Investigation, Trial and Result

~Third Person POV~

A group of 4 men entered the Orphanage's library, many of them looked similar in appearance and all had the same four point star with what looked to be a crimson and white fan, the red on top, the white on the bottom. Like it was fanning flames itself.

One of the men had a more commanding presence, as he spoke, "Alright let's get this done quickly, Amane, I want you to see if you can find the weapon used. Ryo, go and make sure no one enters the room."

Ryu, exited the room as Amane, listening to the Chief's words, began investigating the scene of the crime. His eyes changed from black to crimson red eyes with 2 black dots surrounding a black pupil seamlessly enhancing his sight though it wasn't needed as he immediately spotted 3 Shuriken embedded in the necks of all 3 victims.

"I think we found our weapons, precise shots to the neck's blood vessels and the cervical vertebrae, might be one of our own," Amane Uchiha stated calmly, looking at the bodies of 2 men, and 1 woman. He was used to this.

"Hm, I don't think any one of our clan could commit a murder like this." The man with the commanding presence spoke calmly, his stern tone serious and authoritative. "It's too obvious, many of us aren't idiots. Shin, if you would."

The final one, Shin nodded and weaved 3 hand seals before using his gloved hand to touch the corpse. The second the man touched the corpse the Chakra entered the body gently removing the weapon from the neck, it was standard procedure for them that it became instinct to use the Jutsu. He did the same for the other corpses, having to use the Jutsu 2 more times because it can only be used on one person at a time.

"Futon: Shisha no Fuku," Shin calmly stated as he used tweezers, to extract the evidence into a plastic bag for analysis. "That should be enough DNA to figure out our main target."

The Chief seemed more suspicious then the rest. His onyx eyes changed into the same Dojutsu that Amane had except it held all 3 black dots, symbolising its maturity. This man held short, brown hair that reached to his shoulders and held visibly pronounced creases with his stern look. 

"I want to take the bodies in for an autopsy, just in case. And scan the room for anything suspicious." His statement was met with some ire from his squad after all they figured it was over but they followed his orders, he was their Head after all.

The man thought to himself, "Why make it so obvious? Does the killer intend to be found? No, that does not make logical sense. Why make it so obvious then?" He pieced things together in his mind, using what little evidence he held. "The killer has to be an adult, I don't see a child committing murder like this, they would be too sloppy with the Shuriken. And to frame another person, they wouldn't think of that, but who would think of such a plan? I also have no evidence to support the killer being someone different. Hnn, the person to have pulled this off must be highly intelligent." 

The head of the Konoha police force, Fugaku Uchiha, had almost every detail right, but was off by a small margin. He investigated the room, finding nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that suggested his side, his team were seamlessly right, yet his suspicion did not go away. In fact, his crimson orbs conveyed anger at the situation. He knew he was right, after all he was not an idiot, yet the decision was not his to make. 

Fugaku, leaving the building, called the medical team inside to recover the bodies for their autopsies. They looked at Fugaku with some level of reservation, but they did their job. As they entered the building with 3 body bags, Fugaku narrowed his eyes in frustration, clicking his tongue. Something about all of this was weird. Why would someone do this? Who would do this? What was the motive behind it? His questions whilst not verbal would remain unanswered, falling on deaf ears.

If he had the Iryojutsu and was skilled at it he'd do the autopsy himself, but then he'd have to face the rules of that damned Slug Princess Tsunade for being a new Iryo-Nin.

Fugaku hated that, don't get him wrong he respected them all to a degree. After all, every student of the 3rd were strong incredibly strong but the Snake was a traitor. The other 2 had vices which made them worthless to the village to an extent. The Slug is a gambler who is no longer in the village and should be stripped of her rank as a Shinobi, but the Third refuses that, the village refuses that, because said Slug, was the Granddaughter of their Shodaime. And the Toad, the Toad was the most perverted person Fugaku had the displeasure of meeting. Yes his nature allowed him to gather intelligence but he truly was just a big pervert.

