Chapter 143: One step too late

Chapter 143: One step too late

Shizune's life is terrible these days.

Thanks to Kyojuro, Tsunade successfully quit drinking three years ago and finally no longer wastes her life in a drunken state.

This long-lost sobriety gave Tsunade strong self-confidence, allowing her to devote more time to her favorite gambling table.

Unfortunately, Tsunade's luck was even worse than before without being drunk.

Over the past three years, the compound interest on gambling debts owed by this big fat sheep has approached ten digits, which is equivalent to the reward for hundreds of S-level tasks.

Just a few days ago, she was approached by more than a dozen creditors and had to hand over her pig to them as collateral to get out.

However, that night, Tsunade won a small victory for a long time.

But instead of continuing to play, she became suspicious and immediately sent Shizune to steal the pig from the creditor. The two of them and one pig fled to the Land of Fire overnight.

Although Tonton did not suffer much during the period when it was used as collateral, the pearl necklace around its neck and the special custom-made clothes had been exchanged for money by the creditor, and now It looked no different from an ordinary little pig.

After arriving at the new place, Shizune made a bow tie for Tonton, and the Daimyo's guardian nin came to ask for help.

Due to the critical condition of the patient, the two had to rush to the Fire City as quickly as possible to treat the daimyo's daughter-in-law, who was seriously injured by the explosive tags.

The long and intense treatment was over. Just when Shizune, who had not slept for more than thirty hours, thought she could finally rest, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived.

Tsunade has a special status and a bad temper, so she can refuse to see him if she doesn't want to see him, but in that case, Shizune will have to answer many questions for her, and she will have to endure it for another long time.

When the Third Hokage was about to finish talking, the old man was suddenly called out by Kakashi, but when he came back a few minutes later, his face was as gloomy as iron, and he broke into Tsunade's house without saying a word. He walked into the room and said loudly: "Something happened in the village!"

Just like that, Shizune, who had already suffered from dark circles, could only take food pills to replenish her strength, and then rushed back to Konoha for more than 20 hours.

When she came back last night and saw the Hokage Building collapsed into rubble, she thought she was too sleepy and dreaming.

She followed Tsunade and Third Hokage in a daze and listened to what happened. Then she went to the hospital to check on the condition of the injured. When Shizune realized what was going on, she was already standing in the Uchiha clan's territory holding Tonton in her arms in front of the door.

[Why on earth am I here? ]

"Alas..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the figure on the wall of the Uchiha Clan.

Among the ninjas on duty who looked coldly at them, whether they were the older people who had always been dissatisfied or the young people who had graduated in recent years and had a more gentle attitude, not even one of them was wearing Konoha's standard vest and Konoha's forehead protector.

It seemed that Uchiha was completely disappointed in Konoha after encountering an ambush by foreign ninjas at the Naka River Shrine, which commemorated the dead clan members.

Needless to say, those Uchiha who had always been dissatisfied, after discovering that the clan leader, the clan leader's wife, and Giyu had such strength, they had been trying to persuade Fugaku to simply use force to capture Konoha. As long as there is Giyu guarding the door, they can't even enter the entrance.

Another group of clansmen who had longed for the village in the past also showed a disheartened look as if they had seen through everything. They seemed to hope that the clansmen would follow Madara Uchiha's example and move out to find their own way out.

As for staying - who can guarantee that the same thing won't happen again?

Even though they did nothing, they were almost exterminated. No one could trust this village anymore.

"Hokage-sama..."

Under the ferocious gaze of a pair of Sharingan eyes, Shizune's originally groggy brain suddenly became much clearer.

"Do you really don't want ANBU or Jounin ninjas to follow you?"

"Yes."

On the clan wall, a young clansman in his twenties chuckled and mocked: "Why don't you go back and ask for help? You'd better call all the ninjas in Konoha here! Just the two of you and a pig can't even break in, right?"

"That's enough."

A figure jumped up the wall and stopped the former from Continuing on, it was Uchiha Tekka who was on duty.

