"Lord Elder, what you said is very true."
"It must be Senju Tobirama, that naturally evil old Senju demon, who used tricks behind the scenes to deceive the Hokage and Kōkage!"
"Once we find out the truth... we can punish him for ineffective handling of the case!"
The corners of the Uchiha Great Elder's mouth curled up, a smile appearing on his face.
The proposal of the Lord Elder of the Land of Fire simply spoke to his heart.
Since the briefing where the family was humiliated by Senju Tobirama stepping on their heads, losing face in front of the entire Konoha, the Uchiha clan had been holding back their anger, but suffering from not finding a legitimate excuse to attack Senju Tobirama.
Now a good opportunity actually fell from the sky!
The Lord Elder of the Land of Fire took a deep breath. He looked up at the Uchiha Great Elder, somewhat resentful that he didn't meet expectations.
He had already reminded him so obviously.
A mere crime of ineffective handling of the case, how could it be enough to deal with Senju Tobirama?
Even if this crime was pinned on Senju Tobirama, it wouldn't cause him any substantial harm.
It would be nothing more than holding it high and putting it down gently.
After all, the country is the country, and the ninja village is the ninja village. The Land of Fire cannot interfere in the internal power of Konoha. Senju Hashirama cannot strip Senju Tobirama of everything just because of this small mistake.
"Great Elder, don't you think the assassination of my whole family is also related to Senju Tobirama?"
"Otherwise, why would Senju Tobirama deliberately deceive the Hokage and Kōkage?"
"Lord Elder, you mean... Senju Tobirama planned the assassination against you?"
"You must be joking."
"Senju Tobirama... doesn't have the guts..."
The Uchiha Great Elder was somewhat incredulous. This was an angle he, as a traditional ninja, had never considered.
He was so shocked that he subconsciously started to make excuses for Senju Tobirama.
There was no helping it.
Konoha is the guardian ninja village of the Land of Fire, and Senju Tobirama, as a high-level official of Konoha and the Hokage's brother, could do such a treasonous thing?
If this is true...
That would be an unprecedented huge scandal!
According to the legacy of the Warring States period and the current tradition of the ninja world, ninjas have always been tools for noble people like the Lord Elder... Now the sharpest blade turns against its master?
If such news spreads, the entire Konoha will be swept by the public opinion of the ninja world.
"Hmph, what's impossible about this."
"Looking at the entire Land of Fire, besides him, who else can accurately grasp my travel plan? Who else can gather a group of elite ninjas in such a short time to kill my whole family? The most critical thing is the motive. He either learned the news from within your Uchiha clan or intercepted the news of my secret contact with you from the spies planted around me.... So he took the risk."
"Having both ability and behavioral motive, and once I die, it is most beneficial to him, so Senju Tobirama is the most suspicious!"
The Lord Elder of the Land of Fire analyzed patiently.
Whether from ability, behavioral motive, or the benefits obtained afterward, Senju Tobirama is the most likely suspect.
From the perspective of logical reasoning, the Lord Elder's words were impeccable.
And... this is indeed the truth.
The Uchiha Great Elder didn't know how to refute for a while.
He didn't really want to exonerate Senju Tobirama, but for Konoha.
This matter really involved too much.
Most of Konoha's annual funding expenditure requires financial support from the Land of Fire, and Konoha ninjas also rely on the tasks from the noble lords to make a living.
People eat and horses chew.... everywhere is inseparable from the Land of Fire.
Now that such a scandal has broken out, it is not an exaggeration to say that Konoha will experience a social death directly.
"It's just suspicion, isn't it... Lord Elder."
"So, this requires your Uchiha clan to verify this conjecture. What I want is a truth!"
"And if it really is Senju Tobirama who did this, this is a great thing for your Uchiha clan. Senju Tobirama doing such a thing, even if he is the Hokage's own brother, deserves to be punished. Even the Senju clan will have to bear a huge scandal. At that time, isn't it a certainty that your Uchiha clan will produce a Second Hokage?"
"Maybe even His Highness the Daimyo will favor and support your Uchiha clan."
"What our Land of Fire needs is a Konoha willing to share the worries of His Highness the Daimyo and the nobles, a Konoha that can abide by the laws of the Land of Fire!"
The Lord Elder of the Land of Fire said.
A few words instantly ignited the Uchiha Great Elder's ambition.
Yes.
