"Each and every one of them—"
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, speaking with a helpless tone.
Having just dealt with other Ninja Villages, now Kirigakure, which had been closed off for so long, was also joining the commotion.
Shikaku put down the scroll in his hand and looked at Hiruzen. "Actually, I think this news from Kirigakure indirectly confirms that there really was a person with Uchiha bloodline or a Sharingan during the Nine-Tails Attack."
Hiruzen exhaled smoke, slowly saying, "I already asked Fugaku about this matter before."
"His reply at the time was that over all these years, no Uchiha clansman has ever disappeared. Unless they were on a mission or died in war, almost no clansman has ever gone missing."
"Moreover, in terms of ocular power, whoever controlled the Nine-Tails must have at least a Mangekyo. A three tomoe cannot achieve this goal."
At this point, Hiruzen couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
In the entire Uchiha clan, currently only three people had Mangekyo, and it was almost impossible for these three to have controlled the Nine-Tails on the night of the Nine-Tails Attack.
Therefore, long ago, Hiruzen had already focused his attention on those Uchiha clan members who were registered as deceased.
After all, during wartime, mistakes and oversights were inevitable. It wasn't impossible that some were mistakenly thought to have died in battle but actually escaped later.
But was it possible?
One must know that the Sharingan, a unique physical trait, was not common even within the Uchiha clan, let alone the Mangekyo.
If there truly was such a talented person in the Uchiha clan, they wouldn't have been sent to the battlefield.
"Shisui, go inform Fugaku to come here." Thinking of this, Hiruzen spoke.
"Yes." Shisui, hidden in the corner, responded and then vanished.
—
Fugaku, upon arriving at the Hokage Office, looked at the information on the scroll in silence for a long time before finally looking up at Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama, if what Kirigakure says is true, the Fourth Mizukage was controlled starting from the era of the Bloody Mist."
"Then my previous conjecture should be correct. There is someone with a Mangekyo outside Konoha."
"After all, even if the Fourth Mizukage lacked strength, he was still a Kage-level existence and a Three-Tails Jinchuriki."
At this point, Fugaku couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
Were the Uchiha of this generation so talented?
Even in Madara's era, only Madara and Izuna awakened the Mangekyo. Yet, in the current era, there were already no less than four individuals who had awakened the Mangekyo?
Hiruzen nodded. Controlling someone for nearly ten years, an ordinary three tomoe could hardly accomplish such a thing. He had already arranged for Fugaku to conduct experiments on this matter before.
Hiruzen nodded. "Now, the question is how to resolve the issue of the Fifth Mizukage."
The current Uchiha was not the Uchiha of the past. He wouldn't place suspicion on Fugaku just because of an accusation from another village.
Shinji only spoke at this moment, "Actually, all we need to do is inform them that Six-Tails of Kirigakure has already been captured and extracted, and then be a bit vague with some information. Let them guess the rest."
Mei had probably just taken office recently. Nearly a decade of the Bloody Mist policy had not only severely weakened Kirigakure's strength, but also caused the Kekkei Genkai clans to either die or flee.
Even the ninjas themselves had grown desperate with the village. If not deranged, they were at least not normal people.
Rather than seeking justice for the former Fourth Mizukage, it was more about using the opportunity to throw this problem at Konoha.
Thereby, characterizing internal problems as external factors, allowing Kirigakure's ninjas to shift their hatred towards other Ninja Villages.
This tactic truly was what a politician would do.
As for Obito, Fugaku wasn't stupid. He might eventually turn his attention here. Once there was a suspected target, it would be impossible to hide.
Hiruzen's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Yes.
Kumogakure had already leaked information before, so one more from Kirigakure wouldn't matter.
However, it couldn't be too detailed, and he also needed to warn the Fifth Mizukage not to try to dump every problem on Konoha.
Did she really think his old bones could be stepped on by anyone?
"Shikaku, you handle this matter." Hiruzen gave the order, such things needed to be done quickly.
"Yes."
Shikaku stood up, nodded, and walked out with Inoichi.
Fugaku, after nodding to Hiruzen and Shinji, also rose and left.
He had to go back and re-examine the Uchiha clansmen registered as having died in battle over the years, to see if he could find this potential Mangekyo user.
After all, such things left traces. Whether one could advance to Mangekyo could actually be discerned from certain events.
"Sensei, leave the matters of this Akatsuki to me." Shinji turned to look at Hiruzen.
He couldn't let the Akatsuki have it too easy, no matter what.
Aren't they trying to capture Tailed Beasts?
Then let's see if they will succeed, or if he can snatch them away from them.
They capture them first, and he snatches them back afterward. That's not too much, is it?
"Will there be danger?"
This was Hiruzen's first thought, not whether it could be done, but whether it would be dangerous.
"Don't worry, I will have Mimi create a clone to lie in wait in Takigakure, and once there's action—"
"There are people in the village who can act with me."
Shinji was not worried at all. For now, as long as he didn't encounter Pain, it wouldn't be a big problem. Moreover, Jiraiya could also help him, so even if they did encounter Pain, it would be fine.
"Alright, you arrange it. You can mobilize personnel as you wish." Hiruzen, hearing this, finally nodded in agreement.
Shinji sat on the sofa, pondering alone. The future path had changed.
Logically speaking, Mei shouldn't have become the Fifth Mizukage at this time.
And Jiraiya had said before that the Great Toad Sage said the future was no longer clear.
Until now, Jiraiya hadn't mentioned anything about the Great Toad Sage again, and last time Fukasaku and Shima didn't come to see him either.
Logically speaking, even if they were busy fighting Five-Tails at that time, they wouldn't have delayed for so long. It was very likely that the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku had said something.
Tsk, he hated this kind of mysterious talk, never speaking clearly.
Shinji's fingers tapped his temple. Naruto and Sasuke were the protagonists in this era. Everything would begin because of them.
Thinking of this, Shinji twisted his neck. It seemed the shinkirou pearl trial needed to be expedited.
Tsk, it's just that Naruto and Sasuke might suffer a bit.
After all, growth is sometimes not a good thing. It is full of pain and unforgettable experiences.
Thinking of this, Shinji stood up, bid farewell to Hiruzen, and headed towards the training ground.
First, he would instruct Mimi, and then it would be time to prepare for setting up the formation.