After he stood still, he scanned the empty streets outside the clan and the Hyuga clan opposite, and found no trace of anyone else.

And according to the news sent back by the scouting ninja cat, all the ninjas stationed near Uchiha yesterday were withdrawn early this morning.

Now that the Hokage came in person, he only brought a medical ninja who had been away from the village for many years, which showed his basic sincerity, so the Uchiha Tekka also showed great restraint.

" Third Hokage." Uchiha Tekka asked condescendingly: "Since you appear here, it means that Konoha already has prepared countermeasures, right?"

His tone was not aggressive, but his words were full of distance, and in every word there is a hint of hostility in it.

"Tekka..."

The Third Hokage closed his eyes and slowly opened them, tilting his head and shaking his head: "The so-called countermeasures are plans to target the enemy or deal with troubles."

"Uchiha is not the enemy of the village, nor is the village the enemy of Uchiha. I cannot agree with the use of such words."

"Stop saying those nice words that waste time! This is not the opening ceremony of Ninja School! "

Before Uchiha Tekka could respond, the young clansman had already spoken angrily.

"We are not enemies. Why are we surrounded by foreign ninjas in our own clan?*

"Since The village is not an enemy. Why did the village secretly arrest Uchiha Itachi and Mrs. Mikoto?

"Since Uchiha is not an enemy. What about the thousands of ninjas you stationed nearby yesterday?!"

"We are not enemies. Why have we been secretly monitored for so many years? Why did you place us at the outermost edge of the village, right next to the Hyuga clan?!"

A series of parallel questions made the Third Hokage open his mouth, but he had nothing to say for a moment.

Although he had long expected Uchiha to ask such a question, he never had a suitable answer.

After being silent for about half a minute, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in an old voice.

"If I said that this matter was Danzo's personal behavior from beginning to end, you probably wouldn't believe it."

The Uchihas on the wall did not respond. Obviously, they did think so.

It would be unjustifiable if Hiruzen Sarutobi blamed all the problems on Danzo, a dead man.

"So, even if you regard me as Danzo's accomplice and think that he and I planned this operation together, I have no intention of refuting it."

"I did set up a secret department and purchased a large number of high-end instruments, and sent ANBU to observe Uchiha's every move."

"Many jounin in the Hyuga clan are indeed secretly carrying out the surveillance missions signed by me."

" In addition, there have been multiple reviews of the police force, restrictions on the number of Uchiha clan members who can be promoted to jounin, and allocation to Uchiha clan members. There is no mission for wave ninjas to gain combat experience... Each of these measures was formulated by me personally. "

"Hokage-sama..."

Shizune was confused. She didn't know if this old man was crazy. It was too abnormal for him to tell such a truth.

In fact, if she and Tsunade had come back a few years earlier, they would have discovered that although the monkey is getting older, his recent style of doing things has tended to return to that of his youth.

"Are you finally willing to admit it?" The Uchiha on the city wall gritted his teeth.

Each of them had experienced various difficulties in the ninja promotion assessment, and the assigned tasks were all chores that could be completed independently, and there were almost no opportunities to do anything with others.

Otherwise, When facing those foreign ninjas the day before yesterday, they would not be so passive without the use of Fire Release.

The clansmen had never thought that this was intentional by the village, but it was not confirmed until today.

"I did this because I don't have enough trust and respect for Uchiha. So I don't think there's anything wrong with you treating me as an enemy. "

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued: "But we are us, and the village is a village."

"You should know one thing. The major ninja clans in the village, as well as the other ninjas, have never had the idea of annihilating Uchiha."

"At least, the roots must hide it from other people in the village and use foreign ninjas to do it. This incident is enough to illustrate this point, isn't it? "

The Uchiha people exchanged glances on the wall. They agreed with this statement.

Today the village dares to use foreign ninjas to eliminate Uchiha, and tomorrow it will dare to use the same method to eliminate Hyuga.