Fugaku sighed, as he watched as the medical team carried 3 body bags moving out of the building, carefully so as to not damage the corpses and make sure as much information is retained as they headed to the Konohagakure Hospital. They knew they couldn't be saved, that much was obvious but for an autopsy they had to take them here. 

It was the only place where Iryojutsu specialists can do an Autopsy on the body as of now. 

Fugaku followed, deciding it would be best if he was there to document the results and made sure none of the doctors tampered with the body.

After arriving, they entered a room with a sealing formula on the floor. The seal consisted of 3 parts. A central seal, concentric rings, and connecting pathways,

The central seal was circular and had "Truth" and "Life" inscribed on opposite ends within the circle symmetrically. This circle was surrounded by small rings filled with runic characters. Surrounding that were two concentric rings, the smaller one had "Body", "Flow" and "Wound" all in a formation which looked similar to a perfect triangle. The larger one was an upside down triangle with the inscribed words being, "Containment", "Stability" and "Sight". Radiating from the central seal and running through the concentric rings are four cardinal pathways. aligned to the north, south, east, and west, resembling long, stylized arrows inscribed upon them are 2 words, "Flow" and "Pulse". 

Fugaku watched, his eyes trained as they removed the first body from the bag and placed it in-between the truth and life fully dead centre. Then the 2 professionals talked.

"Should we do all of them, or just this one?" The voice of the female was soft yet firm, asked yet it was as if she knew the answer already.

"There's advantages to doing all 3, but if they all died close together, it might be a waste of Chakra to do all 3." The male responded. Parroting the thoughts of the woman. 

"I agree, but what about him?" She asked, a bit less sure.

"The Uchiha won't mind, ain't that right, Uchiha?" The male asked, bringing Fugaku in.

Fugaku answered seriously, "No, one body is enough. Although I prefer it if all 3 are done, in case we miss anything. But seeing the bodies, it seems like we're just making sure the Shuriken weren't poisoned beforehand." 

"See, now then, let us get started."

With that, one man prepared to write everything down in a notebook and the woman began going through hand seals. Boar → Rat → Snake → Ox → Dog → Bird were the seals performed, before her hand touched the seal on the flow, which glowed.

"Shitai Kaiseki no Jutsu." She stated as the seal fully activated.

At first the body was reconstructed, showing injuries and other things leading to the mans death, which revealed that it was indeed, Shuriken to critical blood vessels and to the vertebrae. The second effect didn't go off, which meant no Chakra was used in the murders. The 3rd and final step was the same, as it was meant to break down substances, more specifically, poison used in the murder, yet it too detected nothing. 

How was this happening? It was simple, the seal around the body acts as a barrier and sensory field which scans and dissects a body's bodily data on the molecular level, the barrier shows the data collected, things like injuries, chakra residue, and poisons. All of it to ascertain the exact causes of death, if it was Jutsu related, trauma related, substance related, and much much more. 

A literal Autopsy Jutsu, or more accurately, corpse analysis Jutsu.

The male was documenting the results, and handed it to Fugaku, who took a close look.

"Nothing major, I see. I guess this will be a case of Forensics on the weapon."

"Yes."

"Thank you, Doctor Marin, and Doctor Rika," Fugaku thanked the Doctor for his efforts. It was something he did when he was helped by someone outside his clan.

"No, it's nothing, Fugaku." Both Doctors stated at the same time.

With that sorted, Fugaku left the building with the result in his hand. 

He entered the Forensics building entering a room he knew his team would use. The room was sterile, clean and had several tables, all holding the same sealing formulae on it.

It was about the size of a Coin. A circular line acts as a boundary, in lines there's four quadrants, each quadrant had a small inscription on it. In the upper left was "Blood", the upper right was "Fingerprint", lower left was "Residue", and finally there was on lower right, "Chakra". Within the centre there was another inscription, "Analysis". 

It seemed as if it was already done, as the others in the room looked surprised. 

"Fugaku Sama, look at this."

He did, and what he saw shocked him. The perpetrator of the crime was a nobody?

"Are you absolutely certain that she is the one who did it?" He asked. His suspicions must have been right, yet once again.

