Chapter 7: The Uchiha Clansman Lost Outside
Konoha
Hokage Tower
"What?"
"Uchiha Madara?"
In the Hokage's office, the old man wearing the red and white Hokage robes looked at the three people before him, the corners of his wrinkled mouth twitching.
If Fugaku Uchiha had come alone to claim that the true culprit of the Nine-Tails attack was Uchiha Madara, Hiruzen Sarutobi would have only thought it was a desperate move because his clan's territory had been relocated.
But now, not only Kakashi but also Might Guy were both reporting that an unknown Uchiha, claiming to be Madara, had confessed to the attack.
Hiruzen had to treat this matter with the utmost seriousness.
Kakashi and Might Guy were both outstanding talents of their generation. Not only that, Kakashi was Minato Namikaze's student, a true and proper member of the Hokage's faction.
He was someone Hiruzen could trust.
When Kakashi was unconscious in the hospital, Hiruzen had even taken time out of his busy schedule to visit him.
"That's right, Hokage-sama."
"Although I do not believe he is Uchiha Madara, his strength is definitely not to be underestimated."
Kakashi calmly looked at the old man before him.
Hearing this, Fugaku Uchiha subconsciously glanced at Kakashi.
He doesn't believe that man was Uchiha Madara...
"What do you mean by that?"
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe, his brows furrowed tightly.
Minato Namikaze's death had been too sudden. He hadn't even left any last words for him, so even Hiruzen had no idea what Minato had been facing.
But...
Thinking of the arrogant man from his memories, clad in crimson armor, with dark, flowing hair, who looked down on the world, Hiruzen felt that these were truly troubled times.
The Yondaime Hokage, in whom he had placed such high hopes, had just been sacrificed, and now someone was already using Uchiha Madara's name...
"Although I don't know much about Uchiha Madara, I have learned about him from the archives."
"With Uchiha Madara's wild and unrestrained style, he would absolutely not conceal his true face."
"Since he concealed his face, why would he use Uchiha Madara's name?"
"That man's space-time ability is indeed extremely skilled, perhaps even stronger than Sensei's. But just because he's strong doesn't mean he's Uchiha Madara."
Hearing Kakashi's analysis, Hiruzen didn't smile. Instead, he took a deep drag from his pipe. As pale blue smoke billowed from his mouth, Hiruzen sighed.
"Space-time..."
He knew better than anyone how powerful space-time jutsu was.
As the student of the Nidaime Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen had also tried to learn the Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique).
But unfortunately, he did not have the aptitude for it.
As for the mysterious man claiming to be Madara, even without Kakashi's words, Hiruzen absolutely did not believe he was Uchiha Madara.
He had seen that man with his own eyes. Just as Kakashi said, that man would never hide his true face.
But...
An unknown Uchiha clansman...
Hiruzen's gaze turned幽幽 as he looked at Fugaku Uchiha.
That one look made Fugaku's scalp tingle. Almost as a conditioned reflex, he immediately half-knelt on the ground and said in a deep voice:
"The Uchiha clan has always had the custom of retrieving our dead. Since the founding of the village, no clansman has ever been lost to the outside!"
"Unless..."
Hearing this, Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. He thought of a possibility.
Before Konoha was founded.
"Unless the other party was a clansman from before Konoha's founding."
Fugaku's words confirmed what Hiruzen was thinking.
Before the shinobi villages were established, it was common for clans to migrate.
Although top-tier clans like the Uchiha rarely moved, it still happened.
It was impossible to guarantee that no Uchiha clansman had been lost during that process.
Kakashi, standing to the side, was slightly stunned.
Where is this conversation going?
"I will go back and check the records immediately, to investigate if any clansmen were lost to the outside."
Looking at Fugaku Uchiha, who kept his head bowed, not daring to look him in the eye, Hiruzen stepped forward to help him up.
"Fugaku, what are you doing? I have no intention of blaming you."
"It's just that with Minato's sacrifice, there are inevitably some rumors in the village. I hope you won't take them to heart."
Fugaku, helped up by Hiruzen, looked at the old man before him, and the anxiety in his heart faded slightly. Only then did he continue:
"For an outsider to have control of my Uchiha clan's Sharingan, the Uchiha clan will definitely hunt him down with all our strength."
Fugaku was practically grinding his teeth.
The Uchiha's situation in Konoha was already difficult. Now, with this troublesome matter, every step was even harder.
"I have never doubted your ability, Fugaku."
"Go."
Seeing the man's demeanor, Hiruzen sighed in his heart.
He had never doubted Fugaku Uchiha's loyalty to Konoha.
No, perhaps "loyalty" wasn't the right word.
It should be his desire for peace. Hiruzen had never doubted that.
But having a heart that yearned for peace didn't mean Fugaku was competent.
"Yes."
Fugaku immediately accepted the order and exited the Hokage's office.
His most urgent task now was to find out which branch of the clan had been lost to the outside.
He would trace it back to its roots and find that unknown Uchiha's lair.
Following Fugaku's departure, only three people remained in the Hokage's office.
Seeing Fugaku leave, Hiruzen turned to Kakashi.
His demeanor was much more casual than it had been with Fugaku.
It wasn't that he didn't value Kakashi. On the contrary, Hiruzen felt very close to the Yondaime's personal student.
It was precisely because of this closeness that he could be casual.
"You've changed your eye. How does it feel?" Hiruzen asked, like a neighborhood elder.
"It feels alright. Much better than before," Kakashi said, subconsciously touching his left eye.
Kakashi's words surprised Hiruzen.
That previous Sharingan was a Jōnin gift from Kakashi's teammate. How could he now...
"Those who have passed are gone. The living must carry the hopes of the departed and continue to move forward."
A smile appeared on Hiruzen's face. He stepped forward and patted Kakashi's shoulder.
"It's for the best that you can think this way."
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell this old man."
"I'm sure Minato would be relieved to know you are doing well."
Hearing this, Kakashi's eyes shifted slightly. He then took out the broken White Fang sword and showed it to Hiruzen.
"I was thinking of going to the Uchiha clan to ask Fugaku-sama to request the Ninja Cat clan's help in forging a sword for me."
After the incident with Obito, getting the Ninja Cats to forge his sword was already a 90% certainty. If he got Hiruzen's approval, it would be 100%.
"That's simple enough."
"I'll mention it to Fugaku later."