32
Because they knew too much.
Especially… Yakushi Nonou, the ace of aces among spies; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she's the strongest spy in the Ninja World.
Putting away the photos, Yakushi Nonou looked at the eight corpses and immediately came to a definitive conclusion.
"They died from a Jinchuriki's attack."
If it were just a Medical Ninja, any one of them could tell it wasn't the Hyuga's method.
But to accurately determine the source of the injuries with 100% certainty, one needed someone as experienced as Yakushi Nonou.
Having infiltrated enemy nations countless times, she had naturally come into contact with Jinchurikimany times.
Yakushi Nonou knew a great deal about the Jinchuriki's capabilities and methods.
So, the question arises.
Inside Konoha, the Cloud Ninja Mission was wiped out by a Jinchuriki attack. Who was this Jinchuriki?
Yakushi Nonou, who had left Konoha before the Third Ninja World War broke out, didn't know about Naruto.
"Hehe…"
Danzo grinned, revealing a sinister and terrifying smile.
"Where is the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox now?" Danzo looked at Yakushi Nonou, but he wasn't speaking to her.
"Reporting, Lord Danzo, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is currently with members of the Hyuga Clan…"
The shadows trembled as a subordinate, hidden in the dark, answered Danzo's question.
"!"
Yakushi Nonou immediately noticed.
The abilities of a NO.1 spy allowed her to instantly recall her experiences along the way.
Finally, the blurry figure of a small, yellow-haired child, and the appearance of two Hyuga clansmen, one large and one small… this detail was re-examined by her.
"It seems you encountered the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox on your way here…"
With just one glance, Danzo saw through Yakushi Nonou's thoughts.
"His name is Uzumaki Naruto."
Danzo pulled out another document and slapped it in front of Yakushi Nonou.
Yakushi Nonou picked it up suspiciously, and when she saw Naruto's true identity recorded on it, her eyes suddenly widened.
"It's actually… the Fourth Hokage's child…"
Even though she was in a small town on the border of the Land of Fire, and even though she had been away from Konoha for many years.
She still knew the name of the Yellow Flash.
Furthermore.
The previous Jinchuriki of Konoha, Uzumaki Kushina, was this boy's mother.
A Jinchuriki's child, also a Jinchuriki.
Is this… fate?
What do you want me to do?
Yakushi Nonou looked up at Danzo.
Before she could speak, Danzo began to speak on his own.
"The eight Kumogakure Ninja were killed by the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki… So why did the Hyuga Clantry to cover for him? And even 'invite' the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki into the Hyuga Clan Residence…"
The Hyuga Clan committed multiple grave offenses, yet they continued to act as they pleased.
Were they not afraid of sanctions from the Village?
Therefore… "The alliance between Kumogakureand Konoha is a national policy, benefiting Konohaat the top and the people below. This old man simply doesn't understand why such a great thing cannot proceed. There are even people specifically trying to sabotage it."
Danzo's smile grew even colder.
"Now this old man understands, it turns out the Hyuga were instigating…"
Perhaps the Hyuga had received benefits from Kumogakure and conspired with them to stage this whole act.
And Uzumaki Naruto was one of the pawns being used.
Yakushi Nonou: "…"
She wondered if it was just her imagination.
A cold wind suddenly blew through the eerie morgue.
Yakushi Nonou didn't know if the Hyuga Clan had received benefits from Kumogakure, but she understood that the Hyuga Clan… and Uzumaki Naruto, the Fourth Hokage's son, were both in trouble.
Once Danzo set his sights on someone, then… everything could become an excuse to threaten others.
His true intention was not what he claimed.
His real intention was probably to take this opportunity to curb and control the Hyuga, and even… control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki… After all, there had never been any Ninja from the Hyuga Clan among the members of the Root.
This was because the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird design prevented their clansmen from being exploited by others.
As long as the Main Family controlled the Cursed Seal.