"Sorry, we did it 3 other times, and confirmed that it was her who committed the crime."

"I see, there was no need to apologise, I'm just surprised, who taught her Shurikenjutsu to this level? Or did she always hold this skill, just never showed it? Is she a spy from another village? That's what's going through my mind right now." Fugaku said that but in truth, he had to suspect that the evidence was tampered with, or Hikari was framed, and that would be hard to prove. Both would be hard. 

Fugaku could only wait.

Several weeks would pass by, the suspect was detained, questioned, and was not released, there was hard evidence against her after all. Then finally, what follows everything when it comes to crime, a trial.

The trial room was a massive circular chamber with a high ceiling with little light from the lights around the room. The walls are made of smooth, dark stone, etched with intricate carvings that depict the history and hierarchy of the Village.

At the centre of the room is a lonely raised platform, surrounded by a low, circular railing made of polished wood. This would be where the accused stood. 

The front of the room has a chair elevated above the rest, a grand chair carved from dark oak, adorned with the village's symbol etched into the headrest. The Hokage's seat. The seats flanking him are his advisors' seats which are slightly less elevated. 

On either side of the room, stone benches are arranged in rows. To the right sits the prosecution, led by a stern shinobi in formal attire. Behind them are key witnesses, village officials, and clan representatives. To the left is a similar arrangement for the defence, though it is less populated.

The lightbulbs that casted the glow were surrounded by sealing arrays, which had 3 Kanji repeated meaning "Suppress", "Physical", and "Spiritual" which meant that it was suppressing any and all Chakra in the room. Stopping those from using any Jutsu which may disrupt the trial. 

ANBU members stand silently in the shadows, ensuring security for their Hokage and Villagers. 

Everyone had gathered, and the trial was ready to start, but first, the Hokage addressed the village, his village.

"Today, we gather not just for justice, but to uphold the very principles that bind our village together—order, loyalty, and accountability. A grave crime has been committed, one that has shaken the foundation of trust we place in each other. The loss of three lives is not something we take lightly, nor is the betrayal of our values." He started, his tone calm yet authoritative, his eyes conveying a hint of anger, for anyone who dares it. "As Hokage, it is my duty to ensure that justice is served without bias or hesitation. The evidence before us is clear, but justice is not simply about punishing the guilty. It is about understanding the truth, ensuring that every voice is heard, and that no stone is left unturned." The old man spoke with wisdom, his years as Hokage showing in this instance. "In this trial, we will find that truth. The accused will be given the chance to defend themselves, and we will listen, for even in the darkest of circumstances, we must remain fair and just. However, let it be known—those who break the laws of Konoha will face the full weight of this village's judgement. Our laws are not just rules; they are the bonds that keep us united in times of peace and protect us in times of war." His eyes laid upon the others waiting to bring the accused to the room. "Bring the accused in and let the trial," he paused, letting his next word sink in, "commence."

The room fell into a tense silence as the heavy wooden doors creaked open, revealing Hikari. She stepped forward, flanked by two ANBU guards. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with disbelief and dread. She walked slowly toward the raised platform at the centre of the room, the platform where she would stand trial.

The Hokage's gaze followed her every step, and the room was alive with quiet whispers from the crowd. Hikari's face, usually so full of warmth, was now a canvas of anxiety, her every movement watched by villagers, clan heads, and shinobi alike.

As she took her place on the platform, the Hokage's voice cut through the murmurs like a blade.

"Let the trial begin."

The village's senior prosecutor, an older shinobi with greyish blonde hair slicked back tightly, rose from his seat. His sharp eyes scanned the room before settling on Hikari. His voice was cold and steady as he addressed the Hokage and the court.

"Honourable Hokage, esteemed council members, and witnesses. Today, we stand to deliberate over the heinous crime that has left three of our own dead, and the weight of evidence brings us to the defendant before you. Hikari, a caretaker at the Konoha orphanage, has been charged with the murder of two men and a woman, their lives cruelly taken with precise strikes from shuriken."

The prosecutor motioned to the court's scribe, who stood by, ready to document every word.