If this matter was really done by Senju Tobirama, then the Senju clan would have to bear a huge scandal for this, and the Uchiha clan are loyal and righteous people of the Land of Fire. At that time, it would be a certainty for the family to produce a Second Hokage.
Not only will the Lord Elder support the Uchiha, but the Daimyo will also support the Uchiha!
Even the Konoha ninja clans will stand on the Uchiha's side overwhelmingly.... Ninjas can fight, but politically they are a bunch of stinky feet.
And the Konoha ninja clans also know that no matter who you offend, you can't offend the sugar daddy!
"Lord Elder, I understand."
"The Uchiha will help you find out the truth, will not wrong a good person, nor let a bad person go!"
"Then thank you for your hard work, Uchiha."
"Remember, what I want is the truth."
The Uchiha Great Elder spoke plausibly.
He didn't agree immediately to pin this shit pot on Senju Tobirama's head.
But the Lord Elder didn't care. He knew very well that as long as the seed of doubt was planted, it would definitely take root and sprout.
Any clue pointing to Senju Tobirama at the crime scene would be deliberately magnified and infinitely interpreted by the Uchiha Great Elder; then they would follow this direction and continue to dig deep into the clues at the scene—guiding step by step, adding layers, until Senju Tobirama was nailed to the position of the mastermind behind the scenes.
Subsequently, the Uchiha Great Elder hurriedly left the room.
Things having come to this, he dared not delay at all. As soon as he returned to his residence, he took advantage of the cover of night and led the family members to quietly sneak back to the scene of the assassination of the Lord Elder of the Land of Fire.
One night passed quickly.
The next day.
Just as the sky brightened, the Lord Elder of the Land of Fire rode in a small soft sedan chair showing his status and decency, slowly moving to the front of the Daimyo's bedroom.
Along the way, the number of guards beside him far exceeded usual, with layers of vigilance.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire received the Lord Elder almost immediately.
Both of them had dark circles under their eyes. Obviously, they hadn't slept well in the past few days.
"Your Highness, the matter has been settled."
"The Uchiha clan has agreed. They will do their best to investigate the case during this period and will submit a separate investigation report afterwards."
"Lord Elder, tell me in detail..."
The Lord Elder of the Land of Fire initially only intended to briefly report the general situation of the secret talk with the Uchiha Great Elder last night.
But the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had begun to be neurotic and anxious.
He demanded the Lord Elder of the Land of Fire to tell the content of the conversation in detail from beginning to end, lest any important details be missed.
There was no helping it.
The power of the ninja village now is not like in later generations. After several ninja world wars, the strength has declined significantly, giving the Daimyo of the Land of Fire a chance to play the game of checks and balances.
The power of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara is too terrifying.
The Land of Fire really can't withstand the tossing of the ninja village.
And the Lord Elder of the Land of Fire did not disappoint the Daimyo.
From beginning to end, the goal of the Land of Fire was only one, that is to provoke the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan, plunge Konoha into internal friction, and incidentally drag the Akatsuki Ninja Village into the water.
The Lord Elder is still carrying!
Not only did he successfully make the Uchiha Great Elder target Senju Tobirama, but even Uchiha Makoto was suspected by him.
"Lord Elder... thank you for your hard work."
"Your Highness, this is all for the Land of Fire."
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire was full of expectations.
He wanted to relive the scene of the Uchiha clan and the Senju clan fighting like dogs too much.
Only in this way can he, the Daimyo, have the opportunity to stand high above, constantly increasing or decreasing chips on both sides, making them evenly matched, making them full of hatred, making them kill each other!
The Lord Elder of the Land of Fire nodded gloomily.
He has lived up to the Land of Fire in his life.
Just as the monarch and minister were conspiring, suddenly the Daimyo of the Land of Fire sensed something.
"Who is there, didn't I say no one can come in?"
"Your Highness, the Kōkage, the Hokage... they are here, requesting an audience with you."
The attendant said tremblingly.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire snorted coldly and drank the tea in the cup beside the table in one gulp.
"I know, let them wait, I'll go change clothes!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Before long, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire appeared in front of Uchiha Makoto and his party.
He was still unsmiling, but his expression had changed, and kindness clearly flowed between his brows.
Of course... it must be fake.
"Hokage, Kōkage, you happen to be here too. I have read all the investigation reports you submitted yesterday."
"... It's not that I don't trust your ability, but is this really a coincidence?"
