章 237: **Chapter 237: The Strongest Support, Asuma!**
When Asuma had rushed out earlier, Reiki had secretly applied a technique to partially counteract the poison in Asuma's system. This was why Asuma hadn't completely lost consciousness.
Hearing the commotion, Asuma had initially wanted to check on the situation. But his weakened legs gave way, and he slumped to the ground, breathless. Crawling over, he overheard the final, damning words of Ji Gu.
Rage surged through him as he realized that his own mentor, a jounin, had committed such a betrayal.
"Asuma, he was your mentor," Hyuga began cautiously.
"I won't cover for him, and I heard everything he said," Asuma declared. "He struck first... I'll make sure Hokage hears the full story. And this organization—thinking they can assassinate our village's own ninjas—do they believe they're untouchable?!"
Asuma's anger intensified as he glared at Ji Gu's lifeless body, kicking it twice in frustration. Hyuga, concerned that Asuma might take out his anger entirely on the corpse, pulled out a sealing scroll and secured Ji Gu's body.
"Let's head back now. It's dangerous outside the village, and with me being the only jounin left, I must ensure your safety," Hyuga said, proposing they return immediately. No matter what had happened, it needed to be dealt with in Konoha.
"Hold on. I need to fully remove the toxin from Asuma," Reiki said as he approached and began treating him.
Ten minutes later, with the treatment complete, the three resumed their journey. The unexpected confrontation spurred them to quicken their pace, and they reached Konoha late the next evening.
**Inside the Hokage's Office**
A body lay sprawled on the floor.
"And that's how it happened," Asuma said, finishing his recount. "Lord Hokage, we need justice. If Reiki hadn't acted quickly, Hyuga-sama and I might have been killed too!" Asuma's voice quivered with emotion, his face flushed with anger.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, frowned deeply as he turned to Hyuga. "Hyuga-sama, can you verify this?"
"I was unconscious for most of it," Hyuga admitted. "When I woke up, Ji Gu was already dead. Asuma claims he saw everything, and I believe him."
Hiruzen's confusion only deepened. He had initially suspected that Hyuga and Reiki had worked together to take down Ji Gu. But if Reiki had done it alone...
"Reiki, explain yourself."
"Sensei developed a special potion called the concealment potion," Reiki said, invoking Tsunade's name. "It lets you mask your presence briefly. I used a shadow clone to distract Ji Gu and launched a surprise attack. Perhaps he underestimated me and let his guard down, allowing me to take him out in one strike."
The Hokage massaged his temples as a headache began to form. Concealment potions? Shadow clone tactics? He did not want to drag Tsunade into this; if she found out that Root agents were targeting one of her students, the consequences could be severe.
"I see," Hiruzen finally said. "Hyuga, report to the mission office and complete the debriefing. Reiki, Asuma, you should rest. I will look into this matter and resolve it."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," the three said, bowing before leaving the room.
**Asuma's Dilemma**
"Hokage-sama, Root is too brazen!" Asuma's voice cracked. "If Reiki hadn't been there, Hyuga-sama and I might not be here now. I witnessed everything... Father..." His voice softened, emotion taking over as tears threatened to spill. He was only eight years old, yet he had almost been killed on his first mission—by his own mentor.
Hiruzen sighed, placing a comforting hand on Asuma's shoulder. "Rest now, my son. I will find the truth."
Asuma nodded, his eyes still burning with unshed tears as he left, quickening his pace as an idea struck him.
**Sarutobi Hiruzen's Determination**
With the room now empty, Hiruzen approached the body on the floor, noting the wound in Ji Gu's chest and the boot marks from Asuma's frustrated kicks. A wave of mixed emotions washed over him.
Ji Gu, a Root operative all along, and Danzo—how could he authorize such an action? And to target Reiki?
"Summon Danzo!" Hiruzen's voice boomed with barely contained rage.
An ANBU operative nodded and disappeared into the shadows to deliver the summons. The others remained, eyes sharp and vigilant, knowing that Hiruzen's patience had worn thin. If Danzo failed to provide answers, they needed to be ready to intervene.
**Danzo's Arrival**
Ten minutes later, Danzo entered, his expression inscrutable.
"What's the matter, Hiruzen?" Danzo asked, his tone even.
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "You dare to ask? Look at this!" He pointed at Ji Gu's body, fury simmering beneath the surface.
"Ji Gu, dead? Wasn't he Asuma's mentor? Is Asuma all right?" Danzo feigned surprise, masking his unease. He had expected to find Reiki's body, not Ji Gu's.
Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk, chakra flaring. "Did you order Ji Gu to attack Reiki? And why did Ji Gu claim to be a Root member?"
The air grew tense as ANBU operatives emerged, surrounding Danzo, prepared for whatever might come next.
>>>>>
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