When Yako entered the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.
Good, he thought. Otherwise all my effort would've been for nothing.
No one explained anything to Fox.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, quietly smoking.
Danzo lounged on the sofa, staring at a scroll.
Mitokado Homura sat opposite him, equally silent.
Yellow Dog stood behind Homura. Yako moved to stand beside him.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, appeared detached, as if none of this concerned him.
After a long silence, Danzo finally spoke.
"How much longer will your Sarutobi clan hide?
"Read the report. Sarutobi Seidō was spared solely because of his surname.
"Sarutobi Kanosuke even declared that any member of the Sarutobi clan could be spared once before him.
"He slaughtered Shimura Hyōya and the others, yet left Sarutobi Seidō alive. Quite touching, this 'clan loyalty.'
"Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sarutobi Shinnosuke. Aren't you moved?"
Danzo's tone was dripping with mockery.
Then he stood abruptly.
"How long will we keep retreating? Uchiha Madara. Sarutobi Kanosuke. These two rogue ninja must be executed.
"The village will form a large-scale pursuit force. We will hunt them down and kill them."
Mitokado Homura considered this.
"It is indeed necessary to establish a unit to pursue rogue ninja.
"Uchiha Madara's presence makes the Land of Rain unsafe for Konoha shinobi.
"Sarutobi Kanosuke's presence makes the Land of Grass unsafe.
"Are we prepared to forfeit mission shares in both nations?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled smoke slowly.
"Action is required. I expect the Grass daimyo's letter of protest will reach Konoha soon.
"But pursuing enemies of this level cannot be rushed.
"My proposal is to first establish two investigation corps. Gather intelligence on the two rogue ninja.
"As for personnel… we can design the teams according to the identities of the targets."
Members of the Black Ant Squad dispersed to relay the Hokage's orders.
In the Jonin Assembly Hall—
Uchiha Kagen, Uchiha Gogo, and Uchiha Higane entered nervously. None of them knew why they had been summoned.
The Uchiha had no representation among the high council. They were always the last to know anything.
When they arrived, three Sarutobi jonin were already present.
Among them was Sarutobi Hiaki—the strongest of the Sarutobi clan aside from the Third Hokage himself.
Soon after, Hyuga Tengetsu, Inuzuka Kari, and Aburame Ichima entered.
Then the village elders, along with Yellow Dog, Fox, and Lynx from ANBU, stepped inside.
Seeing this lineup, Uchiha Kagen grew even more uneasy.
Since when had the Uchiha clan been included in meetings of this level?
Danzo spoke first.
"Recently, Konoha has suffered grave losses due to two rogue ninja.
"Three days ago, Sarutobi Kanosuke attacked the daimyo of the Land of Grass.
"The daimyo's guard suffered heavy casualties. Two jonin and two Tokubetsu jōnin were killed."
Uchiha Kagen thought, At least this one's a Sarutobi rogue. Nothing to do with us.
But perhaps his momentary relief was too obvious.
Danzo's cold gaze locked onto him.
"Sarutobi Kanosuke has repeatedly declared allegiance to the Uchiha clan's rogue—Uchiha Madara."
Uchiha Kagen's heart sank.
He had known it wouldn't be that simple.
Yes, Madara was a rogue of the Uchiha—but even the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, hadn't killed him.
What did they expect the Uchiha clan to do?
Threaten him with clan suicide if he didn't return?
Danzo continued.
"Two Rogue Ninja Investigation Corps will be formed.
"The Hyuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans will each dispatch two elite reconnaissance shinobi, forming two scouting teams.
"The Uchiha clan will assemble a unit of no fewer than four jonin.
"The Sarutobi clan will assemble a unit of no fewer than four jonin.
"The Uchiha unit, along with one reconnaissance squad and the Fox Division, will enter the Land of Rain to investigate the aged Uchiha Madara.
"The Sarutobi unit, along with one reconnaissance squad and the Lynx Division, will enter the Land of Grass to investigate—and eliminate—Sarutobi Kanosuke."
When Danzo finished, Uchiha Kagen looked immediately toward the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen avoided his gaze, quietly smoking.
He then looked at Mitokado Homura.
Homura met his eyes—but his look seemed to say: Shouldn't Madara be handled primarily by the Uchiha themselves?
Finally, Uchiha Kagen looked at Fox.
Fox's mask revealed nothing.
At least the Fox Division is involved. That's something.
Yako, meanwhile, studied Sarutobi Hiaki thoughtfully.
Should he harvest elite-jonin-level chakra from him… then eliminate him afterward?
That would increase his reserves, eliminate future risk, and weaken the Sarutobi clan.
The Shimura clan was half-crippled and wouldn't leave the village anytime soon. There were no suitable targets there.
If he wanted to reshape Konoha's internal balance of power, killing only the primary culprit wouldn't suffice.
The shinobi world did not operate on restraint.
Spare the clan, and one day they would return with vengeance carved in blood.
Yako intended to hand a clean Konoha to Hatake Sakumo.
For Sakumo's sake, he was exhausting himself.
This meeting was not a discussion.
It was a notification.
No one could refuse.
Back at the Konoha Military Police headquarters—
Uchiha Fugaku had been anxiously waiting.
When the three entered, he stood immediately.
"What happened? What does the village want?"
Uchiha Gogo answered.
"In the end, Madara's matter has fallen to us.
"The village orders that Uchiha jonin form the core force to investigate him."
"Just us?" Fugaku frowned.
"Isn't that suicide?
"Before Madara defected, not a single Uchiha followed him. He must despise us."
Uchiha Kagen nodded.
"I was there that day. When Madara left, the look in his eyes was full of contempt… and a curse.
"As if staying in Konoha would doom us all.
"But don't worry. We won't be alone.
"There will be a reconnaissance squad. And the ANBU Fox Division.
"The Fox Division is strong. Most of its members are capable.
"And Captain Fox… we've crossed paths several times. He's far stronger now."
Hearing that, Fugaku exhaled in relief.
Kagen added, "We're not the only ones suffering. The Sarutobi clan isn't faring much better.
"They're dispatching a unit to hunt Sarutobi Kanosuke.
"When did Madara recruit Kanosuke? That combination…
"It's strange.
"But because it's so strange… it almost feels reasonable."
Elsewhere, discussions were happening across Konoha.
Inside the ANBU base—
Yellow Dog said to Yako, "Fox. During the Madara investigation, your division is not to act aggressively. The Uchiha unit takes the lead.
"The higher-ups want to test him. Gauge Madara's stance toward the village—and toward the Uchiha clan."
"I understand," Yako replied. "I'll watch them exhaust each other.
"But there's something else."
He looked at Yellow Dog.
"Is the Lynx Division truly ANBU… or Danzo's personal force?
"Lord Yellow Dog… if only you were promoted to ANBU Commander.
"Perhaps it's time we discussed whether the ANBU Commander should actually belong to ANBU."