"Kakashi, what do you mean!"
At Sarutobi Hiruzen's house, Asuma questioned angrily, glaring at Kakashi, who had barged in with his Anbu squad.
"By order of the Fourth Hokage-sama, from today onward, all of the Sarutobi clan's illegal gains will be confiscated."
"Asuma, don't get in the way of official business," Kakashi snapped, his tone sharp.
Although Rin and Kurenai were best friends—making his private relationship with Asuma fairly decent—this was different. He was acting under the eyes of the entire village now.
And besides, looking soft here would only add fuel to those waiting for a reason to whisper conspiracies about Hiruzen's defection.
"Kakashi, you must be mistaken."
"My father is the Third Hokage! He would never use his power for personal gain!"
Asuma asked quickly, his voice shaking when he heard it was an order from the Fourth Hokage.
"Whether or not the traitor Hiruzen used his position for personal gain isn't up to you or me. That's why Anbu exists—someone has to do the boring paperwork and confirm before people start screaming about conspiracies."
Kakashi's tone softened slightly, though his words still carried weight.
"What!"
"Rebel-nin Hiruzen?!"
"Are you saying my father betrayed the village?! He's the Third Hokage—how could a Hokage betray Konoha?!"
Asuma's voice cracked as his anger spiked.
"Yes, you heard correctly."
"Just an hour ago, Sarutobi Hiruzen defected and was officially labeled a traitor ninja by the village."
Kakashi spoke solemnly, though his visible eye carried a flicker of pity for Asuma.
Then, with a practiced breath, he buried it beneath a professional mask once more.
"Hahaha…"
"Kakashi, this joke isn't funny..."
Asuma forced out a laugh, but when he saw Kakashi's expression—serious, unmoving—his face drained of color.
"Move aside, Asuma. The traitor Danzo has been brought to justice. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura have also been detained by the Security Department. The only one left unaccounted for is Hiruzen, who's still on the run. A hunting team is already tracking him down."
Kakashi's words rang with finality.
"Let them in, Asuma."
Before Asuma could continue, Sarutobi Biwako, Hiruzen's wife and Asuma's mother, stepped out of the main house.
"But Mother, Kakashi said—"
"I already heard you, Asuma."
Biwako raised her hand to silence him, then turned to Kakashi.
"You're Anbu Captain Kakashi, correct? For the sake of the village, we'll cooperate with the investigation. But know this—I firmly believe Hiruzen would never betray Konoha."
Her cold gaze cut across Kakashi, sharp and unyielding.
"Don't worry," Kakashi replied, tilting his head slightly. "Anbu doesn't make it a habit to accuse the wrong people. Makes us look sloppy. And trust me, no one wants to end up the next laughingstock like those guys who once swore they saw the 'Nine-Tails' in a cloud of dust during training."
Even while sarcastic, his tone was still respectful. He held Biwako in high regard. After all, she was the one who had raised Asuma with such a strong sense of righteousness. Hiruzen might have been the Hokage, but it was Biwako's quiet strength that left its mark on her son.
He remembered the anime scene of Asuma's tragic death to protect Shikamaru and the others. It had stuck with him.
Unfortunately, the truth about Hiruzen's defection couldn't be revealed to them yet. Keeping it hidden was the only way to protect the old man for now.
Decision made, Kakashi waved his hand. Anbu operatives slipped inside, searching the Sarutobi residence from corner to corner.
Half an hour later, they regrouped in front of Kakashi.
"Reporting to the captain, no illegal gains were found."
Moonlight Gai bowed low as he spoke.
"Not surprised," Kakashi muttered with a dry edge. "Hiruzen's the kind of man who'd scold you for taking a second helping of dango without asking—but then quietly ignore his relatives dipping their hands in the village's funds. Hypocritical? Maybe. But pocketing things himself? Not his style."
His eye flicked to the large courtyard of the Sarutobi estate. The clan wasn't poor by any stretch.
Being descendants of a Sengoku-era family, having ties to the Enma Monkey Summoning line, and Hiruzen's position as Hokage—all of it added up.
If the man lived in a shack, that would've been the real scandal.
"In that case, we'll take our leave for now. Please remain indoors tonight. Things could get… messy outside."
Kakashi's parting words carried a sharp warning before he turned to lead the Anbu to their next destination.
"Mother… do you think Father really betrayed the village?"
Asuma's voice cracked as he stared at Biwako, torn between anger and disbelief.
"Hmph! I warned Hiruzen not to get involved with Danzo, but he wouldn't listen!"
Her eyes burned with anger.
She had grown up with Hiruzen. She knew Danzo's rotten core better than most. And Utatane Koharu—just as bad. Once, she'd even tried to steal Hiruzen away from her.
And Mitokado Homura… that coward had pined after Koharu his whole life, never daring to confess. His blind devotion was the only reason she had gotten away with so much foolishness.
Now all three stood exposed—and Hiruzen was dragged into their fall.
Anyone else might dismiss it all as a simple power struggle.
But Biwako knew Minato. He wasn't cruel, nor ungrateful.
If matters had escalated this far, it meant Danzo had crossed a line too dark for even the village to forgive—forcing Hiruzen into action.
"I trust Hiruzen. He may make mistakes, but he would never betray Konoha. Something else is at play here."
She steadied herself and looked at her son with cold resolve.
"But Asuma, from today onward, you are not to involve yourself in this matter further."
"Why? I don't understand, Mother! Father clearly—"
"Are you defying me, Asuma?"
Biwako's tone snapped cold, silencing him.
Asuma was still a minor. Some truths would crush him long before they set him free.
Not letting him press further was her way of protecting him.
"I… I understand, Mother."
Asuma bit his lip hard enough to draw blood before turning and rushing back into his room. The slam of his door echoed with his frustration.
"Ah…"
Biwako let out a long sigh, her heart weighed with conflicting emotions.
Silently, she moved to lock the door.
From the steel in Kakashi's tone earlier, she could already guess the rest.
Tonight, the elders of the Sarutobi clan would not see another dawn.
To be continued....