Chapter 49: Exposure
As Hiruzen Sarutobi fainted, the Anbu, led by Kakashi, immediately surrounded him and escorted him to the Medical Department.
Before long, under the full efforts of many Medical Ninja, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally recovered, and his complexion gradually returned to normal.
"How is Hokage-sama?" Kakashi asked the Medical Ninja.
"Hokage-sama is fine. He just suffered from an attack of anger. He only needs to recuperate for a period of time," the Medical Ninja sighed.
Hearing this, the many Anbu in the medical room, including Kakashi, immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Konoha had just undergone major changes, with the Uchiha Clan, Sarutobi Clan, and Shimura Clan being annihilated one after another. If the Third Hokage were to fall at this time, it would lead to a major crisis.
Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly opened his eyes. "Kakashi."
"Hokage-sama, are you alright?" Kakashi quickly helped Hiruzen Sarutobi up and someone else put a blanket under him.
"I'm fine now," Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long breath, but his spirit was still listless. He said in a deep voice, "What's the situation?"
Looking at the Hokage's increasingly aged and weak face, Kakashi felt a pang of sorrow. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Except for Asuma and Konohamaru, no one in the entire clan survived."
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to ask, "Are there any clues about the culprit?"
Kakashi sorted out his thoughts and said, "The analysis team is still searching, but judging from the method of the crime, the culprit seems to be the same person who killed Shinnosuke-sama."
"In addition, we also found a stealth barrier around the Sarutobi Clan Territory that can block sound, smell, and even Chakra sensing."
"Furthermore, the culprit seemed to have known the Uchiha's extermination time in advance. While we were focusing on the Uchiha Clan Territory, he deliberately chose this time to strike."
"This resulted in our Anbu being completely unable to detect the movements within the Sarutobi Clan Territory."
"If Asuma hadn't run out of the barrier, I'm afraid we wouldn't have discovered the situation inside even now."
There was one more thing Kakashi didn't say.
That was, the Sarutobi Clan, as the family of the Third Hokage, although not as dazzling as the Uchiha or Hyuga in Konoha, was a truly transcendent existence.
Even if someone noticed something was wrong inside, no one dared to go in and investigate.
This was the real reason why the Sarutobi Clan was annihilated for several hours without anyone discovering it.
"Bastard..." Hiruzen Sarutobi lost his composure for the first time in front of his subordinates, uttering a curse word. He said sternly, "Quickly, do your best to revive Konohamaru and Asuma. Also, select two Genin or Chunin corpses from each courtyard in the Sarutobi Clan and send them to the analysis department. Such a crime must not go unpunished."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," everyone replied respectfully and dispersed.
After Kakashi left, Danzo Shimura walked in, leaning on his cane. "Hiruzen..."
"What, are you here to mock this old man?" Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at Danzo fiercely and said coldly.
"No, this old man is here to share your hatred," Danzo said with a grim face.
Just now, he also learned that his own family had been annihilated.
The entire clan was massacred, with not a single survivor left.
"What does this mean?" A hint of surprise flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.
"Not just you, this old man's family has also been annihilated. All eighty-seven members of the clan, not a single one survived." As he spoke, with a 'snap', the cane in Danzo's hand was crushed to pieces.
He was always a person who liked to say, 'Ninja need to sacrifice themselves'.
But when it was his turn, he couldn't do it.
With his entire clan annihilated, the Shimura Clan was now extinct. He felt ashamed before the Shimura ancestors.
Just then, the Konoha Analysis Department finally had news. "Hokage-sama, Inoichi Yamanaka, the head of the department, has already read Shinnosuke-sama's memories from before his death."
Before long, Inoichi Yamanaka, the head of the Konoha Analysis Department, personally brought the analysis results to Konoha Hospital.
"Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama. Because Shinnosuke-sama had a large number of seals in his brain, it took a lot of time. According to Hokage-sama's order, I only read Shinnosuke-sama's memories from the last five minutes of his life. Please see."
As Inoichi Yamanaka's voice fell, the curtains in the medical room were all drawn, and the room instantly darkened, and a light screen projection suddenly appeared.
In the light screen, the five Anbu, including Shinnosuke, had been lurking at the entrance of the Uchiha Clan Territory.
The first four minutes were mostly uneventful, until four minutes and fifteen seconds, when Shinnosuke's wife received an order to leave her post.
At four minutes and twenty seconds, an unidentified object resembling a human head suddenly fell, attracting the attention of the remaining four Anbu.
At four minutes and twenty-five seconds, an Anbu was pierced through the chest by a sharp blade.
At four minutes and thirty-five seconds, the culprit finally revealed his true form: a young man dressed in Anbu attire and wearing a smiling mask.
"Fujiwara Chiye!" Seeing this scene, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura both exclaimed simultaneously.
Inoichi Yamanaka paused the light screen and handed Qianye's information to the two. "Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama, it is indeed hard to believe, but according to the intelligence from Anbu Captain Kakashi, Fujiwara Chiye should already be dead, and his mask and sword have also disappeared. Now even his corpse has been stolen."
"Furthermore, this mysterious person's strength is far greater than the Qianye we remember. Therefore, we cannot accurately determine the identity of the mysterious person."
"Continue playing it," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.
At four minutes and forty seconds, two Anbu were beheaded by the mysterious person.
At four minutes and forty-five seconds, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's wind blade was caught by the mysterious person with a single finger.
At four minutes and fifty seconds, Sarutobi Shinnosuke was struck in the chest.
Ten seconds later, he completely lost consciousness, and the footage ended.
When he saw the speed Qianye displayed, Danzo could no longer control his emotions and shouted, "It's him! Hiruzen, this guy is the one who cut off my left arm back then!"
"Can you be sure?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. The situation seemed to be developing in an increasingly uncontrollable direction. After all, that mysterious person had stolen Shisui's Kotoamatsukami right eye.
"It's definitely him. Whether it's his swordsmanship or his Body Flicker. In the current Ninja World, there is absolutely no second person who can do it," Danzo said decisively.
"But Qianye was only eleven years old at the time, he hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy, hadn't learned any Ninjutsu, and hadn't received any decent guidance. How could he have become this strong?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned even more, turning his head to Inoichi Yamanaka. "Inoichi, you haven't shown this footage to anyone else, have you?"
"No, Hokage-sama. According to your orders, no one knows about this except for me," Inoichi Yamanaka replied solemnly.
"Have the other Sarutobi and Shimura clansmen been investigated?" Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to ask.
PS: First update. Please give recommendation tickets and monthly tickets.
Thanks to [Quasar] for the 5000 Qidian coins, thanks to [Dark Star Emperor] for the 3000 Qidian coins, thanks to [zk sour lemon] and [Hu Yiyi] for the 100 Qidian coins, thanks to [Pipi's Sadness] for the 400 Qidian coins.
Extra update today.