Naruto's civilian cannon fodder starts with the three-body technique

Chapter 320 Purge the Emperor's Corrupt Officials (A Long Chapter of 10,000 Words
The edict read by the Finance Minister instantly ignited the atmosphere in front of Konoha's gates.

After a brief silence, a deafening chorus of discussion and condemnation erupted.

"Did you hear that? The Daimyo himself bestowed upon Lord Iron Wall the title of 'Konoha Iron Wall'! And a reward of ten thousand taels of gold!"

"I knew it! Lord Iron Wall is innocent! It's all that old scoundrel Mitomon Homura's slander!"

"Despicable! Shameless! His own son is a traitor, yet he's jealous of talent and frames loyal officials!"

"Embezzling military funds? Lending money at exorbitant interest rates? Persecuting the families of heroes? Which of these four crimes isn't punishable by death?!"

"No wonder the Hokage has seemed a bit off lately. Sigh, so there's this scoundrel around him whispering in his ear!"

"Yes, yes, yes! The Hokage was so wise and mighty before, he must have been deceived by a villain like Mitokado Homura. We must clean up these treacherous villains around the Hokage and restore our wise and mighty Hokage!"

"That's absolutely right! If it weren't for a villain like Mitokado Homura who was jealous of talent and persecuted Lord Ironclad, and even colluded with Sunagakure, how could the Hokage have recalled Lord Ironclad? The Land of Wind would have been destroyed long ago! The Ninja War would have ended long ago!"

"Exactly! If the war continues, it's always our ordinary children who die. These high and mighty advisors and elders hide in the rear, embezzling military funds and military merits. They wish there was war every day!"

"Mitokado Homura! Get out of Konoha! Atone with your death!"

The villagers' emotions were completely ignited, instantly shifting from their fanatical worship of Umino Sasuke to their overwhelming anger and condemnation of Mitokado Homura.

Previously, due to the power of the advisor elders, they had some reservations and dared not say much. But now, faced with the authority of the Daimyo's decree and the irrefutable facts, their words immediately vanished. The spearhead not only pointed at Mitokado Homura, but also began to implicate the Third Hokage, who was "deceived".

The calls to "purge the emperor's inner circle" grew louder and louder.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer observed the boiling public opinion with a cold eye, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

He added fuel to the fire at just the right moment, his voice not loud, but carrying a chilling sense of oppression, pointing directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Third Hokage, the villagers of Konoha are indignant and demand the purge of the traitors. The will of the people is there, but—"

Then, he changed his tone and became extremely sharp: "Your Majesty is deeply worried that Konoha has been unable to end the war in the Land of Wind for so long, and instead recalled the Jonin Umino who made unparalleled contributions, which gave Sunagakure a chance to catch its breath, causing the ninja war to continue until now, wasting the country's strength and resources!"
Some even speculate that there might be high-ranking officials in Konoha deliberately delaying the war, harboring bandits to embezzle the huge sums of military funds allocated by the Daimyo. Konoha must give the Daimyo a clear explanation on this matter!

Otherwise, the Daming Prefecture will likely have no choice but to reluctantly suspend the allocation of military funds and supplies for the coming year, to observe the consequences!

Upon hearing the words "military spending suspended," Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others from Konoha instantly changed their expressions.

This is no longer just a problem for Mitokado Homura personally; it directly relates to the lifeline of the entire Hidden Leaf Village, the lives of the frontline ninjas, and the vital interests of all ninja clans. The military funds allocated by the Daimyo must not be cut off!

Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer remain silent. His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over Koharu Utatane, who had been keeping her eyes downcast. His eyes were filled with an undeniable command and urgency, as if to say: It's your turn to step in. You must turn the situation around and protect Homura Mitokado, which is to protect everyone's fundamental interests.

Xiaochun was inwardly groaning. She was extremely unwilling to get involved in this mess, especially when faced with the aggressive finance minister and the indignant villagers.

However, the threat of "suspending military spending" made her realize that the situation had become so serious that it endangered the interests of the entire Konoha. She could no longer remain uninvolved. Moreover, as a fellow Konoha advisor and elder, if Mitokado Homura were to be completely eliminated, Koharu Utatane would also be unable to escape unscathed.

