Chapter 223: Sunagakure’s Troubles

While everyone was silent, Jiraiya spoke to Kuroto, "Renarrate the details of your and Uchiha Shisui's battle situation when you two were ambushed by Amatsukami shinobi."

As per the instructions, Kuroto described the fabricated details of the battle from the time of being ambushed by the three Amatsukami shinobi without any hesitation.

After he heard the details Jiraiya nodded and didn't speak anything more.

The details have been made up by him and Shisui after quite a lot of consideration, and both of them have made sure to not leave any loopholes that can be exploited by others.

Therefore, Kuroto and Shisui's explanation would almost be the same.

As for why not perfectly same?

It's obvious, there is nothing perfect or absolute in the world, therefore, if both of their details match perfectly then it would be easier for others to find flaws.

For this reason, both of them kept some level of difference which can be logically explained by the difference in perspective.

Also, Kuroto made sure to push all the inexplicable parts of the explanation on Amatsukami's head, their members are just too strong with weird and unusual abilities. Since Sandaime himself couldn't catch Suijin and Musubi so he won't be able to accuse others.

By the time, Kuroto was finished with recounting all the events, Sandaime asked tentatively, "Was there any abnormal sign from Uchiha Shisui on that night?"

Kuroto did not answer Sandaime's question directly, but said naturally, "Hokage-sama, the rumors permeating in the village have also come to my attention, although I have no right to be the judge of the matter, I do believe that these rumors are pure nonsense, not even worth consideration!"

Shimura Danzo snorted coldly at Kuroto's blatant words, "Presumptuous, what is the reason for making such an assertion?"

Kuroto was unperturbed and said indifferently, "First and foremost, I don't believe Uchiha Shisui can betray the village, and even if we assume, he did so; and joined Amatsukami, then why would he attack the shinobi of the Uchiha Clan?"

"This is probably a pre-directed script that the Uchiha Shinobi are acting upon, they are just causing this chaos to take advantage as we let down our guards!" – Danzo said as if it was natural.

"If this is all a self-directed performance by the Uchiha Clan, then it means that Amatsukami is in colluding with the Uchiha Clan, or Amatsukami is established by the Uchiha Clan, isn't that right?" – with a mocking smile, Kuroto continued, "And if that's the case, why did Amatsukami took the risk of transporting Watanabe's body to the Black-market branch just for some bounty? Does the Uchiha Clan lack money that they would stoop to such a level?"

Danzo opened his mouth to retort Kuroto's words but couldn't think anything to counter it and just snorted.

What Kuroto pointed out is actually a question that has been puzzling everyone present here.

Judging from the actions Amatsukami has taken, they really seem to be a bounty-nin organization, and if that's the case, then the suspicions on the Uchiha Clan are naturally invalid because everyone knows that the Uchiha Clan does not lack money as they have an inheritance of over a millennium in their hands!

Even Shimura Danzo can't help but think that the Uchiha Clan will really not do such absurd things.

At this time, Sandaime waved his hands and signaled Kuroto, "Alright, you can step back."

Kuroto nodded and quietly left the Hokage Office.

After Kuroto left, Sandaime asked everyone, "What do you think of his words?"

Hyuga Hiashi was the first to stand up for Kuroto and Shisui, "I believe both Kuroto-Kun and Shisui-Kun are reliable and it is unwise to suspect them based on some rumors."

Toad Sage Fukasaku said, "I have sensed that this child name Hyuga Kuroto did not have any mood swings, nor was there any change in his heartbeat during the entire conversation, which means he wasn't lying."

Danzo said, "Hyuga Kuroto may have said the truth, but there is no telling that he isn't under Uchiha Shisui's control. Hiruzen, you should be aware of what is Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan Dojutsu, can anyone even guarantee that what Hyuga Kuroto believes is even his belief, or is it something planted by Uchiha Shisui?"

Danzo's words silenced Sandaime and the two elders.

Although Fukasaku did not understand what Danzo was referring to, he still shook his head and said, "His chakra was very peaceful, or rather extraordinarily peaceful… in other words, there are no disruptions in his chakra so I don't think he is being controlled by some kind of Genjutsu."

Hiashi also voiced out, "Yes, if Kuroto-Kun was being controlled by some kind of Genjutsu, there would have been a response from the Caged Bird curse seal, but all the feedback is normal."

Sandaime breathed a sigh of relief, "If that's the case then it's good!" of course, he did not want to give out information about Uchiha Shisui's Kotoamatsukami either.

Sandaime did not want to intensify the conflict with the Uchiha Clan. The sudden emergence of Amatsukami and Akatsuki that has a lot of missing-nin of Konoha is more threatening, and there are chances that the Uchiha Clan might really collude with these organizations if they are pushed too much.

And from what intelligence Konoha has collected about Akatsuki, the total level of combat power that Akatsuki hides is not something Konoha can deal against on its own. Therefore, it would be better to deal with the suspicions of Shisui with cautiousness as he is one of the few top-level forces currently in the village.

Thinking a little Sandaime turned towards Utatane Koharu and asked, "What is the news from Sunagakure?"

Konoha and Sunagakure and allies, so when investigating information about Amatsukami, Konoha also sent requests to Sunagakure to form a cooperative search and investigation teams.

Upon Sandaime's question, Koharu took out a document file and passed it to Sandaime while speaking, "The situation on Sunagakure's side is very bad!"

Hiruzen raised an eye at Elder Koharu's words and his expression turned into a frown as he started reading the file.

After Sasori fought with Sandaime Hokage and escaped, Konoha notified the situation about him to Sunagakure.

Many people in Sunagakure have suspected that the disappearance of Sandaime Kazekage is related to Sasori but because he is the grandson of Elder Chiyo, so without any evidence, they remained quiet and did not voice out their opinions.

But now that the news of Sasori joining Akatsuki has been confirmed and the fact that he killed Sandiame Kazekage has been brought to light, so the lack of evidence can no longer be used. Moreover, Amatsukami has confirmed that Sasori is indeed the one responsible for the death of Sandaime Kazekage.

For this reason, Sunagakure also organized a hunting force to hunt down Sasori and avenge their Kazekage.

And by coincidence or not, at around the same time the Sunagakure hunting force was organized, Sasori also received intel from one of his spies that Orochimaru was hiding in the Land of Wind.

Sasori and Kakuzu team along with Hiruko and Shinno team rushed towards the Land of Wind to deal with the traitor Orochimaru.

But what they met up with was way beyond their expectations. The Sunagakure hunting force unexpectedly encountered Akatsuki, as a result, a fierce battle broke out between the two parties. Eventually, the Akatsuki members were forced to retreat while the Sunagakure forces suffered heavy losses and couldn't keep up the pursuit.

As he completed reading the file, Sandaime's face turned gloomy.

After Konoha, Suna was also embarrassed by a bounty-nin organization, one by one, the majesty of the five great shinobi villages is being trampled on by these mercenary organizations…

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