The people from the Hidden Cloud Village left.
Yugito Nii, still a captive, was completely confused by this turn of events.
"So… what exactly is going on?!"
"I feel like I just came out for a walk; I didn't understand anything."
However, no one was particularly concerned with Yugito Nii's opinion at the moment.
After a moment of silence, Nara Shikaku walked over to Aoyama Ryuyun's side.
"Lord Ryuyun, did you intentionally let them leave?"
Nara Shikaku didn't believe that, with Aoyama Ryuyun's strength, he couldn't have pursued Ay, the Fourth Raikage, and his group.
He wasn't the only one with that thought — many of the surrounding Konoha Ninja were also looking at Aoyama Ryuyun curiously.
"Yes."
Without hiding anything, Aoyama Ryuyun nodded naturally.
"After all, compared to those brutes from the Hidden Cloud Village, I'm more looking forward to the upcoming show."
"A show?"
Nara Shikaku recalled that Aoyama Ryuyun's purpose for coming to the conference room today had been to "watch a show."
But Ay, the Fourth Raikage, had already left. Was there still a show to see?
Shikaku was about to ask further — but the "show" Aoyama Ryuyun had mentioned had already begun.
"Enemy attack! There's an enemy attack!"
At that moment, Sarutobi Shinnosuke came running back with several Ninja, including Asuma Sarutobi. His face was filled with panic.
However, when he saw Aoyama Ryuyun standing there unharmed, surrounded by Konoha Ninja, Shinnosuke froze in confusion.
What's going on? This isn't what I expected!
Impossible! My plan was perfect! There's no way something went wrong!
Could it be that the Hidden Cloud only rescued the Two-Tails Jinchūriki and didn't attack the camp at all?!
Thinking that, Shinnosuke hurriedly shouted, "Everyone! The Hidden Cloud has attacked! The Two-Tails Jinchūriki might already have been taken away! We must quickly—"
"Hey! Are you blind? I'm right here!"
Yugito Nii, whose name was mentioned, couldn't help shouting in exasperation.
She looked at Sarutobi Shinnosuke with an odd expression, feeling that this Konoha Jōnin must be a little brain-dead.
"Huh?!"
Shinnosuke froze, staring blankly at Yugito Nii, completely speechless.
In Shinnosuke's plan, the Hidden Cloud forces were supposed to have already raided the Konoha camp.
So, to avoid being caught in the attack, he had taken his younger brother and a few Ninja out of camp under the pretense of a "patrol."
But the reality before him was completely different.
Worse yet, he could sense the shift in the atmosphere — in the past, Konoha Ninja had always looked at him with respect because he was the Hokage's son.
Now, that respect was gone.
In its place were cold, hostile stares.
"Wh… what's wrong?"
For some reason, a terrible premonition rose in Shinnosuke's heart.
"Sigh."
Nara Shikaku let out a helpless sigh and shook his head.
He knew that Shinnosuke was finished. There was nothing left to say — the man's actions were beyond forgiveness.
Aoyama Ryuyun smiled faintly and looked at Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
"Actually, the Ninja from the Hidden Cloud have already been here."
"Huh?"
Still confused, Shinnosuke looked at him blankly.
Aoyama Ryuyun slowly explained, recounting what Ay, the Fourth Raikage, had said earlier — about Shinnosuke leaking Konoha's military information to the enemy.
As Ryuyun spoke, Shinnosuke's expression shifted from confusion to sheer terror.
"Slander! That's absolute slander!"
He couldn't admit it — not now, not ever.
But his frantic denial only made him look guiltier.
"This must be a conspiracy by the Hidden Cloud! I'm the son of the Third Hokage — how could I possibly betray the village!?"
Shinnosuke wasn't stupid.
He knew that passing intelligence to the enemy during wartime was a capital offense.
Even being the Hokage's son wouldn't save him from punishment — not when so many had witnessed the accusation firsthand.
If he admitted it, his life would be over.
He steeled his resolve — no matter what they said, he would deny everything.
Seeing this, Aoyama Ryuyun chuckled lightly.
"You haven't forgotten the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique, have you?"
"Th-this…"
Shinnosuke's face went pale as he turned to look at Inoichi Yamanaka standing beside Nara Shikaku.
The Yamanaka Clan's secret jutsu could dive into a person's mind — words weren't needed; if someone was guilty, it would be seen.
"If you believe you haven't done it," Aoyama Ryuyun said calmly, "then why not let Inoichi check?"
Under Shinnosuke's shocked gaze, Inoichi Yamanaka stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"Lord Shinnosuke," he said evenly, "please cooperate."
"No! Absolutely not!"
Panic flooded Shinnosuke's voice.
He couldn't allow it. If they checked, everything would be exposed.
But by now, Konoha's Ninja had already surrounded him from all sides. Even if he wanted to run, there was nowhere left to go.
"Wait! What exactly is going on?!"
Asuma finally shouted in confusion.
When his elder brother had insisted they leave camp earlier "to patrol," Asuma had already thought it strange.
Since when did the Hokage's sons handle routine patrols?
Still, he hadn't disobeyed.
But now, seeing everyone's eyes fixed on his brother — eyes filled with hostility — Asuma's confusion turned to disbelief.
He stepped in front of Shinnosuke instinctively.
"Wait! We are the Hokage's sons! What are you planning to do?"
"Haven't you figured it out yet?" Nara Shikaku said flatly. "Shinnosuke betrayed the village."
"What?!"
Asuma's eyes went wide with shock. He refused to believe it.
His brother, a traitor? Impossible!
But when he turned toward Shinnosuke, he saw only panic and guilt on his brother's face.
Shinnosuke didn't need to say a word — the truth was written all over him.
"Wait!"
Still, Asuma refused to move aside.
He looked directly at Aoyama Ryuyun, voice trembling but firm.
"Even if my brother really did it… it should be Hokage-sama who judges him! You don't have the authority to do that!"
Would the Third Hokage truly judge his own son?
Perhaps. But it would only be for show. In the end, Sarutobi Shinnosuke would walk away alive — that much, everyone knew.
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