Not to mention ordinary ninjas, at least the major ninja clans will never allow this kind of thing to happen.

"So, if you are looking for Uchiha's enemies, then in this village, there are only two people, I and Danzo, and there is no need to count others. "

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his head, and his voice became slightly more energetic.

"Now, Danzo, as an important insider, has died without any evidence. I don't want to use an evil technique like Impure World Reincarnation to ask him to come out and explain anything."

"Although I don't know everything he did, I saw most of it. Since I am a kage, I naturally have an unshirkable responsibility."

"So, in order to calm everyone's anger, even you can even ask me, the perpetrator, to commit suicide by hara-kiri I will do it."

"But I have a request. At least before that, let me meet Uchiha Fugaku to discuss some things so that we can make up for the mistakes we made before. How about it?"

Uchiha Tekka observed the old man Hiruzen from three or four meters away. With a defeated look on his face, he noticed that the will to die in the other person's eyes didn't seem to be fake.

When the other party came here, he was indeed prepared not to get out alive here.

"That's all I have to say..."

After a few seconds of silence, Uchiha Tekka raised his hand and ordered the people under the wall: "Then let him in."

"Vice captain?" The others looked at him in disbelief. One of them said, "Should we inform the clan leader first?"

"No need." Uchiha Tekka shook his head, "Call all the clan members and gather in front of the clan leader's house to hear what he will say."

When they go to the clan leader before, they will always be driven back by Giyu using various connectors that cannot be counted.

Now that Sarutobi Hiruzen is here, the clan leader has no reason to refuse the visitor.

[Whether to stay or to leave, it's almost time for Uchiha Fugaku to make a decision! ]

In this way, while being surrounded by more and more Uchiha, Sarutobi Hiruzen came to the center of the clan and knocked on the door of Fugaku's house.

"Fugaku, I am Sarutobi Hiruzen."

"I represent the village and come to talk to you about the future of Uchiha and Konoha."

Shizune stood behind the old man, her hands like two chains tightened her grip around Tonton's waist, and the latter's complexion gradually changed from pink to pale purple.

But Tonton also realized that the atmosphere was not right, and did not dare to moan at all, so it had to endure the discomfort and remain motionless.

The door opened.

A young man with short hair and his left eye covered by gauze opened the door. His purple-red Sharingan quickly scanned the people outside the door, and finally stopped on the face of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Giyu."

[ What exactly did Orochimaru do to him to stimulate this child to this point? ]

Noticing the number of tomoe in Giyu Sharingan's eyes, the Third Hokage smiled stiffly, "I haven't seen you for a while. I heard that you went to the Kingdom of Water."

Originally, he planned to wait for the child to grow up, maybe just Relying on the other party's gentle character and his friendship with Naruto and Kyojuro, the conflict between Uchiha and the village can be resolved naturally and peacefully...

But after listening to the report from Konoha Hospital, Sarutobi Hiruzen learned that among the people who were bitten by the water dragon bullets and fell from the sky the night before yesterday, all the Iwagakure ninjas were seriously injured, and all the Kumogakure ninjas died without exception, I feel reluctant to call it a coincidence.

But whether it was Giyu's brutal methods or the strength he showed, he attributed it to Orochimaru's cursed seal.

"Father asked me to ask you."

Giyu showed no intention of answering. His eyes seemed to pass through the skin and fell on the facial muscles of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Do Uchiha and the village really have a future?"

This kind of scrutiny made Sarutobi Hiruzen feel a little stingy. Just as he was about to speak, Giyu solemnly added: "If you are going tell lies, then there's no need to come in."

"..."

Taking a deep breath, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded: "I think there is."

Giyu's eyes moved away from his face and stayed at his heart for a while, "Have you heard about the black weirdo who killed Danzo Shimura?"

"Yes." The Third Hokage's face turned slightly solemn, and he felt that Giyu cared about this issue far more than the previous one.

"Just when the teacher asked Danzo about 'Uchiha Madara', that weirdo appeared and killed Danzo."

