Evidence!

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Fugaku stood face to face, both radiating intense auras, as if a storm was about to erupt.

Both men knew perfectly well that once they made a move, it would mean they would become enemies, and there would be no winners in this war.

Not only were the clan leaders present solemn and wide-eyed, but even the four Konoha High Command sitting in high positions were dumbfounded, their eyes filled with disbelief.

They stared intently at Fugaku, as if trying to see through him with their eyes, their gazes like those of someone looking at a madman who had lost his mind.

Their breathing became rapid, their chests heaved violently, they could hardly accept what was happening before them, and the shock in their hearts made their bodies tremble uncontrollably.

Utatane Koharu, tried to ease the tense atmosphere by speaking softly and gently, appealing to people's emotions.

"Fugaku, I understand your feelings, but after the Second Hokage passed away, it was the Third Hokage who resolutely shouldered the heavy responsibility, leading Konoha through the arduous Shinobi World War, ultimately enabling Konoha to rise again as the strongest village. His achievements and honors are something we should all remember and respect."

However, her words failed to quell Uchiha Fugaku's anger, and Fugaku didn't even want to look at her.

Just then, Uchiha Yashiro slowly stood up. He sneered, "Elder Koharu, what you're saying is quite interesting. In the Fourth Shinobi World War, it was those ninjas who fought valiantly on the front lines and sacrificed their lives that brought peace and victory to Konoha, not you people sitting in the back pointing fingers!"

His words were like a clear stream, washing over the hearts of everyone present.

That's absolutely right! When did it all become your achievement?

Whether it was the patriarchs of each family or the people they brought, they were all deeply moved by the words of the Yashiro, and they thought of the relatives and friends who had died in the war.

Seeing the change in the situation, Utatane Koharu quickly explained, "Of course we will not forget the heroes who sacrificed themselves for the village. Their great achievements and glory have long been recorded in history. But as the village leader, the Third Hokage's merits and contributions should also be remembered. We should not let rumors and misunderstandings negate his years of diligence and dedication."

Upon hearing this, the Uchiha Yashiro frowned, unconvinced. "Rumors? Misunderstandings? Denials? Absurd! We Uchiha simply hope that the Lord Hokage can confront the problems of the Anbu and set the record straight! After all, the actions of the Anbu and Root have caused profound damage to the peace and unity of the village!"

"You! Your words are harsh!" Utatane Koharu glared angrily at the Uchiha Yashiro.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I'm still not as shameless as you guys. If I were you, I wouldn't have the face to sit in those seats!"

"You!" Mitokado Homura angrily got up from his seat, his emotions running high.

"Alright!" Just then, Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan, dressed in a traditional kimono, stood up abruptly. His action caused a stir, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

Everyone looked at Hyuga Hiashi in surprise, their eyes filled with speculation. After all, the Hyuga Clan was known for its low profile and rarely participated in such political disputes.

Hyuga Hiashi ignored the complicated looks and instead focused his gaze directly on Fugaku.

His expression was solemn as he asked earnestly, "Clan Chief Fugaku, do you have any evidence?" His voice echoed clearly in the silent conference room.

Hyuga Hiashi had no intention of getting involved in the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage's faction, given the complex web of interests involved.

However, recently some ninjas from the clan have indeed gone missing, even though they are from the Branch Family, which has forced him to take it seriously.

Moreover, this situation coincided with what Fugaku had said about the missing ninjas and the laboratory, making him realize the seriousness of the problem.

If these missing ninjas were indeed used in experiments, then the consequences...

Therefore, he decided to step forward and ask Fugaku for evidence to ensure that the truth came to light.

He dared not think any further, his brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on Fugaku, awaiting his answer.

Fugaku snorted coldly, crossed his arms, and his eyes flashed with a chilling light. "Evidence? Of course I have it!"

There's evidence! As soon as Fugaku finished speaking, the crowd erupted in excitement.

If everything Fugaku said is true, then it means that there may indeed be some unspeakable secrets among the higher-ups of Konoha, secrets that may involve the lives of countless innocent ninjas.

Fugaku glanced at Yashiro slightly, Yashiro instantly understood, nodded, then stood up and walked steadily Earth Flow the front of the conference room.

Everyone's eyes followed his figure closely, and suddenly several scrolls appeared in his hand.

Immediately afterwards, a loud bang rang out, and white smoke rose violently, quickly filling the entire conference room. When the smoke cleared, everyone couldn't help but gasp – there were five corpses lying in the conference room.

Except for the first corpse, whose face was not covered by a white cloth, the faces of the other corpses were all tightly covered with white cloth, and they were all wearing the green Jonin vests of Konoha, so people could not see their true faces.

"Look, everyone!" The Uchiha Yashiro looked grave and raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to turn their attention to the first corpse.

The corpse was a sight too gruesome to behold; its entire body was covered with crisscrossing, deep knife wounds that revealed the bone, and dried blood surrounded each wound, forming a chilling dark red hue.

The corpse's face was twisted beyond recognition, seemingly still bearing the lingering pain and fear of its dying moments, a truly horrifying sight.

Yashiro's face was ashen. He slowly Earth Flow the first corpse, bent down, and forcefully pinched the corpse's mouth shut with one hand, his sharp eyes signaling everyone to pay attention to the corpse's tongue.

All eyes turned to the corpse, where several black marks, strangely shaped, appeared on its tongue, resembling some kind of mysterious and evil Cursed Seal.

The black lines stood out starkly against the pale background of the tongue, exuding a chilling aura.

What is this?

"I don't know, it looks like Cursed Seal?"

Is it Sealing Jutsu?

At this moment, the crowd began to whisper among themselves, discussing in hushed tones what this mysterious Cursed Seal might mean.

Fugaku's voice suddenly rang out, like a bolt of lightning piercing the darkness, "If I remember correctly, this thing is— the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal."

Upon hearing this, the representatives of the major families present suddenly showed expressions of astonishment. They exchanged glances, seemingly confirming each other's thoughts in silence.

The others looked blank, clearly confused by the unfamiliar name.

"The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal." Fugaku continued to explain, "It is a forbidden technique that places a Cursed Seal on another person's tongue to bind and control them! The person affected is forbidden from revealing any information about the caster. At best, they will experience paralysis and speechlessness; at worst, the Cursed Seal will erupt."

The expressions on everyone's faces turned serious as they began to recall their kin who had once joined the Anbu and Root.

After those people joined, their behavior became extremely strange and incomprehensible.

They originally thought that entering the Anbu and Root was a shortcut to the Konoha High Command, where they could gain more power and status.

But now it seems they were unaware of the enormous risks hidden within.

Are those who went inside still silently enduring this pain and torment?

Did those who went in also suffer the torment of this Cursed Seal?

These questions echoed in everyone's minds, sending a chill down their spines.