Ch.249 I Am a Member of the Akatsuki!

ANBU Headquarters.

Staring at Mizuki, an ANBU responsible for interrogating him asked, "Mizuki, are you still refusing to confess?"

Mizuki shook his head. "I have nothing to confess."

The ANBU continued, "Naruto has already confessed. It was you who told him about the 'Scroll of Seals,' and it was you who informed him that the scroll was kept at the Hokage's residence."

Mizuki shrugged. "I just accidentally let it slip."

The ANBU pressed further, "Then why did you appear in the forest after Naruto stole the 'Scroll of Seals'? And why did you try to seize it?"

"After realizing I had let it slip, I was worried, so I went to check," Mizuki explained, continuing to defend himself. "As for trying to seize the scroll, that was a complete misunderstanding. I was just shocked that Naruto actually managed to steal it, so I wanted to take it back and return it to the village."

"Is that so?" The ANBU sneered coldly. "Then why were you fully armed at the time? I recall that it was supposed to be your rest period."

Mizuki's expression darkened.

He couldn't argue this point, but he knew that if he held out, there was still a chance. If he confessed, he would be finished.

At the same time, he held onto a glimmer of hope: "I am a member of the Akatsuki. They will definitely find a way to rescue me!"

Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage looked at the report handed to him by the ANBU, his face grim.

After a long while, he passed the report to Jiraiya and Kakashi, who were also in the office. "Take a look at this."

"The Scroll of Seals!?"

After glancing at the report, Jiraiya frowned and handed it to Kakashi.

After reading the report, Kakashi placed it back on the Hokage's desk and said, "This Mizuki is very suspicious!"

The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe. "What do you think?"

"Instigating Naruto to steal the 'Scroll of Seals'... that's just..." Shaking his head, Kakashi rephrased his words. "If his goal was the 'Scroll of Seals,' then his plan was far too foolish!"

"Hmm."

The Third Hokage nodded slightly.

This was the real suspicious part about Mizuki. His goal couldn't possibly be the 'Scroll of Seals.' He must have a deeper, hidden agenda.

Jiraiya, not dwelling on Mizuki, asked, "Is Naruto okay?"

The Third Hokage shook his head. "He's fine."

Naruto's success was due to the Third Hokage's leniency, so he naturally wouldn't punish Naruto.

Jiraiya said no more.

Kakashi then suggested, "Hokage-sama, let the Intelligence Division handle this. I have a feeling that Mizuki is a spy planted by some organization in the shinobi academy."

After considering, the Third Hokage ordered, "Send Inoichi."

Upon receiving the order, Inoichi Yamanaka, the head of the Intelligence Division, immediately rushed to the ANBU interrogation room.

Seeing Inoichi, Mizuki panicked. "What are you going to do?"

Without a word, Inoichi cast a genjutsu, knocking Mizuki unconscious. He then dismissed everyone except Kakashi and carefully installed a device on Mizuki's head.

Shinobi were never a profession known for tenderness!

After setting up the device, Inoichi said to Kakashi, "If someone has tampered with his mind, it's hard to say how much information I can extract."

Kakashi understood and nodded. "Please proceed."

Inoichi, being a decisive man, didn't hesitate. He immediately used his clan's secret technique to delve into Mizuki's mind.

As he quickly browsed through Mizuki's memories, Inoichi frowned.

Mizuki's memories were filled with jealousy and resentment towards fellow shinobi and even students at the academy.

"How could someone like this become a teacher?"

Inoichi muttered to himself and continued searching.

Soon, his eyes narrowed as he noticed several memory fragments.

In these fragments, Mizuki secretly met with a mysterious figure wearing the Akatsuki's red cloud cloak and passed on information about Naruto.

"Was he the one who provided Naruto's information to the Akatsuki?"

With the appearance of the red-cloaked figure in Mizuki's memories, Inoichi realized the gravity of the situation.

Before accepting the mission, he had vaguely guessed that Mizuki's case might involve the Akatsuki, but he never expected Mizuki to be a direct spy planted by the Akatsuki in the village, who had already provided Naruto's information multiple times.

At that moment, Inoichi noticed that many of Mizuki's memories were sealed by the power of the Sharingan.

After a brief attempt, he decisively gave up on breaking the seal and withdrew from Mizuki's mind.

Returning to his body, Inoichi shook his head, his face pale.

Kakashi stepped forward and asked, "Inoichi-senpai, did you find anything?"

Inoichi nodded gravely. "This Mizuki is a spy planted by the Akatsuki in the shinobi academy. The previous incidents where Naruto was in danger were all due to him providing information to the Akatsuki. He's the one we've been looking for!"

"Just as I thought!" Kakashi's expression turned serious. "Anything else? Did you find any information about the Akatsuki or Uchiha Itachi in his mind?"

Inoichi replied solemnly, "Part of his memories are sealed by the power of the Sharingan."

"The power of the Sharingan?"

Hearing this, Kakashi had no further doubts about Mizuki being an Akatsuki spy.

Before Kakashi could ask, Inoichi added, "I tried to break the seal, but... the power of the Sharingan is too strong. I'm not confident I can succeed."

Knowing he couldn't make the decision, Kakashi immediately reported to the Third Hokage.

After confirming Mizuki's identity as an Akatsuki spy, the Third Hokage had no reservations and ordered the Intelligence Division to attempt to break the seal.

With the Third Hokage's permission, Inoichi delved back into Mizuki's mind, facing the seal created by the Sharingan's power.

However, this time, the moment he tried to break it, the seal began to self-destruct. In an instant, the power of the Sharingan and the sealed memory fragment vanished.

A moment later.

Inoichi, his face pale, withdrew from Mizuki's mind and shook his head at Kakashi.

"Sigh..."

Kakashi let out a long sigh.

A few days later.

Konoha Maximum Security Prison.

Wearing a prisoner's uniform, Mizuki coldly glanced at the prison guard pushing him and said, "Hmph, I am a member of the Akatsuki!"

"So what? Behave yourself. This is a maximum-security prison!"

Although the guard's tone was tough, his actions were noticeably gentler.

Hearing Mizuki's words, the other prisoners in the prison looked at him with admiration. Here, the Akatsuki was a legend...