"Fugaku, are you certain?"
The ninjas of the Konoha Military Police Force immediately turned toward the young man who had just spoken.
He was sharp-featured and undeniably handsome, with mid-length black hair that gave him a clean, spirited look. Despite the scrutiny of his senior officers, the young man didn't waver. He nodded firmly.
"I've studied Taiichi's files and photos," he said with absolute confidence. "As long as I've seen a face once, I won't forget it. This body... is Taiichi."
This young man was none other than the rising star of the Uchiha clan—Uchiha Fugaku.
"It seems this 'missing persons' case is far from simple," the Captain of the Police Force sighed. He immediately began issuing orders with practiced efficiency.
"Split into three teams. Team One: Fish the body out and transport it to the hospital. I want a full autopsy to determine the exact cause and time of death. Team Two: Seal the area; look for any traces or clues left behind. Team Three: Search upstream and into the surrounding woods. I want to know if there are more bodies out there. Move!"
"Sir!" The Uchiha ninjas vanished in a blur of motion.
By the riverbank, the civilians of Konoha watched the police work with a mix of dread and morbid curiosity.
"Tsk, the village has been restless lately. First people go missing, now a body? It's terrifying!" "I think the Police Force is too busy arresting people for petty things instead of actually maintaining order." "Did you hear? That ninja said it's one of the missing people. If that's the case, the others probably won't be coming home either..."
Whispers turned into rumors, and rumors turned into panic. By the afternoon, the news had spread like wildfire. Thanks to the "embellishments" of town gossips, multiple versions of the story were circulating, creating a toxic atmosphere of fear throughout the village.
After all, the unknown is always the most frightening.
Afternoon: The Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had called an emergency meeting. The room was packed with the heads of various security departments, including the Military Police Force.
"What's the situation?" Hiruzen asked, his brow deeply furrowed.
"This morning, we recovered a body from the river," the Police Captain reported. "Identification confirms it is Taiichi, who went missing several days ago. Medical reports place the time of death between 8:00 PM and midnight last night. Cause of death: blunt force trauma to the head. There are bind marks on his wrists; it appears he was murdered while attempting to escape captivity."
"Is this connected to the recent disappearances?" Hiruzen squinted, hiding the sharpness in his gaze behind his eyelids.
"I suspect so," the Captain replied.
"Then turn the case over to Danzo," Hiruzen said slowly, his eyes shifting to focus on the bandaged man standing in the corner. "Since it involves the missing persons case he is already investigating, let him handle the inquiry together."
"Understood," Danzo replied tonelessly.
"But—" the Police Captain started to protest, but Hiruzen cut him off.
"The matter is settled."
Hiruzen turned and picked up his pipe. He lit it with a match, took a deep drag, and watched the smoke curl from his nostrils. "You've worked hard lately," he said, nodding to the Police Captain. "Your priority now is to calm the public. Don't let this panic ferment any further. Understood?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
The Captain bowed, his brow still tight with a feeling that something was fundamentally wrong, though he didn't dare voice it.
"Meeting adjourned."
The department heads filed out. Some hadn't even had the chance to speak.
"This is strange," the Head of the Medical Department muttered as he walked down the hall. "This isn't just a disappearance anymore; it's a high-profile murder. Why keep it in the shadows of the Anbu instead of letting the Police Force do a full investigation?"
He wasn't the only one feeling uneasy. Most of the attendees felt the handling of the case was suspiciously hurried.
Inside the office, only Hiruzen and Danzo remained.
"Danzo, I need an explanation!" Hiruzen's voice was low and dangerous. He held his pipe but had stopped smoking.
"What explanation?" Danzo's tone was indifferent.
"How is there a body in the river?" Hiruzen's eyes widened with anger. "Why is there a casualty in the middle of the village?"
"Human experimentation naturally results in failures," Danzo said matter-of-factly.
"I'm not talking about the 'failures' in your lab! I'm talking about why a man was murdered in the streets and dumped in the river! Are you forcefully abducting people now?" Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk. "I have told you repeatedly: use volunteers. Do not kidnap our own citizens!"
"You are too idealistic, Hiruzen," Danzo sneered. "How many 'volunteers' do you think we would get for this? Should the research stop just because no one is willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good?"
"I don't want to see this happen again," Hiruzen said coldly. "If there is one more incident like this—regardless of your progress—I will shut down the First Hokage's cell-cloning project permanently!"
Meanwhile, back in the Anbu dorms, Qingyu was lying comfortably on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing between the village leaders. He was simply waiting for his official leave to begin.