The ANBU appeared, following Elder Mitokado's orders.
These masked elites attempted to seize the Mist Village envoy, who lay like a dead dog, from Shisui. However, this time, Shisui, resolute in his stance, didn't surrender quietly. Instead, he fought back fiercely, using genjutsu to swiftly incapacitate two ANBU squads.
The sight of the ANBU falling like wheat during harvest shocked many.
To be honest, quite a few people present had the strength to defeat two ANBU squads single-handedly. But precisely because of that, they knew how difficult it was to do so as easily as Shisui had just done.
No lengthy battle, just swift, decisive action.
Uchiha... Truly worthy of the Uchiha name!
Last time, Shisui's smooth defeat of Danzo's right-hand man, Aburame Ryoma, had already amazed the crowd. This time, Shisui's performance once again made everyone realize just how extraordinarily gifted the Uchiha clan was. Their constant emergence of geniuses inspired envy and even resentment.
Many couldn't help but feel a surge of jealousy.
Why doesn't my clan have such talents?
"Illusion: True Words Technique!"
Kurama Sogyun acted decisively.
Since his beloved daughter had become a disciple of Uchiha Sougen, the Kurama clan had tied their fate to the Uchiha. If the Uchiha were defeated, the Kurama clan wouldn't escape unscathed either. So, even if it meant angering the Third Hokage, Kurama Sogyun chose to follow Sougen's orders.
He cast the Kurama clan's unique genjutsu on the exhausted Mist ninja, who had just been freed from Shisui's genjutsu and was in a severely weakened state.
This genjutsu, designed specifically for extracting information, disrupted the target's chakra flow, putting them into a specific state of confusion. In this state, the victim would answer any question truthfully from the heart.
The reliability of information obtained through the True Words Technique was beyond doubt. The Kurama clan, as one of Konoha's ancient families and a bearer of a Kekkei Genkai, had a reputation for the accuracy of their interrogation methods, even though their bloodline power was somewhat unstable.
Moreover, many of the clan leaders present had firsthand experience working with Kurama ninjas and had witnessed the True Words Technique in action.
Sitting opposite Sougen, Hyuga Hiashi discreetly activated his Byakugan, carefully inspecting the Mist ninja to confirm there were no signs of manipulation by the Sharingan. Other clan leaders with various detection abilities also verified that the Mist ninja was only under Kurama Sogyun's genjutsu and had not been influenced by any third party.
Kurama Sogyun, seeing his technique succeed, breathed a sigh of relief.
As for what to ask...
Hadn't Sougen already said? Ask what the Mist Village was planning.
"Tell me, what is the Mist Village's purpose in coming to Konoha?" Kurama Sogyun demanded.
As soon as his words fell, the room grew quiet. Everyone's attention shifted to the Mist ninja, who hung limply in Shisui's grasp like a puppet. It was impossible not to be curious—when Sougen had earlier insisted on Yamanaka Inoichi reading the Mist ninja's memories, everyone's interest had already been piqued.
Too bad the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were too adept at playing it safe. Yamanaka Inoichi just sat there without moving.
But now...
This show might just continue.
The Third Hokage and the two elders were pinned down by Sougen's pressure, and the Mist ninja was in Shisui's hands. Two ANBU squads had been taken down—summoning more wouldn't help at this point... No, that wouldn't work!
The Third Hokage sighed inwardly.
The clan leaders were already intrigued. To persist in obstructing the interrogation would leave the impression of deliberately hiding something.
More importantly, the village wasn't prepared to go to war with the Uchiha. The Third had recently reviewed the Second Hokage's classified research on the Uchiha and the Sharingan, and the more he read, the more alarmed he became. Mangekyo Sharingan, unique ocular techniques, Susano'o...
Until they were fully prepared, they couldn't afford to start a conflict with the Uchiha.
Thankfully, after some reflection, the Third realized there was nothing shady about the village's dealings with the Mist, so he wasn't too concerned about any incriminating information surfacing. At worst, Danzo was still recovering in the hospital...
As the Third Hokage pondered this, the dazed Mist ninja finally spoke.
"Orders... Mizukage-sama ordered us to recover Samehada."
"And what else?" Sogyun pressed.
"And to threaten Konoha with war, demanding the return of Samehada. At the same time, they want the heads of 'Enma' and 'Shunshin,' the two demons who killed so many of our comrades." The Mist ninja spilled everything without hesitation.
The meeting room erupted into an uproar.
Even those not close to the Uchiha were incensed. How dare the Mist ninja belittle Konoha like this? The sheer audacity of it felt like an insult.
Kurama Sogyun froze for a moment. What on earth...? Were the Mist ninja daydreaming? Which village would ever agree to such an outrageous demand? Kill their own battlefield heroes and send their heads to the enemy? Wait!
A flash of insight crossed his mind. He suppressed his chaotic thoughts and asked, "Why do you think Konoha would agree to such an absurd demand?"
"Absurd?" The dazed Mist ninja reflexively retorted, momentarily startling Sogyun into thinking the genjutsu had been broken. But the Mist ninja continued, returning to the point, "Two years ago, didn't Kumo succeed in coercing Konoha with the threat of war? The Third Hokage killed the Hyuga clan leader's brother and handed the body over to Kumo. Asking for two heads along with Samehada isn't too much, is it? Even if they can't give both, one will do!"
When the Mist ninja finished speaking, the room fell into a deathly silence.
The clan leaders and department heads were all mute.
Everyone discreetly glanced at Hyuga Hiashi, who sat across from Sougen. The Hyuga clan leader had his eyes lowered, expressionless, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
Yet even that lack of expression spoke volumes, enough to make the Third Hokage and the others grimace.
"This is a provocation."
Koharu Utatane tried to defuse the situation, forcing a smile.
"Elder Koharu, it doesn't matter whether it's a provocation or not. The Mist wants the heads of Shisui and me. What do you and Hokage-sama think? Will you give them? Or not?"
Sougen pressed on relentlessly.
(End of Chapter)