Giyu asked again: "Do you know who he is?"

"I don't know." Third Hokage shook his head, "This is one of the things I came here to discuss with your father today."

"Since you didn't lie."

Giyu nodded slightly, opened the door wider, and turned sideways, "Then please Come in."

"...Thank you."

The old man didn't know how Giyu judged whether he was lying, but he still thanked the other party for his trust.

This was the first Uchiha he met today who was not hostile to him and was willing to trust him. This gave Hiruzen Sarutobi some extra hope that the matter would be settled.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shizune entered one after another, and when the Uchihas outside the door were about to follow them in, Giyu returned to the middle of the door frame, blocking their way.

The clansmen stopped and looked at each other, no one dared to pass him and enter directly.

Just kidding, if Giyu hadn't arrived in time on the day when they were surrounded, they would have been reduced by at least half by now.

Everyone else in the village thought that the child was so strong because of the curse seal. Only the Uchiha Clan knew that was not the case at all.

Although no one said it clearly, Giyu was so powerful at a young age that the clan members already regarded him as the only candidate for the future clan leader.

"There can't be so many people sitting at home." Giyu pointed to the backyard, "Father will talk to the Hokage on the terrace. You can go over there."

The clansmen nodded and immediately flew away.

In this way, no matter how the two parties talk, they will know the result immediately and will not continue to live in hanging uncertainty.

By the time they got there, Uchiha Itachi had already served tea and placed it on the table on the terrace. Third Hokage and Uchiha Fugaku were on one side, but the former looked like an old tree that was about to die, while the latter was sitting upright with a look in his eyes. The cold light of scrutiny.

After the clan members and Shizune took their seats, Uchiha Fugaku spoke.

"I remember that with Itachi's speed, a trip to the Fire Land would take twenty-two hours, not even counting the rest time. A round trip would be a little less than two days."

He turned his head and glanced at his eldest son, who was kneeling behind him, "Is not that right, Itachi?"

Uchiha Itachi understood what his father meant and looked deeply at Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Yes, this is my fastest speed."

"That's strange."

Uchiha Fugaku replied, Turning his head, he put his hands into his sleeves and clasped them in front of his chest, "What happened that day happened at seven o'clock the night before yesterday."

" Even if someone went to the City of Fire to report it at that time, and if the hokage returned without sleep after being notified, He should be able to arrive in Konoha this afternoon."

"But as far as we know, Lord Hokage came back last night, which is a little more than a day after the incident..."

At this point, Uchiha Fugaku's voice became cold: "Isn't this a bit too coincidental?"

The implication is that Sarutobi Hiruzen had known about Danzo's arrangements for a long time, and This was just a double act between the two of them.

"This is a reasonable doubt."

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled bitterly: "But in order to get down to business as soon as possible, I'll explain it a little bit."

Uchiha Fugaku did not respond, and gave a dark "Please explain" look.

"The reason why I left the village at this time is because the son of the Daimyo was assassinated, so I went to investigate in person."

After arriving at the Fire Capital, Kakashi and two Hyuga clansmen went to the scene to investigate the situation, while I went to appease the anger of Daimyo.

"About ten o'clock the night before yesterday, Kakashi returned to the daimyo's official residence to report that he had found the whereabouts of the perpetrators. However, these murderers had also been killed by another group of people, and even the bodies had been burned. "

Uchiha Fugaku frowned, "You mean..."

"Yes, according to Kakashi's judgment, the way the perpetrator was killed is very similar to the style of the ANBU of various countries to destroy important intelligence personnel. But in fact, this method is the most important evidence in the first place."

The Third Hokage nodded, "The only ANBU ninjas who can pass through the layers of investigation circles and operate in the hinterland of the Land of Fire are Konoha's ANBU. "

"I know the whereabouts of every ANBU ninja. During the time when the daimyo's son was assassinated, only people from the roots had gone out on missions, so I immediately thought of Danzo. Maybe this assassination was just his way of getting me to leave Konoha."