She took a deep breath, put on her usual shrewd smile, and stepped forward, raising her voice deliberately to drown out the clamor: "Your Excellency the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and fellow villagers! Please calm down!"

She turned to the Finance Minister, her tone tinged with helplessness, and explained, "Your Excellency Finance Minister, you have misunderstood. The claim that Elder Mitomon Homura was jealous of talent and framed loyal officials is utter nonsense! It's completely fabricated!"

She pointed at Mitomon En, whose face was deathly pale, and began her performance: "Elder Mitomon devoted his life to Konoha, as everyone knows!"

The reason he was involved in these troubles was entirely because of his good-for-nothing son, Mitomon Takashi. It was Mitomon Takashi who colluded with foreign enemies and committed heinous crimes, thus tarnishing his father's reputation!
Elder Mitomon was extremely busy, dedicating all his energy to the development of Konoha, which led him to neglect the discipline of his son, Mitomon Takashi, resulting in a grave mistake! This was absolutely not Elder Mitomon's intention!

She paused, her voice becoming somber and impassioned: "Everyone knows that when Mitomon Takashi's crimes were exposed, did Elder Mitomon show even the slightest favoritism?!"

No! Not even a little bit!

He was a man of great principle, willing to sacrifice even his own family for the greater good! He even personally ordered the frontline commander, Elder Shimura Danzo, to execute the culprit, Mitomon Takashi, on the spot as a warning to others!

Isn't this selfless and impartial spirit worthy of admiration?

Then, she pointed in the direction of the bereaved families, her tone turning compassionate: "Just yesterday, in order to make up for the mistakes made by her son and to properly settle the bereaved families of the heroes who were harmed by Mitomon Takashi, Elder Mitomon did not hesitate to sell the core family property accumulated by the Mitomon clan over generations, going bankrupt to raise enough funds to buy them new homes and compensate for their losses!"
Isn't this concern for the villagers of Konoha and the courage to take responsibility the best proof of his devotion to Konoha?!

As for the recall of Jonin Umino—”

She abruptly shifted the focus, cleverly directing her criticism towards the Minister of Finance, "This was entirely out of respect for the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. It was precisely because the Daimyo demanded that Konoha explain the 'behavior' of Jonin Umino in the Land of Wind that the Hokage had no choice but to order the recall of this meritorious official so that he could personally clarify the misunderstanding with the Daimyo's envoy! How can this be described as Elder Mitomon being jealous of talent? This is clearly carrying out the Daimyo's orders!"

At this point, she straightened her back and looked at the Minister of Finance with a hint of questioning, her voice becoming firmer: "Your Excellency, you keep saying that Elder Mitomon framed a loyal minister, but the so-called 'evidence' you presented is nothing more than intelligence from the Land of Wind received by the Daimyo Prefecture."

The handling of Konoha's internal affairs, including the trial of Mitomon Takashi's crimes and the punishment of the Mitomon elders, had already been personally presided over by the Hokage, who, together with representatives of the various ninja clans present, made a joint decision. The Mitomon clan paid a heavy price for this, and the matter was now concluded.

Now, you are presenting the one-sided account from the Land of Wind at the gates of Konoha Village, in front of the victorious heroes and all the villagers, questioning the verdict already reached by the Konoha leadership, and even interfering in Konoha's internal affairs. Isn't this a bit overstepping your bounds?

The Finance Minister's questioning of Konoha's delaying of the war, its nurturing of bandits, and even its use of military funds as leverage—is this an attempt to interfere in Konoha's internal affairs?

Such actions probably violate the ancestral rule of 'co-rule by the Hokage and the Daimyo', right?
"Does Your Majesty intend to personally oversee Konoha's judicial and military appointments?"

Koharu Utatane's quick-witted defense, which twisted the truth and shifted blame, was logically clear and avoided the main issue. She managed to extricate Mitokado Homura from the charge of "being jealous of talent and framing loyal officials," instead focusing on his "ineffective discipline but willingness to take responsibility." She even shifted the blame for recalling Sasuke Unno entirely onto the Daimyo's order to "demand an explanation," and finally turned the tables by questioning the Minister of Finance for "interfering in Konoha's internal affairs."

Hearing such a brilliant defense, Hiruzen Sarutobi's tense expression finally eased slightly, and a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. As expected of the advisor elder who was good at strategizing, although he was not popular usually, he was still useful in a critical moment.