The Branch Family would be unable to pledge allegiance to anyone else.
And the Byakugan was an exceptionally powerful strategic weapon; Danzo couldn't possibly leave it unused forever.
"Do you want me to approach the Hyuga?" Yakushi Nonou asked.
"This old man will personally handle the Hyuga's affairs…"
Danzo shook his head, and the cruelty of the Ninja World's darkness was fully revealed in his slow, deliberate tone.
Soon, he would contact Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura, and then the four of them would go together to the Hyuga Clan Residence to confront them.
"Yakushi Nonou, prepare yourself. For this period, settle down in Konoha and find a way to start making contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki…"
First, deal with the Hyuga.
Then, deal with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox!
Finally… deal with the Uchiha!
Chapter Twenty-Six. Sako's Mom~
Konoha's most bustling Shopping Street.
The impending arrival of the New Year diluted the tension brought by the conflict between Kumogakure and Konoha.
People were buying things in large quantities, seemingly wanting to use this method to alleviate their inner anxiety.
"Sako, over here…"
Mikoto was also walking down this street.
She had taken her daughter out early in the morning, and they had been shopping for a good part of the day now.
The mother and daughter carried large bags.
Mikoto's beautiful face did not show the anxiety of the passersby.
The reason was simple… her husband, Uchiha Fugaku, who held the position of Police ForceCaptain and was also the clan leader, had not yet received orders to rush to the front lines.
This meant that the situation at the border had not yet escalated to the point of a full-blown conflict.
At least compared to the Ninja World War, this was nothing.
This also meant… her husband would be able to spend a peaceful New Year at home.
"Sako, is something on your mind?"
Mikoto looked at her daughter, who seemed to be preoccupied.
All along the way, Sako seemed to be thinking about something.
At first, Mikoto thought her daughter wanted to buy something big.
But having shopped until now, she thought that perhaps her daughter really had some worries.
"That guy [Uzumaki Naruto] said last time that his house was in the Shopping Street area…"
Upon hearing her mother's question, Sakoimmediately began to look around.
The bustling Shopping Street was packed with people.
Above and behind the shops on both sides of the street were residential buildings.
It could be said that this was the most prosperous and expensive residential area.
In short… the "Konoha Center."
However, Sako was quite skeptical of Naruto's claim.
After all, with the property values here, a family without some assets truly couldn't afford it.
And judging by how the passersby treated Uzumaki Naruto, his family didn't seem to be wealthy.
"Actually, I'm not curious at all~!"
The tsundere Sako noticed the attitude she had revealed and immediately added another sentence.
However, this sentence only emphasized her attitude towards Naruto even more deeply.
"…"
Mikoto observed her daughter, speechless for a moment.
Seeing her daughter's evasive expression, Mikotocould only marvel at the strangeness of fate.
Sako and Naruto… she and Kushina… Back then, she and Kushina were very good friends.
Kushina had even joked then.
She had said… if she had a boy, then their families could become in-laws.
Kushina's boisterous personality certainly didn't involve any deep thought; it was just a pure statement spoken from the heart.
As her good friend and confidante, Mikoto did not object to Kushina's suggestion.
Because the Uchiha Clan's situation had been very delicate since the Village's founding.
With Uchiha Madara's departure from the Villageand the subsequent great battle with the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama… the Uchiha Clan's status immediately plummeted to rock bottom.
Their situation also became awkward.
Pressure from the upper echelons was incessant.
Simply because they were Uchiha, they suffered various difficulties.
It wasn't until the generation of the "Yellow Flash"… that is, when Kushina's lover, Minato Namikaze, became the Fourth Hokage, that things took a turn for the better.
If the Fourth Hokage's offspring… and the Uchiha Clan's offspring were to marry.
Then it would certainly resolve the Uchiha Clan's long-standing troubles.
Mikoto had once hoped for this, hoped… that everything would develop as Kushina wished.