Habara delivered the bodies of the ANBU shinobi to Konoha's Intelligence Division. Several ninja from the Yamanaka clan immediately set to work, preparing for a meticulous search of the corpses' minds to uncover the truth behind their deaths.
For a ninja like Sarutobi Shinnosuke, a significant portion of his memories would undoubtedly be sealed. As both the ANBU Commander and the Hokage's son, he knew a vast amount of information touching upon Konoha's core secrets. The village had measures in place to ensure this intelligence wouldn't leak if he were ever captured or unfortunately killed.
However, the moments just before his death should theoretically be accessible. From external examination, the enemy hadn't specifically targeted or destroyed his brain tissue.
Jonin Yamanaka Inoichi took charge of retrieving intelligence from Sarutobi Shinnosuke. After drawing the necessary jutsu formula, he placed his left hand on the corpse's forehead. Closing his eyes, he utilized the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques, easily slipping into Shinnosuke's memories.
Searching memories wasn't simple; it placed a considerable mental burden on the Yamanaka operative. Sweat began to bead on Inoichi's forehead. Suddenly, his body jerked violently. As if shocked by electricity, his hand flew back, and he stumbled backward, collapsing onto the floor.
Genma Shiranui rushed forward, quickly assessing that Inoichi had only suffered some mental shock and wasn't seriously harmed. He helped him back to his feet.
"Well? Could you see the killer's face?" Habara asked.
Yamanaka Inoichi shook his head. "The fight was over in an instant. For someone as strong as Sarutobi, it's shocking he couldn't mount an effective counterattack. I couldn't see the enemy's appearance, but… I saw a blood-red Sharingan eye. The enemy was undoubtedly a ninja from the Uchiha clan."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke had been killed by a surprise attack; the wounds on his body confirmed it. His chest cavity had been pierced from behind, with multiple penetrating injuries. Given his skill, this shouldn't have happened. Every ninja is an expert in ambushes and constantly guards against them, especially when facing an enemy. Shinnosuke's vigilance should have been unquestionable. Yet, even so, he couldn't defend against the inevitable, meeting such an end.
Things had unfolded exactly as Habara had anticipated. Based on the recovered memories, the ANBU squad's engagement with the enemy was confusing and brief. The only discernible fact was that their attacker possessed the Sharingan.
If there was anything else to add, it was only that the enemy could employ powerful genjutsu.
There was no doubt. Although Uchiha Obito's Sharingan specialized in ninjutsu rather than genjutsu, thanks to Uchiha Madara's tutelage, he was capable of casting powerful illusions given sufficient preparation. He could control the Nine-Tails; a few ordinary ninja posed little challenge.
Aside from confirming the killer's origin, the Intelligence Division could find nothing further. Habara only stayed for a short while before leaving.
"Lord Third Hokage might… No, never mind."
Habara had started to say the Third Hokage would likely come here personally soon, but reconsidered. It was hard to be sure. Everyone has things they cannot bear to face. The Third Hokage would need to summon considerable mental fortitude before viewing his son's remains.
Even accustomed to blood, slaughter, and death, the Third Hokage was only human. Blood ties, ultimately, are different. Perhaps only late at night, when truly alone, would the Third Hokage come here to look upon his already cold son.
After leaving the Intelligence Division, Habara dismissed the temporary squad. He instructed Genma and Aoba to return to the Archive and report the findings to Kushina. He himself hurried towards the Hokage's Office to report directly to the Third.
When Habara saw the Third Hokage, he found the man looked as if he had aged ten years overnight. The usual vigor and spirit were gone, replaced by a sense of weary defeat. It couldn't be helped. The Fourth's death was one blow, his own student defecting was another, and now the sudden loss of his son was yet another crushing weight. An old man could only endure so much.
Therefore, Habara kept his report as brief and concise as possible; he understood the atmosphere. While he couldn't claim to feel the Hokage's pain, he could at least offer some empathy and sympathy.
"Sharingan, is it…"
After hearing the confirmed cause of death, the Third Hokage fell silent for a moment before asking Habara, "Habara, what are your thoughts on this killer? I know Shinnosuke's strength. He wasn't the kind of ninja to go down easily."
