"However, I would like to know more about this so-called mysterious organization and its members."
"What could you uncover by investigating yourself? Let the Root operatives handle it," Danzo seized the opportunity to propose.
This mission would undoubtedly give him legitimate access to some of the Uchiha clan's secret records!
On his way back to the village, Danzo's thoughts were filled with intrigue about the Uchiha clan's history and forbidden techniques. He was already plotting how to obtain those secrets, whether through excuses or other means.
Sharingan, Mangekyō, Izanagi!
If combined with Wood Release...
He should be able to restore his declining strength and bring new life to his body, which had been gravely injured during the Second Shinobi World War.
"I trust you, Fugaku! Let's prioritize the Uchiha clan for now."
The Third Hokage did not agree to Danzo's demands. However, Uchiha Fugaku, who understood the deeper implications behind the Hokage's words, did not feel any joy.
The words "for now" meant that if the Uchiha clan failed to uncover anything substantial or provide credible evidence to prove their innocence, Danzo's Root or perhaps even the Hokage's direct Anbu would take over the investigation.
By then, with an excuse and official backing, even Uchiha Fugaku would find it difficult to refuse the Hokage's demands.
"I will uncover the truth," Fugaku gritted his teeth and declared.
"This is the intelligence scroll that Danzo has compiled," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, handing an already-opened scroll to Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku stepped forward, accepted the scroll, and browsed through its contents.
Only then did he understand why the Hokage and Danzo believed there was a traitor within the Uchiha clan and why they were so aggressive in their initial accusations.
The scroll not only contained secrets about the Uchiha clan but also mentioned Wood Release!
Through the efforts of the Technology Development Department, Wood Release had been recreated. While its effectiveness was somewhat inconsistent, and the modifications carried inherent risks, it had indeed reappeared in the shinobi world.
Moreover, someone in that organization possessed the ability to use Wood Release!
It was hard not to suspect that a high-ranking member of the Uchiha clan, after gaining access to the Technology Development Department's research on Wood Release, had reproduced it outside the village.
In a shinobi village, where even a rogue ninja's corpse would be decapitated and destroyed to prevent the leakage of ninjutsu information, the unauthorized circulation of their technology would never be overlooked.
Although the exact origin of the other party's Wood Release remained uncertain, it did not stop Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo from associating it with the possibility of a leak from the Technology Development Department.
Since the matter involved the Technology Development Department, it was no longer merely an internal issue for the Uchiha clan.
Unless Uchiha Fugaku can prove that this matter has nothing to do with the Uchiha clan in Konoha, and the Technology Development Department can confirm after investigation that no technology has been lost or leaked, the Anbu and Danzo's Root will intervene, and Fugaku won't be able to stop them.
After realizing this, Uchiha Fugaku surprisingly felt a sense of gratitude toward the Third Hokage. Although he knew this was the Third's usual way of compromising, offering a condition both sides could accept.
But this didn't stop the emotional stir inside him! At least the Third Hokage had given them a chance for self-investigation, unlike Danzo, who made his distrust clear without hesitation.
At the border of the Land of Fire.
Two kilometers from the border camp, in a dense forest.
Kagetsu greeted the weary and tired Uchiha Shisui, who had just returned from Ancor Vantian. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel{f}ire.net
"Did Hanzo die?" Kagetsu was surprised upon hearing this. Hanzo was once a powerful ninja who had left even the young Sannin helpless, only spared due to mercy.
"Yes." Shisui pulled out a scroll from his pocket. "Here are his and Karatachi Yagura's bodies."
Shisui, who had worked as an assistant to both Orochimaru and Kagetsu, knew well about their habit of collecting the corpses of strong opponents.
In the former headquarters of the Technology Development Department, there was still a freezer used by Orochimaru to store corpses.
Influenced by them, both Shisui and Anko, after battles, would collect strong ninja bodies for Orochimaru and Kagetsu, whenever possible.
Especially the corpses of Kekkei Genkai users.
Hanzo and Karatachi Yagura, the former needs no introduction. He is the only one to date who can be compared to the Kage of the Five Great Nations and has earned a certain level of respect as a powerful figure.
The latter is also a standout of the new generation from the Hidden Mist Village in the Land of Water. His reputation is just as prominent as the infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from the Land of Water.
He even surpasses them in leadership and strategic skills. He is a genius with both strength and the foresight needed for large-scale strategies, a prodigy of the new generation in the Hidden Mist Village.
"The battle doesn't seem easy. Have your eyes gotten this blurry already?"
Kagetsu first unrolled the scroll but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he took a step forward and carefully examined Shisui's physical condition, especially his eyes, using medical ninjutsu.
The conclusion drawn from the checkup was not very promising.
The blindness of the Mangekyō Sharingan is inevitable; the difference lies in how much chakra is left and how long it can be used.
Although Kagetsu had prepared some special eye drops and ointment for Shisui, they were only effective for shallow use of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Fighting Hanzo was undoubtedly a war of attrition. The massive consumption of chakra drained Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan in a short period, putting a great deal of pressure and strain on his body.
With such an immense drain, the eye drops and ointments that Kagetsu prepared could only do so much.
"It's alright," Shisui shook his head. The battle with Hanzo had indeed been a long one.
Hanzo's battle experience was vast, and his application of taijutsu and ninjutsu was eye-opening.
As Hanzo avoided direct confrontation, it took Shisui quite some time and effort to deal with him.
Shisui could still feel that the eye drops and ointments were helping his eyesight recover, but in comparison to the excessive consumption of chakra, these supplements were merely a small drop in the ocean. They could not make up for the lost chakra in such a short time.
The real issue was that he would be unable to use his Mangekyō Sharingan for long periods in the foreseeable future.
"Are you interested in accepting another form of power?" Kagetsu suddenly asked. He knew that for a while, Shisui wouldn't be able to use his Mangekyō Sharingan. This would undoubtedly affect his strength. After thinking for a moment, he inquired.
Kagetsu had already been notified by Orochimaru through his snakes, including some basic experimental data and results regarding the power of Hogyoku.
Although Kagetsu saw it as still a work in progress, it could help make up for the loss of strength that Shisui would face due to the inability to use his Mangekyō Sharingan freely.
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