Under Hyuga Hiashi's lead, Yamanaka Haiichi was brought into the Hyuga Clan's ancestral shrine. At this moment, every remaining branch-family elder still in the compound had already gathered there.
On the open square before the shrine lay the corpse of Kurama Unkai. When Haiichi arrived, several Hyuga elders experienced in post-mortem examination were still inspecting the body.
Although Kurama Unkai was already dead, the Hyuga intended to draw out every possible clue from this assassin's remains instead of relying solely on the Yamanaka Clan's secret mind techniques. If tangible evidence could lead them straight to the mastermind, it would save time — and make the accusation unshakable.
The assassination attempt on Hyuga Satoru had become the clan's highest-level matter. What's more, after confirming that the attacker was from Konoha's own Kurama Clan, the Hyuga elders were nearly certain that someone in the village's upper echelons was targeting them. For the sake of the Hyuga's survival, they were determined to uncover the truth…
…and completely root out whoever dared threaten their existence.
In the name of the Hyuga, they had not only invited Yamanaka Haiichi to perform a mind probe, but had also sent a formal summons to Kurama Shutsuyuki, the Kurama Clan Head, "inviting" him to come claim the body and explain. If Kurama Shutsuyuki refused to cooperate, the Hyuga would treat him as an accomplice.
Taking advantage of the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato's presence, the Hyuga elders made their stance very clear: if conflict broke out between the Hyuga and the Kurama, they hoped the Hokage would understand.
Before Kurama Shutsuyuki had even arrived, the Hyuga had already judged his clan to be a potential threat — an obstacle to be removed if necessary.
Minato could clearly feel the Hyuga's resolve, and he understood it. Given what had just happened — even Konoha's own advisor Shimura Danzo had nearly been killed on Hyuga soil — how could a declining artistic clan like the Kurama possibly oppose such a behemoth?
Even so, Minato could only try to mediate. He promised to personally ensure Kurama Shutsuyuki's cooperation, and urged the Hyuga not to act rashly.
With Yamanaka Haiichi's arrival, the tension inside the shrine eased slightly. Acting as Satoru's representative, Hiashi gave a concise summary of Kurama Unkai's identity as the assassin and formally requested Haiichi to read the man's memories to trace the hand behind him.
Minato, who was also present, issued the same request. Feeling the weight of both sides, Haiichi hesitated for a moment — he could already tell this would be a serious case — but in the end he nodded.
The Yamanaka were not a large clan, and their inherited techniques were not for battlefield domination, but their position in Konoha was extremely stable. Their mind-type jutsu were indispensable for interrogation and intelligence. Ninja like them were respected in every village.
Moreover, the Ino–Shika–Cho alliance, together with the Sarutobi family, held political sway that could rival even the Hyuga. The Yamanaka had no need to fear "offending" someone in the pursuit of truth.
Without further words, Haiichi began the ritual under the watchful eyes of Hyuga guards.
As his mind linked to Kurama Unkai's, an intricate maze of memories unfolded before him.
In the real world, Haiichi's eyes shut tight. He spoke in a low voice:
"There's a seal in his mind. I'll need time to undo it."
The Hyuga elders exchanged guarded looks. Hyuga Satoru and Minato, however, showed no surprise — their expressions said it all: as expected.
Both had already guessed the level of the person behind this. For people like that, placing a mental seal on subordinates was second nature.
"Focus on breaking it. If you need anything, say it," Minato said calmly. He trusted Haiichi — the head of the Analysis Division. Ordinary mind-seals were no obstacle to him.
Satoru, too, trusted Haiichi's ability. The man had once unraveled memory seals tied to far more dangerous eyes; neither Sarutobi Hiruzen nor Shimura Danzo possessed mental-sealing arts at that level.
"No special assistance needed," Haiichi replied. "Though, if you want it faster, someone meticulous can help me peel the layers."
"I'll help," Satoru said, stepping forward. "I want to see the culprit with my own eyes."
"I'll join as well," Minato added, sitting beside Haiichi.
Sensing their intent, Haiichi grasped both their wrists.
The moment he did, darkness swallowed their vision — and the three of them were pulled into a strange mental realm:
Kurama Unkai's mindscape.
Before them floated a massive human brain. Haiichi formed hand seals, and two ribbon-like memory streams unfurled from it. Satoru and Minato each placed a hand on one; the memories began to scroll open at high speed.
Time lost meaning.
Scenes flashed by one after another:
Kurama Unkai training.
Kurama Unkai carrying out missions.
Kurama Unkai living quietly among craftsmen.
Kurama Unkai feeding stray cats and dogs on his way home.
As the man's life played out like a scroll painting, Satoru felt his chest tighten. What he'd assumed was just another nameless hired blade… turned out to be a real person. Even though Unkai had not died by Satoru's hand but from a heart-seal, a faint guilt still crept into him.
The deeper they went, the more fragmented the memories became — death had already scattered parts of the mind. But with Haiichi guiding them, their progress sped up.
At last — the moment they were looking for surfaced.
A dim underground chamber appeared.
The air itself, even through Unkai's perspective, carried dread and pressure.
In Unkai's trembling hands was a sketch —
Hyuga Satoru's portrait.
A bold red X was drawn over it.
The meaning was clear.
But the person giving the order was shrouded in darkness. Only a hoarse, distorted voice echoed in Unkai's mind. The tone was unrecognizable — nothing like anyone Satoru or Minato knew. But through Unkai's fear, they could feel the authority behind it.
That fear had even twisted the memory — the more terrified the man was, the less clearly he saw the one in front of him.
Still, as Haiichi pushed deeper, more details emerged.
Unkai's life had been bleak — too much training, too many missions, no freedom. Judging from the uniforms and the brutal drills… he had once been ANBU.
But not the Hokage's ANBU.
Children forced to kill each other. Only four survivors "qualified."
That wasn't the Hokage's way.
That was Root.
Satoru's eyes hardened.
He had his answer.
He withdrew his hand from Haiichi's grip and opened his eyes back in the shrine. Sunlight fell across the floor; the weight of Unkai's memories seemed to melt off him.
"The one behind this," Satoru said evenly, "is Shimura Danzo."
His voice made the Hyuga elders stir.
A heartbeat later, Namikaze Minato exited the mindspace as well. He stepped to Satoru's side, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said solemnly:
"I promise you — the Hyuga will have justice.
Satoru… leave this matter to me."
Minato had already seen how far the Hyuga were willing to go. He had suspected Danzo from the start — but as Hokage, he could not allow open war to break out between the Hyuga and Root.
An internal war…
…was something he would never allow.
But far below Konoha, in Root's shadowed halls, seals and orders that didn't need Danzo's voice to activate… were already in place.
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