Konoha: Starting with Sage Mode.

Chapter 68 Danzo, You'll Regret This

In the Hokage Building, in the Hokage's office.

Within minutes of Kirito's assassination attempt, the news reached the Third Hokage's ears.

The Third Hokage immediately ordered the Anbu ninja to launch an investigation.

"Has the matter been investigated and clarified?"

An hour later, the three men, with serious expressions, questioned the ANBU ninja in front of them.

He had just withdrawn all the ANBU ninjas who were monitoring and protecting Kirito today, and this happened. It's a slap in the face for him.

If he cannot find out the truth and find out the traitor as soon as possible, he will have a hard time explaining to Lord Mito.

"Ha, the Jonin Yamanaka has already read minds of the assassins and discovered that there are traitors within the torture department and the hospital's security team. After the incident, those people had already fled to avoid punishment, and the Anbu is organizing people to hunt them down."

The ANBU ninja immediately responded.

"Is that what Yamanaka Kumo said? Then where is the assassin now?"

Upon hearing this, the third generation recalled information about the mountain cloud and continued to ask questions.

"Ha, according to the report from the Jonin Yamanaka, the assassin's brain was covered with a very subtle curse mark. Just as he tried to use mind-reading to investigate further, the curse mark activated, causing him considerable damage. According to the autopsy report from the medical ninja directly under the Anbu, the situation is true."

The ANBU ninja replied, then presented a scroll with both hands.

The Third Hokage took the scroll, opened it, quickly read through it, then took a drag of his cigarette, sighed, and said, "Well done. Those involved in the assassination must be brought back as soon as possible, preferably alive. Go."

"ha."

The ANBU ninja obeyed the order, quickly formed a hand seal, and vanished into white smoke.

"Clouds in the Mountains"

The third generation continued to look at the report on the scroll, which showed no flaws whatsoever, and muttered to himself.

He had a fairly deep understanding of Yamanaka Kumo, one of the most outstanding ninjas of the Yamanaka clan in the modern era. Because of his outstanding strength, he almost became the clan leader. However, for some unknown reason, he voluntarily withdrew from the clan leader election and applied to be transferred to the front line to perform a garrison mission.

Yamanaka Kumo served for ten years, rarely returning to Konoha. Because of his outstanding sensory abilities, he captured enemy ninjas who tried to infiltrate Konoha on several occasions, earning him numerous military achievements and great prestige within the garrison.

He initially transferred Yamanaka Kumo back to Konoha headquarters and entrusted him with the important task of captaining the Konoha Hospital Guardian Team precisely because he valued Yamanaka Kumo's loyalty to Konoha and his outstanding sensory abilities.

Over the years, Shan Zhongyun has worked diligently and never made a mistake, but today he made one.

Although he didn't quite believe that Yamanaka Kumo would betray Konoha, after today's incident, he had no choice but to reinvestigate Yamanaka Kumo.

The hospital has always been one of the safest places in Konoha, and it houses a large number of important non-combat personnel. An assassination like today must never happen again.

In today's incident, Shan Zhongyun is undeniably responsible for his dereliction of duty and must be punished and thoroughly investigated.

"Someone come here."

The third generation quickly made a decision and spoke.

The next moment, an ANBU ninja wearing a dog mask appeared in front of him.

"Issue the order to remove Yamanaka Kumo from his position as the head of the guards at the hospital, conduct a secret investigation into him, temporarily appoint Hinata Yama as the head of the guards, and also, assign a squad—no, assign someone to monitor and protect Kirito again."

The third generation issued a command.

"ha."

The ANBU ninja immediately obeyed the order and then used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

After the ANBU ninja left, the serious expression on the Third Hokage's face slowly disappeared, and then a slight smile appeared.

The reason his mood improved was because Kirito had given him such a wonderful surprise.

The autopsy report indicated that the assassin possessed the strength of a special Jonin. Kirito was unharmed and even used Healing Palm Technique to heal the assassin's injuries before capturing him perfectly with a sealing technique. This displayed strength both surprised and delighted him.

According to his assessment, in terms of overall strength, Kirito already possesses the strength of a Jonin, or at least a Special Jonin.

To possess such strength at such a young age, what will he be like when he grows up? He's definitely a potential Kage-level talent.

Konoha is truly blessed to have such a genius.

"Such outstanding young shoots of Konoha must be protected. Kirito will be an important pillar of Konoha in the future."

The three generations thought with satisfaction.

But soon, the smile on his face disappeared, and he began to frown.

He suddenly remembered his old classmate who had been imprisoned.

"I hope it's not him."

The third generation sighed deeply, a hint of sadness on their faces.

His people told him that the roots, which had been dormant for some time, had recently become active again.

In fact, he had secretly dismantled the root force and scattered most of its personnel to various borders and battlefields.

After all, Danzo has already stepped down, and it would be quite dangerous to let him control the dangerous martial arts ninjas of Root again.

However, according to his investigation, a large portion of the Root personnel's list had been destroyed in advance. As the Hokage, he had no idea where the people on the list went or who they were.

Currently, only Danzo is known to be on these lists.

The Third Hokage wanted to use illusions and mind-reading on Danzo to force his old classmate to reveal the list information, but his old classmate was ruthless enough to plant a curse mark in his brain and set up the Four Symbols Seal on his body.

If he dares to use force, given his old classmate's personality, he will inevitably choose to fight to the death.

"Danzo, you'd better not do anything dangerous again, or you'll regret it."

The three generations quietly made up their minds.

For the sake of the village's safety, people like Danzo, who disregard the bigger picture and wield immense power within the village, cannot be tolerated excessively.

His patience also has its limits.

. . .

The territory of a clan in the mountains.

Shan Zhongyun walked through the clan's territory. He had gone home early to rest, which was rare for him. The reason was that he had been temporarily suspended from his post. He would be allowed to rest for a period of time until new orders were issued, and the hospital guard duty would be taken over by someone else.

Yamanaka had anticipated this outcome and didn't feel anything was wrong. The only thing that bothered him was the little tails lurking in the shadows.

He was an exceptionally skilled sensory ninja, and how could those ANBU ninjas hiding in the shadows and following him possibly escape his notice?

Although he felt uncomfortable, he was now a suspect, so he had no choice but to endure it and pretend not to see it.

As usual, he greeted some acquaintances in the clan along the way, bought some food along the way, chatted with some people for a while, and then returned home.

"I'm back."

When Shan Zhongyun returned home, he said this to his empty house.

After he finished speaking, a hint of dejection appeared on his face, but he quickly concealed it again.

He casually placed the things he bought on the ground, then went to the bedroom, sat on the bed, picked up a photo frame from the bedside table, and stared blankly at the photo of a blonde woman with a bright smile on her face, his eyes filled with love.

He stood there in a daze for more than an hour.

"Rin, I will definitely avenge you. It's almost time. Danzo promised me that as long as I get rid of that brat, he will tell me all the real culprits who killed you back then."

"Mountain Clouds murmured, his face gradually covered with frost."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Hearing the noise, Shan Zhongyun reluctantly put down the photo, composed himself, and left the bedroom after reporting the incident.

After he left the bedroom, a white, transparent Kirito slowly appeared in the air. He looked at the photo of the blonde woman in the frame, a thoughtful expression on his face.

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(End of this chapter)