Konoha Village — Konoha Hospital.
On the bed lay a lifeless body. Three days had passed since death, and with the damp heat of the summer rainy season, the corpse had already begun to emit a faint stench.
Even someone as seasoned and composed as Sarutobi Hiruzen could barely maintain his calm. His fists trembled, blue veins bulging across the back of his hands and forehead.
Less than half a month after his eldest son's death… his second son was gone as well.
His gaze fell on Hatake Kakashi, the shinobi whose strength was now considered second only to his own within the village. For a moment, Hiruzen nearly lashed out in fury.
Uchiha Kenya's strength isn't even on par with yours!
And you had three Jōnin with you. You didn't need to win outright—but you still lost my son?
If Kakashi could have heard the Hokage's thoughts, he would have cried out in protest.
When did I ever claim Uchiha Kenya's strength was equal to mine? That was your assumption, not my statement!
But Hiruzen swallowed his anger and, in a deep voice, demanded:
"What exactly happened?"
Kakashi, having mostly recovered, quickly answered.
"Lord Hokage, from what I've observed, Uchiha Kenya has been concealing his true power all along. Now… his strength is on par with Uchiha Shisui."
"You're certain?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, disbelief flickering within them.
Since the Nine-Tails disaster eight years ago, the Uchiha clan had been under constant surveillance. Every move they made was carefully watched.
For Kenya to conceal his strength that entire time… was that even possible?
"It's hard to believe," Kakashi admitted, "but based on our battle, his illusions were no weaker than Shisui's."
Hiruzen's hands shook again.
A traitor at Kage-level…
Konoha now had a true enemy.
And Uchiha Kenya was only sixteen years old. He had room to grow. Could he become another Uchiha Madara?
"Lord Hokage, this failure was caused by our misjudgment," Kurenai finally spoke, her voice heavy with guilt. "Please punish us according to Konoha's laws."
Kenya's words had haunted her like a nightmare for the past two days. A part of her even wished to be imprisoned—because then, she could deny his accusations entirely.
But Hiruzen fell silent for a long moment before shaking his head.
"No. The blame is not yours. I know Asuma acted on his own and dragged you all into this. If anyone must apologize… it should be me."
The words stunned the shinobi around him. Kakashi, Genma, Guy, Izumo, and Kotetsu all gazed at their Hokage with awe and reverence, as though looking at a god rather than a man.
What greater proof of leadership was there? Even after losing his son, he bore no resentment toward them—instead, he apologized.
Was this not the mark of a Hokage worthy of admiration? Worthy of worship?
But in contrast to the admiration in their eyes, Kurenai's pupils contracted sharply.
Because Hiruzen's words matched exactly what Uchiha Kenya had predicted.
Then Hiruzen spoke again.
"Go. Leave me. I want to say farewell to my son one last time."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
The group responded as one, though Kurenai's voice was absent among them.
Outside the hospital, Might Guy still looked visibly moved.
"Truly amazing… Lord Hokage!"
Even Kakashi couldn't help but mutter, "Yeah… we were the ones who doomed Asuma…" His words trailed off as his mind flashed back to Uchiha Obito.
Izumo broke the silence: "Kenya killed Lord Asuma. He's unforgivable. That bastard isn't even human!"
Kotetsu growled, hatred twisting his voice.
"There will come a chance to kill him. For now, let's rest."
As they walked away, Kakashi noticed Kurenai's pale expression. He frowned.
"Kurenai… what's wrong?"
She stiffened, startled, before forcing out:
"No… nothing. I'm heading off."
She quickly turned and left, leaving the others unconcerned as they scattered.
Inside the hospital, Hiruzen emerged from the morgue, his face carved with grief.
Waiting at the door was Shimura Danzō, leaning on his cane, his right eye bound in bandages.
"As expected, Hiruzen," Danzō said with a rare tone of admiration. "If you had imprisoned Kakashi and the others, it would have been a grave mistake."
He was a master of blame-shifting and political maneuvering. But Hiruzen surpassed him in one vital skill—controlling people's hearts.
Hiruzen, however, gave his old comrade of sixty years no kindness. His voice was flat.
"What do you want, Danzō?"
"The Uchiha boy," Danzō replied coldly. "It would be best to force him out of the clan compound. If he stirs suspicion, it will only bring us trouble."
"…And then?"
The Hokage's question, after a pause, was as good as consent.
"I also suspect Kurenai. Kenya may have already reached her. There's no proof, but to be safe, she should be barred from sensitive missions in the future."
This was Danzō's way: anyone who could potentially threaten him was to be pushed into the abyss.
Hiruzen hesitated, then gave a slight nod.
If it hadn't been Asuma who died, he might have ignored Danzō's words.
But this time… it was his own son.
And even if the suspicion was weak, such dangers were best destroyed in the cradle.