"Let us begin with the facts," he continued, his tone measured, though his gaze was unyielding. "Three shuriken were found embedded in the necks of the victims. The forensics team has confirmed the presence of the accused's fingerprints on the weapons used. There is no question as to the method of their deaths, but we must now seek the truth of how those weapons came to be in her hands."

He gestured towards a table where the evidence had been meticulously laid out: photographs of the crime scene, reports, and sealed bags containing the very shuriken used in the murders.

The first witness was called forward—a young man from the Konoha Forensics Team. He was a serious figure, his face set in a grim expression as he took his place at the witness stand. His eyes met the Hokage's briefly before he nodded, ready to testify.

"State your name and role," the prosecutor began.

"My name is Amane Uchiha, forensic specialist with the Konoha Police Force."

"Amane, could you please explain to the court the findings of your investigation?"

Amane nodded and began detailing the crime scene. "Upon arrival, we found three bodies, each with shuriken embedded in their necks. Based on the trajectory and depth of the wounds, it was clear these were not accidental strikes. The placement suggests a deliberate and skilled attack. Fingerprints were lifted from the shuriken, and they match those of the accused, Hikari."

Hikari's lips quivered at the mention of her name, but she remained silent. Her eyes scanned the room, perhaps seeking a sympathetic gaze, but none met her in return.

The prosecutor nodded. "So, to confirm, the physical evidence—the fingerprints—place the weapon used in the hands of the accused?"

"Correct," Amane responded. "There's no doubt about it."

"Thank you, Amane," the prosecutor said before turning to face Hikari. "The evidence is clear, and we will come back to it. But first, let us hear from those who knew the accused."

Next, a witness from the orphanage was brought forward. It was an elderly woman, her face lined with concern. She had known Hikari for years, having worked alongside her in caring for the children.

"Please state your name and role at the orphanage," the prosecutor asked.

"I am Hisako, and I have been a caretaker at the orphanage for over twenty years," the old woman replied, her voice wavering slightly.

"Hisako-san, what can you tell us about Hikari's character?"

"Hikari," Hisako began, her voice trembling, "has always been a kind soul. She loved the children as if they were her own. I cannot imagine her committing such a crime. She... she would never harm anyone."

There was a pause. Hisako's words were filled with emotion, and the courtroom seemed to hold its breath.

The prosecutor, however, was unshaken. "And yet, despite her reputation, the evidence stands against her. Did you ever notice anything... strange about her behaviour leading up to the day of the incident?"

Hisako hesitated. "No, not really... although, now that I think about it... she had been distant lately. More quiet. But we all thought it was just the stress of the job. The children, the responsibilities... it can be overwhelming."

The prosecutor raised an eyebrow but did not press further. "Thank you, Hisako. Your loyalty is noted."

Next, the defence was called to question Hisako. Hikari's defence counsel was a younger shinobi, but sharp and determined. He rose, meeting Hisako's gaze with a calm demeanour.

"Hisako-san, you've known Hikari for a long time. Would you say her actions on that day are in line with the person you've known for years?"

"No," Hisako said firmly. "This... this is not her. She's never shown any sign of violence. Not in all the time I've known her."

"Thank you," the defence counsel said, offering Hisako a small nod before turning to the Hokage. "Hokage-sama, I submit that while the physical evidence is undeniable, the character of the accused must also be considered. We must ask ourselves, does this truly seem like an act committed by a caretaker? A woman who has dedicated her life to protecting and nurturing others?"

But even as he spoke, the weight of the evidence seemed insurmountable. His arguments, though impassioned, felt weak against the cold reality of the fingerprints on the shuriken.

The prosecutor took the floor once more, his tone colder this time.

"The defence speaks of character, of a person's history. But we must not let sentiment cloud our judgement. The evidence is irrefutable. And now, we turn to motive."

He gestured towards the table again, where more documents were laid out—letters, financial records.

"We have uncovered something that changes the narrative. Hikari had recently come into financial trouble. Debt. Desperation can drive people to do unspeakable things."