"My guess at the time was that he was planning to do something bold against the missions of the Kumogakure Ninja and Iwagakure Ninja while I was away. Considering that Danzo might trigger a war, I didn't hesitate and took the people back immediately... "

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, "But I never thought that the one he wanted to eradicate was Uchiha."

Uchiha Fugaku sneered.

"Hokage-sama's next sentence Should be that you were unaware of this matter from beginning to end, and the biggest mistake was just a lack of investigation?"

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his head tiredly, and then glanced at Giyu and Sasuke who were sitting in the corner, he suddenly said: "Fugaku, at some point you should know about the kid named Rengoku Kyojuro, right?"

"Brother Kyojuro?" Sasuke straightened up suddenly, his face full of surprise. He asked: "What does this have to do with him?"

"Sasuke and Kyojuro are very familiar with each other, and you should understand that the child is a person who radiates light anytime and anywhere."

"He can make the Uchiha Clan children in the ninja school put down their arrogance and make them communicate with others and he also helped the Hyuga children get rid of depression and distress. Even if I have been communicating with him for a long time, I will be affected to some extent."

Third Hokage said with some nostalgia: "I have always remembered two sentences of his very clearly. One sentence is that if you use your skills to cover up the truth and do bad things, you will eventually reach a dead end. Another saying is, don't regard your problem in your fantasies as your real problem, and only try to solve real problems. "

"I know the second sentence!" Sasuke was a little excited, "This is the first principle that Brother Kyojuro taught me!"

Itachi Uchiha curled his lips slightly when he saw Sasuke's reaction.

[ Why can't you remember a few of the things I said? ]

Fugaku was already a little impatient when he heard this, "So? What does this have to do with Lord Hokage's suspicion?"

"What I mean is that since I had several interactions with that child, I gradually understood that communicating openly and resolving misunderstandings is sometimes more effective than those dark tricks. "

"On the contrary, if you regard someone as an imaginary enemy in advance, then any behavior of the other party will look suspicious, and this suspicion will gradually grow. For so many years, I have been making these two mistakes with Uchiha. "

Sarutobi Hiruzen explained with some emotion: "So soon after, I took back part of the power that had been given to Danzo in the past. I did not let him act as he pleased like in the past. I also reduced the surveillance of Uchiha, and at the same time I prohibited him from casually investigating the ninjas of the village."

"After protesting to me several times, Danzo gave up his struggle and gradually restrained himself from acting recklessly. This is why I felt confident leaving the village to him a few days ago."

"But now it seems that my restriction of his actions not only failed to serve as a warning, but actually drove him to the edge of madness. "

" Fugaku, I am not saying these words to shirk responsibility for what happened before, but to prove that, From beginning to end, this matter was definitely not dictated by the village."

"No matter what choice you plan to make, you must take this as a premise. I hope you will not regard the limitations of us old guys as the limitations of the entire village."

"If you imagine other people in the village like Us, You will also make the same mistake we made before. "

"So..."

Uchiha Fugaku heard the implication of Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Are you planning to retire from the position of Hokage?"

"Such a big thing like this has happened, I no longer have the face or qualifications to continue to be the Hokage. Not only the Uchiha clan can't trust me, but Hyuga, Nara, and Yamanaka are also the same. No matter what Danzo did, I cannot shirk my share of the blame. "

Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his head in shame, "Before coming here, I have reported the results of the investigation of the assassination to the Daimyo. Presumably in three or four days, the new letter of appointment will arrive in Konoha together with my revocation order. "

"What?"

A young clansman who sneaked in with the Jonin said in surprise: "Does the village mean to let the clan leader become the Hokage? "

Every one of the Uchiha present heard these words and silently turned their heads to the clansman, who was so frightened that the latter did not dare to move. Then, they turned their attention back to the Third Hokage, obviously thinking I don't know if things are as the young man guessed.

