Infighting Resumes, Hiruzen's Mind

Chapter 32: Infighting Resumes, Hiruzen's Mind

Danzo didn't move because he thought Homura would move first, but Homura also felt that Danzo would move first. As for Koharu, she belonged to the same camp as Homura, so as long as Homura moved, she didn't have to move. 

The three of them belonged to two different camps at that time, and they were all waiting for the other to make the first move.

As a result, a strange scene unfolded in the meeting room. Sarutobi Hiruzen waited for a long time while the other three sat there motionless, none of them willing to take the scroll.

"What are you three doing?" Finally, Sarutobi Hiruzen became angry and threw the scroll directly at Homura, ending the standoff.

Danzo snorted in displeasure, but it was futile. After reading the information on the scroll, Homura expressed his thoughts.

"Homura, tell me your opinion," Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Homura and asked for his input.

He asked Homura first because the intelligence content was related to Fujiki and Chiba, especially Chiba. These two individuals had returned together the previous evening.

After collecting his thoughts, Homura began to speak. "Last night, I speculated that Chiba used a cesspit to attack Rosa, forcing him to retreat. But now I realize I was mistaken."

"Based on Orochimaru's information, let me reconstruct the situation at that time." 

Homura tapped the table while speaking slowly. "Fujiki encountered Rosa and was incapacitated by a bull-like entity arranged by Danzo. At that moment, Chiba arrived and engaged in a confrontation with Rosa. However, Rosa's subordinates had finished dealing with the guard ninjas, so they also joined the battle."

As Homura reasoned about the battle, the others listened attentively. However, Danzo squinted, his mind drifting elsewhere. It was clear that Homura was targeting him. Why did he refer to the bull-like entity as arranged by Danzo when it was actually arranged by Hiruzen?

Homura continued his reasoning. "Chiba used an Earth Style jutsu to create a swamp cesspit, trapping all the Sand Shinobi within it. He probably believed that the swamp cesspit would gradually submerge the Sand Shinobi, so he left with Fujiki. However, Rosa managed to escape using the corpses of his subordinates as a foothold..."

Homura's reasoning made a lot of sense. Among the people present, he was the only one with a keen sense of deduction and a meticulous mind. In past battles, his deductions and reconstructions of combat situations had always been accurate.

"Wait a minute! I think there must have been another Earth Style ninja involved," Utatane Koharu interjected, expressing her dissent.

Koharu found it hard to believe that Chiba, who had been a commoner just a few days ago, could almost wipe out Rosa. How could someone go from being a commoner to a Jōnin in a matter of days? It seemed too absurd.

Homura was slightly taken aback by Koharu's remark, while Danzo was ecstatic inside. He quickly grabbed the scroll and began to read its contents.

"Hmph! Thanks to your deduction skills, Homura, you claim that Chiba, who has only awakened his abilities a few days ago, is capable of using a swamp cesspit that can trap so many Sand Shinobi?" Danzo sneered, refuting Homura's deduction directly.

After speaking, he made eye contact with Koharu and nodded subtly, indicating their agreement. Danzo and Koharu had managed to form a united front, catching Homura off guard.

"Oh? So neither of you believe that Chiba did it?" Sarutobi Hiruzen remained calm, showing no expression.

"That's right!" Koharu and Danzo both nodded.

Homura's face flushed with frustration, clearly irritated by Koharu's foolishness. He knew that Danzo was exploiting Koharu's low intelligence to suppress him.

"Very well then! Let's move on. Next, let's discuss the reconstruction of Supply Station No. 1..." Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand, changing the subject.

The meeting concluded shortly afterward. Before leaving, Danzo wore an expression of great pride, almost tilting his chin up to the sky. "Koharu, let's go!"

Danzo even addressed Koharu, which sent shivers down Homura's spine.

After the others left, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. Suddenly, his figure transformed into smoke and disappeared from the meeting room.

He made his way to the Sarutobi clan residence and specifically to his son Asuma's room, hands still behind his back.

"Huh? Where's Asuma?" Sarutobi Hiruzen exclaimed upon finding the room empty, calling out towards the door.

Soon, an Anbu appeared and bowed before him. "Reporting, Hokage-sama, Asuma is training at the training ground."

"Go and bring him back," Hiruzen instructed lightly. He stood there with his hands behind his back, waiting.

Having learned from the lessons of Homura's son, there was no way Hiruzen would allow his own son to go to the supply station. He was even more concerned about Asuma's safety.

Therefore, he thought of the renowned capital city. It was far away from the ninja battles and, at the same time, would help strengthen the favor of the daimyo.

As for Chiba, he could serve as Asuma's protector.

Whether they believed it or not, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as the Hokage, was 100% convinced that Chiba was responsible for killing the Sand Shinobi and nearly killing Rosa!