The intelligence scroll began with a conclusion: the probability of Haruto Saito's death was over 99%, with an extremely low chance of survival.
Following this was a detailed report based on the analysis of gathered intelligence. It included eyewitness accounts, analytical inferences from Tsunade and others, as well as conclusions drawn by the covert operations unit!
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't need to ask any questions. The intelligence delivered to him was comprehensive and complete.
Haruto Saito, with the assistance of Tsunade and her team, had successfully assassinated Hōzuki Rōba. After separating from Tsunade's group, Haruto acted alone without any mission and managed to assassinate Fujita Asa. This act drew the pursuit of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
The covert operations unit also analyzed historical intelligence and determined that the ninja dog accompanying the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist was Kurojo, a highly decorated retired ninja dog from the Hidden Mist Village. Kurojo was the most powerful ninja dog in the Mist, stronger than even an average elite jonin!
The final battle between Haruto Saito and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist took place in an area shrouded by dense fog. As a result, no one knew the exact details of what happened. The conclusions were drawn based on various clues.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist withdrew without any injuries and returned directly to the Hidden Mist's vanguard camp.
Haruto Saito, however, was never seen again.
The covert operations unit concluded that Haruto Saito had died in battle!
However, they also listed other possible scenarios.
But the likelihood of those other scenarios was extremely low.
Hiruzen Sarutobi held the unfolded scroll in his hands, his eyes scanning the contents. His expression gradually turned cold, and his face twitched slightly… Danzō, noticing Hiruzen's unusual demeanor, stepped closer and, without waiting for permission, began reading the intelligence over Hiruzen's shoulder.
In all of Konoha, only Danzō could do something like this—read intelligence directly without Hiruzen's explicit permission…
"He…" Danzō's expression also changed, and anger flashed across his face. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist! How dare they! Damn them!"
Hiruzen finished reading the entire scroll, slowly rolled it up, and placed it gently on the desk. He then sat back in his chair, deep in thought.
He hadn't expected this. He truly hadn't expected that his new personal disciple would die like this!
It happened too quickly!
It had only been a month since Haruto had become his disciple!
Hiruzen had placed great hopes in Haruto. What he valued most wasn't Haruto's talent but his age. Haruto was only twelve years old, with immense potential for growth! But precisely because Haruto was so young, he had acted recklessly and impulsively, disregarding the consequences of his actions.
And so, he had died.
The office fell silent.
After some consideration, Hiruzen tapped his finger on the desk and said in a low voice, "White Fang, listen to my orders!"
"Yes, sir!" White Fang bowed.
"You are to depart immediately for the Land of Whirlpools. Your target is Suigetsu Ieyasu, the commander of the Hidden Mist's vanguard forces. I want him dead!" Hiruzen's gaze was icy. "You have a time limit of half a month. If you haven't found a suitable opportunity by then, return to Konoha immediately!"
White Fang's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly accepted the order. "Understood!"
He hadn't expected Hiruzen to care so much about Haruto Saito!
Under normal circumstances, given the current state of the shinobi world, White Fang wouldn't be able to leave Konoha so easily. The situation in the Land of Rain was far more critical than that in the Land of Whirlpools. If a war broke out in the Land of Rain, it could escalate into a full-scale conflict!
But because Haruto had died…
Hiruzen was sending White Fang out, giving him half a month to kill Suigetsu Ieyasu. This was purely an act of revenge! It was retaliation against the Hidden Mist, nothing more!
"You may go." Hiruzen waved his hand, signaling that White Fang could leave.
"I take my leave."
White Fang hurried out of the office.
Now, only Hiruzen and Danzō remained.
"What about the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?" Danzō asked, his eyes glinting dangerously. "Should we send Root to deal with them?"
Hiruzen remained silent, considering the question.
If the goal was revenge, then the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist would indeed be the primary targets. However, their combined strength was formidable! Konoha didn't have a team stronger than them.
Tsunade's team was slightly weaker. Perhaps in a few years, after further growth, Tsunade's team could match the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. But for now, there was still a gap.
As for White Fang, if he were sent to hunt down the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the outcome would be uncertain!
Hiruzen couldn't be sure if White Fang could defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. In terms of individual strength, White Fang could easily kill any one of them. But facing all seven at once would be troublesome!
Hiruzen was reluctant to put White Fang in such a risky situation.
It simply wasn't necessary!
That's why he had chosen Suigetsu Ieyasu, the commander of the Hidden Mist's vanguard forces, as the target for retaliation.
The situation in the Land of Rain was too urgent, tying up Konoha's forces and influencing Hiruzen's decisions. Hiruzen always had to consider the bigger picture, prioritizing rationality over impulsiveness.
"Leave them be, for now…" Hiruzen shook his head after some thought. "Once Tsunade and her team complete their mission, I'll make further arrangements."
"Hmm." Danzō nodded, then sighed. "What a pity… Haruto's rare talent, if properly honed, could have become one of Konoha's leading figures in the new generation. Who would have thought… Sigh…"
"You may go. I need some time alone." Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, clearly wanting to be left in peace.
"Sigh…" Danzō sighed again and then vanished in a flash.
Not long after.
In a dimly lit cave on the outskirts of Konoha.
A fire burned in a brazier, its orange flames flickering and casting shifting shadows across the cave walls.
"Hahahaha, hahahaha, hahahaha…" Danzō laughed, a loud, uncontrollable laughter that echoed through the cave.
"He's dead, he's dead, hahahaha… hahaha… he's dead! Good riddance! What a beautiful death! What a shame… what a shame… hahahaha…"
Danzō had made many plans regarding Haruto Saito.
Originally, he had assumed that after completing his mission in the Land of Whirlpools, Haruto would contact Konoha's covert operations unit or an ANBU outpost there. Once Haruto made contact, Danzō's agents would relay the information to the Hyūga clan members who had already arrived in the Land of Whirlpools.
The Hyūga clan would then kill him!
But who could have imagined that Haruto would recklessly go after Fujita Asa on his own? Fujita Asa, a jonin, was classified as an S-rank assassination target. Did Haruto really think it would be that easy?
He had essentially brought about his own death!
Still, Danzō felt a bit of regret.
He had hoped that the Hyūga clan would be the ones to kill Haruto. That way, Danzō would have leverage over the Hyūga clan. If the Hyūga clan had killed the Hokage's personal disciple, their mindset would inevitably shift, which would have been a significant advantage for Danzō.
But Haruto had died too soon, killed by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!
"Hahahaha, hahahaha…" Danzō's laughter continued to reverberate through the empty cave.