Uchiha Inabi saw his captain's grim expression and could not help being intensely curious.
Although still young, Chiyu possessed formidable strength and a ruthless style of doing things.
Since assuming the post of Police Commander, he had tirelessly enforced thunderous means to rectify the entire atmosphere of Konoha. These days, evildoers in the village dared not poke their heads out, achieving an unprecedented level of order and safety.
Such authority and influence had been unattainable under any previous captain.
A person's renown precedes them like the shadow of a tall tree.
In quick succession, Chiyu had killed Sarutobi Nichio and Sarutobi Jirō (the father and son), forcibly executed two successive ANBU commanders, Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Uchiha Shisui.
Today, Uchiha Chiyu's prestige soared like never before—his fame and reputation had reached its zenith, second to none but the Hokage in Konoha!
No small-time criminal would be so shortsighted as to appear now, asking for death.
Hence, Inabi, like the rest of the police force, felt deep admiration and respect for him.
"Captain, is there some secret behind all this?"
Chiyu did not conceal anything. Speaking in a low, stern voice:
"Edo Tensei… that's…"
In the current shinobi world, most people had no idea just how terrifying Edo Tensei could be.
Only Uchiha Yakumi frowned and said:
"I recall the Patriarch once mentioning it… "It's a jutsu that uses living humans as sacrifices, forcibly summoning the souls of the dead back from the Pure Land, and placing them entirely under the caster's control, turning them into killing machines…"
All who heard this turned pale.
"Using live humans as sacrifices to call back a dead person's soul?!" "Is that really possible?"
Uchiha Yakumi nodded:
"Yes, it is. And though the summoned deceased can't reach their absolute full strength from life, as long as that person was a true powerhouse, they'd already surpass typical shinobi. It's a terrifying secret technique—one that plays with life and death, desecrating souls—a truly evil forbidden art!"
Uchiha Inabi's mind whirled:
"Captain means someone is using corpses to research Edo Tensei?"
"That's just foul! "Digging up graves, desecrating corpses, letting departed people rest uneasily… Not only do they violate the dead, they transform them into vessels of a vile forbidden jutsu. This is truly unforgivable! "And it requires living sacrifices to boot…"
"Captain, who could have invented such a horrific jutsu?!"
"The Second Hokage… "Senju Tobirama."
Everyone's faces changed drastically.
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama!
That name was truly like the Reaper itself to the Uchiha. Even Hashirama, the so-called God of Shinobi, did not inspire the same loathing.
An irascible Uchiha Tekka trembled all over, then sneered coldly:
"Figures! "Only Senju Tobirama would craft such filthy, wicked forbidden arts!"
Uchiha Inabi also sighed, though he was extremely curious:
"But Tobirama's dead, and Edo Tensei vanished for so many years… "Why would it suddenly appear again right now?"
Uchiha Yamakaze blurted out:
"Captain, do you suspect who might be reviving this evil jutsu?"
Chiyu cast a glance at him.
Yamakaze's heart gave a jolt:
"Could… could it be…"
Everyone at once understood.
Konoha's upper echelons!
Who else could it be?!
Uchiha Tekka spat angrily:
"It must be Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō's group!
"They were students of Tobirama, obviously capable of inheriting his filthy arts!
"Not to mention, they know they can't match our captain in power, so they're resorting to sneaky, underhanded methods!"
The others nodded—everyone furious.
Of course, Chiyu knew as much. But researching Edo Tensei was no simple feat. Although Orochimaru had once stated the technique wasn't that hard, that was from his perspective.
To others, it was truly a forbidden jutsu.
Otherwise, it would never have stayed lost until Orochimaru's time.
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not care whether it was forbidden or not—he himself had used the likes of the Reaper Death Seal. The only reason he never touched Edo Tensei was that he couldn't manage it. Now, evidently, Danzō had gained access to it—surely forging ties with Orochimaru in secret, then robbing graves for test materials.
Chiyu smirked to himself:
Danzō, that old viper, must truly be seeking death…
After Shisui died, he couldn't wait to jump out and court disaster.
He wants to use a forbidden jutsu from Orochimaru to deal with me?
"Captain, how should we respond?"
Chiyu replied mildly:
"They're being covert because they don't want to be discovered. We'll do the opposite."
"Make an official announcement throughout the village: there have been grave robberies, tombs being dug up—someone unscrupulously desecrating the dead. Tell every citizen and shinobi to stay alert."
Uchiha Yakumi smiled:
"Yes sir, I understand. "This'll be sure to outrage Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen…"
"That's just the beginning. Next, you'll all follow my instructions."
"Besides spreading word of the grave robberies, keep an eye out for one more matter…"
Everyone froze, grasping the captain's meaning.
"So Captain suspects Danzō's people will abduct living humans for test subjects?"
Uchiha Tekka sneered:
"Since Edo Tensei needs living sacrifices, of course they'll do that!
"Orochimaru did the same back then!
"And wasn't Danzō colluding with him? All under Sarutobi Hiruzen's silent approval!
"They'll stoop to anything!"
Uchiha Inabi added with a sigh:
"Yes… Orochimaru wasn't exiled simply for doing human experiments, but because it was all revealed.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen can tolerate or even condone such evil acts from Orochimaru and Danzō, but if it publicly comes to light, he'll cut ties.
"Likely the same this time—secretly, it's definitely Danzō, while Hiruzen remains above suspicion."
"So they'll do everything stealthily."
Chiyu waved them silent. He was always a man of action.
"Yakumi, issue warnings about grave robbers and intensify patrols.
"Tekka, Inabi, investigate missing-persons cases. The moment you see signs, report to me."
All three sub-commanders straightened at once:
Then, Chiyu led Aoki and Yamakaze to see the genin named Daishi.
Upon arrival, Daishi—seeing Chiyu in person—grew excited with hero-worship:
"Chi-Chiyu-sama! I…I never dreamed you'd come in person!"
He trembled so much he could barely speak. Chiyu frowned:
"Tell me the details."
Daishi said hurriedly:
"Yes, sir. Captain, over here's my father's grave. At first glance it looks undisturbed, but inside, the coffin is empty—my father's remains are gone!
"Those grave robbers are so depraved… they even defile the resting dead. Please, Captain, help find my father's corpse and let him rest in peace…
"He and I, we might not be big names, but we served the village with all we had. Must he die without proper burial or respect?" Updates are released by NoveI[F]ire.net
Chiyu carefully inspected the site. Indeed, no traces. The thieves had covered their tracks well. But…
With his peerless Sharingan and powers of observation, Chiyu sensed residual chakra in the soil. Furthermore…
Aoki and Yamakaze saw the Captain's look.
"Captain? Did you discover something?"
They cried out, stunned. Everyone in the shinobi world knew Mokuton was the unique art of the legendary God of Shinobi, the First Hokage Senju Hashirama.
But why would the imprint of such a secret appear at the grave of some ordinary genin's father?!
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!