He nodded slightly at the opportune moment, indicating his support and tacit approval of Xiaochun's statement.

The atmosphere in front of Konoha's gates became delicate once again because of Koharu Utatane's "righteous and stern" defense.

The villagers' angry denunciations were temporarily suppressed, and many people began to wonder: Had they really wronged Elder Mitomon? Was he just implicated by his son?
The representatives of the various ninja clans had different expressions: some seemed thoughtful, some had a cold smile on their lips, and some were simply watching the show.

Uchiha's crimson Sharingan swept between Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, finally landing on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, his disdainful and mocking smile deepening.

Despite Koharu Utatane's counterattack, the Chancellor of the Exchequer showed no sign of panic, but rather a knowing look of "I knew it."

"Hehe, Elder Xiaochun is quite the eloquent one!"

The Finance Minister chuckled softly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears. He said in a mocking tone, "Since you believe that Elder Mitomon Homura is merely a failure to discipline his children and a dereliction of duty, then I have here a file that His Excellency the Daimyo is very concerned about. Perhaps it can help you all see the true colors of certain people."

He ignored Koharu Utatane's accusation of "interfering in Konoha's internal affairs" and slowly took out an unremarkable-looking scroll from the wide sleeve of his official robe.

His gaze sharpened, and his voice grew heavy as he said, "This scroll records the investigation into the suspicious circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Lord Senju Ryūsui, the son-in-law of the Daimyo and the son of the First Hokage, more than ten years ago!"

"Lord Senju Green Water?!" The moment this name was uttered, it was like a boulder being thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing an uproar.

The older generation of villagers still vividly remembers this name; it is the only son of the First Hokage, a man of unparalleled nobility. Although the younger generation is not familiar with it, the identity of "son of the First Hokage" is enough to make them hold their breath.

"The son of the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi?"

"Wasn't it said that he unfortunately died in the mission?"

"Why did the Chancellor of the Exchequer bring this up?"

Upon hearing the old story brought up again, Mitokado Homura's face turned deathly pale, his body swayed uncontrollably, and his eyes were filled with extreme terror.

He never expected that this would be brought up again after more than a decade.

The "compassion" and "forgiveness" on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face froze instantly, and a hint of undisguised malice and anger flashed deep in his eyes. His hands, hidden beneath his wide sleeves, clenched unconsciously.

Xiaochun, who was turning over the door, also gasped, alarm bells ringing in her mind, knowing that she was in big trouble.

Ignoring their reactions, the Chancellor unfurled the scroll and read the key information aloud in a clear voice:

"According to a secret investigation by the Daming Prefecture, there are many anomalies in the S-class top-secret mission that Lord Senju Ryūsui carried out before his fall!"

First, the source of the mission intelligence was unusually vague, and its origin could not be traced afterward, raising suspicions that it was deliberately fabricated.

Secondly, during the mission, the Konoha elite squad that was supposed to meet Lord Green Water as planned had its mission route 'temporarily adjusted,' causing a serious delay in the meeting.

Thirdly, after the mission failed, several key mid-to-lower-level personnel involved in intelligence transmission and mission scheduling died mysteriously, while some high-ranking personnel were quickly transferred or even promoted! Fourthly…

Each time the Finance Minister read out a piece of intelligence, Mitokado Homura felt somewhat relieved.

Then, the Finance Minister's voice suddenly rose, accusing, "All the clues ultimately point to one person—the then-leader of the Konoha Jonin team, a member of a vassal family of the Senju clan, who, after the Second Hokage's death, betrayed his allies at the crucial meeting to decide the Third Hokage's successor, vehemently refuting the proposal to support Lord Senju Ryūsui's succession, claiming that he 'lacked prestige and was unfit for the great responsibility,' ultimately causing Lord Ryūsui to miss out on the Hokage position—Mitokado Homura!"

boom! ! !
This accusation is more shocking than any before, contains a wealth of information, and hits the nail on the head!

"Good heavens! Turning against us at the last minute? And even refuting Lord Green Water?"

"The Mitomon clan is a vassal of the Senju clan! How dare he?!"

"To refute the son of the first lord is to betray one's former master!"

"Could it be that Lord Green Water's death is really..."

