"We've discovered some secret scrolls. According to their content, Lord Danzo seems to have cooperated with an unknown force and the Rain Village to kill Sosuke."
The Anbu Ninja reported as he handed the scrolls they had found to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"An unknown force... Could it be related to Uchiha Madara?" Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately thought of Uchiha Madara, but his expression remained unchanged.
Until the investigation is clear, information about "Uchiha Madara" must not be leaked, or it will cause discord.
The Uchiha Clan already has a history of coups, and now Shimura Danzo's death has inexplicably been linked to the name "Uchiha Madara."
Not to mention the ninjas who are already prejudiced against the Uchiha Clan, even Sarutobi Hiruzen now can't help but harbor some suspicion toward them.
He doesn't believe that the entire Uchiha is problematic but thinks there is likely a faction of "Uchiha Madara" within the Uchiha Clan.
For the harmony and stability of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen does not want others to know about this information, including the other two Konoha high officials.
Sarutobi Hiruzen opened the scroll, instantly recognizing Shimura Danzo's handwriting—it was a secret scroll personally written by Shimura Danzo.
After thoroughly reading the scroll, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and had the Anbu withdraw.
The scroll contained scant information about the unknown force, with no mention of "Uchiha Madara," mainly arrangements by Shimura Danzo to ambush Sosuke.
Before finding Sarutobi Hiruzen, the cautious Mokgetsu had conducted a thorough investigation, so Sarutobi Hiruzen only knew what Mokgetsu wanted him to know.
For instance, the scroll claiming to help Shimura Danzo gain Wood Release was immediately dealt with by Mokgetsu.
"Release!"
Once the office was vacant, Sarutobi Hiruzen focused his chakra and performed hand seals, causing the characters on the scroll to rapidly shift and change.
To outsiders, it seemed like an ordinary secret scroll, but upon careful reading, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been friends with Shimura Danzo for decades, noticed unusual information within.
"Hiruzen, if you're reading this scroll, it means I've likely been killed." This was the first sentence that caught Sarutobi Hiruzen's eye.
"Sigh." Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a deep sigh.
If Shimura Danzo were not dead, he indeed wouldn't have discovered this secret scroll; after all, had Danzo been alive, he couldn't have had the Anbu thoroughly search Root.
"This action is extremely dangerous; even with thorough preparation, there's still a risk of dying. But I must go; if successful, Konoha will have one less hidden threat, and I can investigate some of Uchiha Madara's secrets."
Seeing the words "Uchiha Madara," Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze sharpened.
"Uchiha Madara's methods are formidable; he can easily access confidential places within Root, and he holds considerable sway within the Ninja World."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was somewhat surprised to learn that "Uchiha Madara" was collaborating with Konoha and Shimura Danzo?
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, realizing the Anbu's defenses were not much stronger than Root's, and if "Uchiha Madara" could freely access Root, he could do so with the Anbu as well.
"How does he bypass the Great Barrier?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was rather troubled.
The entire Konoha is surrounded by a massive barrier; it should detect anyone entering through the gates, underground, or flying from above.
"The Uchiha Clan is not to be trusted; Uchiha Madara must have ties with them."
From the handwriting alone, Sarutobi Hiruzen could sense Shimura Danzo's suspicion toward the Uchiha Clan, which is why he wanted to prevent information leakage.
This information is highly detrimental to unity.
"If Uchiha Madara could kill me despite thorough preparations, he surely has sinister designs against Konoha. Keep a close watch on Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Orochimaru to prevent Uchiha Madara from using them to sabotage Konoha."
"Hiruzen, protect Konoha well."
Here, the contents of the scroll came to a complete end.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his tightly furrowed forehead, feeling the threat of "Uchiha Madara" from Shimura Danzo's words.
However, Shimura Danzo himself did not know much about "Uchiha Madara," consequently, the scroll contained little specific information about "Uchiha Madara," most of it based on speculation concerning the current situation.
"Furthermore, Danzo, you overestimated yourself." Sarutobi Hiruzen thought, somewhat helplessly.
According to Mokgetsu's information, Shimura Danzo was killed by Sosuke, yet in the scroll, he assumed if he died, it would definitely be due to "Uchiha Madara's" treachery.
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered, then put away the scroll and summoned the Anbu, ordering, "Notify Mokgetsu to come to the Hokage's office."
The Anbu nodded, quickly setting out to find Mokgetsu, bringing him back to the Hokage's office.
"Third Hokage," Mokgetsu respectfully said, showing a hint of fatigue on his face, whether from a sleepless night or something else.
"You're working so hard, still teaching even after such an incident," Sarutobi Hiruzen remarked.
Though Mokgetsu did not report about Shimura Danzo at the first opportunity, Mokgetsu's various actions and measures made Sarutobi Hiruzen even more impressed with him.
"It's just a few hours of classes, it won't affect anything, and since you're still working, Third Hokage, I can't just stop," Mokgetsu said earnestly.
"No wonder Danzo wanted to hand Root over to you; when he first created Root, he was as diligent as you are now," Sarutobi Hiruzen commented.