he was actually his father... then the father who had suddenly appeared... took him back to a clan called the Senju!"
"Illegitimate child... learning Ninjutsu... fighting... so-called brothers... fighting... why him... fighting... why him... fighting... uncle... mother's true identity... all dead... why not me... cousin's son... cousin's son... good...!"
After the time it took an incense stick to burn, the Second Elder withdrew his hand and wiped the sweat beading on his forehead!
In that short time, he'd seen Rikima's entire life.
He'd also understood the whole story.
At that moment, he really wanted to go down there and beat up that old friend who'd died long ago!
That damned man had deceived everyone and dragged the clan into trouble.
What kind of nonsense was "a commoner woman"?
She was Shimura Danzō's great-aunt!
Would it have killed you to tell the truth?
If Uka hadn't flushed out the watcher, he couldn't even imagine how badly the Senju would have been played by such a huge bomb!
Now he wasn't even surprised that this bastard would join forces with the Hokage's line.
But that bastard had an excuse. The other bastards didn't.
Everyone watched the Second Elder withdraw his hand, their expressions changing constantly!
They had no idea what information he'd obtained.
Looking at the man who was about to wake, the First Elder swung his right arm down hard, adding another blow. Then he urged the Second Elder, "Second Uncle!"