The villagers were in an uproar, their gazes toward Mitokado Homura filled with utter contempt. Betraying one's former master is the greatest disgrace in the ninja clan, especially when the one betrayed is the son of the First Hokage.

The expressions on the faces of the representatives of the various ninja clans also became extremely interesting.

The Hyuga clan leader's eyes were sharp as an eagle's, the Kurama clan leader's brows were furrowed, the Aburame clan leader's hand, which was pushing up his sunglasses, froze in mid-air, and the Uchiha clan leader's contemptuous smile became more and more obvious. They all knew that there were undercurrents in the power transfer back then, and that Mitokado Homura's defection at the last minute was an open secret. But now that the Minister of Finance had revealed it to the public in the form of investigation files and combined it with the suspicious points of Midori's death, its shock and destructive power were completely different.

Mitokado Yan trembled all over, his lips quivering. He wanted to defend himself, but the facts of that year and the contemptuous gazes around him made it hard for him to breathe, and he couldn't utter a single word.

He instinctively looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his eyes filled with pleading for help and a hint of deeply hidden resentment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was inwardly turbulent. He knew that the accusation, though seemingly directed at Homura Mitokado, was actually aimed at him personally. Homura Mitokado was his henchman, and everyone knew who he had betrayed back then! He suppressed his anger, his face turning terribly grim. He was about to speak in defense, but then realized it was inappropriate, so he could only turn to Koharu Utatane for help again.

At this moment, Koharu Utatane did not delay at all. She knew that if she did not fight back, they would all perish. She had to remove Mitomon Homura from the charge of "murdering the son of her former master", otherwise she and Hiruzen Sarutobi would be dragged down with her!
She took a sharp step forward, interrupting the Chancellor of the Exchequer's accusations with a shrill voice: "Shut up! This is utter nonsense! Your Excellency, this is blatant slander and framing!"

Pointing to the contents of the scroll, she tried to muddy the waters, downplaying the seriousness of the matter, saying, "Your so-called 'evidence' is nothing but a collection of flimsy, pieced-together pieces of information. It cannot form a complete chain of evidence and is all baseless speculation!"

Then, she turned to the representatives of the various ninja clans and said in a flattering tone, "Clan leaders, please take a look! It is common for mission intelligence to be vague and for wartime intelligence to be difficult to verify."

With support teams being reorganized and the battlefield constantly changing, adjusting mission routes on short notice is perfectly normal.

Does the death or transfer of personnel mean that normal personnel changes within Konoha must also be interpreted as an attempt to silence witnesses?
As for Elder Mitomon's speech at the meeting—"

Koharu Utatane took a deep breath and said with righteous indignation, "As the personal disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Elder Mitomon's most revered duty in his life is to obey his master's orders!"
Before his death, the Second Hokage clearly designated Hiruzen Sarutobi as the most suitable successor to the Hokage. Elder Mitomon was merely following his master's orders and supporting the candidate who best met the Second Hokage's last wishes. How can this be considered betrayal?!

His rebuttal of Lord Green Water stemmed from his loyalty to the Second Hokage's dying wish and his responsibility for Konoha's future. Was it wrong to obey the Second Hokage's dying wish?!

She finally cried out in a hoarse voice, "As for the fall of Lord Senju Ryūsui, it was a heartbreaking accident! It was a despicable assassination plotted by enemy spies against the Konoha leadership. These so-called 'evidence' are nothing but rumors carefully fabricated by the enemy to sow discord among Konoha's leaders, slander Konoha's heroes, create internal strife, and shake the foundation of Konoha. Their intentions are despicable! I beg you clan leaders to see the truth!"

After Koharu Utatane finished speaking, she took the initiative to hand the scroll to the nearest Hyuga clan leader, indicating that everyone should take a look. The scroll was then passed around among the representatives of the various ninja clans.

After reading it, the representatives of the various ninja clans exchanged glances. Admittedly, the information on the scroll was highly indicative and full of doubts. Mitokado Homura's betrayal and his role in this matter were despicable. However, as Utatane Koharu said, there was a lack of irrefutable evidence. Based on this alone, it was indeed impossible to legally convict Mitokado Homura of "murdering the son of the First Hokage."

However, their opinion of Mitokado En's character had already plummeted, and seeing Mitokado En's reaction at this moment, it was probably not unfounded; it was likely true.