Lord Hokage is speaking rather emotionally, Habara thought, discreetly averting his gaze. He replied, "Indeed. The enemy is extremely strong. I don't believe there's anyone currently within the Uchiha clan capable of this, not even Shisui of the Body Flicker. He couldn't possibly be that fast. To use an imperfect analogy, I felt the attacker was as fast as the Fourth Hokage."
Hearing this, the Third Hokage, who had been pacing slowly, stopped abruptly. His gaze fixed on Habara. "Habara, what are you implying…?"
Habara nodded slowly. "I don't know if it's just a feeling, but this enemy reminds me of the mysterious foe from the Nine-Tails attack years ago. The same Sharingan, the same proficiency in high-speed ninjutsu…"
Habara tried to be objective; he wouldn't stoop to simply slinging mud at the Uchiha. Since he couldn't directly reveal Obito's identity, this subjective speculation was the best he could offer.
The Third Hokage seemed inclined to believe this theory almost instantly. He too had vaguely sensed some force deliberately sowing discord between Konoha and the Uchiha.
Several problems now faced him. First, should he continue the previous policy of appeasement towards the Uchiha? Second, even if he did, how could he quell the extremist voices on both sides, within Konoha and the Uchiha? Third, how could he possibly capture this elusive killer who appeared and vanished like a ghost?
"Habara, what is your view of the Uchiha?" the Third Hokage asked suddenly after another moment of silence.
Habara didn't understand why the Third Hokage was asking him this; he felt his opinion on the matter was irrelevant.
"No particular view. I see them like any other ninja clan," he replied.
It was common knowledge, for various reasons, that Habara wasn't fond of ninja clans. Many who knew his past were aware of this. Even those who hadn't directly experienced his attitude could guess. However, Habara's dislike was within normal bounds, a matter of personal incompatibility. It wasn't as if he felt compelled to act against things he disliked.
"Sigh…"
The Third Hokage sighed. Habara remained true to his "original intentions," seemingly unconcerned by the current crisis. He had the air of a passive onlooker, not thinking from a "Konoha-centric" perspective. Clearly not a qualified inheritor of the Will of Fire.
It couldn't be helped. He wasn't purely a Konoha native, after all.
"Lord Hokage, are there any further tasks you require of me?" Habara asked.
He would diligently carry out any mission assigned to him; his work ethic was unquestionable. What dissatisfied the Hokage was the lack of deep-seated concern for the village's plight radiating from him. Then again, perhaps Hiruzen was asking too much. Diligent work was one thing; how could he expect an employee to treat the company like home? That was unreasonable.
"Maintain surveillance on the Uchiha clan, but avoid provoking them excessively. Also, restrain the shinobi involved in the surveillance; have them exercise more control," the Third Hokage instructed.
"Understood," Habara acknowledged the Hokage's meaning, but added…
"Lord Hokage, the 'siege' itself is already immense pressure. No one can remain calm under such high pressure for long."
The Third Hokage nodded. He didn't need Habara to remind him of that.
Leaving the Hokage's presence, Habara walked, lost in thought.
If certain orders fell upon him – orders like eliminating Uchiha shinobi – he could probably accept them. At the absolute extreme, it fell within the scope of an ANBU ninja's duties. But if he were ordered to carry out a clan massacre? That, he would likely refuse. Slaughtering unarmed civilians was not work he wanted to do.
It wasn't out of sympathy for the Uchiha's non-combatants specifically, but rather because he possessed a certain moral fastidiousness. He decidedly did not want his hands stained with the blood of ordinary people, regardless of whether they were Uchiha or not. Of course, this applied only to civilians. If they were criminals, or corrupt nobles acting foolishly, then the specific situation would dictate his actions.
So, his moral compass was somewhat inconsistent.
Late at night, the Third Hokage arrived alone at the deserted Intelligence Division building.
During such critical times, security around the Third Hokage should logically never be lessened. However, when faced with Konoha's supreme commander seeking solitude, the shinobi displayed their emotional intelligence. Lord Hokage needed to be alone. As for the resulting security risk, everyone would simply have to work harder to mitigate it.
Gazing upon his eldest son's face, the Third Hokage remained silent. He reached out a trembling right hand to steady himself against the wall behind him, then slowly bent down, sinking unceremoniously to sit against the wall.
His eyes were empty, unfocused, his thoughts having drifted far away.
