As Keisuke departed, Shinichi walked up to Fugaku Uchiha and slightly bowed, expressing his gratitude:
"Clan Head Fugaku, I truly thank you for your help."
"If not for you, our Hyūga clan wouldn't have been able to capture this assassin so quickly."
"I thought capturing the assassin would be the end of this matter, but now it seems there are others behind this assassin."
"Clan Head Fugaku, do you have any other discoveries?"
Hyūga Shinichi wanted to glean more information from Fugaku Uchiha. In Shinichi's opinion, for Fugaku to identify the assassin so quickly, he must have known something or had an accurate source of intelligence.
However, Fugaku had no intention of elaborating to Shinichi. Kurama Unkai did not have the Root Cursed Seal. Rashly linking this assassin to Root would only invite trouble for the Uchiha. The Uchiha were already an isolated faction in the village.
If they now unnecessarily linked the assassin of a Hyūga Main House member to Danzō, people might suspect they were deliberately slandering others, which would not benefit the Uchiha in any way.
Moreover, Fugaku had just overheard the Hyūga clan's plan to invite the Yamanaka clan for assistance. The Yamanaka clan possessed a secret technique to extract memories from a deceased person's brain, a formidable interrogation method. Since the Yamanaka clan would intervene, the truth would soon be revealed, and at this point, saying more would only lead to mistakes.
"My apologies, we have not obtained more information about this person's identity."
"But I think you don't need to worry. Once the Yamanaka ninja arrive, the person behind this will be easily found."
"At that time, our Uchiha clan will also contribute our humble effort to help your Hyūga clan eliminate any potential threats."
Regardless of whether the enemy originated outside the village or was an internal figure, as long as concrete evidence was obtained, everything would be manageable.
No matter how powerful or highly placed the enemy was, no one could survive the combined force of the Hyūga and Uchiha clans' retaliation! Fugaku was highly confident in the Uchiha's strength and equally reassured by the Hyūga clan's influence.
Just as Shinichi and Fugaku Uchiha were exchanging pleasantries, a subtle sound of objects cutting through the air was heard.
by the others, Konoha ninja and Anbu patrolling the village, who had noticed the commotion from the fight, began to arrive. Seeing the corpse in front of the Hyūga compound, an Anbu stepped forward to inquire about what had happened.
This Anbu did not seem to belong to the Hokage's direct Anbu forces. His tone carried a hint of impatience and arrogance.
"Who did this?"
"What happened here? Who is going to explain?"
The Hyūga guards, who had heard the commotion, had all arrived, and even Hizashi quickly rushed over to guard Shinichi's side.
Hizashi had been briefed by the clan members about the events here. Hearing the Anbu's question, he stepped forward to answer:
"This man is the culprit who infiltrated the Hyūga compound, intending to assassinate the Main House. After being subdued, a special Cursed Seal on his body erupted, killing him instantly."
"Our Hyūga clan will investigate this matter ourselves. We will report directly to the Hokage-sama once the investigation is complete."
The Anbu's questioning tone was grating to Hizashi, but he did not let his emotions erupt in his reply, maintaining a polite explanation. However, the Anbu ignored his response, beckoned to his squad members, and walked directly toward Kurama Unkai's corpse.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing the Anbu's movement, Hizashi frowned and moved to intercept them. However, he was met by a flashing blade.
The leading Anbu suddenly drew the short sword on his back, pointing the tip at Hizashi as a warning:
"An enemy has appeared in the village; this is no longer just your Hyūga clan's affair."
"This matter will be taken over by the Anbu. This corpse will also be collected and investigated by the Anbu."
"We will notify your Hyūga clan once we have results."
As he spoke, several Anbu had already reached Kurama Unkai's corpse. One Anbu, wearing a Death Mask, was about to reach out to carry the body when a kunai instantly shot toward him. The Anbu, sensing danger, instinctively paused his movement. The kunai sliced past his face and embedded itself in the ground between his legs.
"Don't touch it!"
"Otherwise, the next kunai won't be aimed at the ground."
"Our Hyūga clan will handle this matter ourselves. We do not need the trouble of your Anbu!"
Hyūga Shinichi lowered his raised right hand, speaking sternly. He didn't know these Anbu, nor did he care if they belonged to the Hokage's direct line or another faction.
He only knew that this corpse was the key to finding the mastermind targeting the Hyūga clan, and it absolutely could not be lost.
"Are you... interfering with Anbu operations?"
"Are you attempting to betray the village?"
The Anbu squad leader's tone was hostile, his low voice exuding an intense sense of malice. With a single question, he immediately leveled a serious accusation against Shinichi.
Hearing such a loaded response, Shinichi's eyes narrowed. Activating his Byakugan, he clearly saw the faces of the Anbu and firmly memorized their appearances.
