Chapter 66: Hiruzen Sarutobi's Predicament
"Hiruzen! Look at this!"
Danzo threw a specially made three-pronged Kunai onto Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk. Danzo, who already appeared gloomy, had an even colder expression on his face at this moment.
"Last night, my Root was attacked, and the attacker left behind a Flying Thunder God specially made Kunai at the scene!"
"It is just one Flying Thunder God Kunai; it doesn't prove anything."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained very calm. It was merely one Flying Thunder God Kunai; not only did it pose no threat to him, but it also could not prove that this matter had anything to do with him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had his suspicions regarding Danzo's visit to hold him accountable, but doubts also surged in his heart. It was impossible for Danzo to bring such obviously flawed evidence just to attack him.
Sure enough, a sneer crept onto Danzo's face. After Hiruzen Sarutobi's rebuttal, Danzo took a stack of documents from his bosom and slapped them onto Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk with a'slap'.
"Look at these reports, Hiruzen!" Danzo's eyes gleamed with undisguised light. "These are the mission reports of the Root Ninja. Three A-rank missions failed, all related to this mysterious person who uses the Flying Thunder God."
"The Flying Thunder God is a secret technique of Konoha that is not passed on. Besides my teacher and Minato, there are no other Ninja in Konohawho can Cultivate the Flying Thunder God."
Hiruzen Sarutobi replied calmly, "Besides, these are just mission reports from Root Ninja. While they might prove some things, their credibility is not high."
"I know what your subtext is." Danzo pressed on step by step. "But Hiruzen, don't forget that Root is also a part of the Anbu, and the scroll of seals that records the Flying Thunder God Technique is kept by you! You absolutely cannot distance yourself from this matter!"
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was preparing to retort, an Anbu Ninja under Hiruzen Sarutobi's jurisdiction rushed into the Hokage Office. Without even glancing at Danzo, the Ninja hurriedly knelt before Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama, the entire 7th Squad of the 3rd Squadron sent to execute the mission has lost contact. This is the intelligence they transmitted before they died!"
"What?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer sit still. The 7th Squad of the 3rd Squadron was an elite team within this Anbu squadron. Moreover, the mission they were executing this time was not dangerous, yet they were completely wiped out. The reason behind this was definitely not simple!
"This..."
After taking the scroll presented by the Anbu Ninjawith both hands, Hiruzen Sarutobi became increasingly alarmed as he read it, because the intelligence transmitted before death mentioned the Flying Thunder God more than once!
Furthermore, besides the intelligence sealed within the scroll, a specially made three-pronged Kunaiwas shockingly sealed inside as well!
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the Kunai in his hand and examined it with a grave expression. His right hand, thin as a withered branch, gently stroked the Flying Thunder God Seal on the three-pronged Kunai. The shock in his heart was like crashing waves, constantly battering his mind.
The Flying Thunder God Technique Seal imprinted on the specially made Kunai was slightly different from Minato's, but in terms of sophistication, it was almost the same. And this Kunai...
"Poof!"
The three-pronged Kunai in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand turned into a puff of white smoke and dissipated. As the Professor of Ninja, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood the reason for this change.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!
"How could this be..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer possessed his earlier composure. He was very proficient in the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique and knew all the variations of this technique by heart. However, the fact that the Kunai, as a Clone, could last for so long left Hiruzen Sarutobi filled with disbelief.
"To copy a specially made Flying Thunder GodKunai using the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, and even have the Flying Thunder God Technique Seal on it copied perfectly... This person's research into the Flying Thunder God... might already be completely on par with, or even slightly exceed, Minato's!"
Through a small replica Flying Thunder God Kunai, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already seen the danger behind this incident. If this mysterious person harbored ill intentions toward Konoha, the damage caused would be absolutely no less than that of the Nine-Tails Attack.
After thinking this, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately gave a bitter smile. Danzo would definitely seize this excellent opportunity firmly; he was in trouble this time!
Sure enough, Danzo raised the cane in his hand and tapped the floor, pulling Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was lost in bitter contemplation, back to reality.
"Hiruzen, the Shuriken Shadow Clone Techniqueand the Flying Thunder God Technique are both Ninjutsu recorded in the scroll of seals, and these Ninjutsu are kept by you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi had long known that Danzowould use this incident to launch an offensive against him, but Hiruzen Sarutobi had absolutely not expected this offensive to come so quickly! And so fiercely!
"This mysterious person combined the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique with the Flying Thunder God Technique, getting rid of the flaw that Flying Thunder God Kunai are difficult to make and insufficient in quantity. It makes the Flying Thunder God Technique faster and more bizarre when activated, and its coverage and density on the battlefield have almost reached their maximum!"
Although Danzo was talking about how terrifying the power generated by combining the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique and the Flying Thunder God was, it was very obvious that Danzo's spearhead was pointed directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hiruzen, for the mysterious person to have such attainments in the Flying Thunder God, I dare assert that he has been researching the Flying Thunder God for a long time; otherwise, it is impossible for him to surpass Minato in certain aspects! I think, as the one protecting the scroll of seals, it is time for you to give some explanation. Explain exactly which other Ninja in Konoha you let see the Flying Thunder God Technique, or... when it was lost!"
"You!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at Danzo and shouted explosively. He could allow others to question him, but Hiruzen Sarutobi would absolutely not allow others to question his loyalty to Konoha!
"Heh." Danzo was unconcerned. "I know that your loyalty to Konoha, Hiruzen, is absolutely not a problem, but the Anbu Ninja or the Hokage Guardwho protect the scroll of seals may not have your level of awareness. I think it is time to investigate them!"
"Danzo, what exactly do you want to do?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled. He understood that Danzo's true purpose was not to target him, but to first take action against his subordinate forces, so as to weaken his strength.
Moreover, once Hiruzen Sarutobi's forces were investigated, a loss of strength was certain. The key was that it could also secretly deal a blow to Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation and prestige; this was truly killing two birds with one stone!
"I will join forces with the two great Advisors of Konoha to simultaneously investigate the Hokage Guard and the Anbu guarding the scroll of seals. Before the investigation results come out, the scroll of seals will be guarded jointly by Root Ninja, Anbu Ninja without suspicion, and Ninja appointed by the the two great Advisors!"
Danzo's approach was not unexpected to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the reason was very legitimate, the method was perfect, and the wording was impeccable. Hiruzen Sarutobi simply could not find any reason to oppose it.
But in this way...
Regardless of whether the Ninjutsu in the scroll of seals had been leaked, Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation would definitely be dealt a blow, and in terms of gathering people's hearts, there would also be some problems.
The Konoha leadership, which originally stood like a tripod, appeared imbalanced at this moment, and the impact caused after the imbalance of power was far more serious than imagined!
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