Naruto: The Fifth Hokage [19]
Chapter 19: Reporting
In the Hokage's office, Kakashi reported what he saw and heard in the Police Force truthfully. However, when it came to the part about the White Fang, he hesitated and ultimately decided to conceal it.
After listening to Kakashi's report, Hiruzen looked at Kinoe beside him and sighed.
"Kid, what's your name?" asked Hiruzen.
Kinoe remained silent, but Hiruzen did not take offense. He stepped forward and personally untied the restraints binding him.
"Don't you have a name? Then from now on, you will be called Tenzō," Hiruzen declared. "The past is the past. Danzō is dead, and from now on, you will live a good life as a ninja of Konoha."
Kinoe, now Tenzo, was stunned upon hearing this. He looked at the very man whom Danzō had once ordered him to assassinate.
"Since you have inherited the Wood Release of the First Hokage, then you should also inherit his will—to protect the village."
Tenzō's lips trembled slightly, as if wanting to say something, but in the end, he remained silent. He cast a glance at the Third Hokage before shifting his gaze to Kakashi.
"Kakashi, please take care of this child from now on," Hiruzen requested.
"Understood." Kakashi nodded, then left the Hokage's office with Tenzō.
After they departed, Hiruzen returned to his seat and lit a cigarette.
Makoto's unexpected decision to return the Wood Release user puzzled him. After all, this was Wood Release. If the Uchiha clan truly intended to rebel, why would they relinquish such a powerful asset?
'Could it be that Makoto is truly loyal to the village?' Hiruzen pondered, uncertainty clouding his thoughts.
That night, Hiruzen found himself unable to rest peacefully.
---
The next morning, Makoto arrived at the Hokage's office with Yamanaka Fū, who had been reduced to a mindless husk.
By the time he arrived, the office was already filled with people. In addition to the two advisors, Nara Shikaku, who had recently been promoted to Hokage's assistant following Danzō's death, was also present.
Seeing this, Makoto smirked slightly. Clearly, under the lingering influence of Kotoamatsukami, Hiruzen did not dare to meet him one-on-one. However, this larger audience was precisely what Makoto wanted.
"Lord Third, the deputy captain of the Police Force, Uchiha Makoto, here to report." Makoto bowed respectfully.
"Makoto, you're here." Hiruzen nodded, his smile seemingly kind.
"Makoto, you used the guise of an investigation to eliminate dissidents and slander innocent people in the village. How do you explain this?" Homura immediately interjected, his tone accusatory.
Makoto glanced at him with disdain. These two aging councilors held power solely due to their seniority—he had never taken them seriously.
"Does Lord Third share this opinion?" Makoto turned to Hiruzen.
"Makoto, the Uchiha's methods have been somewhat... extreme," Hiruzen replied, avoiding a direct accusation but still attempting to reprimand him.
"Faced with a cancer like Danzō and his Root, do you expect us to handle things gently? We must strike with force!" Makoto declared. "The crimes we have uncovered in just the past few days are already shocking."
As he spoke, Makoto placed a document on Hiruzen's desk.
"Danzō, for the sake of harvesting bloodlines, deliberately sacrificed 41 Uchiha clan members on the battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War. That was not all. Despite the Hokage's explicit ban on human experimentation, Danzō colluded with the traitor Orochimaru, abducting orphans from the village for inhumane experiments. The youngest victim was only two years old."
Makoto's gaze sharpened as he addressed the advisors. "Are you still going to defend this monster and his accomplices? Is this how you honor the Will of Fire and the First Hokage's vision—to protect the village's children from the flames of war?"
"You..." Koharu fumed, but the accusation Makoto had placed upon them was too heavy to refute.
"Makoto, calm down. They were unaware of Danzō's actions." Hiruzen sighed, attempting to absolve his old comrades. He then picked up the document and began reading.
Even though Hiruzen had been aware of some of Danzō's actions, the sheer scope of his crimes left him momentarily stunned.
"These crimes were confessed by Yamanaka Fū, a key member of Root," Makoto continued, stepping aside and allowing Fū's limp form to slump onto the floor.
At the mention of that name, Shikaku, who had been silent until now, finally looked up, meeting Makoto's gaze.
Makoto smiled faintly. "Although an accident occurred during interrogation—he attempted to resist the Sharingan's genjutsu with a Yamanaka clan secret technique, resulting in severe brain damage—he confessed everything beforehand."
"Abba... Ah..." Fū muttered incoherently, drool dripping from his slack mouth.
Shikaku exhaled quietly. He understood all too well—the Uchiha had just issued a clear warning to the Ino-Shika-Chō clans. It was an unmistakable message: stay out of this battle, or suffer the consequences.
Acknowledging the situation, Shikaku decisively lowered his head. He knew that meddling in this struggle between the Hokage and the Uchiha would be disastrous for his clan.
"Lord Third, to prevent such atrocities from happening again, please assign several Anbu interrogators to assist us. The Police Force lacks expertise in handling ninja interrogations." Makoto requested at that moment.
Hiruzen considered for a moment before nodding. "I will send personnel to assist."
"Thank you." A glint flashed in Makoto's eyes. He understood that Hiruzen likely intended to use this opportunity to install spies within the Police Force, but it didn't matter. In the end, whether those spies could remain depended solely on Makoto's will.
At that moment, Hiruzen turned to the final section of the document—the White Fang incident.
"Makoto, this..."