Arrangements for Yamato

That night, inside the Uchiha Clan Shrine, amid the lengthy prayers recited by the priest, the nine Sharingan removed from Danzo's arm were sent into the shrine's inner chambers under the watchful eyes of every clan member present.

After the ceremony ended, the clan members gradually dispersed, and Uchiha Toko returned to the Interrogation Room once more.

Shimura Retto and the other two, having been tortured for an entire day, had little strength left. Shimura Hiro, the newcomer, was still cursing nonstop at the sight of Uchiha Toko.

Uchiha Toko picked at his ear as though he had heard nothing.

Seeing this, the Uchiha chunin in charge of interrogating him increased the force behind the Police Baton in his hand.

Uchiha Toko walked straight to the cell holding the Wood Style ninja who had yet to be named Yamato by the Third Hokage.

Since he had already decided to hand this guy over to Kakashi as part of his achievement, Uchiha Toko would not make things difficult for him any further. Aside from beating him for an entire day on the first day, he had been kept in solitary confinement afterward.

Of course, the Sealing Technique formula personally placed on him by Uchiha Toko still remained. After all, he was a Wood Style ninja. Though he was far inferior to the First, if no precautions were taken, the average chunin in the Interrogation Room truly would not be able to handle him.

In the corner of the cell, Yamato, still named Kinoe at the time, heard the movement and abruptly sat up.

Uchiha Toko entered the cell and turned on the light. The sudden change in brightness made Kinoe squint.

Just as Kinoe was about to move, the rattling iron chains and the intense pain triggered by the Sealing Technique on his body reminded him of his current situation.

"Let's talk." Uchiha Toko pulled over a chair and sat down in front of Kinoe.

"Hmph. I won't say anything."

"By the way, how much did Danzo pay you? You're that loyal to him?" Uchiha Toko laughed.

"We follow Lord Danzo for Konoha. How can that be measured in money?" Kinoe declared righteously.

"Oh, so you didn't even get paid. Then why are you risking your life?" Uchiha Toko said with a grin.

"How could an Uchiha born evil like you understand Lord Danzo's contributions to the village?" Kinoe's face was filled with fanaticism, making Uchiha Toko shake his head.

"Take Yamanaka Fu and the others. At least they have clans that can be used against them, which is how Danzo ruined them. But you're an orphan. Was there really any need for this?" Uchiha Toko had someone bring in some food and handed it to Kinoe.

"Hmph." Kinoe sneered as he stared at Uchiha Toko.

"Tell me, how did you obtain your Wood Style? Your crimes aren't that serious. Although we found evidence that Danzo ordered you to assassinate the Third Hokage, the Third Hokage is eager for talent and probably won't pursue the matter. As for everything else, Kakashi pleaded for you. For his sake, I don't intend to investigate too closely either. So as long as you explain everything clearly, you can still get out."

"I will never betray Lord Danzo!" Kinoe gritted out.

"It's not hard to guess. Orochimaru, right?" Uchiha Toko said. "Back then, the Artificial Wood Style Project was no secret to ninja clans like ours. Those idiots from the Senju Clan were completely taken in by it. A great clan from the Warring States era reduced itself to just a scattered handful. In the end, because the sacrifices were too great and there were no results whatsoever, the Third Hokage shut it down."

"However, that old bastard Danzo refused to give up and kept researching it in secret. His partner was Orochimaru, and you were the project's only success, right?" Uchiha Toko said.

Seeing the disbelief in Kinoe's eyes, Uchiha Toko chuckled. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not an idiot either. Children from the village Orphanage disappeared every now and then, and the Military Police Force has records of it. We simply couldn't dig too deeply before because of that old bastard Danzo. Besides, in the period before Orochimaru defected, disappearances of village orphans were at their peak. After he defected, the number dropped sharply. Combined with your age, it wasn't difficult to reach this conclusion."

Kinoe's gaze flickered, and Uchiha Toko pressed on while the iron was hot. "So tell me, why are you, an orphan abducted and modified by them, so loyal to Danzo? The one you should be loyal to is Lord Hokage and the Will of Fire."

"There are only two paths before you now. One, confess and receive leniency, then live in the sunlight as a normal ninja from now on. Two, keep resisting to the bitter end and be buried alongside Danzo, who only ever treated you as a tool. The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on your body has already failed. Think carefully. Don't waste the opportunity Kakashi pleaded for on your behalf." Having said that, Uchiha Toko spoke no further. He left behind the food and water, then rose and left the cell.

Uchiha Toko did not actually hold much hope for winning Yamato over. He knew himself well enough to know that he did not possess Naruto's gift for talking people over. When it came to bringing subordinates under his command, he relied more on direct benefits. Moreover, Uchiha Toko had understood from the very beginning that the current Uchiha could not keep Yamato. After all, he had inherited the First's Wood Style. Once Sarutobi Hiruzen came to his senses, he would surely ask for him.

So Uchiha Toko simply treated him as a contribution toward Kakashi's promotion. The reason he had said so much was also to make him believe that he was being spared solely for Kakashi's sake.

Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen smoked one cigarette after another, while the Two Advisors, who had hit a wall with Uchiha Toko, stood silently at the side and watched him.

"Hiruzen, we cannot let Uchiha Toko continue like this. He is clearly using the investigation as an excuse to eliminate his political enemies." Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent, Mitokado Homura took the initiative to break the silence. "He even dared to directly arrest the Clan Head of the Shimura Clan. If this continues, perhaps even we will have to pay a visit to the Military Police Force."

"Douhuan... wouldn't do that." Only after pondering for some time did Sarutobi Hiruzen raise his head and speak. In the end, he still feared the Kotoamatsukami in Uchiha Toko's hands. Furthermore, less than three days had passed since what had happened at the village gate. Most of the village's core ninja had clearly seen Danzo's horrifying corpse. If he forcibly ordered the Uchiha Clan to stop investigating now, everyone would inevitably start wondering.

"Hiruzen! You cannot hesitate any longer. Have you forgotten Teacher's teachings?" Utatane Koharu could not help reminding him.

"Fine. But we can't just order the Uchiha to stop investigating without cause." Seeing her invoke the Second, Sarutobi Hiruzen considered it for a while before finally yielding a step. "Kakashi, go to the Uchiha Clan. Tell Uchiha Toko to come report the investigation's progress tomorrow."

"Yes." Kakashi stepped out from the shadows in the office. After receiving the order, he vanished into the darkness once more.