The Anbu is a violent organization directly under the Hokage. The Hokage is too busy, so it's usually managed and commanded by the Anbu Commander.
Now that the Hokage was present, Yōkō only needed to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi at all times, which was much more comfortable than following Danzo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi patrolled inside and outside the cave several times, constantly asking for details.
Yōkō answered what he could, and for what he couldn't, he offered some guesses and suggestions.
There were too many mysteries surrounding Uchiha Madara.
The reconnaissance ninja led by several clan heads returned.
The Hyūga elder, Inuzuka Kari, and the other clan heads came to the Hokage's side, shaking their heads one after another.
Inuzuka Kari took the lead and said:
"Hokage-sama, Uchiha Madara's retreat was very covert. Combined with the heavy rain all around, none of us found any trace of his departure.
I judge that the hundred-meter giant in the cave was probably a summoning. Otherwise, transferring such a large giant couldn't be so hidden."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Please wait at the cave entrance. I have some matters to discuss with the Senju and Uchiha clan heads."
The empty cave was left with only the Hokage's side and the two clan heads, Senju Hanaki and Uchiha Kane.
Hiruzen Sarutobi first looked at Uchiha Kane and asked, "Clan Head Kane, does the Uchiha clan still have some channel of contact with Uchiha Madara?"
Uchiha Kane shook his head repeatedly:
"Hokage-sama, when Uchiha Madara first betrayed the village, we had already completely severed ties with him.
Please believe the Uchiha clan. We are right here in the village; how could we betray the village or have contact with a fiend like Uchiha Madara?
I know nothing about Uchiha Madara's affairs.
What confuses me more is, even if it is Uchiha Madara, why does he know Wood Release?"
Yōkō thought, here it comes, Uchiha Kane is starting to deflect blame.
He had to. If the blame for Uchiha Madara fell on them, the Uchiha clan couldn't bear it.
Hearing this, Senju Hanaki's expression was sorrowful and pained:
"That's what I want to ask you. Why does a Uchiha master the most precious Kekkei Genkai in our Senju clan's history?
Uchiha Madara is from the Warring States Period. At that time, marriage between the Senju and Uchiha clans was absolutely impossible.
Is it that the Uchiha clan has been secretly conducting human experiments?
Have the missing geniuses of my Senju clan ended up on your Uchiha clan's operating tables?"
Just as the two were about to argue, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Stop! Don't dwell on matters from the Warring States Period!"
After pondering, he said:
"The matter of Uchiha Madara is too important. Clan Head Hanaki, Clan Head Kane, the two of you are responsible for establishing a large investigation team. Use this place as the starting point to search for and scout Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara's intention to destroy our Konoha remains; we cannot leave him unchecked.
I believe the Nine-Tails transfer sealing riot was most likely done by Uchiha Madara.
The Nine-Tails was once Uchiha Madara's summon. He always wanted to take it back, but just couldn't find an opportunity to act because Konoha was heavily guarded that night."
Senju Hanaki was reluctant to accept the Third Hokage's explanation, but she couldn't find a reasonable rebuttal in a short time.
The Senju and Uchiha clans were already in sharp conflict because of the Nine-Tails transfer sealing riot. Having them form a joint investigation team now was just adding fuel to the fire.
Uchiha Madara came from the Uchiha clan and mysteriously mastered the Senju clan's Wood Release. Who else could investigate besides these two ninja clans?
Senju Hanaki and Uchiha Kane had no choice but to agree. As for the intensification of conflicts between the two sides, it was inevitable.
When both sides were fighting inextricably, Hiruzen Sarutobi would timely mediate; this was what he was best at.
Senju Hanaki closed her eyes in pain. Uchiha Madara was alive, so the village would pin the blame for the Nine-Tails transfer sealing riot on Uchiha Madara.
But Senju Hanaki always felt that things weren't that simple.
After leaving the cave, Senju Hanaki had the two Senju guards collect the three bodies of the Senju clan members.
Senju Hanaki looked at the three body bags and murmured, "We'll notify Tsunade at the time of the burial... otherwise, Tsunade won't be able to bear it..."
Not long after, a Senju guard suddenly said, "Clan Head! Dan has the First Hokage's necklace on him!"
The necklace, made of hard material, had survived.
Senju Hanaki took the necklace and put it away, preparing to return it to Tsunade.
