Chapter 38: Hiruzen’s Half-Hearted Explanation—Three Cups of Punishment, Then Never Again?

"You were attacked by Raiga, yet you actually managed to kill him head-on?"

Shisui examined the corpse on the ground.

After confirming that it truly was Raiga of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he was even more astonished.

As a member of the original Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Raiga’s strength was naturally formidable.

For Reiji to kill him in a head-on battle meant that, no matter how one looked at it, Reiji possessed combat strength at the Elite Jonin level.

And he was still so young!

Shisui couldn’t help but think back to himself at the same age.

Although he had already made a name for himself on the battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War, he had never managed to kill an Elite Jonin.

"He came specifically to kill me. He knew that I would be stationed here today, and he also knew detailed information about my strength."

"Besides, the shinobi stationed at the two neighboring outposts should have already been killed."

Reiji’s expression was serious.

However, he didn’t reveal that Danzo was behind everything.

After all, that information had come from Uchiha Obito, and it wasn’t something that could be openly revealed.

Hearing Reiji’s words, Shisui’s expression immediately changed.

There could only be two possible explanations for something like this.

Either someone from Konoha had leaked the information to Kirigakure, or Kirigakure had planted a spy within Konoha.

The latter would at least be easier to accept...

But if it were the former, who would do something so heartless?

Almost instinctively, Shisui was more willing to believe the second possibility.

A Kirigakure spy infiltrating Konoha was much easier to accept than one of their own people betraying their comrades.

After thinking for a moment, Shisui said:

"Fortunately, Kirigakure’s invasion is basically over. Once we return, report this matter to Lord Hokage."

"I believe Lord Hokage will give us an explanation."

"Hopefully."

Reiji said this, but inwardly, he had absolutely no expectations.

Rear Command Center

After reading the report in his hands, Sarutobi Shinnosuke’s expression didn’t look particularly good.

"That Uchiha Reiji actually killed one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"

That brat’s strength is getting stronger and stronger.

Having such a genius from the Uchiha clan was hardly good news for the Sarutobi clan.

"The people stationed at the other two outposts were both killed. Of the three neighboring outposts, only he survived."

"Hmph. He sure was lucky."

Sarutobi Reiji curled his lips.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke frowned.

Suddenly, he remembered the Root shinobi who had come to inspect the deployment records earlier.

He felt as though he had figured something out.

Could Raiga’s target have been Uchiha Reiji specifically?

And could this assassination have something to do with Root?

The more he thought about it, the more certain he became.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke immediately ordered:

"Go to the Uchiha and tell them to send Raiga’s corpse back to the village immediately. Tell them we need to extract the information from his brain as soon as possible."

After giving the order, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

If this really had something to do with Root, he couldn’t give the Uchiha clan an opportunity to use it against the village.

Hokage’s Office

"Lord Hokage, how is the investigation into Raiga’s attack going?"

Uchiha Reiji had just returned to the village.

"Was there a traitor within the village who leaked my information to Kirigakure?"

Inwardly, he had no expectations whatsoever.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke had already taken the corpse away.

Even if Reiji wanted to investigate the matter himself and obtain evidence, he couldn’t do so anymore.

At this point, wasn’t the truth whatever Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to say?

Sure enough, Hiruzen spoke:

"Kirigakure had a spy infiltrate Konoha. That spy obtained information about the shinobi stationed at the outposts, as well as detailed information about your strength, Reiji, and planned an assassination targeting one of Konoha’s young talents."

"Don’t worry. If one of our own people betrayed their comrades, regardless of who they are, I absolutely will not let them off!"

As Hiruzen spoke, his expression was righteous and solemn, as though he were prepared to punish even his own people.

If Shisui had been standing here, he probably would have believed every word.

Reiji, however, sneered inwardly.

Absolutely won’t let them off?

More like three cups of punishment, then never again.

Hiruzen continued with a few more perfunctory remarks before his expression softened.

"Speaking of which, Reiji, after becoming a Chunin, you went straight to the battlefield. You still haven’t decided where you’ll be stationed afterward."

"How about joining the ANBU?"

Reiji almost wanted to gasp.

He couldn’t help but marvel at Hiruzen’s shamelessness.

Where’s your face?

Did you throw it away entirely?!

Danzo was the one who had leaked his information to Kirigakure.

Reiji refused to believe that Hiruzen hadn’t discovered the truth.

Yet Hiruzen hadn’t even given him an explanation.

He had simply brushed the matter aside.

And now he had the nerve to recruit Reiji into the ANBU?

"Sorry, Lord Hokage."

"I plan to join the Konoha Military Police Force. That way, I’ll also have more time to focus on training."

Although his mind was churning with thoughts, Reiji’s expression remained calm as he politely declined.

"I see."

Hiruzen’s face was filled with undisguised disappointment.

He offered a few more words of encouragement.

After Reiji left the Hokage Building, Hiruzen’s expression finally darkened.

"ANBU, summon Danzo."

In Hiruzen’s eyes, Reiji had rejected his offer because of Danzo.

Although Reiji didn’t know that Danzo was behind the incident, it was impossible for him not to have some doubts.

And even if he had believed the story about the Kirigakure spy, Hiruzen’s side had failed to capture any such spy or give him a satisfactory explanation.

Under those circumstances, Reiji’s dissatisfaction was only natural.

If Danzo hadn’t acted on his own, I could have brought both Uchiha Reiji and Uchiha Itachi—the two most promising talents of the Uchiha’s new generation—into my ranks.

Before long, Danzo arrived.

The moment he entered, Hiruzen spoke angrily:

"Danzo, look at the mess you’ve caused!"

Danzo naturally knew what he was referring to.

He didn’t care.

"Nothing happened, did it?"

"Even if we had handed Raiga’s corpse over to the Uchiha, they wouldn’t have found anything."

He had complete confidence in Yamanaka Ryoma’s work.

There wouldn’t be any loose ends.

The only unfortunate part was that they had underestimated Uchiha Reiji’s strength.

Kirigakure had sent one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, yet he still hadn’t been killed.

Danzo didn’t think he had done anything wrong.

Instead, he had become even more wary of Uchiha Reiji.

"Nothing happened?"

Hiruzen was so angry that he almost laughed.

"Uchiha Reiji clearly distrusts the village now. You call that nothing?"

"If you hadn’t acted on your own, we could have gained another Uchiha who was willing to stand with the village!"

Danzo glared coldly.

"Uchiha Reiji is different from Uchiha Itachi."

"Even without this incident, I don’t believe he would have joined your ANBU."

"Besides, the Uchiha clan is already far too powerful."

"Take Uchiha Reiji, for example. Give him a few more years and he’ll become another Uchiha Shisui."

"The Uchiha’s dissatisfaction with the village is growing stronger and stronger."

"What if they launch a coup?"

"If that happens, wouldn’t eliminating one of the Uchiha’s geniuses in advance be a good thing?"

Hiruzen’s brows knitted tightly together.

He took a drag from his pipe and remained silent for a long time.

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