After Uchiha Kagami left to carry out his task, the discussion turned more serious.
Orochimaru, unable to hold back, said impatiently, "Sensei, I believe it's necessary to search the Hyuga clan. There must be some clues."
Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his pipe, lit it slowly and took a puff before answering calmly.
"As the future Hokage, you need to understand the weight your words carry and the responsibility that comes with them. Even if you speak carelessly or without any particular intention, people will interpret your words in their own way and draw their own conclusions.
Do you realize that what you just said could easily stir up trouble and create unrest throughout the village?
I have to say, I'm deeply disappointed in your behavior just now."
"Search the Hyuga clan?" Hiruzen repeated, his expression growing stern. "What justification do you have for such a demand? You have no evidence to support your suspicions. Do you truly believe you can order an investigation into one of the village's most prominent clans on a whim? Who taught you to act with such blatant disregard for protocol?"
Orochimaru stood his ground, refusing to back down. "The Hyuga are in charge of the Security Department. That makes them directly responsible for this situation. Their failure to fulfill their duties is what allowed this mess to happen."
Hiruzen gently put his pipe down and spoke with a quieter tone.
"Suspicion by itself is not sufficient grounds for such drastic action. You may reprimand them for their incompetence or even remove the head of the Security Department from their position. However, you cannot justify raiding their compound based on mere speculation.
You claim the Hyuga are behind all of this. Very well, Orochimaru tell me, what reason would they have to do such a thing?"
Orochimaru paused in silence, beginning to think carefully.
That was precisely where the problem lay.
The village was at peace and Hyuga Tenji still held his position on the village council. Although he rarely took sides in political matters, his presence remained an important factor in maintaining the delicate balance of power.
If the Hyuga truly intended to undermine the Uchiha, why would they target children first? Children posed little threat in combat. If their goal was to weaken the Uchiha clan, eliminating even a single jōnin would have a far greater impact. Moreover, ambushing a jōnin outside the village would be considerably easier and less risky than kidnapping a child within its walls.
Everyone knew that the Hokage placed great importance on education. Any attempt to harm or interfere with the students would be seen as a direct challenge to his authority, almost certainly prompting a thorough investigation.
Besides, if the true objective was to cripple the Uchiha clan's future, why abduct their children one at a time? A single, large-scale incident would have been far more effective. This approach was not only unnecessarily dangerous but also remarkably inept.
Watching Orochimaru sink into contemplation, Hiruzen gave him one final hint.
"All four are children that share theUchiha blood. What do you think that implies?"
Now, Orochimaru's mind raced.
If the goal was to steal Sharingan, it didn't make sense. Out of the four, three hadn't awakened it yet. Was it about the bloodline itself?
Then maybe the plan was to brainwash or secretly raise them, wait a few years and train them to be useful. At the very least, they could be used to continue the bloodline.
Orochimaru frowned. "Sensei… is it possible that another village is behind this?" he asked hesitantly. "I've already investigated the backgrounds of all the exchange student teams, but everything checks out. They've kept a low profile and I haven't found anything suspicious about any of them."
He had been convinced that he was on the verge of uncovering the truth, yet the investigation findings refused to support his suspicions. The lack of evidence only deepened his frustration.
Noticing Orochimaru's growing unease, Hiruzen finally broke his silence and offered a response.
"Orochimaru… I have a fairly good idea of who might be responsible for this. Leave the matter to me. I'll handle it personally."
He paused for a moment before continuing, his tone turning serious.
"Now, there's something I need you to do."
"First, announce publicly that several members of the Uchiha bloodline have gone missing within Konoha. Based on the evidence gathered so far, we suspect the involvement of other ninja villages. Send formal letters to the relevant countries demanding an explanation. At the same time, have the Anbu discreetly monitor the exchange student teams from those villages.
"Second, organize a coordinated internal operation. Bring the Security Department, Patrol Division, Customs Office and Barrier Team together to conduct a comprehensive investigation throughout the village. Examine every lead, inspect every suspicious detail and leave no possibility unexplored."