"Frankly speaking, this is not realistic. "

In the disappointed and annoyed eyes of the clansmen, the Third Hokage shook his head: "Of course the people in the village don't believe me, but they won't believe Uchiha either. So I have to find someone who can be trusted by everyone to take over the position of Hokage."

"If Uchiha wants this position, then you must start from now on to cultivate a kage that can unite everyone in the village."

"If you think anyone who can defeat everyone in the village can become the kage of a village, then you're underestimating the qualities necessary to become the kage of a ninja village."

"So, your choice is Tsunade? "

Glancing at Shizune who was holding the pig motionless, Fugaku made a guess.

"Yes. "Third Hokage nodded, "I have already recommended her to the daimyo, I believe there will be no surprises."

"In addition, I have already explained to Tsunade that the two elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, are getting older and are always ill. It is time for them to step down from their positions. "

"The New Elders, I recommend to her are you and Nara Shikaku. Since the old Hokage Building is not suitable for Uchiha, then you young people should make up your own new rules and build a new one. "

Having said this, Third Hokage stared closely into Fugaku's eyes, "Fugaku, what do you think? "

This is the first time since Konoha established the village that the decision-making power of affairs has been handed over to Uchiha.

Uchiha Fugaku pondered for a moment, "I remember when the Fourth Hokage was here, all matters in the village were still decided by you. After deciding..."

"There is no need to worry about this. "

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head slowly: "When the handover ceremony of the new Hokage is completed, you will not see me again. "

Everyone's expressions changed slightly, and they began to speculate on Sarutobi Hiruzen's plan. After all, combined with his previous statement of "committing suicide"...

"Before I retreat, I will cancel all the measures I used to guard against Uchiha. Necessary compensation will be made for the village's past differential treatment and the damage caused by Danzo. "

Third Hokage took out a document from his arms and said, "Here are the specific contents of the compensation. You can take a look. "

Uchiha Fugaku silently took the document and glanced at it, but his mind was not on it.

He was still considering whether Konoha, led by Tsunade, was worth Uchiha's stay.

To be honest, he didn't think it was a good idea to go or go the other way.

On the contrary, there is no need to think too much. Even if they captured Konoha, Uchiha would still have to pay huge casualties, and it would be difficult to gain recognition from the daimyo.

If they are not recognized by the daimyo, then they are not a legal ninja village, and the ninja villages in other countries will definitely use this as an excuse to let them never have peace.

As for leaving, it is even more impossible.

After Danzo used Izanagi so many times in front of the envoys and ninjas of the two countries, it won't take long for the Uchiha people's eyeballs to become the most valuable in the money exchange under the propaganda of the two countries.

By that time, unless all clan members are by Uchiha Fugaku's side at all times, once they go out, what awaits them is the fate of being hunted like prey.

But if the clan really hides under the protection of the strong in order to protect themselves, is it still an Uchiha?

If you don't even care about the first and last tasks when you go out to accept commissions, how will the clansmen make a living?

In this world, even Uchiha must find a shinobi village that can provide them with shelter. These are the rules of the ninja world.

At the moment, there is no need to think about the Country of Earth and Lightning as they and Uchiha have already formed a deadly feud.

The Country of Wind is so poor that it cannot even support itself, and the Kirigakure Village of the Country of Water is famous for being good at killing each other.

Amegakure Village don't even think about it, it can't provide shelter at all, and the clan members will look down on it due to their arrogance.

In fact, after much deliberation, only Konoha is the most suitable.

Although the Uchiha clan once lived here unhappy, it has been operating for many years. When it becomes a decision-maker, it can slowly and gradually reverse the situation of its people.

Just when Fugaku was in a daze looking at the note, Giyu quietly came behind him and silently read the content on the paper.

He suddenly asked: "Can I add a few more?"

Fugaku turned his head and glared at him, but Giyu was not moved at all.

On the contrary, Third Hokage showed a rare smile and asked Haha: "What requests does Giyu have?"

He didn't think that given the child's character, he would make any unreasonable requests.