Vice Principal Sarutobi spoke first, stating, "There are many suspicious points in the intelligence, but without concrete evidence, we cannot draw a conclusion." The Hyuga clan head remained expressionless, speaking calmly yet distantly, "The chain of evidence is weak."

Chief of the Saddle Horse Clan: "Agreed."

Their support for Koharu Utatane's "insufficient evidence" argument was more about maintaining the facade of Konoha's "unity" and avoiding a military spending crisis, rather than genuinely believing in Homura Mitokado's innocence.

Seizing the opportunity, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stepped forward and said in a sorrowful yet powerful voice, "Everyone! Midori was my dearest friend, and his sacrifice is a tragedy for Konoha!"
However, the advisor's words made perfect sense. These were all insidious schemes by the enemy nation. Elder Mitomon was loyal to his master's orders; what wrong had he done? For the stability of Konoha, for the peace of the Land of Fire, and to prevent the victims from being disgraced...

Let's leave it at that!

I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, in the name of the Third Hokage, declare that I will not pursue this matter further!

He tried to use his Hokage authority to suppress the matter, and the atmosphere in the room was temporarily suppressed. Mitokado Homura seemed to have grasped a lifeline and was just about to breathe a sigh of relief.

Just then, the Finance Minister's smile widened. He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's forceful "final verdict" and at Homura Mitokado's narrow escape, and shook his head slightly, as if sighing at their naivety and mocking them for not knowing what kind of opponent they were facing.

The former Finance Minister of the Land of Fire was so politically astute that he was easily subdued. These ninjas who only know how to fight and kill think they can simply quell this matter? They're dreaming!

"The Third Hokage is indeed decisive and efficient."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer spoke with a hint of sarcasm as he solemnly and slowly took out a second scroll from his sleeve. This scroll looked thicker and had more intricate markings on the seal.

"Regarding Lord Green Water's matter, since the Hokage has determined it to be a rumor and wants it to pass so easily, then fine! I can set it aside for now! But—"

The Chancellor of the Exchequer abruptly raised the scroll, his gaze sharpening, his voice rising to a fever pitch, filled with an undeniable resolve:

"The evidence against Mitokado Homura for plotting to murder the grandson of the First Hokage, Lord Senju Nawaki, is irrefutable and irrefutable!"
This matter concerns the blood relatives of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the orphans of the heroes of Konoha. No doubts, prevarications, or "let it end here" will be tolerated!
Third Hokage, are you still going to say that this is also a rumor from an enemy country?!

Boom! ! !

This explosion was a hundred times more violent than any before, as if a detonation tag had been set off in everyone's mind.

"The grandson of the First Hokage, Lord Senju Nawaki?!"

"Lady Tsunade's younger brother?!"

"He wasn't killed by the Iwa ninja's explosive tags..."

"It was Mitokado Hatsumi who did it! And there's solid evidence?!"

The area in front of Konoha's gates was instantly engulfed by incredulous exclamations and an even more turbulent wave of discussion. If the death of Midori was a distant memory, the death of Nawaki was a recent one.

Mitokado Homura was completely dumbfounded. He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with utter absurdity. Senju Nawaki? That kid wasn't killed by him at all! It was…

His gaze unconsciously swept over Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him, whose face was ashen, before snapping back as if electrocuted, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to explode.

That was definitely Hiruzen Sarutobi's doing. What does it have to do with Mitokado Homura?! How could he be pinned on such a huge accusation?!

Koharu Utatane was also terrified by this sudden and fatal accusation. She rushed forward, snatched the new scroll from the Finance Minister's hand, and began to read it with trembling hands.

The more she looked, the paler her face became, and cold sweat poured down her forehead. The contents of the scroll were clearly organized, logically sound, and the chain of evidence was so complete it was breathtaking!
The time, location, the ANBU squad number involved in the operation, the source of intelligence from Iwagakure, the forged mission order record, the altered border patrol route map, the crucial supply allocation documents, and even a record of the ANBU squad's whereabouts... almost pieced together an irrefutable chain of evidence that a Konoha ANBU squad used Iwagakure to eliminate Senju Nawaki!
After reading it, she shoved the scroll at the Hyuga clan leader beside her as if she were holding a red-hot branding iron. At the same time, she staggered back several steps, widening the distance between herself and Hiruzen Sarutobi and Homura Mitokado, her face filled with fear and a resolute "it has nothing to do with me" attitude.