"This will be your test, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru frowned slightly and asked, "Sensei… can you tell me who's behind this?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Not yet. When the time comes for you to succeed me as Hokage, I'll tell you everything about the hidden truths of the shinobi world. It's far more complicated than you imagine, filled with secrets, obscure bloodlines and countless forbidden techniques. You still have much to learn, so don't be impatient. Focus on improving your abilities and mastering the art of governing the village."
The true purpose behind directing suspicion toward the other villages went far beyond the disappearance of the Uchiha children. It was a calculated political maneuver, intended to reaffirm Konoha's position of dominance and undermine the growing confidence of its rivals.
However, the plan required a delicate balance. Hiruzen had no intention of triggering an actual war. The objective was to exert pressure, remind the other villages of Konoha's strength and keep them wary without pushing the situation beyond the point of no return.
The internal investigation served a different purpose. It was designed to shake the village's administrative departments out of their complacency and force them to work together. For too long, each department had operated independently, concerned only with its own duties while neglecting the bigger picture.
Hiruzen wanted that to change. He intended to use this incident as an opportunity to break down those barriers, strengthen coordination and teach them to function as a unified system rather than a collection of disconnected parts.
At its core, however, this was about preparing Orochimaru for leadership. It was a chance to cement his authority and signal to the influential clans that he was the chosen successor. Naturally, some would begin to align themselves with him.
If Orochimaru succeeded, his reputation would grow. If he stumbled, Hiruzen would step in to manage the fallout.
"Come along," Hiruzen said as he rose from his seat. "Let's head to the conference room. Pay close attention to how I deal with this situation. There's a great deal you can learn from observing."
Orochimaru followed closely behind him.
By the time they reached the conference room, several important figures had already gathered.
Hinata Nobusumi, head of the Security Department, stood alongside several guards. The head of the Patrol Division was unavailable, so his deputy, Uchiha Yashiro, had come to his place. The Customs Department was in a similar situation, with deputy head Sarutobi Shinya attending in place of his superior.
Yamanaka Yoshigyu, the newly appointed leader of the Barrier Team, was also present. Orochimaru and Sakumo settled into the two seats to Hiruzen's right, with Orochimaru occupying the first and Sakumo the second. Across from them, the seat of honor on Hiruzen's left remained vacant, reserved for Uchiha Kagami.
Although Orochimaru and Sakumo might surpass Kagami in combat prowess, Kagami's political standing afforded him greater prestige in such a gathering.
Meanwhile, Nara Shikashin quietly took his place at the clerk's desk, preparing to document the proceedings.
It wasn't long before Uchiha Kagami arrived, accompanied by four people, two men and two women. After ushering his companions to their designated seats, he took the place reserved for him beside Hiruzen.
Judging by their presence, the four individuals accompanying him were most likely the parents of the missing children.
Hiruzen rose from his seat and addressed them with sincerity.
"Welcome, and thank you for coming. I speak to you today not only as Hokage, but on behalf of both the Security Department and the Education Department. We all bear responsibility for what happened to your children while they were enrolled at the Ninja Academy."
He then bowed deeply to the parents.
"Please accept our deepest apologies."
Straightening in his seat, Hiruzen addressed the four Uchiha parents.
"I've called this meeting to bring everyone together and uncover the truth behind your children's disappearance. Any information you can provide, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could give us a valuable lead."
He then gestured toward the officials gathered around the table.
"I've also summoned representatives from every department involved in this matter, including Security, Education, Patrol, Customs, Anbu and the Barrier Team. We'll work together to examine every detail and make certain that nothing escapes our attention."
His gaze shifted to the assembled officials, and his tone grew more authoritative.
"I expect every department to devote its full resources and attention to this investigation. Give it everything you have. We must pursue every possible lead and do everything within our power to uncover the truth. These parents deserve answers and we must do all we can to restore their peace of mind."