Yōkō followed Hiruzen Sarutobi all the way back to Konoha Village.
Another seven days passed on the road; the next full moon wasn't far away.
After returning to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi took Yōkō directly to the Hokage Building.
Only Battalion Commander Yellow Dog was waiting in the Hokage's office.
"Fox, tell me the real details in full."
Yōkō understood that the Third Hokage wanted to know what Danzo had actually done.
This time, Yōkō recounted everything in minute detail.
Encountering the three Konoha ninja controlled by Uchiha Madara, being pursued by Kato Dan, the deaths of Antelope, Leaf Monkey, and others, using the Yamanaka secret technique to escape.
Meeting Danzo, Danzo takes him to find Uchiha Madara, their battle, Danzo trading one Mangekyō for a chance to escape.
"What? You mean that eye was destroyed?"
Yōkō was startled. Hadn't Danzo disclosed this matter to Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Had some rift developed between these two?
When the Anbu heavily injured Iwagakure and Ōnoki at Mount Ushiga, the Anbu had built momentum for Danzo, claiming it was his primary achievement, but the Third Hokage later stopped it.
Perhaps these two already had some conflicts now.
It's just unknown when the Anbu and Root split, with Danzo leading Root independently.
Yōkō said, "Yes, Hokage-sama, that eye turned into a grayish-white dead man's eye."
"Continue."
Yōkō then recounted how Danzo found Kato Dan and killed him at the cost of another Mangekyō.
Then came Yōkō's suggestion to place Kato Dan's body into the Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees.
Regarding anything related to Danzo, Yōkō had to tell the truth.
If he withheld anything, and if Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo compared notes, he would be finished.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked his pipe, puffing continuously.
Soon, the Hokage's office was filled with smoke, becoming somewhat stifling.
Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi said:
"Good, I know everything now. Fox, your performance was good, exceeding my expectations.
Complete a mission report as soon as possible and have Yellow Dog deliver it to me."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Yōkō went to the Anbu base to write the report.
After Fox left, Yellow Dog said, "Father, before this mission, the deceased Antelope mentioned that he noticed Fox's chakra was abnormally depleted on the night of the Nine-Tails transfer seal. This time..."
"Use official titles during work hours."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said:
"Yellow Dog, no need to dwell on those details. If Fox could escape unscathed from Danzo's hands, there would probably be no major issue.
If Fox had a problem, someone of Danzo's nature would have dealt with him long ago.
Fox is a talent worth focusing on.
The Anbu is short on skilled hands. Strong Jōnin all want to enter the Jōnin Commander Council. Jōnin like you, who are wholeheartedly dedicated to burning for Konoha, are too few.
If you're still uneasy, you can observe him further, but don't let it affect the important use of Fox.
If you want to take over the Anbu, you must have several Battalion Commanders capable of handling matters independently as subordinates. Fox's growth rate is astonishing; he's worth cultivating."
"I understand." Yellow Dog said, "It's just a pity that Fox is a civilian ninja. If he were a ninja from our Sarutobi clan, or from the Ino–Shika–Chō clans, it would be better."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Slowly cultivate the younger generation of the Sarutobi clan and the Ino–Shika–Chō clans. There's no need to rush."
In the Anbu base, "B" saw the returning Fox and went to find Danzo.
Danzo said:
"It seems Hiruzen Sarutobi trusts Fox quite a bit. Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's kind-faced but ruthless nature, if Fox had a problem, he would have been killed long ago.
Suspend the investigation into Fox. Just observe him slightly in the future."
After Yōkō finished writing the mission report and personally handed it to Battalion Commander Yellow Dog, he finally left the Anbu base.
He had returned to the village, but his squad was still at the front-line camp.
This full moon cycle was the most difficult and painful one.
Late at night, Yōkō entered the Tsurugetsu Izakaya and shouted, "Boss, give me your best sake!"
Kyōi saw it was Kōji who had returned and hurried over, leaning close to Yōkō's ear to ask:
"Do you want spicy sake or salty sake?"
Yōkō was puzzled:
"Sake can be salty? Oh! I get it. I definitely don't want salty sake, but I want you to repay a favor abundantly!"
The two went into the backyard.
Half an hour later, Yōkō said, "Change the sheets. This isn't repaying a favor abundantly; this is repaying with a fountain!"
***
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(End of Chapter)