Chapter 63 Hiruzen Sarutobi Concedes
The two old men were now bloodshot with rage. Through the crystal ball on Hiruzen Sarutobi's table, they saw that in just a few minutes, several Jonin, painstakingly trained over the years using resources obtained from the village through various means, had fallen to Uchiha Shisui's Susanoo.
"The Utatane and Mitokado families have done a really good job with their ninja training," Uchiha Touhuan said with a light laugh. His two short sentences sent chills down the spines of the two advisors.
They knew their own situation well. In the scene shown in the crystal ball, most of the ninjas who attacked Shisui's Susanoo were not part of the village's ninja ranks. In other words, these ninjas were private soldiers kept by their two clans.
Although most ninja clans in the village did this, some things are only slightly heavy on the surface, but become incredibly heavy once weighed down.
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe and severed the chakra from the crystal ball. What Uchiha Touhuan had said was indeed not suitable to be discussed openly. Leaving aside the fact that his Sarutobi clan had also done such a thing, given the current situation, even if Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were incredibly foolish, he had to grit his teeth and protect the ninjas of those two clans. Otherwise, there wouldn't be many ninjas left in the village who would completely obey him.
"Third Hokage, the Security Department, through interrogating the thugs involved in the mass coup, has basically confirmed that the rumors circulating in the village regarding Kakashi originated from the Utatane and Mitokado clans. I would like to ask both advisors to come with me to the Security Department for questioning later," Uchiha Touhuan said.
"Uchiha Touhuan, we are the Second Hokage's appointed assistants. Logically speaking, you and the Security Department have no right to investigate us," Mitokado Homura said sternly.
"Does the Third Hokage also think so?" Uchiha Touhuan looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "This matter requires an explanation not only from Kakashi himself, but from all the ninjas in the village. For the sake of the Will of Fire, I urge the Third Hokage to uphold justice for Kakashi and for every ninja who may make sacrifices for the village in the future."
"Third Hokage, Touhuan is right." Kakashi, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "I personally don't mind suffering a little injustice in this matter, but if it causes the village's ninjas to begin to doubt the Will of Fire, that would be disastrous."
Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Kakashi, feeling a headache coming on. He wondered where these two had learned it from; even Kakashi was now constantly mentioning the Will of Fire.
"Kakashi..." Koharu Utatane wanted to reprimand Kakashi, but Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted her angrily.
"Enough!" Hiruzen Sarutobi glared hatefully at Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. "How dare you mention the Second Hokage? As fellow disciples of the Second Hokage, I don't recall him ever teaching us such despicable methods!"
"Hiruzen, you..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's almost merciless words left Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado speechless.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had no intention of giving them a chance to speak again. "Men! Seize these two advisors and take them to the Security Department for investigation!"
"Yes, sir!" The door to the Hokage's office opened, and several ANBU members entered. After the events on the street were over, they had returned to report. Compared to their earlier idle stroll on the street, these ANBU members were now remarkably swift, surrounding the two advisors in the blink of an eye, their hands already on their weapons.
"Advisors, please, don't make things difficult for us," a masked ANBU member warned in a low voice.
Koharu Utatane looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in disbelief, but immediately saw the warning in his eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi now only hoped that these two fools would be sensible and obediently go to the Security Department. He, as the Hokage, could still find a way to get them out in a few days. But if they continued to cause trouble, the situation would escalate beyond his control.
"Hmph, Hiruzen, you'll regret this!" Mitokado Homura snorted coldly, but in the end, he did not resist. Together with Utatane Koharu, he was taken away from the Security Department under the control of the Anbu. After the two were taken away, Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples wearily. Those two idiots suddenly made him miss Danzo. After a while, he looked at Kakashi and Uchiha Touhuan: "Kakashi, Touhuan, what do you think of this?"
"The Third Hokage is impartial and incorruptible, truly admirable," Uchiha Touhuan said.
"Touhuan, you don't need to say that," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "Although this was just a momentary oversight on my part, ultimately, I, as Hokage, also bear responsibility."
"Third Hokage, please don't say that. It was the two advisors who were blinded by power, forgetting the Will of Fire and the Second Hokage's earnest teachings," Uchiha Touhuan said.
"Eh, I also bear responsibility for how they've become like this," Hiruzen Sarutobi said. "However, Touhuan, Kakashi, for my sake, let's leave it at that. I will personally clarify all these rumors."
"Thank you, Third Hokage," Kakashi nodded.
"Furthermore, Touhuan, although those two made mistakes, they have still put in some effort over the years, even if they haven't achieved anything significant. Please, for my sake, treat them a little better, Military Police."
"Understood," Touhuan smiled. "These two advisors hold high positions and wield considerable power. Before things are settled, they naturally cannot be kept in the same place as ordinary people. Therefore, Third Hokage, Military Police plans to build a special detention facility along the Naka River."
"Hmm, that's good," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
"Also, Third Hokage, what have you decided regarding what Kakashi and I found at Orochimaru's base last time?" Touhuan asked.
Upon hearing Uchiha Touhuan bring this up, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tightened. After a moment's consideration, he said, "Let's postpone this matter. The village can't afford any more turmoil."
Uchiha Touhuan looked troubled. "Third Hokage, this is indeed a difficult situation."
He sighed and continued, "It's also my fault. Too many things happened tonight, and they all happened so suddenly. I was so busy I forgot to properly store that document, and Shisui saw it by chance."
A look of shame appeared on Uchiha Touhuan's face. "Third Hokage, you know my cousin's character. He's simple-minded and can't keep secrets. If this drags on, I'm afraid Shisui will overthink things."
"This…" Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless for a moment, while Uchiha Touhuan quickly bowed.
"Ultimately, this is due to my negligence. Please forgive me, Third Hokage."
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(End of Chapter)