Chapter 63: The Aftermath of the Killing
Before Uchiha Yi acted, he had already considered how to conduct his revenge.
Should he hide in the shadows after killing Konohamaru and assassinate his enemies one by one whenever an opportunity arose?
Or should he barge into their clan territory now, unleash a few "level 10 Firestorm Rings," and burn everything to the ground?
Neither approach felt satisfying. Killing them outright would be too merciful—a release from their sins rather than the punishment they deserved.
No. His revenge had to be methodical and absolute.
He would break apart everything the Sarutobi clan cared about. Everything.
---
Today's first strike was just the beginning. The end was far from near.
Revenge was a game, and he intended to enjoy every moment of it.
From a distance, Yi watched Sarutobi Hiruzen's darkened expression. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he turned and disappeared into the shadows.
"It's not your time to die yet, old man. When I do kill you, I'll make sure the whole world remembers you as nothing but a failure."
Back at the scene of the murder, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood stiffly, surveying the scorched remains of his clansman.
"Bury the body and resume patrols. Triple the guards," he ordered grimly.
Even after thorough investigations by the ANBU, there was no evidence or clues left behind.
The complete lack of leads sent shivers down Hiruzen's spine.
This wasn't just another fire jutsu—it was something far more dangerous.
The technique killed silently, invisibly, and without warning.
Hiruzen couldn't help but wonder how he himself would fare against such a power.
The answer sent cold sweat dripping down his back.
---
He returned to the Hokage's office with a heavy heart and immediately summoned his closest advisors.
"Hiruzen, you know I'm busy!"
"Stop dragging me here for nothing," Danzo snapped as he strode into the office, clearly annoyed.
He had just returned to the Root headquarters when Hiruzen summoned him again. The inconvenience irritated him to no end.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado entered after him, equally puzzled. They hadn't yet heard the details of what had happened.
---
"Just moments ago, in broad daylight on the streets of Konoha, a member of the Sarutobi clan was burned alive by some kind of fire jutsu.
"No one knows who the attacker is. There are no clues, no witnesses, and no evidence."
Hiruzen's voice trembled slightly as he relayed the incident.
The others froze.
The weight of his words wasn't lost on them. Their faces darkened immediately.
---
"Did you arrest the people nearby for questioning?" Danzo asked after a moment.
"There were too many people—representatives from other villages and the daimyos' entourages included.
"If we arrested them without evidence, we'd risk starting a war," Hiruzen replied wearily.
For once, even Danzo had no rebuttal.
A heavy silence settled in the room.
They had anticipated chaos after the rumors of the Six Paths Sage's treasure drew countless individuals to Konoha. But they hadn't expected the situation to spiral out of control so soon.
"Hiruzen, what about Kakashi's mission? Is everything ready?"
Unable to dwell further on the murder, Hiruzen shifted the topic. His tone was sharper than usual—he didn't have time for Danzo's usual evasions.
"Give me one day," Danzo replied curtly.
The seriousness of the situation wasn't lost on him either.
"Thank you," Hiruzen said, surprising everyone with his rare display of courtesy.
But Danzo only scoffed before leaving without another word.
The murder in broad daylight had shaken the entire village to its core. The ensuing ripple effects were far from over.
---
Elsewhere in Konoha, the tension was palpable.
---
At a Tavern
A group of representatives from Kumogakure sat in a private room, sipping sake and discussing the incident.
"Hahaha! Murdered in broad daylight, and the Hokage doesn't even know who did it!"
"What an embarrassment for Konoha," said Dodai, his voice dripping with schadenfreude.
"You should've seen Hiruzen's face—he looked like he'd swallowed a lemon!" another added, laughing openly.
The ANBU agents monitoring them clenched their fists in anger, but they couldn't do anything.
---
At the Foreign Delegates' Quarters
In the accommodations provided for the Sunagakure delegation, funds were tight, so most of their shinobi stayed inside, conserving resources.
However, some were out gathering information.
"Lord Baki, I've returned with news," a Sunagakure shinobi reported upon entering Baki's room.
He described the murder in detail.
"The allure of the Six Paths Sage's treasure is truly extraordinary," Baki mused, smirking faintly.
"But for now, it's the Hokage who's in the most trouble. Keep gathering information."
"Yes, sir."
Similar conversations played out among other factions.
The murder wasn't just a random act of violence—it was a calculated move that set the stage for what many believed to be the beginning of the struggle for the treasure.
---
They noted one particular detail: the victim was a member of the Sarutobi clan.
"Why the Sarutobi clan? Why not anyone else?"
This wasn't just a murder—it was a statement. A warning.
Many believed it was an attempt to force information about the treasure from the Sarutobi clan.
As rumors swirled, tensions in Konoha grew increasingly volatile.
---
Root Headquarters
Danzo found Kakashi lounging against a wall, reading an adult novel.
Without a word, Danzo tossed a mission scroll at him.
Kakashi caught it midair, his relaxed demeanor disappearing as he opened the scroll to read.
Though Kakashi harbored doubts about Konoha's leadership, he was still a loyal shinobi. Refusing a mission wasn't an option.
"I understand," Kakashi said simply.
"I'll complete the mission."
As Kakashi read the details, a strange unease settled over him.
The mission seemed far too straightforward.
Yet he didn't think to suspect a trap—just as his father hadn't all those years ago.
History was repeating itself.
The question remained: when Kakashi learned the truth, would he stay loyal to Konoha?
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