She explained in a shrill voice, "Everyone! This matter has absolutely nothing to do with me. My two ANBU squads from the Tsurugi-no-Ie branch, one guards me year-round, and the other is responsible for Konoha Hospital. Neither of them has ever set foot on the front lines of the Land of Grass! You must testify for me! This evidence points to the ANBU, not to me..."

She didn't dare say who she was referring to, but her gaze swept over Mitokado Homura and Sarutobi Hiruzen, the meaning of which was self-evident.

The scroll was passed around rapidly among the representatives of the various ninja clans. This time, after reading it, the entire room fell silent!
Vice Principal Sarutobi stared intently at the scroll, his fingers tracing the signatures and action numbers on the documents, his face so grave it seemed to drip water.

The Hyuga clan leader's Byakugan veins bulged as he repeatedly checked the authenticity and logical coherence of the scroll's contents. Finally, he slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze toward Mitokado Homura was as if he were looking at a dead man.

The oil-loving clan chief stood frozen in place, her eyes behind her sunglasses filled with shock.

The crimson Sharingan of the Uchiha Fire Core gleamed with an eerie light, and the cold smile on his lips suggested he was quite pleased with this irrefutable evidence.

This time, there is no excuse for "insufficient evidence"!

This scroll is a cold, clear verdict!
The top authority in the chain of evidence, the crucial approval signatures, and the consistency between the operational patterns and the standard Anbu... left all the ninja representatives who had seen it speechless, pointing the finger directly at the Konoha Anbu. But who held the authority to mobilize the Konoha Anbu? It was nothing more than a few high-ranking Konoha officials.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood there, his facial muscles twitching uncontrollably, his fingers digging deeply into his palms beneath the wide sleeves of his Hokage robe.

The most suspicious person, Danzo Shimura, was actually severing ties because the Root organization he controlled was independent of the Dark Side system, thus avoiding the opportunity to be blamed for this crime.

Koharu Tsunematsu immediately distanced herself from the situation, stating that her limited secret forces were only used for guarding and medical areas.

Therefore, the focus of suspicion clearly points to two people: the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who holds the highest command authority over the Anbu, and Homura Mitokado, who serves as an advisor elder, has the authority to mobilize some Anbu members, and has the closest relationship with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the scroll being passed from one of the representatives of the various ninja clans to the next, and saw the growing solemnity and scrutiny on their faces, a storm raged within him!

How can this be? !
This chain of evidence is far too complete, frighteningly complete!
Time, location, squad number, supply allocation documents... even the operation logs are crystal clear. How could outsiders possibly have such detailed knowledge of these things, except for those directly involved?!
"Could it be that Orochimaru can't wait to become Hokage?!"

The thought flashed through his mind instantly: only Orochimaru, who had investigated and handled the aftermath of this matter, could have accessed and compiled such a core secret!

Did Orochimaru obtain something from Dan Kato? And now, seeing Dan Kato dead, does he want to betray his teacher?!
However, he immediately dismissed the idea. Although Orochimaru's temperament had become more gloomy, his feelings for his master and disciple were genuine. More importantly, Orochimaru had already cleaned up the mess for him, so there was no need for him to do anything unnecessary. Moreover, based on his understanding of Orochimaru, Orochimaru would never act in such a public way against him.

"If it's not Orochimaru, then who could it be?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind raced. Daimyo? Impossible! If the Daimyo's office had such infiltration and intelligence capabilities, it would have suppressed Konoha long ago, just like the Daimyo of the Land of Wind suppressed Sunagakure. Konoha would never have such a large degree of autonomy as it does now.

Koharu Utatane? Mitokado Inflammation? They themselves are suspects, so it's even less likely that they would voluntarily provide such fatal evidence.

"Uchiha? Or Danzo?"

The Uchiha Sharingan is extremely skilled in genjutsu and also possesses copying abilities, making it a suspect!

