Naruto Birdcage

Hiruzen frowned deeply, pondering over the handwritten letter from Nara Shikaku.

The enemy's ability to know Konoha ninja movements so precisely could only mean someone was leaking information.

And it wasn't just one person.

Every camp, even within the village itself, had informants.

The mastermind behind this had to be a high-ranking member of the village.

Countless names flashed through Hiruzen's mind, only for him to reject each one in turn.

It was hard to believe any of these people would betray the village.

But the facts were undeniable.

Konoha's string of failures was rooted in this betrayal.

If the traitor wasn't exposed, Konoha's position would remain as precarious as meat on the chopping block, awaiting slaughter.

"Lord Hokage! This just arrived from the frontlines!"

A ninja knocked and entered, delivering an urgent letter.

The letter detailed how Inuzuka Gaku was ambushed by Iwa-nin while transporting supplies, but fortunately, Minato and Kakashi arrived in time to assist.

However, while Minato left the medical camp to support Inuzuka Gaku, the camp was attacked.

This piece of news further confirmed the authenticity of Nara Shikaku's secret letter.

For someone to defect at such a critical time for the village filled Hiruzen with immense fury.

Mitokado Homura pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Seeing Hiruzen with bloodshot eyes, he frowned and said, "Hiruzen, you need to rest."

Hiruzen's voice was hoarse as he replied, "How could I possibly sleep right now?"

He lowered his gaze to Nara Shikaku's letter, which he had read countless times.

"Homura, don't you think this is strange?"

"You mean the situation at the frontlines?" Mitokado Homura replied.

"I was just about to discuss this with you."

Hiruzen lifted his head to look at Mitokado Homura.

"Traitor," Mitokado Homura said with an expressionless face.

"It's impossible for the Iwa-nin to know our every move so precisely. There must be a traitor at work."

Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes, exhaling heavily through his nose.

"Who do you think it is?"

"It could be anyone, Hiruzen. You're the Hokage; you cannot afford even a shred of leniency now."

"If the traitor isn't dealt with, Konoha will head straight toward destruction."

....

Hizashi was injured and had been sent back from the front lines.

Word had it that he had encountered the main forces of the Iwa-nin and was wounded while protecting Hiashi.

Makoto bought some items and went to visit him in the hospital.

Upon entering the room, he found Ayari and Ayano there, along with an elderly man with white hair.

Hizashi lay on the hospital bed, bandages wrapped all the way up to his neck, indicating the severity of his injuries.

He wasn't wearing his headband, and the green curse mark on his forehead was openly exposed.

"Makoto, you're here," Ayari said, walking over to take the items Makoto had brought.

"I came to check on Lord Hizashi." Makoto said, then respectfully greeted the other two in the room.

"Lord Taikei, Lady Ayano."

The corner of the room was already piled high with gifts; Makoto wasn't the first to visit.

The atmosphere in the room felt a bit strange; even as Makoto reached the doorway, he hadn't heard a single conversation from inside the hospital room.

"You're thoughtful." Taikei said, his gaze fixed on Makoto, his tone calm.

"I won't disturb you any further…" Makoto said, setting down the items and intending to take his leave.

"There's no need." Taikei called out to him, stopping him in his tracks.

"We're all from the same clan; there's no need to be so formal and distant."

Ayari brought over a chair for Makoto, gesturing for him to sit.

With no other choice, Makoto stayed.

He quickly realized that all eyes in the room seemed to be on him.

After a moment's thought, he asked with a concerned expression.

"How is Lord Hizashi's condition?"

Hizashi responded calmly, "Don't worry, I'm not going to die."

Taikei gave him a glance. "If you're so eager to die, why come back?"

Hizashi sneered. "Did my staying alive disappoint you?"

Taikei slammed his cane heavily on the floor, glaring and puffing out his cheeks.

"If you died, I'd be at ease."

Seeing the situation, Ayano quickly smiled and tried to smooth things over.

The father and son's relationship seemed very delicate, and it was clear why Makoto felt the atmosphere in the room was off.

Makoto felt helpless, thinking,

"Is it really appropriate for you two to argue like this in front of me, an outsider?"

Ayari sat at the edge of the bed, peeling an apple.

Makoto initially thought it was for Hizashi, but to his surprise, she started eating it herself.

Noticing Makoto looking at her, Ayari cut the apple in half and handed him a piece.

Makoto: "..."

He felt a bit awkward, not knowing whether to accept or decline.

He secretly shot a glance at Ayari, only to see her looking at him mischievously as she took a bite of the apple.

As expected, if he wasn't embarrassed, then others would be.

"Why isn't Ayari peeling one for Hizashi?" Ayano suddenly asked.

"He doesn't like apples." Ayari replied.

Hizashi opened his mouth and then helplessly said, "I... really don't like apples."

The few of them had grown up together and knew each other's temperaments well.

"Makoto, do you like reading books recently?" Taikei suddenly asked Makoto.

Makoto wasn't surprised by the question and replied respectfully.

"I've encountered many things I don't understand during my training, so I turned to books to find answers."

Taikei nodded and said, "It's rare to see a young person as diligent as you."

Makoto replied, "Iroha, Tokimasa, and Tetsu all work hard, and Hakumen is fighting on the frontlines for the village. I'm the only one left idle in the village."

Taikei then said, "No need to be so humble. I'm well aware of the nature of those kids."

Makoto then turned to Hizashi and asked.

"Lord Hizashi, do you know how Hakumen is doing on the frontlines?"

Hizashi thought for a moment and said,

"That kid is following Lord Hiashi's side, and he's been performing fairly well."

Makoto let out a sigh of relief and said, "I'm glad to hear that."

Taikei's gaze shifted slightly. "You're really worried about him, huh?"

Makoto gave a simple, honest smile and said,

"He's my friend, so of course, I'm concerned about his well-being."

Taikei looked at the young man before him, and seeing that his expression didn't seem fake, he couldn't help but feel relieved.

Having attachments within the clan was a good thing—people with attachments were the easiest to control.

Ayari, sitting to the side, tilted her head in curiosity.

She wondered if Makoto had gotten so close to Hakumen now.

Come to think of it, he used to have a rather indifferent relationship with Iroha and the others, but now they were often together.

Indeed, children's friendships always seemed to come out of nowhere.

Taikei then said, "If you really enjoy reading, you can come to my place. I have quite a collection of books."

Ayari seemed a little surprised but didn't say anything.

Hizashi glanced at them indifferently and then shifted his gaze away.

Makoto immediately showed an excited expression,

"Is that really alright, Lord Taikei?"

Taikei smiled lightly, "Books are meant to be read. If you don't take them, they'll just gather dust there."

"Thank you so much, Lord Taikei!"

After leaving the hospital, Makoto didn't head straight home.

He wandered around the village for a while, buying some things.

It was becoming increasingly clear that the villagers were feeling down, as even when he was having ingredients weighed, the shopkeeper was distracted and miscalculated the price.

Everyone was worried about the situation on the front lines.

The continuous bad news from the front had made Makoto feel that Orochimaru was going too far.

The higher-ups in Konoha might already be suspecting a mole.

If this matter wasn't settled soon, even if Orochimaru succeeded in becoming Konoha's savior and won the war, the third Hokage would certainly doubt him as the final victor.

If his actions were exposed, the entire Konoha would never allow him to continue living in this world.

End of chapter

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