Hikari's eyes widened, her head shaking almost imperceptibly as she whispered, "No..."

The prosecutor continued. "Perhaps this debt was too much. Perhaps she felt the pressure mounting, and in a moment of weakness, she lashed out. Or perhaps... There is something more sinister at play. Either way, the fact remains: the weapons held her fingerprints and the victims are dead."

He turned to face the Hokage now, his expression grim. "It is the responsibility of this court to ensure the safety of our village. And when someone takes a life—when someone violates the trust we place in them—we must act."

There was a long silence in the chamber as the Hokage's eyes narrowed. He looked over at Hikari, his gaze piercing but calm. "Does the accused have anything to say in her defence?"

Hikari's voice trembled as she spoke, barely above a whisper. "I... I didn't do this. I swear it. I don't know how my fingerprints got on those shuriken. I loved those people..."

The Hokage held up a hand to silence her. "We have heard the evidence, Hikari. The fingerprints, the motive, the witnesses. I have listened to your defence, and while your words may speak of innocence, the evidence is clear. You are guilty of these crimes."

The room seemed to exhale in unison, a collective breath of tension finally released.

"With the power vested in me as Hokage of Konohagakure," the Hokage intoned, "I hereby find Hikari guilty of murder. She will be sentenced to life in prison for her crimes. Take her away."

Two ANBU members stepped forward, their masked faces revealing nothing as they led the accused from the courtroom. Hikari's knees buckled slightly as they gripped her arms, her face pale and tears streaming down her cheeks.

The doors closed behind them with a heavy thud, leaving the rest of the room in silence. Justice, as harsh and unyielding as the stone walls that surrounded them, had been served.

Yet, was this truly justice? 

For those that knew the truth, aka you who is reading this right now, it would not be, the woman was framed after all. Yet, logically to those in this very room, it would be the opposite. Hikari was convicted in a truly fair trial. Justice had been served, one way or another. 

In a hidden location, far away from the trail area a man with a bandaged eye stood his eye that was uncovered glanced down as a man with a mask reported the outcome of the trial, and the consequences of it. 

"An orphanage will no longer be sending us members for you to use, Danzo Sama," The voice spoke, his tone devoid of emotion. "Hikari being convicted as guilty has led to them distrusting us, leading to this decision, Danzo Sama, seeing as she was the biggest supporter of ROOT there."

Danzo's eye twitched in annoyance at the thought. "Well done, Kōenji, you may go rest for now. I expect you to be here tomorrow for another mission." Danzo spoke, and Kōenji for his part, nodded his head and left. 

Danzo stood there his expression showing distastefulness towards that Orphanage the lost potential there, it was infuriating. Especially since he didn't have many 'tools' to use for his missions right now. Calming himself he had one thought.

"This is a setback, an inconvenience, the ROOT will grow elsewhere."

[Jutsu used]

Futon: Shisha no Fuku (Breath of the deceased)

Description: Designed for investigators at a crime scene the user channels wind chakra into a corpse, creating a gentle but precise airflow that dislodges and removes weapons or foreign objects embedded in the body without causing additional damage.

Hand Seals: Bird → Snake → Dog

Rank: D

Shitai Kaiseki no Jutsu (Corpse Analysis Technique)

Description: Designed specifically for performing detailed autopsies on a deceased body to gather intelligence it is unlike traditional Iryojutsu, this technique is used to analyse the body of a dead person, uncovering valuable information such as cause of death, hidden injuries, foreign substances, or even remnants of chakra-based attacks. It is a mix with Fuinjutsu to help with this as well.

Hand Seals: Snake → Bird → Ox → Ram → Dragon → Rat

Rank: B

Fuinjutsu: Buki Kansa Fūin (Weapon Analysis Seal)

Description: Allows the user to analyse murder weapons at a crime scene using a small pre-drawn sealing formula. When the weapon is placed on the table with the sealing formula, chakra is activated to scan and record vital information about the weapon, such as blood traces, fingerprints, and chakra residue.

Hand Seals: Boar → Rat → Horse

Rank: D