Chapter 345: Fabricating a Scapegoat
Yasushi glanced sideways. This unfortunate fellow was bound extremely tightly, mouth gagged, eyes wide open with bloodshot whites. His pupils constantly dilated and contracted, filled with desperate terror.
Just looking at this guy's headband symbol revealed he was a Kirigakure rogue ninja.
"Where was he captured?"
"He led a group of wanderers occupying mountains near Nomura Merchant Association's branch as bandits. However, they didn't dare provoking major merchants and landlords—only bullying ordinary people. So they never encountered danger."
"When Root executed missions, they conveniently exterminated them, bringing this bandit leader back."
Yasushi waved. Mizuki removed this fellow's mouth gag.
Yasushi crouched down, watching him like a cat toying with a mouse while smilingly asking:
"Nomura Merchant Association's supplies—you robbed them, right?"
"Lord Hokage, spare my life!" This rogue ninja degraded to banditry possessed absolutely no integrity. Without hesitation, he began begging for mercy. "I know many Kirigakure secrets. Willing telling them all to Lord Hokage. Just spare my life."
"Hehe..." Yasushi grinned while waving dismissively. "I'm completely uninterested in Kirigakure's so-called secrets. Currently only interested in those bandits who stole Nomura Merchant Association supplies—their origins."
"You can't do this!" This Kirigakure ninja immediately screamed miserably—resembling a monkey awaiting slaughter. "You're Lord Hokage! How can you frame an insignificant person like me?"
"What framing? Saying it so unpleasantly!"
Yasushi frowned unhappily, face full of reproach, extending his left hand again.
"Come. Let's also walk through the process."
"Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi!"
As words fell, the Mangekyou Sharingan in his palm suddenly opened. The mist ninja's body stiffened. His eyes immediately entered vacant states.
All his struggles, fear, bargaining expressions instantly froze and peeled away. His gaze became hollow and empty—as though his soul was instantly extracted, leaving only a rigid shell.
One second later, his entire body shuddered violently before collapsing to the ground, beginning convulsions while screaming miserably continuously.
"Ahh..."
"Kill me..."
"I'll do everything..."
"Don't torture me anymore..."
That brief instant's "process" had completely reshaped his will.
Tsukuyomi-level torture truly wasn't something ordinary ninja could endure.
Yasushi carefully appreciated the opponent's collapsed posture, confirming his collapse was genuine rather than feigned. Only then did he satisfactorily withdraw his left hand while smilingly saying:
"Willing cooperating now?"
"Willing to cooperate, willing to cooperate..." The mist ninja trembled throughout his body while nodding repeatedly. "Lord Hokage, however you say—that's how it is."
Soul-deep pain still echoed within his flesh. He couldn't even complete a single sentence. His body remained uncontrollably trembling lightly. Yet his nodding actions proved exceptionally urgent and forceful—as though using all bodily strength expressing obedience.
This made Yasushi even more satisfied.
"Come. First state your identity."
This mist ninja now feared further cruel torture. Disregarding everything, he immediately spilled everything.
"I'm called Taniguchi Ken'ichi. I'm a Kirigakure genin. Because I couldn't endure the village's Bloody Mist cruelty, I fled Kirigakure during graduation examination."
"Later after Konoha Village dissolved, I thought nobody governed here. So I simply gathered wanderers, occupying mountains as king."
"The stronghold has several other genin. However, they're all small nation ninja—strength not strong. So I became leader..."
After patiently hearing his confession, Yasushi shook his head:
"No good. A group of genin—how could they possibly break through heavily guarded Nomura Merchant Association?"
"Remember—you're not genin but Kirigakure jonin. Only you're ANBU ninja, so your reputation isn't prominent—no fame."
"Your stronghold's other subordinates are all chunin. Understand?"
"Understood. I'm jonin. Other subordinate ninja are all chunin." Taniguchi Ken'ichi nodded repeatedly, eyes full of panicked expressions.
"Also—you're not truly rogue ninja. Instead, you're executing a special mission disguised as rogue ninja plundering in Fire Country."
"Your plundered supplies were all sent back to Water Country through special channels."
"Understand?"
"Understood. I'm executing missions—not truly rogue ninja."
Yasushi continued indoctrinating Taniguchi Ken'ichi with much information. Taniguchi Ken'ichi resembled a repeating machine, constantly repeating Yasushi's words—until Yasushi felt satisfied.
"Very good. Remember saying this to everyone."
"If you perform well, perhaps you can even preserve your life!"
Taniguchi Ken'ichi fundamentally didn't believe Yasushi's words. Yet he could only convulsively smile ingratiatingly—fearing further cruel torture.
Yasushi waved. Mizuki led Taniguchi Ken'ichi away, throwing him into prison.
Taniguchi Ken'ichi rested several hours in prison, recovering slightly. Then he was dragged out again, brought to another great hall.
Before even entering the hall, Taniguchi Ken'ichi heard an irritable voice ringing within:
"What do you mean supplies are all lost?"
"Lord Hokage, the mission I issued was bandit suppression plus recovering supplies. The most important part is actually supplies! Whether bandits die—what does that matter to me?"
"That's what your Konoha Village should worry about!"
"Oh my, President Nomura, we also didn't want this!" Yasushi's voice immediately followed.
"The key is—this time's bandits weren't truly bandits. Certain ninja villages were interfering behind scenes."
"We've already eliminated that stronghold near your merchant association, capturing their leader—Kirigakure rogue ninja Taniguchi Ken'ichi."
"After strict interrogation, Taniguchi Ken'ichi has already confessed. Kirigakure secretly supports these bandits. Your supplies were all transported back to Water Country!"
Mizuki pushed Taniguchi Ken'ichi through the door. He saw the hall filled with corpses—all Taniguchi Ken'ichi's subordinates from the stronghold.
Uchiha Yasushi and another prosperous-looking fat man sat separately in host and guest positions. The atmosphere proved extremely tense.
Seeing them enter, Yasushi waved while indicating:
"President Nomura, this person is the Kirigakure jonin Taniguchi Ken'ichi we captured."
"Whatever questions you have, feel free asking him."
Nomura Yūji's complexion darkened enough to drip water. His gaze sharp as knives, firmly nailed onto Taniguchi Ken'ichi. Each word seemed squeezed from between teeth.
"You're the one who robbed our Nomura Merchant Association's goods?"