For various reasons, the first encounter with Obito was not ideal. However, another matter made good progress.
Under various methods, Konoha Military Police Force finally found some clues.
The captured individuals were indeed not Konoha ninjas, but rogue ninjas from other villages. They often colluded with bandits, engaging in robbery and plunder.
Later, a mysterious person approached them, gave them a lot of money, and helped them sneak into Konoha.
As for what they needed to do, it was simple. Spread rumors about Naruto and the Uchiha.
Because their employer was very generous with money, they readily agreed.
Unexpectedly, Satoshi was more like a bandit than the bandits themselves, accusing them of being spies and dragging them into Konoha Military Police Force to be beaten half to death.
Later, they confessed.
Upon learning that these matters were related to Root, the Uchiha clan members almost burst out laughing.
Get him!
The next day, they organized the information and sent their representative, Satoshi, to the Hokage.
"Hokage-sama, according to their confession, the person who hired them was Torune."
Satoshi closed his mouth after saying this.
Then he saw a red-faced old man.
Hiruzen had served as Hokage for decades, and in his youth, he was a student of the unscrupulous Tobirama. Naturally, he learned many unsavory methods.
For example, establishing Root and letting Danzo handle certain matters in his own way. It was precisely because of this that he quickly thought of a dangerous possibility.
These individuals were hired by Torune to infiltrate Konoha, so who hired Torune?
Danzo.
Torune only followed Danzo's orders.
Later, Torune was killed, and his killer was a mysterious masked man.
So the question is, why did the masked man kill Torune?
And who ordered the masked man?
Hiruzen believed it was still Danzo.
There were three reasons.
Hiruzen knew that Danzo always believed that only dead people could keep secrets.
As Konoha Military Police Force's investigation progressed, Torune's involvement would eventually be exposed, so killing him was a simple solution.
The second reason was that the masked man could silently infiltrate Konoha, which must have involved an insider providing information and helping him evade Konoha's defenses. Danzo was capable of doing this.
The third reason was the Wood Release Ninjutsu used by the masked man.
Hiruzen recalled that many years ago, Danzo had conducted Wood Release experiments under his instruction. Later, he found the experiment too cruel and ordered it to be discontinued.
But—
Maybe Danzo, like Orochimaru, was secretly continuing his research?
Hiruzen thought it was very likely.
What wouldn't his old friend do?
The accumulation of these possibilities made Hiruzen increasingly certain that Danzo was problematic. At the same time, he felt a chill down his spine.
Would Danzo do something even more dangerous?
Furthermore, there was another question: where did the intruder's Sharingan come from?
Was he an Uchiha, or someone who had obtained the Sharingan through some other method?
Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "You go back first."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
After Satoshi left, Hiruzen asked for Danzo's presence.
—
Hiruzen asked, "Danzo, tell me honestly, how did Torune die?"
Danzo's heart tightened as he asked, "Hiruzen, what do you mean by this?"
He found Hiruzen somewhat inexplicable.
Yes, he had wanted to kill Torune. But before he could act, Torune was killed by someone else.
There was no rule in Konoha's code that one could be punished for merely wishing someone dead, was there?
Facing Danzo's refusal to admit anything, Hiruzen sighed silently in his heart.
Indeed, Danzo was a master of feigning ignorance.
He threw the scroll at Danzo's face and said, "See for yourself. Konoha Military Police Force has investigated everything thoroughly."
Upon hearing the words "Konoha Military Police Force," Danzo's heart sank.
Especially when he saw "Aburame Torune" among the names of those involved, sweat beads appeared on his forehead.
Danger.
But even so, Danzo quickly regained his composure.
"Hiruzen, can Konoha Military Police Force be trusted? You know that the Uchiha are investigating this matter, and they are slandering Konoha's higher-ups."
"I think it's necessary to strip them of their law enforcement authority."
"Today they dare to slander others, tomorrow they will dare to rebel."
Hiruzen slammed the table in anger. "Damn it! Danzo, do you know what you're saying?!"
"Confess honestly, did you send someone to kill Torune to silence him?!"
Danzo couldn't believe his ears. He had always been the one to slander others, how was it his turn to be slandered today?
"Torune is my subordinate! How could I do such a thing?!"
"Then how do you explain that guy using Wood Release?!"
"Just because he uses Wood Release means I sent him? Your beloved student Orochimaru was also with me when we did those experiments back then!"
Upon hearing the name Orochimaru, Hiruzen instantly sobered up considerably.
"Danzo, Orochimaru is indeed a suspect, but your problems are greater."
Danzo was stunned. He didn't understand why Hiruzen would rather believe a rogue ninja from Konoha than him, his diligent Hokage assistant.
Danzo asked, "Hiruzen, you let Orochimaru go because of your hesitation back then. Are you still going to protect him now?"
Hiruzen was suddenly speechless. He knew there was some truth to what Danzo said.
Wait a minute.
Hiruzen suddenly realized the topic had strayed. He wanted to talk about Danzo's serious crimes of spreading rumors in the village, framing the Uchiha, and damaging relations between the two parties.
Hiruzen said, "I will continue to investigate Torune's death, but you are primarily responsible for framing the Uchiha."
Danzo strongly denied. "I didn't!"
Hiruzen didn't believe him one bit. "Although there is no direct evidence to show your involvement, Torune was ultimately your subordinate, so you are highly suspected."
Hiruzen tapped on the table and said, "You are relieved of your positions as Root leader and Hokage assistant for three months. Go home and reflect, Danzo."
Danzo gritted his teeth, staring coldly at Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen, you actually..."
Hiruzen waved his hand. "Get out."
Danzo clenched his fists, then slowly loosened them.
He slowly walked out of the Hokage Building, then suddenly stopped.
Danzo regretted it deeply, extremely deeply.
If he had been a little braver back then, perhaps Tobirama would have designated him as Hokage. If he had become Hokage, those evil Uchiha would have been utterly annihilated long ago.
No, not just the Uchiha.
He might have achieved even more, mastering the power of the Tailed Beast, Wood Release, and Sharingan.
The entire Ninja World would belong to Konoha.
But now, he could only hide in the dark, with nameless Root every day.
All while Monkey enjoyed everyone's admiration.
'I refuse!' Danzo silently roared in his heart.
The reason he didn't dare to shout it out was because he was afraid Hiruzen would hear him and realizing this made Danzo even more furious.
Damn it, had Hiruzen really left him with such a huge psychological shadow?
Thinking of this, Danzo looked back at the Hokage Building.
"One day, this place will belong to me."