The atmosphere was unbearably tense.
Mitokado Homura stepped forward to ease the situation.
"Hiruzen, it seems there truly is a base belonging to Uchiha Madara somewhere in this canyon.
Madara's understanding of the village exceeds anything we imagined.
The First Hokage trusted him too much back then. He must have found ways to infiltrate Konoha and obtain internal intelligence.
We must strengthen protection around the Scroll of Seals.
Perhaps Madara learned the Five Elements Great Barrage from it."
Homura's words served as a lifeline for Sarutobi Hiruzen. If no one intervened, it felt like Danzo was about to explode.
The Five Elements Great Barrage was a strategic-level technique capable of massive destructive output.
With enough chakra, its destructive ceiling was practically limitless.
Hiruzen studied the traces of multiple elemental techniques etched into the canyon walls and spoke slowly.
"Each individual jutsu displays elite jonin-level strength. The perpetrator must be at least Kage-level.
That one of Madara's subordinates possesses such power is deeply concerning.
But rather than discuss enemy strength, we should first address the consequences of this tragedy.
Danzo, what are your thoughts? Should Root be rebuilt?"
Yako inwardly speculated.
Was Hiruzen considering using this opportunity to dissolve Root entirely?
In the original history, Danzo had even attempted to assassinate Hiruzen. Had it been because Hiruzen kept trying to curb Root's power?
"My thoughts?" Danzo barked angrily.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen! A traitor has emerged from your Sarutobi clan—Sarutobi Kanosuke!
He used the Five Elements Great Barrage!
You ask for my opinion? I should be asking you! Why did you conceal this Sarutobi Kanosuke?!"
Sarutobi Kanosuke?
Mitokado Homura and Orochimaru turned simultaneously toward Yellow Dog.
Yellow Hound's real name was Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
At that moment, he felt utterly helpless.
Did his old lecher father secretly have an illegitimate child?
He knew Hiruzen well. There had been a period when Hiruzen and Jiraiya frequently snuck into women's bathhouses to peep.
The Hokage himself spying on female villagers!
His mother had given his father no end of grief over it.
Could it really be an illegitimate child who turned rogue out of resentment?
Yellow Dog quickly reconsidered.
His uncle Sarutobi Hiaki and Sarutobi Hiyuu had both learned the Five Elements Great Barrage from his father. It didn't necessarily mean the culprit was Hiruzen's secret son.
Hiaki's son—his cousin Sarutobi Einosuke—had been raised with great expectations and had also studied the technique.
And as for Hiyuu… relying on being the youngest son of Sarutobi Sasuke, he was even more of a womanizer than Hiruzen.
If illegitimate children were the issue, there could be plenty of suspects.
Hiruzen spoke firmly.
"It is absolutely impossible that a Sarutobi clan rogue would side with Uchiha Madara.
I know my clan well. Even if someone turned rogue, they would never align themselves with Madara.
The idea is too absurd. So absurd that…"
He looked toward Homura.
Homura's eyes clearly conveyed a different message:
Precisely because it sounds absurd… it might be true.
Otherwise, how could one explain the Five Elements Great Barrage?
Mastering all five elemental releases was already extremely difficult. To then understand the secret of triggering a secondary explosion through elemental conflict was even rarer.
Aside from the Sarutobi clan, where else could such a technique have been inherited?
Hiruzen continued.
"The Sharingan can copy techniques.
Perhaps during one of my battles, Madara hid nearby and observed the entire exchange, copying the jutsu."
He refused to let the blame fall on the Sarutobi clan, steering the narrative toward Madara instead.
After all, if Madara possessed another forbidden technique, it wouldn't be entirely unbelievable.
At this point, how the Five Elements Great Barrage leaked mattered less than the fact that Madara had become a dire threat to the village.
Danzo spoke again.
"Once we return to the village, two investigations must begin immediately!
First—identify the rogue Sarutobi Kanosuke!
Your Sarutobi clan bears responsibility!
The losses suffered by Root must be compensated by your clan!"
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe and released a slow breath.
It seemed… the Sarutobi clan could not avoid this coming storm.
Yellow Dog felt bitter.
This responsibility would undoubtedly fall onto him.
No matter who he investigated, the result would be painful.
Not to mention Sarutobi Hiaki—the clan's second strongest figure—whose stance would be critical in determining future leadership after Hiruzen.
Why had Madara's subordinate used Hiruzen's signature forbidden technique?
"Very well," he said. "The Sarutobi clan will conduct a full internal investigation. We will leave no stone unturned. Danzo, what is the second investigation?"
Danzo continued.
"My Root unit has been nearly annihilated!
If ANBU or any other squad encountered Madara and his followers, wouldn't they face the same fate?
Madara possesses two of Konoha's greatest bloodlines—the Sharingan and Wood Release.
Even a random subordinate wields the Five Elements Great Barrage.
Such an enemy demands a full-scale response!
Madara is not some aging rogue ninja. He is a threat capable of destroying Konoha.
Engaging him is not a capture operation—it is war!
We must deploy one supreme commander, two deputy commanders, and no fewer than five hundred elite shinobi to wage war against Uchiha Madara!"
Yako felt a twinge of unease.
He had intended to play a precise assassination game with Danzo.
Instead, Danzo, unable to win, had escalated matters into open warfare.
And the problem was obvious:
Danzo would never personally serve as supreme commander.
Root had been wiped out. He no longer had capable subordinates.
"War?" Hiruzen considered briefly, then nodded.
"Who do you believe should serve as supreme commander?"
Danzo's gaze shifted immediately to Orochimaru.
"No," Orochimaru replied without hesitation.
"Leading five hundred shinobi against a single rogue ninja guarantees I lose no matter the outcome.
If we win and kill Madara, what pride is there in five hundred people defeating one man?
If we lose… how could I possibly become the Fourth Hokage after failing with such overwhelming numbers?"
Yako couldn't help glancing around.
Only Hiruzen, Danzo, Homura, Yellow Dog, and himself stood nearby; the rest of ANBU remained at a distance.
Fortunately, none of them heard Orochimaru speaking so… bluntly.
Sometimes Yako envied Orochimaru's freedom—sharp like a venomous snake, yet utterly direct.
Orochimaru continued calmly.
"And besides, the best way to counter Wood Release is to possess Wood Release ourselves.
After switching experimental subjects, progress in Wood Release research has improved significantly. I believe I have found the correct path.
Results may come within one or two years."
The "new experimental subjects" he referred to were children within the village who carried partial Senju bloodlines—like the child of Kazamatsuri Yuzu.
Wood Release experiments were indeed far more effective when conducted on those connected to the Senju lineage.
Homura spoke again.
"Madara's strength is immense. Should Hatake Sakumo serve as supreme commander?"
Hiruzen fell silent.
The three of them—former guards of the Second Hokage—had seen Uchiha Madara with their own eyes as children.
Deep down, they feared him.
When Madara fought them, it had been like an adult striking children.
Literally.