Uchiha, They

The Root member under Danzo was a ninja from one of Konohagakure's prominent clans, the Yamanaka Clan.

Yamanaka Clan Ninja specialized in controlling their enemies' minds. They could invade and read others' memories, including those of the dead, and possessed the special ability to relay information to their comrades.

They were skilled in genjutsu and were also one of the rare sensory ninja clans.

To verify Kato Fuko's words, Danzo chose the most brutal method: directly destroying his mind, eliminating any possibility of him lying at the source.

Very soon!

Everything that had happened today was transmitted by the Yamanaka Clan Ninja through a Secret Technique to the Konoha F4, allowing them to witness it firsthand.

Danzo continued questioning him.

Every question received an accurate answer.

The F4's expressions grew increasingly grim.

Was the Hyuga Clan really going to join forces with the Uchiha?

When the final question was asked, the answer made even Danzo's face twitch almost imperceptibly.

"How did you determine that those two were Uchiha Kazuna and Hyuga Hiashi?"

"My sensory abilities have recently improved greatly and have reached Jonin level. I happened to have met Uchiha Kazuna and Hyuga Hiashi before, so I remembered their chakra signatures."

A Sensory Type Jonin?

The Third Hokage felt his heart twitch.

He angrily turned his gaze toward Danzo.

What kind of ninja were the rarest?

Sensory types and medical types!

Even mighty Konohagakure did not have many ninja of those two types.

Not to mention someone as young as Kato Fuko, a sensory Jonin.

He was absolutely a talent. He could join the Anbu, and his loyalty would not need to be questioned.

And now he had become an idiot just like that?

It was not that the Third Hokage was softhearted. They clearly had ways to get the answer without harming Kato Fuko; it would merely have taken a little more time.

Did Konohagakure have that many Jonin?

Did it have that many Jonin loyal to them?

They had sacrificed a sensory Jonin just to save a few hours?

That was a fucking Jonin!

The Third Hokage felt that he could no longer hold himself back.

"Danzo!"

The Third Hokage let out a low growl from his throat.

"Enough, Hiruzen!" Danzo said casually. "He was only a Jonin. By sacrificing him, we confirmed the Hyuga and Uchiha matter and can come up with a countermeasure quickly. That is a good thing."

He waved his hand, and two Root members swiftly took Kato Fuko away.

"Hmph!" The Third Hokage snorted heavily. "Now that it has been confirmed, what do you intend to do?"

Danzo said coldly, "I want to strike directly at those two clans. I suppose you would not agree to that either?"

"Of course not!" The Third Hokage replied without hesitation. "They are two of Konohagakure's oldest clans. With no evidence, you want to attack them just because you say so? Would the other ninja clans agree to act?"

"And do you really think those two clans are meat on a chopping block, for you to do with as you please?"

"Then we will change our approach!" Danzo said flatly. "Things have reached this point because of two people: Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Kazuna. As long as we deal with them, everything will naturally return to normal."

The Third Hokage was not the least bit pleased. He continued puffing on his pipe.

He made it sound so easy that it was almost laughable.

Were those two really so easy to deal with?

There was no need to mention Hyuga Hiashi. The main house of the Hyuga Clan was protected more tightly than anything, especially its Clan Leader. They practically wanted someone to test his food with silver needles before every meal!

As for Kazuna...

The Third Hokage shot Danzo a sidelong glance.

That one had a grudge against this one. The two had fought in secret several times over the years, yet Kazuna was still alive and well.

Meanwhile, Danzo had suffered considerable losses.

In an instant, Danzo sensed deep malice.

He glared at the Third Hokage in irritation. "Hiruzen, what do you mean by that?"

"What could I possibly mean? You are overthinking it." The Third Hokage shook his head. "Danzo, you should temper that temper of yours. Look at me. I just lost a sensory Jonin, yet I am not angry."

Danzo: "..."

"Ahem!" Mitokado Homura coughed lightly. "I have an idea."

Danzo turned to look at him, his eyes full of contempt.

You two? It was hard to imagine either of you coming up with a good idea. They should be grateful if you did not make things worse.

Utatane Koharu: "...I feel insulted."

The Third Hokage remained composed. "Homura, go on."

"Uchiha Itachi!"

Upon hearing Mitokado Homura speak that name, everyone present fell silent for a moment.

At last, Danzo slowly nodded. "I will arrange it. This is also a good chance to test Itachi's loyalty."

The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, his expression conflicted.

He admired Itachi greatly.

At such a young age, he possessed such a fervent Will of Fire. He was undoubtedly an outstanding ninja.

But for the sake of the village...

Danzo glanced at him and sneered coldly. Just as he was about to speak, hurried knocking suddenly sounded at the door.

What happened now?

The Third Hokage raised his head. "Come in."

"Hokage-sama!"

The newcomer was a Jonin. He knelt on one knee before the Third Hokage and said in a low voice, "The Uchiha, the Uchiha..."

Sure enough, it was the Uchiha again!

Cold glints flashed in the eyes of all four people present.

The Third Hokage's final trace of hesitation vanished.

For Konohagakure!

Anyone could be sacrificed!

Deep in his heart was another sentence, one he deliberately ignored... especially an Uchiha!

"Speak!"

The Third Hokage's voice was low.

At that moment, it seemed as though the young Shinobi Warlord had returned.

An astonishing aura surrounded him, making others take notice.

The Jonin calmed his turbulent emotions and said solemnly, "The Uchiha... smiled!"

The entire Hokage's office fell silent for a moment.

The Uchiha... smiled?

What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

What did it mean, the Uchiha smiled?

A neat row of question marks appeared over the heads of the four people present.

The Jonin also realized that something was wrong with his wording and hurriedly explained, "Those Uchiha in the Konoha Military Police Force are smiling whenever they see anyone now. We, we..."

He did not say the rest. It was simply too embarrassing.

As a Jonin, could he say that he had been frightened by their smiles?

"What nonsense!" Danzo said coldly. "Explain yourself clearly!"

"Yes!"

After a brief silence, the Jonin organized his thoughts before slowly explaining everything.

After hearing him out, the Konoha F4 all fell silent.

As the Konoha Military Police Force, the Uchiha's jurisdiction covered the entire village.

In the past, when the Uchiha enforced the law, they either wore cold sneers, remained expressionless, or looked utterly provocative...

In any case, they had never projected a positive image!

Konohagakure hated the Uchiha not only because the village had been manipulating things behind the scenes. The Uchiha themselves also bore no small share of the blame.

But now things were different.

Today, while the Uchiha patrolled, they had actually kept smiles on their faces the entire time.

They smiled at everyone they saw.

That was the problem. Their smiles terrified people.

Quite a few people thought their misdeeds had been exposed and ran as fast as they could.

Even those with nothing to hide were frightened stiff by the smiles, trembling all over as they shouted, "Do not come any closer!"

Some people in poor health had nearly fainted from being smiled at.

Others cried out, clutched their heads, crouched on the ground, and screamed, "Do not hit me!"

The entire village was in chaos.

Those fleeing knocked over market stalls.

Those who had been frightened needed treatment.

Even those standing frozen in place were disrupting order!

"Enough, enough, stop talking!" Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his brow in pain.

What the hell was this?

This world was too crazy!