You know, even under the influence of something like a curse seal, he still let go of the Iwagakure Ninjas who did less harm to Uchiha and maintained some rationality.

"I want the data of all the experiments conducted by Root and Orochimaru."

Giyu gave an answer that no one could have expected. "Besides that, there are several ninjas in Root who must also be handed over to me. The village is not allowed to interfere."

He still remembered Kocho Shinobu's desire to learn the Aburame Clan's insect-control secrets, and there happened to be two Aburame Clan ninjas at the root.

Although one of them (Aburame Torune) had his hands cut off by him, this did not affect the knowledge he imparted in his brain.

Since Danzo's roots once destroyed the peace of the Rain Country, using these people's techniques to accelerate the Kocho Shinobu's research on cultivating crops in the Rain Country can be considered a kind of compensation.

"Giyu, what do you want with this experimental data?"

Uchiha Mikoto was a little worried about whether Giyu had witnessed some of Orochimaru's operations during his trip to the Water Kingdom, so he learned it badly.

But before Giyu could answer, Third Hokage had already filled in the answer for him.

"What you want to study is actually the curse mark Orochimaru left on your neck. I'm right, right?"

Giyu, who didn't know the specific explanation a second ago, blinked, "Yes."

Speaking of which, Sarutobi Hiruzen's guess was correct.

Uchiha Mikoto was relieved.

"If that's the case, you shouldn't have to worry too much."

Third Hokage smiled slightly, seeming a little pleased that this child was actually willing to give up the evil power he had obtained without anyone interfering.

"Orochimaru once planted the same curse seal on one of his subordinates. But after I sealed the curse seal, I haven't seen anything abnormal for so many years..."

"Wait a minute."

Giyu said with a serious expression . Interrupting him, "Is the curse seal of Orochimaru's subordinate also shaped like this?"

He leaned down and opened his collar, allowing Sarutobi Hiruzen to identify it carefully.

"Yes, the curse seal on Mitarashi Anko has this shape."

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't understand why Giyu was so nervous, "It should be called the 'Heaven's Curse Seal'."

" Is there any remnant of Orochimaru's soul?"

As soon as this idea came up, it couldn't be dispelled from Giyu's brain.

Orochimaru's soul left in him was destroyed by the Kocho Shinobu, but there may not be such a powerful soul inhabiting the consciousness of others.

"Where does this person named Mitarashi Anko live?" Giyu asked hurriedly, "Is she in the village today?"

"Yes."

Although the topic was inexplicably pulled away, Sarutobi Hiruzen still gave the answer.

"I'm going to meet this person."

After Giyu got the address, he immediately flew out without any hesitation, stepped on the tree in the courtyard, and disappeared into a winding wave of water.

Looking at the confused Uchiha in the room, Sarutobi Hiruzen wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Fugaku, let's continue talking about what happened before..."

"Let me read the above content to the clan members first, and then we can discuss it."

"That's fine." Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, "I will come again at this time tomorrow."

Then he glanced at Shizune over there: "Then I'll leave first. Shizune Don't forget to explain Tsunade affairs."

Shizune nodded quickly, but her brain was trying hard to dig out the memories about this -

[Tsunade-sama asked me to come with you, why on earth did you come? ]

On the other side, Giyu arrived at Mitarashi Anko's residence in less than three minutes.

But no matter how hard I knocked on the door, no one responded.

He frowned, no longer waiting, and jumped directly into the wall. He didn't hear anyone in the room.

Then, he looked around and immediately noticed keenly that there were a few shurikens scattered in front of the dummy on the training ground in the courtyard, but no one was there.

Among the shoe prints on the sand behind the shuriken, one pair of shoe prints looked particularly wide, not much different from the ones printed on his family's recipe book.

[ not good. ]

An ominous premonition jingled in Giyu's mind.

He squatted on the ground, reached out and touched the shurikens on the ground, feeling the temperature on them.

Mitarashi Anko had just disappeared.

Just before He got here.