Naruto: Forbidden Arts and an Immortal Agenda

Inside the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Fugaku Uchiha stood in tense confrontation.

The Third Hokage and the head of the Uchiha clan faced off against each other.

Both men understood the weight of responsibility they carried, and both knew the consequences of taking action.

Hiruzen was confident he could defeat Fugaku, certain that Konoha had the strength to crush the entire Uchiha Clan.

But what would come after that?

Konoha would be left vulnerable, ripe for destruction by Hidden Cloud and Iwagakure, who lurked in the shadows, eager to strike.

All for Konoha's sake!

Hiruzen closed his eyes, let out a deep sigh, and sat back down.

"Fugaku, if that's your stance, then I'll trust your judgment."

Nearby, Danzo disregarded Hiruzen Sarutobi's authority and retorted, "Hiruzen, you're too naive!"

Ignoring Danzo, Hiruzen continued addressing Fugaku. "However, you must give me an explanation."

Observing Hiruzen's outward firmness masking inner uncertainty, Fugaku felt complex emotions.

Most likely, he himself had bargained with the Third in this manner during the revival meeting!

He almost laughed at Hiruzen for being so proud, yet he felt sorrow remembering how he himself had once compromised too.

A man accustomed to constant concessions instantly understood what Hiruzen meant.

The Third needed an excuse—just provide a reasonable justification, and this matter could be put behind them.

But why move forward? This was just beginning.

"An explanation?"

Fugaku murmured softly before fixing his gaze on Hiruzen and stating firmly, "I have no need for explanations. On the contrary, it is the Hokage who should answer us."

"You want *me* to explain myself to *you*?"

Hiruzen let out a bitter laugh. "Your Uchiha killed my men, yet you demand explanations from me? What kind of explanation do you want? That we shouldn't have established an intelligence outpost in Dahe City? Or that our intelligence officer shouldn't have encountered your Uchiha?"

"Fugaku Uchiha, don't mistake my mercy for weakness!"

Fugaku met Hiruzen's fury with calm composure.

After some time, Hiruzen finally calmed down.

He stared coldly at Fugaku, his eyes filled with disdain.

Previously, he had believed aside from Shisui, Fugaku also understood the big picture—but now it seems even he could make mistaken judgments.

Indeed, Danzo was right all along—the Uchiha were indeed ungrateful traitors, living in Konoha all these years without ever becoming truly loyal.

Fugaku met Hiruzen's icy stare without flinching.

Ever since the clan meeting protest, he had known whether it was the seemingly benevolent Third or the treacherous Danzo, both harbored murderous intent toward the Uchiha.

Moreover, what exactly could the Third even do? Just how far did he dare go?

Meeting Hiruzen's gaze directly, Fugaku stated, "You must give an explanation—not just to me, but to the entire village."

Hiruzen frowned. "The entire village?"

"The intelligence outpost in Dahe City harbored corruption, conspired with rogue ninja, and plotted the murders of countless Konoha shinobi. Doesn't that deserve an explanation?"

Danzo's expression froze, and he suddenly interrupted, "Anbu are directly under the Hokage's command. Fugaku Uchiha, are you questioning the Hokage himself?"

Fugaku turned his head toward Danzo and asked, "Then does that mean the Hokage secretly supports Shimon Hiruko using Konoha ninja for forbidden jutsu experiments?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi awoke from his trance. He turned to Fugaku and asked, "You're telling me... the Intelligence Outpost in Dahe City colluded with rogue ninja Shimon Hiruko, secretly using Konoha ninja for research on kinjutsu?"

Fugaku replied, "Exactly!"

Instantly realizing he had been deceived, Hiruzen gave Danzo a furious glare, then inhaled deeply from his pipe to regain his composure.

"Tell me everything again, Fugaku."

Fugaku shook his head. "That's about all I know. I was just hearing mission reports from victims' families in my office when Kentou suddenly called me over."

"Victims' families?"

"Yes," Fugaku answered. "I've compiled a list of missing or deceased ninja and summoned their families to the Police Force for investigation cooperation."

Hiruzen gazed at Fugaku intensely for a long while before finally nodding and saying, "Good! Well done!"

As though ignoring the Third Hokage's praise, Fugaku continued calmly, "Lord Hokage, if you wish to learn more details, I suggest summoning Uchiha Aozora directly—he's the captain in charge of this mission. Furthermore, I recommend having the families present as well to avoid complications."

With no other choice, Hiruzen agreed, "Very well, as you suggested."

Now that problems had surfaced within Anbu and the information had already leaked, he needed to resolve it quickly. If the news kept spreading, it would shake his authority.

"Kentou!"

Kentou immediately appeared ready for orders.

"Summon Uchiha Aozora and..." Sarutobi paused, looking toward Fugaku.

"Uchiha Aozora already knows them—all of them are waiting in my office," Fugaku said.

After a brief silence, Hiruzen ordered, "Then bring everyone from Fugaku's office to the Grand Conference Room!"

"Yes sir!"

Soon enough, everyone gathered in the Grand Conference Room.

The Grand Conference Room on the third floor of the Hokage Tower was originally designed for meetings among Konoha's leadership.

At the center was a large square table usually reserved for elite Jonin and clan representatives, but today it was mostly filled by victims of the incident.

In the front section sat four special seats designated exclusively for Konoha leadership—two remained empty.

Though not quite on par with an official high-level meeting in number or formality, this gathering still matched its weight in significance and attendee standing.

The austere atmosphere of the hall caused even the most composed individuals to fall into a serious silence.

Seated at the Hokage's exclusive chair, Hiruzen commanded, "Uchiha Aozora, step forward and report!"

Unfazed, Aozora stepped to the front of the conference table and began presenting calmly.

"...We followed Anbu ninja to locate Shimon Hiruko's hideout, ambushed him unexpectedly, and inflicted serious injuries that forced him to flee..."

Danzo interrupted mockingly, "You mean to tell me only a few of you managed to ambush and seriously injure Shimon Hiruko? Preposterous!"

Aozora didn't respond to Danzo's challenge. He knew regardless of how he explained, there'd always be endless details requiring clarification afterward.

"How we drove off Shimon Hiruko isn't important. What matters is here is a sealing scroll containing tumors seized from the Dahe outpost. With Lord Hokage's extensive knowledge, you surely recognize which jutsu caused these!"

Having spoken, Aozora presented the sealing scroll.

"There are countless flesh masses and bones left in Shimon Hiruko's underground laboratory, all serving as evidence of his presence."

Aozora paused before adding, "Of course, unless someone from the village secretly studied the Ghost Luo Ya Technique back then..."

"The Ghost Luo Ya Technique is classified as Kinjutsu. All records of it have been destroyed by the village," stated Hiruzen Sarutobi firmly.

Aozora nodded and then reiterated the questions he had previously raised with everyone.

"Shimon Hiruko was a missing-nin who should've been hiding everywhere."

"Why would he have the resources to build such a complete lab?"

"Why did hundreds of ninjas disappear without a single leak of information?"

"Why do some ninjas reported dead in other locations by Anbu end up in the underground pit filled with bones and flesh masses in Dahe City?"

As Aozora spoke, everyone turned their gaze on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Anbu answered directly to the Hokage — if anything went wrong, he would be the first to be held accountable.

Meeting everyone's gazes, Hiruzen asked calmly, "What exactly are you implying?"

Aozora looked directly into Hiruzen's eyes and spoke each word deliberately, "The Police Force suspects that a high-ranking Anbu member has betrayed our village, providing support for Shimon Hiruko to conduct human experiments and research Kinjutsu."

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