Demanding an Explanation

Konoha.

As the sound of countless footsteps rose.

Members of the major ninja clans—the Utatane, Mitokado, Hyuga, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, and others—arrived in full.

Hiashi, Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi, and the others stood behind the Third Hokage.

No one looked pleased. Everyone knew the Uchiha Clan's combat strength.

Once tonight was over, no one knew how many people would remain here forever.

They all looked toward the Third Hokage, awaiting his orders.

The Third Hokage, meanwhile, was gathering as many men as possible, intending to wipe out the entire Uchiha Clan in one fell swoop.

As Senyo reviewed the plan with Itachi and the Great Elder, they waited for Konoha to finish assembling its forces.

Once the major ninja clans had mostly arrived, Senyo gave the Great Elder a look.

The Great Elder nodded and led Senyo, Fugaku, and Itachi to the middle of the street.

He called out toward Konoha in a booming voice, "Sarutobi Hiruzen, step forward and speak!"

The Third Hokage and the Great Elder were of the same generation. They had even fought on the same battlefield.

But addressing the Third Hokage by name made it clear that they had come with hostile intent.

A commotion stirred on Konoha's side. The Third Hokage stepped forward with Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Hyuga Hiashi, and Shikaku Nara.

"Uchiha Shihu! Your Uchiha Clan openly attacked Danzō and hunted down Root members. Are you planning to betray the village!?"

The Third Hokage asked gravely, immediately slapping them with the charge of betraying the village.

But the Great Elder did not fall into the trap of defending himself.

Instead, he roared, "Sarutobi Hiruzen! Did you know that Shimura Danzō ordered the extermination of our Uchiha Clan, intending to seize control of the Nine-Tails and stage a coup to take power!?"

Itachi stared coldly at Sarutobi Hiruzen and the two Council Elders, watching how they would answer.

Before Itachi, the Third Hokage had always played the peacemaker. He could not admit before the leaders of the other ninja clans that he had given the order himself.

But if he claimed ignorance, he would fall straight into Senyo's trap.

Utatane Koharu had worked with the Third Hokage for many years. Knowing that he was in no position to answer this question, she immediately demanded:

"Utter nonsense! It was Uchiha Itachi who reported to us that some among you harbored thoughts of rebellion. That was why Danzō brought people here to investigate!"

The Great Elder said nothing and gave Itachi a look.

Itachi stepped forward and said to the people of Konoha:

"Our Uchiha Clan never had any intention of staging a coup. Danzō forced me to say that."

"His goal was to obtain our Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and become Hokage himself."

Hiashi and the members of Ino-Shika-Cho exchanged glances, their eyes filled with dark, unreadable emotions.

The situation was unfolding in a direction none of them had expected, but none of them spoke. They were waiting to see what came next.

The expressions of the Third Hokage, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu were all grim.

They all knew that Itachi was talking nonsense, because the Uchiha truly had intended to stage a coup.

But Danzō was the Third Hokage's right-hand man. At a time like this, they naturally had to protect him. Mitokado Homura said coldly:

"Just based on your one-sided claim, you think you can slander the Hokage's Assistant!?"

Unhurried, Itachi declared, "Aren't you all curious why I attacked Danzō?"

Other than the Third Hokage and the others, the representatives of the ninja clans all looked curious.

Without waiting for anyone to ask, Itachi answered directly, "Because two years ago, Danzō seized Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan."

"And implanted it into his own eye."

"He kept his eye wrapped in bandages year-round to conceal the Mangekyō Sharingan he had stolen!"

Itachi's voice was not quiet. The members of Konoha's major ninja clans all heard him clearly.

Everyone erupted in shock.

The village leadership had actually coveted a Kekkei Genkai belonging to someone within the village. That was a blood feud of life and death!

Utatane Koharu's eyes shifted as she calmly said:

"Itachi, Danzō's eye has already been dug out. What proof do you have that the eye you took was Shisui's?"

Itachi fell silent, as though he had known Konoha's side would argue this way.

The Great Elder, Uchiha Shihu, stepped forward and said forcefully:

"Sarutobi Hiruzen! What Itachi just said was the truth."

"Believe it or not, our Uchiha Clan has no time to waste arguing with you."

"If Konoha's higher-ups want the Sharingan of our Uchiha Clan, then our Uchiha Clan will not hesitate to fight to the death!"

Behind him, Fugaku, Itachi, and Senyo simultaneously activated their Susanoo.

A massive Chakra storm swept across the entire scene, making every Ninja Clan's heart skip a beat.

Many people could not help but draw their weapons.

Yet the leaders of the major Ninja Clans all had flickering looks in their eyes, devoid of any fighting spirit.

After all, the Uchiha's conduct did not seem fake.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned livid. What they had said directly drove a wedge between the Hokage faction and the other Ninja Clans.

And with three Mangekyō Sharingan users present, there was nothing they could do about them.

The Third Hokage said gravely, "Uchiha Shihu, I need time to investigate this matter."

A contemptuous look appeared in the Great Elder's eyes, as though he knew the Third Hokage would certainly back down.

Itachi spoke up then. "There is physical evidence as well. It is on Danzo."

"Not only does he have a Sharingan in his right eye, but the arm wrapped in bandages also bears Sharingan belonging to our Uchiha Clan."

Danzo's Wood Style Arm now required Sharingan to suppress it.

Unless the arm was removed entirely, those Sharingan could not be taken out.

"But if it is only this matter, it has little to do with anyone else."

Everyone from the other Ninja Clans pricked up their ears.

The Third Hokage's heart skipped a beat. He did not know what else Itachi intended to say, but at a time like this, he could not stop him.

"What do you mean?"

The Great Elder gave Itachi a look, and Itachi spoke again:

"Danzo attempted to destroy our Uchiha Clan, so he found me an accomplice."

"This person was not from our Uchiha Clan, yet he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"He was skilled in Space-Time Ninjutsu and could freely enter and leave the village's barrier."

"The Nine-Tails' Rampage back then was orchestrated by Danzo and this person!"

Everyone erupted in shock, and the major Ninja Clans could no longer remain seated. The previous matters had little to do with them.

But during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, the major Ninja Clans had suffered countless casualties, and even the Fourth Hokage had died in that battle.

The Nine-Tails' Rampage could be said to be the key turning point in Konoha's decline from prosperity.

This matter involved all of Konoha!

As Konoha's military strategist, Shikaku asked in a grave voice, "Itachi, do you have any evidence?"

Itachi said expressionlessly, "Everyone present knows how badly Danzo wanted the position of Hokage."

"The Fourth Hokage was young and in his prime. Without the Nine-Tails' Rampage, Danzo would have had to wait until his death before getting a chance to become Hokage."

"During the Nine-Tails' Rampage, our Uchiha Clan was ordered to escort civilians to safety."

"But afterward, Danzo had people spread rumors that we Uchiha had done nothing, using that to suppress our Uchiha Clan."