Chapter 99: Hiruzen Sarutobi Plays Fast and Loose with the Truth

"Get ready. We're heading back to Konoha tomorrow."

At the same time, Tsunade in the Country of Hot Springs and Yugao Uzuki in the Snow Country both heard Kaguya's voice.

Back in the Country of Hot Springs, Tsunade pouted.

She'd promised herself she'd focus on training, but something always got in the way—it was seriously annoying.

In the Snow Country, Yugao Uzuki approached the door of a certain room.

It was already late into the night, yet Izumi Uchiha still hadn't gone to bed.

Yugao watched the girl inside furiously smash things around, screaming hysterically as she vented her emotions. She couldn't help but think to herself—Uchihas really are crazy…

She also realized that Izumi was actually holding back; otherwise, with her own ninja abilities, this room would've been reduced to rubble long ago, potentially hurting many others.

In the Country of Frost, a trio of Anbu relentlessly pursued White Zetsu Hyuga until he finally collapsed, overwhelmed and slain on the spot.

Looking down at the strangely pale corpse, the three Anbu shared uneasy looks.

Then remembering the Third Hokage's orders, they hoisted the body and sped off toward Konoha.

Meanwhile, Yonshi had already escorted the clients safely to their destination and now calmly began his return journey.

Once they returned to Konoha, the three Anbu delivered White Zetsu's body to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"We don't know whether this is Hiroki Hyuga or not, but when he died, he transformed into this."

Hiruzen stood motionless for a moment before sending someone to summon Inoichi Yamanaka.

He wasn't sure if there was any special connection between Hiroki Hyuga and this physical false body. Right now, all he could think about was that time was pressing.

The lights came on again in several of the Hokage Building's workrooms.

Before dawn had even arrived, Inoichi Yamanaka—who had been warming his wife's bed—was dragged out by the Hokage's messengers.

Being disturbed at such an inconvenient time definitely ruined his mood.

He couldn't understand how the Third Hokage, being so old, still had so much energy.

Fine—he could stay up himself, but why drag Inoichi into it too?

Still, the older you get, the less sleep you need anyway.

As soon as he stepped into the workroom, Hiruzen Sarutobi handed him the completely white corpse without delay. "Can you finish within half an hour?"

Inoichi hesitated, giving no immediate response.

"Forget it. Just give it a try first," Sarutobi relented slightly, sensing Inoichi's frustration.

A dozen minutes later, confusion filled Inoichi Yamanaka's eyes.

"Hokage-sama, this... 'whatever it is'—do we even know how long it's been dead? Or if it was ever human to begin with? It might just be a puppet."

"The death occurred less than a day ago," Hiruzen frowned. "What's the problem?"

"There's absolutely nothing—no memories, no consciousness at all," Inoichi shook his head repeatedly.

White Zetsu's main consciousness resided in his original body. Now that this clone had died, the link between them was severed, leaving behind nothing at all.

Simply put, even a zombie wouldn't waste its time with this one. Expecting Inoichi to extract anything from it was asking too much.

Hiruzen's expression remained calm. After a moment's thought, he ordered the Anbu ninja accompanying him, "Bring this corpse with us. Call a few more people—we're heading to the Hyuga Clan."

As Hiruzen walked away, Inoichi muttered to himself, "Could this corpse actually be linked to the Hyuga?"

After some consideration, he decided not to get involved in the commotion.

Ever since the Uchiha Clan was wiped out, the Hyuga had become the most powerful clan in Konoha—and the Yamanaka couldn't afford to provoke them.

At 2 a.m., the entire Hyuga residence suddenly burst into light.

Still half-asleep, Hinata was woken by the noise outside. She stepped out of her room and made her way to where everyone had gathered—the central plaza of the Hyuga Clan.

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From within the crowd, Hizashi Hyuga stepped forward. Behind him followed many young and middle-aged Hyuga clan members.

With Hiashi away, aside from the elderly elders, he was currently the most influential figure in the clan.

But as a member of the Branch House, he wasn't willing to make any major decisions.

Seeing Hiruzen approaching aggressively, he simply summoned a group of clansmen.

"Hokage-sama," Hizashi addressed respectfully yet firmly, "may I ask what urgent matter brings you here at this late hour?" He faced Hiruzen along with the six Anbu ninja behind him.

"I've come to inform you of something," Hiruzen replied solemnly. "You may have unknowingly coexisted with someone whose intentions and true identity remained hidden for a long time."

As he spoke, Hiruzen gave a signal.

The Anbu ninja carrying the White Zetsu corpse threw it onto the ground before Hizashi and the others.

"Hokage-sama, what is this?" Hizashi asked, puzzled as he looked at the body lying there.

"This," Hiruzen declared, "is Hiroki Hyuga."

"What?" Confusion filled Hizashi's voice. "Surely Hokage-sama isn't serious?"

The other Hyūga clan members also looked unsettled.

The hallmark of the Hyuga Clan was their Byakugan eyes, not pale skin. Was the Third Hokage getting senile?

Meanwhile, Kaguya was speaking to Hinata with a playful smile. "Just treat it like watching a show."

Hinata silently nodded.

Hiruzen sighed deeply, rubbing his forehead with mild frustration. "I know you find it hard to believe, but this is the truth. An Anbu ninja witnessed him leaving the village, saw him transform from his original appearance into this form."

"As for the real Hiroki Hyuga—he must have died long ago. This person, no, this monster, took his place and lived among the Hyuga."

Before Hiruzen finished speaking, one of the Hyuga murmured, "Impossible… The Byakugan can see through Transformation Jutsu…"

"Exactly," Hiruzen said gravely. "That's precisely why this is so terrifying. Had he not been attacked and seriously injured during a mission and revealed his true form, no one would ever have discovered the truth."

"He might kill anyone who discovers his secret. Those who frequently interacted with him may already have been replaced too."

As soon as these words were spoken, some Hyuga clan members grew anxious, instinctively distancing themselves from each other.

"Then how do we tell the difference?"

"Who among them is suspicious?"

Watching them eye each other cautiously, Sarutobi Hiruzen smirked inwardly. No matter if you're real or not, Hiroki Hyuga… you won't be able to return to the Hyuga clan, because the real you has already been declared dead...

Sarutobi's gaze shifted to Hinata, who was shielded in the center by the Hyuga members. He mused to himself, Can't these Hyuga people see it yet? She was the one who spent the most time with Hiroki Hyuga...

"Silence!" Hizashi shouted loudly, stopping the minor chaos.

Then he looked at Sarutobi with a complex expression. "Lord Hokage, why would you say something like that? The truth is, Hiroki Hyuga really has returned."

"Hmm?" Sarutobi was slightly taken aback.

How did he return so quickly? Could he have used Spatial Ninjutsu?

But it didn't matter—in the end, he was still an impostor.

Thinking this, his expression turned calm once more.

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