Danzo is a wolf in sheep's clothing. His Root members were present at the time and it's highly likely they secretly collected these things. It's very possible that this old buddy stabbed him in the back. It seems he wants to become Hokage again!
His thoughts were in turmoil, and he had already formed a general suspicion. However, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that it was no longer important to investigate the source of the evidence. The most urgent task was to stop the damage immediately and not let himself be dragged into this mess. He had to push Mitomon Homura out as a scapegoat immediately and clear himself of any involvement!
He whirled around, his face instantly contorted with rage and disbelief, staring with anguish at the deathly pale-faced Mitokado Homura, his voice filled with the fury of betrayal: "Mitokado Homura!!!"

This angry shout instantly drew everyone's attention.

How dare you!

Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at Homura Mitokado, his finger trembling with rage. "How dare you mobilize the Anbu forces without authorization and commit such a heinous act?! To murder the grandson of the First Hokage, Nawaki Senju! Where do you place the rules of Konoha? Where do you place the authority of the Hokage? Where do you place the Daimyo of the Land of Fire? You deserve to die!"

Mitokado Homura was completely stunned by Hiruzen Sarutobi's sudden accusation. He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with absurdity, fear, and a hint of despair at being utterly abandoned.

"No! It wasn't me! Hiruzen! I didn't!" Mitokado Homura almost instinctively denied it, his voice hoarse and shrill, filled with fear. "I didn't mobilize the Anbu to do such a thing at all. This is absolutely a slander. Someone is trying to frame me!"

"Shut up!" Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted him sharply, a chilling glint in his eyes, his voice carrying a hint of "heartbroken indignation" as he questioned, "The evidence is irrefutable, pointing directly to you and the portion of the Anbu authority you control. You still dare to deny it! Guards!"

He waved his hand sharply, his voice leaving no room for doubt: "Take down Mitomon Homura! Immediately detain him in the Anbu's heavy-duty prison. This case is of great importance, involving the relatives of the Fire Country's Daimyo and the bloodline of the First Hokage. It must be thoroughly investigated. I, the Hokage, will personally investigate every detail, find out all the participants, and give Senju Nawaki, Tsunade, and the Daimyo a clear and thorough explanation!"

Several ninjas belonging to Hiruzen Sarutobi's direct ANBU unit immediately stepped forward to support Homura Mitokado.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, ostensibly an order to arrest someone in a fit of rage, were actually a message to Homura Mitokado: Take the blame for now, go to the Anbu prison to lay low for a while, and once the Daimyo's envoy leaves, won't we be in charge of Konoha's internal affairs? We'll find a way to get you out then, or find a scapegoat of sufficient importance, like having an Anbu captain take the fall! If you dare to implicate me now, you'll have no chance of survival!
Having spent many years among the upper echelons of Konoha, Mitomon En instantly understood the implication in Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.

A surge of immense humiliation and resentment welled up within him, but even more so, fear. He knew that ever since the smuggling deal fell into Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands, his life had been in Hiruzen's control. If he were to deny it now, or even try to implicate Hiruzen Sarutobi in his defense, he would be completely finished!
Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely not hesitate to silence him, pin all the crimes on him, and leave him with no way to prove anything. Only by temporarily accepting this accusation and allowing Hiruzen Sarutobi to retain his position and power as Hokage would he have a glimmer of hope!
Driven by an overwhelming will to survive and a deep trust in Hiruzen Sarutobi's shrewd political maneuvering, Homura Mitokado gave up the struggle. His face was ashen, his eyes vacant. Facing the Anbu's pursuit, he no longer protested his innocence, but simply lowered his head, repeating in a hoarse and weak voice, "It wasn't me, it really wasn't me..."

He neither explicitly admitted to it nor implicated anyone else, choosing instead to remain silent.

This is both a tacit agreement and a gesture of hoping that Hiruzen Sarutobi will fulfill his "promise".

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt somewhat relieved.

He turned to the Minister of Finance and all the villagers of Konoha, his face once again adorned with that heavy and solemn mask, and declared in a loud voice: "Minister of Finance, and everyone! Rest assured, in the name of the Third Hokage, I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, swear that I will investigate this case thoroughly. No matter who is involved, no matter how high their position, I will show no leniency and will certainly bring justice to Nawaki Senju. I will neither wrong an innocent person nor let a guilty person go unpunished!"

