Chapter 115: Rooting Out Calamity by the Tongue

"The Police Force suspects a high-ranking Anbu member has betrayed Konoha ninjas, supporting Hiruko in conducting human experiments to research Kinjutsu."

As Aozora spoke, the Grand Conference Room on the third floor of the Hokage Tower fell into an eerie silence. Within the vast chamber, only faint breathing sounds could be heard.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned grim. Though he appeared expressionless on the surface, occasional flickers in his eyes revealed deep-seated fury.

Sarutobi wasn't stupid. By now, he understood everything.

After defecting, Hiruko hadn't wandered aimlessly—he had continued collaborating with Danzo to research secret techniques, sacrificing numerous Konoha ninja in the process.

He felt intense anger and deep disappointment toward Danzo, but could he truly bring himself to "sacrifice kin for justice"?

Setting aside their lifelong bond forged through countless life-and-death situations, protecting Danzo also meant safeguarding "Konoha's darkness"—something that required his full support.

Moreover, as an elder of Konoha, Danzo represented the village's upper echelon. If such a scandal were exposed, not only would Danzo's reputation suffer, but so too would the credibility of the Hokage and other leaders.

Sarutobi gave Danzo a quiet glance before asking, "What do you think?"

Danzo replied, "This is nothing but the Uchiha clan's one-sided claim. Perhaps they're even working with Hiruko and killed the witnesses when Anbu found out."

"Silence!"

After rebuking Danzo, Sarutobi declared firmly, "I believe the Police Force would never do such a thing."

Yet moments later, doubt flickered across his face as he continued, "However, Elder Danzo does have a point. Currently, all accusations rest solely on Uchiha Aozora's word—it seems somewhat one-sided.

Given the seriousness of these allegations, we must conduct thorough investigations.

Therefore... let me handle this matter personally afterward. Once I complete my investigation, I promise to provide accountability to the Police Force and everyone present."

Watching Sarutobi's performance unfold, Aozora couldn't help but admire him completely.

First, reprimanding Danzo to demonstrate trust in the Uchiha clan; then proposing a reasonable compromise.

Though appearing to support the Uchiha clan and speak for everyone, Sarutobi had skillfully taken control of the situation back into his hands.

Once the intelligence outpost leader was handed over to him, wouldn't everything that followed be completely under his control?

Aozora interrupted, "There's no need to wait."

As he spoke, he retrieved another scroll, declaring, "Sogami Daisora, the intelligence outpost leader from Dahe City, is right here inside this scroll."

"Poof!"

As smoke dispersed, Sogami Daisora's corpse lay in the conference room—his body unmarked except for his head, which was utterly crushed.

Everyone present exchanged astonished glances, shocked into silence.

Danzo raised his voice again, questioning, "Bold Uchiha Aozora! Have you actually killed Dahe City's intelligence outpost leader? Could the Uchiha clan indeed have something to hide?"

"Seize Uchiha Aozora!"

Instantly, four Anbu guards appeared inside the meeting hall, surrounding both Aozora and Fugaku.

Indeed, the moment Danzo shouted, Fugaku had used Body Flicker Technique to reach Aozora's side.

His crimson eyes displayed slowly spinning Three Tomoe, unleashing an overwhelming aura uniquely his own.

"Stop!" Hiruzen Sarutobi called out. "Fugaku, calm down!"

Then he looked at Aozora. "Explain! Why did you kill Dahe City's intelligence chief?"

The ninja in the crowd whispered to each other, all eyes shifting between Aozora and Fugaku.

Aozora gave a light chuckle. "Why does Elder Danzo assume it was me who did it?"

Danzo replied, "Since your group captured Sogami Daisora, if not you, then who else could've done it?"

Aozora implied, "Could it perhaps have been you who killed him?"

Danzo's face stiffened for a moment before he angrily shouted to cover his shock. "Have the Uchiha completely abandoned respect for hierarchy? To accuse an elder like this is unacceptable!"

Aozora ignored him and asked, "Is there anyone here skilled in performing autopsies?"

Someone stepped forward from below—it was Aburame Chiao, the respected elder of the Aburame clan.

Aozora turned to Hiruzen. "Hokage-sama, may I request that Elder Chiao, an experienced Jonin, examine the body?"

Hiruzen had no reason to refuse, so he nodded. "Fine."

Aburame Chiao stepped forward and conducted the examination, finally declaring, "Judging from this, the man's head exploded from a sudden burst of energy within his mouth. The damage originated internally—this appears to be suicide!"

Danzo immediately countered, "It must've been the Uchiha's genjutsu driving Sogami Daisora mad with torture until he chose death!"

Aozora shook his head. "Are you seriously suggesting that? Our Uchiha heritage has endured for generations—do you really think we wouldn't know how to restrain prisoners?"

Representatives from the major ninja clans nodded in agreement. Each clan had its own techniques and unique compounds for subduing captives. For the Uchiha, Konoha's most powerful clan, to lack such capabilities would be laughable.

Aozora continued, "Even if I lacked restraint methods, why would he destroy his own brain instead of inflicting internal injuries upon himself? Unless... there was explosive information locked away inside his mind!"

Suddenly, Fugaku cut in, "If I'm not mistaken, Konoha once possessed a forbidden sealing technique—the [Curse Mark of Tongue-Silencing Death]."

Upon hearing these words, representatives from several prominent clans looked at Fugaku in shock, while other ninja appeared confused.

"The [Curse Mark of Tongue-Silencing Death] was created by the Second Hokage," Fugaku explained. "This cursed seal is applied onto another's tongue. Once marked, the person can never reveal any information about the caster. Light effects cause full-body paralysis and loss of speech; severe cases result in immediate death with the head exploding.

This technique was originally used during wartime on covert ops units sent behind enemy lines to prevent intelligence leaks.

Later on, the Second Hokage deemed it excessively dominating—capable of controlling life and death over others—and feared it might be exploited by schemers. Thus, the technique was banned, now existing only within the Scroll of Seals."

Hearing this history, everyone secretly admired Fugaku's vast knowledge while feeling a chill run down their spines.

Before this, they'd thought joining Anbu meant entering the Hokage's inner circle—a fast path into Konoha's upper echelons. Now, they realized this shortcut wasn't as appealing as it seemed—one wrong step and they could become someone else's pawn.

At the same time, many remembered odd changes in the behavior of clan members who had joined Anbu.

Fugaku suddenly realized something and blurted out, "Hokage-sama, could it be that a high-ranking Anbu member secretly learned the Curse Mark of Tongue - Silencing Death and already used this technique on other Anbu members?"

He inhaled sharply and continued, "Hokage-sama, if that person has already used the Curse Mark of Tongue - Silencing Death on your personal guards within Anbu, the consequences would be unimaginable! For your safety, Hokage-sama, I suggest we inspect the tongues of all Anbu members immediately!"

When the ninjas in the meeting room heard this, several jumped in support.

"Check them! We've got to check them now!"

"Stay alert, Hokage-sama!"

"Now's the time to check!"

"..."

Shikaku saw Inoichi was worked up and asked, "Why are you so worked up about this too?"

Inoichi coldly replied, "My nephew Fu Yamanaka joined Anbu this year."

After hearing that, Shikaku fell silent.

With such a hidden threat lurking within Anbu, who could feel safe sending their clan's young generation there?

He found himself nodding along with the calls for inspection.

While the Ino–Shika–Cho trio had indeed always been among the Hokage's staunchest supporters, who would willingly become another's Puppet?

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