After sitting in silence for a full hour, the Third Hokage finally rose again. He walked over to Sarutobi Shinnosuke's body, gently covered the pale face with a white cloth, steadied himself once more, took a deep breath, and turned to leave.
Leaving the Intelligence Division, the Third Hokage didn't return to his office. Protected by several elite ANBU squads, he went to an unremarkable small house on Konoha's west side.
Someone was already waiting for him there.
"Lord Hokage." A slender, almost frail figure greeted the Hokage first.
"What is the situation with the Uchiha, Itachi?" the Third Hokage asked.
The one meeting the Hokage here in secret was none other than Uchiha Itachi.
"Not good. The voices of resistance are becoming almost impossible to suppress," Itachi reported calmly.
The Uchiha clan understood the severe consequences of the ANBU Commander, the Hokage's son, dying on their territory. Coupled with the suffocating pressure of the Konoha shinobi surrounding them, they felt the water rising to their noses. Rebellion felt like the only option left… According to some Uchiha, it wasn't rebellion, but a fight for survival.
"Regarding Shinnosuke's death… some speculate the culprit might be linked to the Nine-Tails incident, that the killer might not be from the current Uchiha clan. However, we cannot possibly capture this person quickly, so we cannot alleviate the pressure within the village," the Third Hokage explained.
Uchiha Itachi, however, remained remarkably composed. "Even if someone is fanning the flames, they are merely fanning flames that already exist. As long as the fundamental conflict between the Uchiha clan and Konoha remains unresolved, incidents like this were bound to happen sooner or later… Lord Hokage, perhaps we should seek a more fundamental solution to the problem."
"Itachi, do you have any ideas?"
Uchiha Itachi shook his head. "I need to observe further."
After their brief exchange, Uchiha Itachi departed, preparing to return to the Uchiha Compound.
Although the Uchiha district was sealed watertight by ANBU, Itachi was the Hokage's "spy." The Hokage's trusted shinobi could discreetly open a path for him to come and go.
Aside from Itachi's covert mobility, the only remaining overt communication channel between Konoha and the Uchiha was Uchiha Shisui. Shisui could also leave the compound, but only under ANBU escort and surveillance.
When Uchiha Itachi arrived back home, he immediately found his father, Uchiha Fugaku… The Uchiha shinobi had finally dispersed to their own homes, no longer huddled together meeting in the Naka Shrine's basement.
"Itachi, where have you been?" Uchiha Fugaku asked.
Itachi's upper body was cloaked in the shadows cast by the wall. He replied naturally, "Observing the situation nearby. I tried to exchange some information with ANBU, but was unsuccessful."
Fugaku nodded, naturally having no reason to doubt his genius son.
"Itachi, there is something I need you to do… Given your relationship with Shisui, try again to persuade him, to win him over. The clan is now facing a life-or-death situation. As a member of the Uchiha, Shisui should do what is right."
"I understand, Father. I will go find Shisui immediately after I get ready," Uchiha Itachi agreed.
Uchiha Itachi went to his room. He washed his face, changed his clothes, and then fastened the standard ANBU flak jacket over his chest and back. He briefly checked his ninja tool pouch, ensuring nothing was missing, before securing it to his waist.
During this time, Itachi's thoughts grew increasingly clear. The Uchiha clan's problems could only be resolved by the Uchiha themselves. If the village leadership intervened, the Uchiha clan would cease to exist.
As he packed his things, Itachi's movements grew slower. By the time he slid his short sword into the sheath on his back, silent tears were streaming down his face.
Truth be told, the Mangekyo Sharingan doesn't necessarily require one to personally kill their closest kin to awaken.
If a person's will is strong enough, their resolve absolute, it can even be "obtained on credit," so to speak… All one needs to do is consider the living as already dead.
Board the train first, pay for the ticket later.
After all, some things simply had to be done. It was only a matter of sooner or later.
By severing tangled emotions, one could attain ultimate power through ultimate pain.
Clang. The short blade settled fully into its sheath.
Uchiha Itachi's eyes stopped shedding tears. Instead, another kind of heat flooded his optic nerves.
It was this heat that urged the three tomoe in his eyes to spin slowly, eventually connecting with the central pupil, morphing into an incredibly peculiar, intricate pattern.
Some things, he didn't want to do. He had to do them.