"Something terrible has happened, Hokage-sama!"
Nara Shikaku roughly pushed open the door, his face pale, eyes bulging like a goldfish, filled with sheer terror.
Normally, as the Jonin squad leader, he would not be afraid even facing thousands of enemies. But what he discovered this morning made it impossible to stay calm.
Overnight, multiple deaths occurred in the village—people slaughtered in their homes, including highly skilled ninjas.
On his way here, the death count kept updating.
"Ho… Hokage-sama?"
Inside the office, it was completely empty. The Third Hokage, who usually arrived early to work here, was nowhere to be seen.
Damn it—at such a critical time!
Shikaku cursed under his breath, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down.
Could it be that the Hokage had already been informed by the Anbu and rushed to the scene?
Shikaku thought it possible and immediately sought out the registration staff in the office building: "Have you seen the Third Hokage?"
The clerk shook his head, confused: "Normally, the Hokage comes very early. Today, I don't know why he hasn't even arrived yet."
"What did you say!"
Shikaku's pupils dilated in shock. He hadn't even arrived?
Suddenly, a chilling thought struck him.
Seeing him lost in thought, the clerk asked hesitantly: "Shikaku-sama…"
Shikaku didn't respond. Panic-stricken, he rushed toward the Hokage's residence, silently hoping nothing had happened to him.
When he arrived and opened the door, he saw a group of people surrounding a corpse, faces grim, silent. The body was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—rigid, with livor mortis forming on his face. From this, it was evident he had been dead for several hours.
The situation had indeed taken the worst possible turn.
The people inside noticed Shikaku and all turned to him.
As Jonin squad leader and one of the wisest in the village, everyone looked to him for guidance.
Shikaku closed his eyes, drew a deep breath, and slowly opened them. He stepped forward, struggling to keep his composure: "What happened here?"
A masked ninja inside replied in a low voice: "When we arrived, Hokage-sama had already…"
Shikaku scanned the room, noting that the meal on the table was unfinished, and two chairs suggested it wasn't just one person eating. With no signs of struggle, some evidence could be inferred.
Someone asked: "Did you discover anything?"
Shikaku nodded: "Last night, did anyone have dinner with the Hokage?"
Hearing this, everyone pondered: "The only person likely to have dinner with the Hokage would be that one, right?"
Asuma's position was special; he spoke with some caution.
Shikaku exhaled sharply: "Go find him immediately."
"Yes."
After giving the order, Shikaku's expression turned grave: "The murder of the Third Hokage must not be leaked, at least until a new Hokage is elected."
He then gathered a few people to notify the other high-ranking officials.
Seeing the group freeze in confusion, Shikaku furrowed his brows: "What's wrong?"
One person bit their lip: "Koharu-sama… and Danzo-sama have also…"
"That's impossible…"
Shikaku's pupils widened, shock etched across his face.
This was terrifying. Who could have killed all these people overnight without leaving a trace?
These individuals were not weak by any means.
"…"
"What about Danzo-sama?"
"No news from him yet… though it's likely the same…"
Danzo's usual activities were hard to track, making him difficult to locate.
Though confirmation hadn't come yet, of Konoha's four top leaders, three were already dead. The remaining would naturally fear the same fate.
Shikaku's breathing trembled at the grim news.
At that moment, someone else arrived.
All eyes turned. A tall figure with white hair approached, eyes wide in horror as he looked at the corpses, his weak voice escaping: "Old man…"
Everyone muttered: "Jiraiya-sama…"
"What on earth is happening—!"
Jiraiya shouted, initially thinking he had misheard the news. But upon arrival, reality hit him with brutal force.
Shikaku concisely explained the situation.
Jiraiya's chest grew heavy; even his breath felt like lead.
He thought of one person.
The one with both the ability and motive.
He knew the village's internal workings better than anyone here, so he could predict what would happen.
Jiraiya's face darkened. Clenching his fists, he turned without a word.
Seeing him leave, someone called out: "Jiraiya-sama, where are you going?"
Jiraiya didn't respond, bursting through the door.
"Shikaku-sama… Jiraiya-sama is—" someone asked.
Shikaku closed his eyes, shaking his head: "Let him go. The immediate priority is to convene representatives of the great clans and elect a new Hokage."
…
…
Jiraiya ran headlong, and soon reached the Uchiha clan's secluded estate.
Arriving, he immediately raised his voice:"Tōshirō! Uchiha Tōshirō, get your ass out here!"
"I know you're here."
His tone was furious, interspersed with profanity. Several shouts soon drew the attention of the Uchiha. Tōshirō held great authority in the clan, and Jiraiya's words offended the clan members:"Jiraiya-sama, insulting our clan head like that—we cannot just ignore it."
"What do you want?"
"An apology."
Jiraiya, still enraged, showed no patience: "If I don't apologize, what are you going to do?"
The Uchiha members' eyes glowed with three-tomoe Sharingan, signaling their resolve.
The night before, they had followed Tōshirō and didn't know how many people they had killed. Their suppressed combat instincts had been unleashed; they would not hold back now.
As both sides refused to yield, a calm voice interrupted:
"Stop."
The Uchiha automatically parted, clearing a path.
Jiraiya's expression darkened: "Tōshirō…"
"Tōshirō is a friend, a comrade. How can you lay a hand on him?"
Hearing Tōshirō's rebuke, the aggressive Uchiha immediately changed attitude: "Sorry, Tōshirō-sama…"
Tōshirō raised his hand, signaling to let it be.
Then he looked at Jiraiya, teasing: "So, what wind blew to make you, a revered Hokage disciple, come to my humble temple?"
"Tōshirō…"
Jiraiya growled, his voice as if he wanted to crush the name.
Tōshirō looked puzzled: "What's wrong? Why the fierce look? I was just joking…"
Jiraiya shouted sharply: "Tōshirō—!"
Tōshirō raised his hands in mock surrender: "Fine, fine. I apologize, alright? I shouldn't have provoked you."
Jiraiya's tone was dark: "You know I'm not talking about that."
As their conversation deepened, more Uchiha gathered.
Fugaku glanced at someone, and the rest understood, discreetly leaving to give the two some privacy.
Fugaku gave them a final look and left.
Walking along, Itachi asked: "Father, what about Uncle Tōshirō…"
Fugaku sighed: "Once this is over, old friends like them may become irreconcilable enemies."
Elsewhere, all bystanders had left. Jiraiya, now free, went straight to the point: "Tōshirō, I want the truth. Be honest with me."
The inevitable had come. Tōshirō was prepared, exhaling and speaking calmly: "Alright, ask away."
Jiraiya inhaled deeply: "Back then… did you kill Minato?"
"Who?"
"The Fourth Hokage, my master."
Tōshirō froze, stunned: "What are you talking about?"
End of Chapter)
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