"We didn't find Uchiha Ryūjin when we entered. Only the Hokage's body and the ANBU corpses were there."
"And before we came in, we didn't see him leave either."
In front of Konoha's top officials, Kakashi Hatake repeated his report with a solemn expression.
"In other words, we don't know whether Uchiha Ryūjin is alive or dead?" Shikaku Nara frowned slightly.
He then turned to Homura Mitokado.
"We need to confirm Ryūjin's status immediately."
Homura nodded. He had already anticipated this.
"I've sent people to investigate. Stay calm."
After a short wait, a Root ninja appeared using the Body Flicker Technique and reported,
"It's confirmed. Uchiha Ryūjin returned to the clan compound not long ago."
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier.
Something did not add up.
If Ryūjin was alive, why did he leave without reporting such a major incident?
Based on their reconstruction, the Hokage died shortly after Hiashi Hyuga left.
Everyone present knew why Ryūjin had been kept behind. That kind of conversation could not have ended in seconds.
If Ryūjin walked out unharmed, then there was a high chance he witnessed the assassination.
Unless the Hokage dismissed him almost immediately.
But that explanation was too forced.
More importantly, Ryūjin returned home quietly, without reporting anything.
That alone raised serious suspicion.
On top of that, the timing was too precise.
The Hokage died at the exact moment Ryūjin was facing the possibility of being sacrificed over the Kumogakure incident.
"What's his current condition?" Homura asked.
"He's acting normally. He's eating with his parents."
Silence.
Homura, Shikaku, Hiashi, everyone present went quiet.
The Hokage's body was still lying on the floor in front of them, blood not yet dried.
And Ryūjin was casually eating at home.
Either he was unbelievably calm, or he had nothing to do with it.
"Everyone, your thoughts?"
Homura looked around the room.
"Shikaku, speak."
At Koharu Utatane's prompting, Shikaku nodded.
"Based on current evidence, Ryūjin is highly suspicious. It's possible he left before the Hokage was killed, but the time window is too small."
"So we proceed with the worst-case assumption. He was present at the scene."
A heavy silence followed.
"If that is true, then the key question is simple. Did Ryūjin kill the Hokage?"
No one answered.
Shikaku continued calmly.
"Even if he didn't, the killer must be closely connected to him."
"During Kushina's childbirth, that mysterious Uchiha injured many but killed no one. Even the Hokage survived."
"But now, the Hokage is dead."
"And it happened during the moment Ryūjin was about to be sacrificed."
"It's reasonable to assume the killer acted for Ryūjin."
That conclusion weighed heavily on everyone.
"So regardless of whether Ryūjin is the killer, we must treat him with extreme caution."
"We cannot provoke him further."
"The peace talks with Kumogakure are at a critical stage. We cannot afford another crisis."
The others slowly nodded.
The memory of that mysterious Uchiha's power was still fresh.
No one wanted to gamble Konoha's survival.
"Bring Uchiha Ryūjin here," Homura ordered.
---
"Father, Mother, I've been summoned. I'll be back soon."
Ryūjin spoke casually to Haruo Uchiha and his wife, then followed the Root ninja.
Moments later, he stepped into the Hokage's office.
All eyes turned toward him.
Homura, Shikaku, Hiashi, every major figure present watched him closely.
Ryūjin remained completely calm.
He walked in without hesitation, as if nothing was wrong.
Hiruzen's corpse and the fallen ANBU were impossible to ignore.
Ryūjin glanced once, then looked away.
"Why did you call me?" he asked casually.
It was as if the Hokage's body meant nothing.
That composure did not go unnoticed.
"You don't seem surprised," Koharu said sharply.
"I've seen plenty of dead bodies on the battlefield," Ryūjin replied flatly.
He did not bother acting.
From the moment the Hokage died, suspicion was inevitable.
Pretending would change nothing.
Besides, with his current strength, he did not need to pretend.
"Not like blood bothers me," he added indifferently.
Koharu's expression darkened.
That was not the point, and he knew it.
"Ryūjin," Homura said, cutting in, "you were the last person to see the Hokage. What happened after Hiashi left?"
"Nothing much. He told me to go back and reflect. Then I left."
Ryūjin answered smoothly, without hesitation.
"Was he alive when you left?"
"Yes."
"Did you see anything unusual? Anyone suspicious?"
"No."
Every answer was clean and simple.
No openings.
After a few more attempts, Homura stopped.
"Very well. You may leave."
He paused, then added seriously,
"What you saw here is confidential. Especially the Hokage's death. Not a word to anyone."
Ryūjin blinked slightly.
He had expected pressure, maybe even detention.
Instead, they let him go.
So they were planning something else.
"Yeah, yeah. Got it."
He turned and left without another word.
---
The moment Ryūjin was gone, Homura slammed the table.
"That brat is too arrogant."
"It's safe to say this is connected to him," Shikaku said calmly.
No one disagreed.
"Even if he isn't the killer, he's tied to them. Otherwise, he wouldn't act like that."
Another voice spoke up.
"Then what about the rest of the Uchiha? Fugaku Uchiha? The others?"
"Are they involved too?"
"And what about Obito Uchiha, the one who attacked during the Nine-Tails incident?"
"Did the Uchiha clan know about him all along?"
The questions piled up.
The room grew colder.
If both the Nine-Tails attack and the Hokage's death were tied to the Uchiha, the implications were severe.
Homura's eyes hardened.
"The Uchiha clan cannot be allowed to remain."
That sentence carried weight.
Even the others were startled.
"That's too hasty," Shikaku said immediately. "We don't have proof of their involvement."
"It doesn't matter anymore," Homura replied.
"Even if they weren't involved, what happens when they learn the Hokage is dead?"
"When they realize two Uchiha possess power strong enough to crush Konoha?"
"Do you think they won't be tempted?"
No one answered.
"They're already searching for Obito and the other one. You think that's just curiosity?"
"And when they find them, can you guarantee they won't turn on Konoha?"
Shikaku fell silent.
He could not.
The Uchiha clan had too many unstable elements.
"If a tree wants to grow strong, it needs more than sunlight. Roots buried in darkness are just as necessary."
Homura's voice was calm, but the meaning was clear.
Some things had to be handled in the shadows.
After a pause, he shifted the topic.
"This can wait. Right now, the priority is Kumogakure."
The room tensed again.
Everyone understood the problem.
If Kumogakure learned that the Hokage was dead, they would definitely take advantage of it.