The Anbu leader, seeing Shinichi remain silent, assumed he was backing down. Just as he was about to instruct his subordinate to collect the corpse, he heard Shinichi's cold voice:
"I told you, don't move."
As he spoke, Hyūga Hizashi immediately leaped from behind Shinichi. In the blink of an eye, he charged into the Anbu formation, striking repeatedly and forcing the Anbu away from Kurama Unkai's corpse.
"You—!"
The Anbu hadn't expected Hizashi to actually dare to strike them. With their guard down, they were all forced away from the corpse.
"To strike the Anbu, what is your Hyūga clan trying to do!!"
The Anbu squad leader's tone was severe, accusing the Hyūga clan of lacking discipline. Hizashi, upon hearing these words, remained expressionless and unmoved. For him, the Main House's orders were absolute. Protecting the Main House was his primary duty.
"That question should be directed to you."
"What do you, Anbu, want?"
The Anbu's attention was focused on Hizashi, but the true decision-maker here was Hyūga Shinichi.
Fugaku Uchiha had been watching coolly since the Anbu arrived. This matter was between the Hyūga and the Anbu, and he had already helped capture the culprit.
As for the ownership of the corpse and the right to investigate... his Military Police Force truly didn't want to touch this issue. Fugaku already subtly sensed that this corpse might be the eye of a coming storm. At this moment, keeping a distance was wiser.
The Anbu leader didn't directly address Shinichi's question; instead, he repeated his previous threat like a broken record:
"Striking the Anbu is considered an act of betrayal against the village."
"If you obstruct us again, don't blame us for what happens next!"
The squad leader's tone was intense, making Shinichi's expression darken further. He sensed a deeper conspiracy. The more resolute they were, the less he could allow them to take the corpse!
"Hmph!"
"Are you trying to oppose our Hyūga clan!"
"I can speak for the Hyūga. Can you speak for the village?"
Shinichi waved his hand. More than a dozen Hyūga guards moved in unison, encircling the Anbu. Hyūga Hizashi stood in the center, joining his clansmen in creating a pincer movement against the Anbu.
Under the Anbu's threats, the Hyūga clan members remained completely unfazed. In fact, upon Shinichi's command, these Hyūga warriors immediately surrounded the Anbu without hesitation. Judging by the situation, if Shinichi ordered them to detain the Anbu, the Hyūga ninja would undoubtedly do so.
Stared down by countless Byakugan, even the Anbu elites were beginning to sweat. The Hyūga clan's resolve was far beyond their expectations. It was clear they would not be able to take the corpse with their current force.
Just as the conflict was about to erupt, the faint sound of a wooden cane hitting the ground broke the tense stalemate.
"What is going on?"
"Are the people of the village fighting amongst themselves?"
"Put away your weapons, all of you."
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice, only to see Danzō Shimura slowly walking out from the crowd, accompanied by two Root escorts, and approaching the Hyūga compound gate. Traveling alongside Danzō was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama!"
The Anbu, who were encircled by the Hyūga clan, looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi as if he were a savior, their voices filled with relief.
Noticing that these Anbu were Hiruzen Sarutobi's direct subordinates, Shinichi's eyes narrowed, and he subtly looked at Hiruzen.
The corpse was intelligent. At this moment, anyone trying to snatch the corpse from the Hyūga clan was attempting to seize that intelligence. Who would care about Kurama Unkai's intelligence? Most likely... the true mastermind.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's actions now drew suspicion from Shinichi. Shinichi had never truly suspected Hiruzen, believing that while the former Hokage might be reluctant to relinquish power, he wouldn't resort to assassination. But now... the truth seemed to be shrouded in doubt.
"You are all comrades. There is no need to ruin your relationship over such a trivial matter."
"Shinichi, I heard what happened here."
"These Anbu are only fulfilling their responsibilities. I hope you won't be overly critical or hold a grudge against them."
"Protecting the village and investigating the culprit is their duty. Do you Hyūga... not trust the Anbu ninja?"
If anyone else heard Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, they would naturally not say they "distrusted" the Anbu out of courtesy. To do so would offend both the Anbu and the Third Hokage, the "peacemaker." However, Shinichi was not as young as he appeared and would not be taken in by such simple rhetoric.
Today, no matter who came, they would not take this corpse! As for offending the Anbu and the Third Hokage? If the true mastermind were indeed the Third Hokage and the Anbu, the Hyūga would not let the matter rest!
The person in power was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Even with his gentle nature, he would surely be delighted to have a legitimate reason to remove a constraint on his power!
"Lord Third Hokage!"
"I truly do not trust the Anbu!"
"Today, no matter who it is, no one will take this corpse from our Hyūga clan!"
If you want to read more, join my Patreon/kazama677
60+ advanced chapters available.
I will drop 1 bonus chapter for every 30 Power Stones.
Bonus chapter for every 20 reviews/comments