Yamanaka Clan

"That is no concern of the Uchiha Clan Head," Shimura Hiro said through gritted teeth.

With that said, Uchiha Toko led the three Shimura Clan elders they had just captured back the way they had come.

The three captured Shimura clansmen were all high-ranking members of the Shimura Clan. Otherwise, they would not have been responsible for liaising with Danzo. However, under Uchiha Toko's deliberate arrangements, the escort team marched the three men straight through Konoha's busiest Commercial Street. Before long, news that Uchiha Toko had arrested people from the Shimura Clan had spread throughout the village.

After returning to the Military Police Force, Uchiha Toko immediately had the three men sent for interrogation. The moment they heard that Shimura Clan members were being questioned, quite a few skilled Uchiha became eager to get involved. It seemed the three men would not have a pleasant night.

Still, Uchiha Toko did not expect them to reveal anything. The Shimura Clan, especially those with deep ties to Danzo, were die-hard loyalists. Even if they were killed outright, they would not betray Danzo.

But Uchiha Toko only wanted to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys. Now that the chicken had been cut, it was time to go collect something tangible from the monkeys.

Uchiha Toko remained in his office until nightfall. Only then did he change clothes and head into the village alone.

It was already late at night. The crowds on Konoha's bustling Commercial Street were gradually thinning, and the shops were closing one after another.

Outside the Yamanaka Flower Shop, a little blonde girl was huffing and puffing as she carried the flowers displayed outside back into the store. Though she was still young and her little face retained some baby fat, it was easy to see that she would grow into a stunning beauty.

Uchiha Toko stopped in front of the flower shop. Noticing him, the little girl turned around and sweetly said, "Big Brother, we're already closed."

"Looks like I came too late," Uchiha Toko said with a smile. "But could you make an exception for me, little boss? I'd like to buy some flowers to pay respects to my clansmen."

The little girl was clearly a devoted admirer of good looks. Once she got a clear look at Uchiha Toko's face, little stars immediately lit up in her eyes.

"Of course! For honoring your clansmen, would cornflowers do? I'll get some fresh ones from the refrigerator." Yamanaka Ino came running over with quick little steps.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Uchiha Toko smiled and nodded.

Just then, a tall man slowly emerged from deeper inside the flower shop.

"Ino, go upstairs first. I'll take care of this guest," Yamanaka Inoichi said as he came out.

"Huh?" Ino looked up at Uchiha Toko, then turned back to look at her father. Only then did she reluctantly put down what she was holding and head upstairs.

"Did the Uchiha Clan Head come to our little flower shop so late at night just to buy a few bouquets?" Yamanaka Inoichi asked Uchiha Toko after seeing Ino go upstairs.

"Of course. You know, while it is now difficult to determine which fallen clansmen the Sharingan we recovered from Danzo last night belonged to, we still ought to give them a proper funeral," Uchiha Toko said.

"My condolences." Yamanaka Inoichi took several bunches of cornflowers from the refrigerator, carefully wrapped them, and handed them to Uchiha Toko. "Consider these flowers the Yamanaka Clan's tribute to the heroic spirits of the Uchiha."

"Then I must thank the Yamanaka Clan Head for his generosity." Uchiha Toko accepted the flowers and nodded with a smile.

"Was that little girl just now the Yamanaka Clan Head's daughter? She is truly adorable." Uchiha Toko lowered his head and gently inhaled the scent of the flowers in his hands before speaking unhurriedly. "She seems to be classmates with Elder Fugaku's second son. I heard the little girl is very fond of following him around."

Yamanaka Inoichi's gaze sharpened, but his expression did not change. "It is merely children playing together."

"I would not say that. Childhood sweethearts—what a lovely phrase." Uchiha Toko smiled. "Why not arrange a marriage between our two clans? What does the Yamanaka Clan Head think?"

"The children are still too young. We can consider such matters after they grow older." Without a moment's hesitation, Yamanaka Inoichi politely declined Uchiha Toko's proposal.

Uchiha Toko was not angered by the rejection. The Ino-Shika-Cho Three Clans had always been die-hard loyalists of the Hokage's faction, so naturally they did not wish to get involved in the Uchiha Clan's murky waters.

"That is true." Uchiha Toko nodded. "The Yamanaka Clan Head has been clan head for quite some years now, hasn't he? In recent years, the Yamanaka Clan has flourished. When it comes to being a good clan head, I still have much to learn from you."

"It is only because the clansmen hold me in high regard," Yamanaka Inoichi said.

"It seems the Yamanaka Clan Head is deeply loved by his clansmen." Uchiha Toko smiled. "Still, every clan has a few people who do not know what is good for them, does it not?"

Yamanaka Inoichi narrowed his eyes. "What does the Uchiha Clan Head mean by that?"

"Today, my clan captured one of Danzo's die-hard loyalists in Root. He came from your Yamanaka Clan, which puts me in a difficult position. After all, we both serve under Lord Hokage. It would be rather unfortunate if the two clans developed a rift because of him," Uchiha Toko said.

"Was it Fū?" A flicker passed through Yamanaka Inoichi's eyes. "After joining Root, that man forgot the honor of his clan. Therefore, the Uchiha Clan Head need not spare him for my sake. Deal with him as you see fit. If necessary, I can personally clean house."

"So that was it." Uchiha Toko nodded. "He had already forgotten the kindness of his clan? No wonder he made such wild accusations."

"Accusations?" Yamanaka Inoichi frowned.

"That's right. That man claimed that while serving in Root, he used his position to funnel as much as 140 million ryō to the Yamanaka Clan." Uchiha Toko smiled as he looked into Yamanaka Inoichi's eyes. "Although I know the Yamanaka Clan would not commit such a breach of principle, and I do not doubt the Yamanaka Clan Head, while reviewing Root's accounts, we did find more than 100 million ryō that could not be accounted for. If possible, I would ask Clan Head Inoichi to visit the Uchiha when he has time. With such a large sum unaccounted for, it would be difficult for me to explain it to Lord Hokage."

"I understand. I will make a trip to the Military Police Force," Yamanaka Inoichi said, his gaze flickering as he nodded.

"Then I will not disturb the Yamanaka Clan Head's dinner with his family." Uchiha Toko waved the bouquet in his hand. "At the same time, on behalf of those clan elders, I thank the Yamanaka Clan Head for his generosity."