"Where did the rogue ninjas come from, not only with good strength but also with such courage, daring to assassinate me... Such a thing didn't even happen during the most chaotic period of the Warring States period. How can such a thing happen in peaceful times now?"
"Could it be that your two major ninja villages protect our Land of Fire like this?"
The Lord Elder spoke first.
His tone was obviously not good, full of sarcasm.
But it was also appropriate for the Lord Elder to speak like this.
After all, he was the biggest victim of the assassination incident. His family members died or were injured.
Overcome with grief and emotional loss, it is human nature to speak impulsively.
Sitting high on the chair, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire did not speak, looking at the people below the stage with a smile.
This was what the two had just discussed.
Even if it was really bandits causing trouble, Konoha and the Akatsuki Ninja Village couldn't escape involvement!
Now is the time to show the majesty of the Daimyo and nobles to the ninja village. We must seize this opportunity to give this group of ninjas some trouble.
Hearing this, Senju Hashirama immediately looked embarrassed.
Konoha is the guardian ninja village of the Land of Fire, and he himself is the Hokage of Konoha. Now such a vicious incident has occurred in the Land of Fire—a country's Lord Elder can be assassinated by rogue ninjas!
Undoubtedly, he, the Hokage, is guilty!
And Senju Tobirama's mood was even more complicated.
He was guilty amidst nervousness.
Nervousness is easy to understand.
After all, Senju Tobirama is the mastermind murderer of the assassination of the Lord Elder. Now the victim, the Lord Elder of the Land of Fire, questions the investigation result in front of him.... It's impossible not to be nervous!
In case the Daimyo and the Lord Elder of the Land of Fire do not recognize this investigation report and demand a thorough reinvestigation, they can only obey orders obediently.
Although his brother is stupid and was fooled by him and Uchiha Makoto this time, it is impossible to fool him every time.
Once a little clue is found...
The consequences are simply unimaginable.
As for guilt... Senju Tobirama boarded Uchiha Makoto's pirate ship unwillingly.
This guy, accustomed to the thinking of Warring States ninjas for most of his life, still maintains basic loyalty to the Daimyo and the Lord Elder. Wielding a knife at these people is really a helpless move.
If Uchiha Makoto hadn't insisted, he wouldn't have done such a treasonous thing.
And Uchiha Makoto sat on the chair, blowing on his tea and drinking, looking indifferent.
It is only because of the limitations of this era that forcibly putting on the clothes of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire would make the Akatsuki Ninja Village enemies with the whole world, and even the always stable interior of the village would become unstable.
Otherwise, he would have changed his clothes long ago.
"The thoughts of thousands of years are not so easy to change... Even if Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara fight each other and both go to see the Sage of Six Paths, the Akatsuki Ninja Village will continue to coexist with the Land of Fire for a long time."
Uchiha Makoto thought so while looking at Senju Hashirama.
Just one look, and he wasn't so calm anymore.
"Senju Hashirama, what do you want to do?"
"You don't want to kneel down and plead guilty to the Daimyo, do you!"
"Stand up! No kneeling!"
Once the Hokage kneels down to plead guilty, how can he, the Kōkage, sit aside and drink tea.
Subsequently, Uchiha Makoto could only stand up to defend Senju Hashirama.
"Lord Elder, these words are wrong."
"Times are hard, even ninja villages have difficulties."
"If you want the ninja village to protect the Land of Fire in every aspect, the ninja village also needs manpower. The border of the Land of Fire relies on ninjas for protection. Bandits and rogue ninjas all over the country are wiped out in batches, and they will regenerate like weeds..."
"The ninja village is also difficult!"
"When adults encounter things, don't always look for problems in others."
"Setting everything aside, are you not at fault?"
"Why don't you look for problems in yourself!"
"Have you offended any big enemies over the years? Have you thought about how to solve the difficulties of the ninja village? Have you thought about increasing the funding for the ninja village... Without money, how can our ninja village train more ninjas, how can we protect the Land of Fire?"
"Lord Elder, now because of your negligence over the years, such a big thing has happened. Have you ever seriously reflected on yourself?"
Uchiha Makoto said with a righteous face.
Debating never needs explanation, nor does it need to be reasonable. Any reasonable explanation is showing weakness. Direct attack is the right way!
The ninja village may indeed be at fault.
But are you, Lord Elder, not at fault?
And... the ninja village is not at fault at all!
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