Chapitre 94: Chapter 94: Arrest Anyone Else, But Not Hyuga Takashi!
Why did he hand over control of the Anbu in the first place? Now it was impossible to take it back.
Even if he wanted to, Tsunade wouldn't let go.
In the end, with the Anbu unavailable, the Third Hokage had no choice but to mobilize a few family ninja squads to handle the mission.
Two days later, three squads composed entirely of Sarutobi Clan ninjas arrived at the Rain Country camp and approached the camp commander, Nara Shikashin.
"Lord Shikashin, this is from Lord Hokage."
The team leader, Sarutobi Matsu, handed a scroll to Nara Shikashin. To investigate and carry out their mission in the camp, they needed Shikashin's permission.
Nara Shikashin opened the scroll, glanced at it, and asked in confusion, "Shouldn't a mission like this be handled by the Anbu?"
Ever since the Hyuga Clan members went missing, Shikashin had been bracing himself for the Anbu to arrive for an investigation. His plan was simple: act ignorant.
No matter who asked him, his answer would be the same—he didn't know.
Investigate however you like, just don't involve me.
On top of that, with Tsunade as the Anbu Commander, he figured the Anbu wouldn't give Takashi any trouble.
But after all this time, no Anbu had shown up. Instead, Sarutobi ninjas arrived with a direct order from the Hokage.
"We're not entirely sure," Sarutobi Matsu replied honestly.
As Hokage, not being able to deploy the Anbu was an embarrassing matter that the Third Hokage wouldn't talk about, and neither would the Hyuga Clan Leader.
After all, spreading such news would be equivalent to offending the Hokage irreparably, which would spell trouble for the Hyuga Clan.
Could it be that Tsunade had intervened?
Shikashin pondered for a moment, then put away the scroll.
"Since you're here under Lord Hokage's orders, I'll do my best to cooperate."
Shikashin chose to cooperate, relieving Sarutobi Matsu, who had been worried that Shikashin might stonewall them. Without his support, they wouldn't be able to investigate freely in the camp.
"Thank you for your support, Lord Shikashin."
"It's my duty."
Shikashin smiled and nodded, thinking to himself, I said I'd cooperate, but how much I cooperate is another matter entirely.
Sarutobi Matsu couldn't openly conduct investigations because this mission was on the Hokage's orders. Fortunately, with Shikashin's cooperation, the investigation progressed quickly. Ninjas who had noticed anything about the missing Hyuga members were secretly questioned and made to sign confidentiality agreements afterward.
Soon, all the information pointed toward the medical unit.
Some had seen the Hyuga Clan members heading in the direction of the medical unit after arriving at the camp. Whether they actually went there, however, couldn't be confirmed.
"Good."
With all the clues pointing to the medical unit, the next step seemed straightforward: bring in the suspect for questioning.
As a Sarutobi ninja, Matsu didn't have the authority the Anbu had to detain people directly. He had to seek Shikashin's assistance.
After hearing the request, Shikashin was stunned.
"Are you saying that the Hyuga Clan members went missing, and Hyuga Takashi is the prime suspect?"
"Yes," Sarutobi Matsu nodded emphatically. "Lord Shikashin, all the evidence points to him. It seems the Hyuga members were targeting him, so I suspect their disappearance is closely related to him."
"Please bring him in for questioning."
"What?"
Shikashin stood up in shock.
"???"
Sarutobi Matsu was baffled.
Why was he so surprised? They had a suspect—wasn't it normal to bring them in for questioning? Whether or not Takashi was responsible would be clear after interrogation.
"What did you just say?" Shikashin asked.
"I suspect the disappearance is closely related to Hyuga Takashi."
"Not that part. The part after."
"I asked you to bring him in for questioning."
"Ah, that part."
Shikashin clapped his right fist into his left palm. "Now I understand."
Good, if he understood, then this should go smoothly.
Sarutobi Matsu felt the mission was about to wrap up. If he had the authority to detain people, he wouldn't have needed to approach Shikashin at all. If it were the Anbu, they'd have detained Takashi immediately, no matter who he was.
"Sorry, but I can't do that."
Shikashin shook his head regretfully.
"?????"
What was that supposed to mean?
As the camp commander, Shikashin was in charge. If he wanted someone brought in for questioning, it should have been a simple matter. Now he was saying he couldn't?
"You can arrest anyone else, but not Hyuga Takashi."
Shikashin looked genuinely troubled.
"Why not?"
Sarutobi Matsu couldn't understand.
"Because the command center and the medical unit are two separate systems. Combat operations fall under my jurisdiction, but everything related to the medical unit is under Hyuga Takashi's control. Even though my authority is higher, I can't order him around, let alone detain him for questioning."
The more Shikashin explained, the more frustrated he seemed.
"I warned Lord Hokage about this arrangement at the time, but he didn't listen to me. Now look—does this make any sense?"
"Does it?"
"…"
No sense at all!
Sarutobi Matsu felt utterly defeated.
He had come with an order from the Hokage, and just as the mission was nearing completion, he hit a roadblock—one caused by the same person who issued the order.
After a moment of silence, he asked weakly:
"So, without new orders from Lord Hokage, we can't arrest him?"
Shikashin gave him a sympathetic look and added:
"Not just that—you'd also need Lady Tsunade's approval. Takashi was assigned here by her and represents the village's medical system. Oh, and don't forget the Anbu."
Damn it!!!
Sarutobi Matsu felt as if he'd been hit by a truck.
Now he understood why the Anbu hadn't been deployed for this mission. This wasn't an investigation—it was a minefield!
"Senior, help me out here," Sarutobi Matsu pleaded, growing desperate.
He didn't want to return to the village with the stain of an unfinished mission hanging over him.
I can't help you. I'm afraid Lady Tsunade would crush me.
Shikashin offered an awkward smile and avoided responding. He had already said everything he could. What happened next was not his problem—he wasn't getting involved.
Sarutobi Matsu finally realized that Shikashin had no intention of touching this issue at all.
At this moment, Matsu truly felt what it was like to be stuck between a rock and a hard place.
"Then can I at least question him directly?"
If arresting him wasn't an option, Matsu figured he could try a polite approach—sit down, have a conversation, and discuss things civilly.
"That... should be possible, I think?"
Shikashin replied uncertainly, "After all, I don't manage the medical unit. Plus, there are many wounded there, and unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering. It's tricky."
Should be possible, my foot!!
Matsu finally understood—Shikashin was just shirking responsibility!
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone