It's Too Troublesome to be Hokage

The former leader of the Jonin Class, the current head of the Analysis Division, and the direct subordinate of the Second Hokage.

The three patriarchs of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans traveled together, their entourage suspected of carrying two corpses...

Even the Uchiha Police Force, responsible for Konoha's internal security, didn't dare to stop and interrogate them. They simply let the group proceed unimpeded through the village.

As for Nara Shikadan and Yakushi Nono, who followed silently behind the clan heads, they were naturally ignored by the crowd—even though they were the victims of this entire incident...

The Ino-Shika-Cho group reached the Hokage Building swiftly.

After a brief procedural report, the trio arrived at the top floor and stepped into the Hokage's office.

"Torifu, Shikano, Inoto, Shikaku."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, seated behind his desk, frowned as he called out their names in order of familiarity—completely ignoring the presence of Nara Shikadan and the others.

"What are you doing here?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze fixed on the body Akimichi Torifu was carrying.

With the perceptive abilities of the Third Hokage, he could easily tell that the one behind Yamanaka Hito was merely unconscious.

"The name of this ninja is Shimura Arata."

Akimichi Torifu threw the body onto the office floor without ceremony.

In the early days, he and Sarutobi Hiruzen had been comrades on the battlefield.

So, he didn't need to speak too politely.

"Hiruzen, you should understand the weight of that name."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brows furrowed even deeper.

"Shimura..."

The Shimura clan was one of the founding ninja families of Konoha.

And the head of the Shimura clan—undoubtedly—was Shimura Danzo!

Why would Torifu bring a dead Shimura clan ninja to my office?

And the unconscious ninja behind Hito… What's the story there!?

And all three Ino-Shika-Cho clan leaders moved at once—why wasn't there any intelligence about this beforehand!?

"Yes, the same Shimura clan Danzo hails from."

Akimichi Torifu nodded, then turned toward Yamanaka Inoto.

Inoto stepped forward and gently laid the unconscious Yamanaka Hayashi on the ground.

"Lord Third."

Compared to Akimichi Torifu, Inoto was more formal in tone.

"This is Yamanaka Hayashi, a jonin from our Yamanaka clan.

"To my knowledge, she joined the Anbu years ago."

"I know her."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Yamanaka Hayashi, who showed no sign of waking, and nodded slightly.

"Yamanaka Hayashi is highly proficient in your clan's secret techniques and excels at monitoring others through animal proxies like birds. That's how she qualified for Anbu."

As Hokage, he may not have known every ninja, but he certainly knew every jonin in the village.

But this particular pair—Shimura Arata and Yamanaka Hayashi—set off all his internal alarms.

His eyes turned to Nara Shikano, who had long retired.

Shikano coughed lightly. Without needing a signal, Nara Shikaku stepped forward.

"Lord Hokage."

The new Jonin Class leader was respectful, but his words cut like a blade.

"A short while ago, Shimura Arata and Yamanaka Hayashi attacked our clan's Genin, Nara Shikadan, as well as the director of Kikyo Orphanage, Yakushi Nono.

"Senior Inoto examined their memories and confirmed—they were acting under orders from above!"

Ridiculous!

That was the only thought in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.

Anbu jonin, following orders, attacking fellow villagers?

This was nearly the same as accusing the Third Hokage of orchestrating secret assassinations within Konoha!

And considering Hayashi's affiliation with the Yamanaka clan, it also hinted at an attempt to drive a wedge between the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance.

Everyone present understood the implications.

Even Yakushi Nono, still dazed by the earlier kiss, realized what was happening.

She was no fool—on the contrary, she was a legendary spy with exceptional skills in gathering intelligence.

She knew that Yamanaka Hayashi and Shimura Arata had been dispatched by Danzo, the Root commander.

She also knew that Shikadan was aware of this.

And yet, in Nara Shikaku's narrative, the blame subtly shifted—not to Danzo, but to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Yakushi Nono lowered her head and gazed at the floor, sneaking a glance at Shikadan beside her.

So this was the plan Shikadan mentioned before...

Yes.

This was Nara Shikadan's strategy.

What was the point in directly confronting Danzo with the evidence?

Everyone already knew Danzo was dirty. He was infamous, despised even within Konoha.

He could easily deny any involvement.

But Sarutobi Hiruzen?

As the "light" of Konoha—he couldn't afford even a speck of darkness.

Danzo carried all the village's sins. Hiruzen had to remain unsullied.

What could Hiruzen say now?

That he didn't know anything about it?

Or worse… that he did?

Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Could he refute Nara Shikaku?

No.

Because even if he didn't know who Shimura Arata was...

Yamanaka Hayashi was undeniably a member of Anbu!

That fact alone tied his hands.

Shimura... Ino-Shika-Cho... Nara... Danzo...!

The clues spun in Hiruzen's mind, and finally, they landed on the most likely culprit.

Shimura Danzo!

"I will give your clans a proper explanation."

Hiruzen finally spoke, solemnly.

He raised his hand. An Anbu emerged from the shadows.

"Go to the Root Division and summon Shimura Danzo."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

But before the Anbu could act—

"No need."

A hoarse voice came from outside the room.

Shimura Danzo pushed open the door and entered, calm and composed.

"I'm already here."

Danzo had already received intelligence about the trio approaching the Hokage Building.

Given Hiruzen's temperament, he chose to appear himself.

"Shimura Arata."

Danzo's eyes fell on the corpse. Anger flickered in them briefly.

"He was a jonin of our Shimura clan. And you—Ino, Shika, and Cho—you dare kill your own comrades in broad daylight? Outrageous!"

Danzo flipped the script as soon as he entered.

"Elder Shimura."

Nara Shikaku spoke coldly.

"Senior Inoto has examined both targets' memories. We are certain that a higher-up ordered them to act."

"You're questioning the Analysis Division's competence?"

"I only see that the Shimura ninja is dead, while the Yamanaka ninja conveniently survives."

Danzo sneered.

"Conveniently, it was her own clan that examined her memory."

He turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"I suggest handing both ninjas to my department. We will verify the memories ourselves.

"And rest assured—when we're done, I'll give everyone here a full report."

Yeah, right.

Everyone present scoffed inwardly.

Hand them to Root? You might as well toss them into a bonfire.

Nara Shikaku didn't respond. He turned to the Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, is this your decision as well?"

Their goal was clear—bypass Danzo and pin the issue squarely on the Hokage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, silent.

He had meant to call Danzo up and play "good cop, bad cop."

But Danzo didn't follow the script.

Just when Hiruzen hesitated—

Danzo stepped in.

"At a time like this, you're causing pointless disturbances. I really don't understand what the Ino-Shika-Cho are thinking!"

Then he dropped a bombshell.

"Did you know? Sunagakure has mobilized its troops. They're searching for their missing Third Kazekage!"

-End Chapter-

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