shadow hokage dark moon

Chapter 52: The Thief Cries Thief

The news of Uchiha Tsukiko and his team returning to Konoha quickly spread through the village.

Especially the fact that they had been ambushed by over a hundred enemy shinobi, which sparked widespread discussion and concern.

While the villagers and shinobi were shocked by Tsukiko's incredible power, they were deeply unsettled by the revelation that Konoha's intelligence had been leaked.

"Tsukiko's squad was nearly wiped out—how did the enemy know their location?"

"If our missions are being leaked, does that mean we could be next?"

"If this kind of intel breach can happen once, it can happen again. Who's responsible for this?"

The discussions escalated into distrust toward Konoha's leadership.

Shinobi and civilians alike demanded an investigation, insisting that the spy responsible must be found.

Before long, this rising pressure reached Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.

He was troubled—the public outrage was far greater than expected.

But what truly weighed on him was that Uzumaki Mito had also learned of the incident.

As the widow of Senju Hashirama, Uzumaki Mito remained one of Konoha's most revered figures.

She held great respect for Uchiha Tsukiko, and when she heard that he almost died due to an intelligence leak, she immediately summoned Hiruzen for an explanation.

"Hiruzen, this matter cannot be brushed aside."

"Tsukiko is someone I have high expectations for, and he nearly lost his life because of treachery. You must investigate this leak thoroughly and give me—and the village—a proper answer."

Her voice carried a firm and undeniable authority, one that Hiruzen could not ignore.

His heart sank—Mito's intervention made this matter even more complicated.

With the public pressure mounting, Hiruzen had no choice but to take decisive action.

To stabilize the village, he convened a high-level meeting, summoning Konoha's top officials to discuss how to handle the crisis.

The meeting commenced, attended by Shimura Danzo, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and other village elders.

After briefly summarizing the attack on Tsukiko's squad, Hiruzen addressed the issue directly:

"The leak of mission intelligence has become a serious concern. We must find the source of the breach and eliminate any potential spies within our ranks."

The atmosphere was heavy—everyone understood the gravity of the situation.

Before anyone could speak, Shimura Danzo was the first to break the silence.

Although he masked his emotions, a flicker of shock crossed his face.

Tsukiko had survived.

Not only that—he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Danzo's plan to eliminate him had failed.

But he knew he had to act carefully—he needed to deflect suspicion and ensure his own survival.

"Tsukiko's squad's ambush is deeply concerning. The intelligence leak must not be taken lightly," Danzo said in a calm yet authoritative tone.

His cold gaze swept across the room before he continued, "To ensure that this doesn't happen again, I propose that Root takes charge of the investigation. We must conduct a full-scale sweep of Konoha to uncover any spies or traitors lurking within our ranks."

Hiruzen frowned slightly, hesitating.

He knew that Root's methods were ruthless, but at the same time, an extensive investigation was necessary.

Koharu and Homura exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.

The rest of the village leadership also remained silent, showing no opposition.

A thorough purge was inevitable, and Root was best equipped for the task.

Seeing that no one objected, Hiruzen sighed and gave his approval.

"Very well, Danzo. You will lead the investigation. However, be mindful of your approach—we cannot allow fear and panic to spread through the village."

Danzo gave a slight smile, hiding the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.

This clearance operation would give him greater control over Konoha's internal affairs.

"Of course, Hiruzen. I will ensure Konoha's safety."

But in his heart, he was already planning his next move.

With the meeting adjourned, Danzo wasted no time in launching a full-scale intelligence crackdown.

---

Under Hiruzen's orders, Root began a thorough sweep of Konoha, conducting interrogations and background checks on shinobi, civilians, and even high-ranking officials' families.

Danzo's operatives uncovered several foreign spies, many of whom had long been embedded in Konoha.

These arrests temporarily eased public anxiety—but Danzo wasn't just hunting real spies.

He had his own agenda.

Using this investigation as a cover, he eliminated political rivals, weakened opposing factions, and expanded Root's power.

Several families that had previously opposed Danzo found themselves under investigation, their influence gradually eroded.

Many shinobi clans grew increasingly wary, yet they dared not voice their concerns.

"Danzo's grip is tightening. He's extending Root's reach further than ever before."

"He's using this opportunity to crush dissent under the guise of protecting Konoha."

Some members of the village council began whispering their doubts, but Hiruzen remained blind to the darker side of this purge.

To him, Danzo's investigation appeared successful—Konoha's security had been strengthened, spies had been caught.

"Danzo has proven himself invaluable. His actions, though extreme, have benefited the village."

Hiruzen failed to realize that the true culprit behind the leak… was Danzo himself.

---

To protect himself, Danzo manipulated the captured spies.

Using Root's brutal interrogation methods, he coerced confessions, forcing these prisoners to "admit" they were responsible for leaking Tsukiko's squad's location.

He fabricated detailed testimonies and planted evidence, ensuring that the blame fell squarely on these "traitors".

"Confess, or you will never leave this place alive."

With fear, pain, and manipulation, Danzo turned these prisoners into scapegoats, crafting a flawless deception.

When he presented his final report to Hiruzen, it exonerated him entirely.

Hiruzen, completely convinced, nodded in approval.

"Well done, Danzo. Thanks to your efforts, Konoha is safe once again."

"You have my gratitude."

Danzo bowed respectfully, hiding the triumph in his eyes.

"Everything is proceeding exactly as I planned."

---

Meanwhile, Uchiha Tsukiko had been discharged from the hospital.

Though his wounds had healed, his fury remained.

He knew the truth—Danzo had orchestrated the entire assassination attempt.

But without concrete proof, he couldn't yet move against him.

For now, he would bide his time.

Tsukiko suppressed his rage, knowing that vengeance would come later.

He needed to grow stronger—strong enough to topple Danzo and his schemes when the time was right.

Though the official investigation had ended, for Tsukiko—

This was only the beginning.

-+-+-+-

You can read advance chapters ahead on patreon.com/fishkiss69

THANK YOU🙇

-+-+-+-