Konoha
Hokage's Office
"What?"
"Uchiha Madara?"
In the Hokage's office, the old man dressed in the red and white Hokage robes looked at the three people before him, the corners of his wrinkled face twitching involuntarily.
If only Uchiha Fugaku had come alone to report that the true culprit of the Nine-Tails rampage was Uchiha Madara, then Hiruzen Sarutobi would have only thought he was making a desperate move because his clan's district had been moved to the corner of Konoha.
But now, not only was Kakashi here, but even Might Guy also stated that an unknown Uchiha had claimed to be Uchiha Madara and admitted to being responsible for the Nine-Tails rampage.
Then Hiruzen Sarutobi had to treat this matter with caution.
Both Kakashi and Might Guy were outstanding talents of their generation.
Not only that, Kakashi was Minato Namikaze's disciple, a true and proper member of the Hokage's lineage.
He was someone Hiruzen Sarutobi could trust.
When Kakashi was in a coma in the hospital, Hiruzen Sarutobi had even taken the time out of his busy schedule to visit him.
"That's right, Lord Hokage."
"Although I don't believe he is Uchiha Madara, his strength is definitely not to be underestimated."
Kakashi calmly looked at the old man before him.
Hearing this, Uchiha Fugaku subconsciously glanced at Kakashi.
He doesn't believe that man is Uchiha Madara...
"What do you mean by that?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked his pipe, his brows furrowed.
Minato Namikaze's death had been too sudden, he hadn't even left any last words for him, so even he didn't know what situation Minato had been facing.
But...
Thinking of the arrogant man in his memory, with his crimson armor and waterfall-like black hair, looking down on the world, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that these were troubled times.
The Fourth Hokage, in whom he had placed high hopes, had just sacrificed himself, and now someone was appearing under the name of Uchiha Madara...
"Although I don't know much about Uchiha Madara, I have learned about him from the records."
"With Uchiha Madara's unrestrained style, he would never conceal his true face."
"Since he concealed his true face, why would he still use the name of Uchiha Madara?"
"That person's space-time ability is indeed extremely excellent, even stronger than my teacher's, but being strong doesn't mean he is Uchiha Madara."
Listening to Kakashi's analysis, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't show any smile, but took a deep drag from his pipe. As the light blue smoke billowed from his mouth, he sighed softly:
"Space-time..."
He knew all too well how powerful space-time ninjutsu was.
As a disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Sarutobi had also tried to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique.
But unfortunately, he didn't have the aptitude for it.
As for the mysterious person claiming to be Uchiha Madara, even without Kakashi's words.
Hiruzen Sarutobi absolutely did not believe that person was Uchiha Madara.
He had seen that man with his own eyes. Just as Kakashi said, that man would never conceal his true face.
But...
An unknown Uchiha clansman...
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze turned幽幽 towards Uchiha Fugaku.
Uchiha Fugaku's scalp tingled under this gaze, and he almost reflexively knelt on one knee, speaking in a deep voice:
"The Uchiha clan has always had the habit of recovering the bodies of its members. Since the founding of the village, none have ever been left outside the clan!"
"Unless..."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes sharpened. He thought of a possibility.
Before the founding of Konoha.
"Unless the person is a clansman from before the founding of Konoha."
As Uchiha Fugaku's words sounded, they confirmed Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts.
Before the establishment of ninja villages, ninja clans had a habit of migrating.
Although top-tier clans like the Uchiha migrated very rarely, it still happened.
It couldn't be ruled out that some Uchiha clansmen were lost during this process.
Kakashi, standing to the side, was slightly stunned.
Where did that come from?
"I will go back and look through the records immediately to investigate if any clansmen were lost."
Looking at Uchiha Fugaku, who had his head lowered and didn't dare to look him in the eye, Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward and helped him up, saying:
"Fugaku, what are you doing? I have no intention of blaming you."
"It's just that with Minato's sacrifice, there are inevitably some rumors in the village. I hope you won't take them to heart."
Uchiha Fugaku was helped up by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Looking at the old man before him, the unease in his heart subsided slightly, and he continued:
"With such an outsider possessing our Uchiha clan's Sharingan, my Uchiha clan will definitely hunt him down with all our strength."
Uchiha Fugaku was gritting his teeth at this moment.
The Uchiha clan's situation in Konoha was already difficult, and now with this troublesome matter, it was even more so.
"Fugaku's abilities, I have never doubted."
"Go."
Seeing the man's demeanor, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed in his heart.
He had never doubted Uchiha Fugaku's loyalty to Konoha.
No, perhaps 'loyalty' wasn't the right word.
It should be his desire for peace that Hiruzen Sarutobi had never doubted.
But having a heart that yearned for peace didn't mean Uchiha Fugaku was very capable.
"Yes."
Uchiha Fugaku immediately accepted the order and left the Hokage's office.
His top priority now was to find out which branch of the clan had members who had gone missing.
By tracing the source, he could find the unknown Uchiha's lair.
With Uchiha Fugaku's departure, only three people remained in the Hokage's office.
Seeing Uchiha Fugaku leave, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kakashi.
Compared to before with Uchiha Fugaku, he was much more casual.
It wasn't that he didn't value Kakashi.
On the contrary, Hiruzen Sarutobi was very close to this direct disciple of the Fourth Hokage.
It was because of this closeness that he was casual.
"You've changed an eye. How does it feel?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke like a neighborhood elder.
"It feels alright, much better than before."
Kakashi subconsciously touched his left eye and said.
Kakashi's words surprised Hiruzen Sarutobi a little.
The previous Sharingan had been a Jonin gift from Kakashi's teammate. Now, how...
"The deceased have passed on. The living should carry the hopes of the deceased and keep moving forward."
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. He stepped forward and patted Kakashi's shoulder, saying:
"It's for the best that you can think this way."
"If you need anything, just tell this old man."
"I believe Minato would be relieved to know you're like this now."
Kakashi's eyes shifted slightly at this. He then took out the broken White Fang sword and showed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"I was thinking of going to the Uchiha clan and asking Clan Head Fugaku to ask the Ninja Cat clan to help me forge a sword."
After the incident with Uchiha Obito, getting the Ninja Cats to forge a sword was almost a sure thing. If he got Hiruzen Sarutobi's approval, it would be a hundred percent certain.
"That's simple enough."
"I'll mention it to Fugaku later."