His resounding promise, coupled with the scene of Mitokado Homura being taken away, did indeed temporarily dispel the doubts of many villagers and some ninja clan representatives. It seems that even the Hokage was deceived, or that Mitokado Homura was really so audacious.
Even Uchiha Hikaru, who had been observing coldly, had a barely perceptible wavering in his crimson Sharingan eyes. Could it really have been done by that idiot Mitokado Homura?
Only Umino Sasuke remained calm and composed, watching Hiruzen Sarutobi's spectacular performance and Mitokado Homura being taken away as a scapegoat.

He sneered inwardly. Hiruzen Sarutobi was clearly trying to stall for time and even force Homura Mitokado to commit suicide.

Do you think you can just drag this out so easily? No way!

Sasuke Umino's eyes flickered slightly, and his lips moved silently as he unleashed the Sound Wave Release: Secret Sound Transmission.

A highly precise chakra transmission quietly slipped into the ears of Mitokado, the pale-faced and trembling elder of the Mitokado clan, hidden behind the crowd.

"Elder Tian, ​​did you see that? This is just a delaying tactic by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Once Mitomon Homura is imprisoned in the Anbu, he will definitely be forced to 'commit suicide out of guilt' tonight!"
At that time, the heinous crime of murdering the two generations of Senju bloodlines, Nawaki and Midori, will be pinned on the Mitomon clan. The angry villagers will tear you apart! Tsunade will take revenge on you! Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, in order to clear his name, will kick you while you're down!

The annihilation of our clan is imminent!

The only way out is to stand up immediately, accuse Mitomon Homura, put all the blame on him, sever his ties with the entire Mitomon clan, and produce irrefutable evidence of his smuggling of weapons, trading of intelligence, eliminating dissidents, and usury, proving that these were all his personal actions and that he betrayed his clan and Konoha!

Only in this way can the Mitomon clan, by sacrificing their own family for the greater good, secure a sliver of hope for survival! Otherwise, they can only await the annihilation of the entire clan!

Sasuke Umino's voice, cold yet seductive, like the whisper of a demon, precisely struck at the deepest fear in Mito Kadona's heart.

Now, seeing Mitokado Homura treated as a pawn, and recalling Hiruzen Sarutobi's political maneuvering, the scenes of "suicide out of fear of punishment" and "extermination of the clan" described by Umino Sasuke are almost an inevitable ending.

We can't hesitate any longer, for the sake of the family's survival!

The fear of annihilation instantly overwhelmed any remaining hesitation or reservations.

Just as the Anbu were about to escort Mitokado Homura out of sight of the crowd.

Mitomonda abruptly shoved aside his clansmen, staggered to the center of the field, and with all his might let out a piercing and resolute cry: "Wait!!!"

This shout instantly drew everyone's attention.

With tears streaming down his face, Mitokado pointed at Mitokado Homura, who was being held captive by the Anbu, and cried out in grief and indignation, "Hokage-sama! Finance Minister! Fellow villagers of Konoha! I, Mitokado, the elder of the Mitokado clan, am here today to uphold justice and expose the truth!"

He knelt down with a thud, raising a thick scroll of documents high in his hands: "Mitomon Homura! His crimes are heinous, he deserves to die!"

He smuggled arms, sold intelligence, colluded with foreign enemies, eliminated dissidents, engaged in usury, and persecuted the families of heroes... Every single one of these crimes is irrefutable! All of it is contained in this case file!

These crimes were all committed by Mitokado Homura alone. He secretly manipulated things by using family resources and his position as an advisor and elder! He betrayed the ancestral precepts of the Mitokado clan, betrayed Konoha, and betrayed the Hokage's trust!
My entire Mitomon clan has been deceived by him!
Today, on behalf of the entire Mitomon clan, I sever all ties with him!

"I implore the Hokage and the Minister of Finance to understand that all blame rests solely with Homura Mitokado, and has nothing to do with my Mitokado clan!"

Mito Monda's voice was choked with sobs, yet filled with a resolute determination to burn his bridges.

Boom! ! !

This explosion completely shattered Hiruzen Sarutobi's meticulously crafted plan!

If the Finance Minister's accusations still carried the suspicion of "outsiders plotting against Konoha's internal affairs," then the Mitomon clan's elder personally stepped forward, making accusations in front of everyone with the attitude of "putting righteousness before family," and presented detailed "evidence" files!
This weight is immense, more than ten thousand pounds, and it is absolutely the most fatal blow!
(End of this chapter)