Counter-Accusation

Chapter 35: Counter-Accusation

Even though it was his first time killing someone, Kagato had witnessed deaths beside him before, so he didn't feel any particular aversion.

Kagato had no intention of dealing with the bodies of the two Root members. Firstly, he didn't know how to. Secondly, Root would definitely investigate if they lost members. Moreover, these two were likely sent by Danzō, and their deaths couldn't be hidden. Therefore, there was no need to dispose of them.

A bit of blood had splattered onto his face from piercing the neck of the ninja wearing a fox mask. Kagato had initially planned to find a river to clean himself up, so his family wouldn't worry. However, looking at the pitch-black night, he decided to head home first. What if Danzō had sent more than just these two? If more people came later, it would be troublesome.

Kagato encountered no further incidents on his way home. Upon arriving, Uchiha Yuko was terrified by the bloodstains on his face and kept questioning him anxiously.

Uchiha Takashi, on the other hand, frowned and immediately activated his Sharingan, looking behind Kagato. After confirming no one was pursuing them, he breathed a sigh of relief and spoke to Kagato.

"Don't eat yet. Come to my room, we need to talk."

Kagato nodded.

"Okay."

In the room.

Kagato and Uchiha Takashi sat facing each other on the tatami mats.

"You're saying Root attacked you?"

"Yes, and then I killed them."

Uchiha Takashi looked at Kagato in surprise.

"Impressive. You managed to kill two Root members by yourself."

Kagato shook his head.

"Father, that's not the point. I'm afraid Danzō might use this as an excuse to attack our Uchiha clan."

Uchiha Takashi's expression turned serious.

"Attack? Root made the first move, and they dare to slander the Uchiha in return?! Don't worry about this matter, I'll handle it. Now, go wash your face and eat."

Kagato felt a bit helpless, unsure how to explain further. He could only excuse himself to Uchiha Takashi.

Uchiha Takashi, however, continued to frown.

This incident could indeed become a fuse for conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha.

But what could he do? Could he have told his son to face Root's attack without fighting back? Impossible!

No matter how this situation eventually unfolded, he would always support his son's actions. Facing assassins from Root, one could not simply wait to be killed. No matter what, he had to ensure his son was alright.

Late at night, underground, in the darkness.

Danzō opened his eyes slightly.

"It's late. They haven't returned yet. It seems the mission failed."

Danzō quickly summoned a Root member.

"Go to the vicinity of the Uchiha training grounds and see if there are any bodies of our Root members."

"Yes!"

After the Root member left, Danzō let out a cold laugh.

"I never fail in my endeavors. This time, I underestimated you, Uchiha Kagato. But you will still die!"

Root's rules were extremely strict. If those two hadn't returned by now, they were definitely dead. Otherwise, even if they were still alive, they would crawl back to report to Danzō.

A short while later, the Root ninja Danzō had just dispatched returned with two bodies.

"Lord Danzō, these are the bodies found near the Uchiha training grounds."

Danzō glanced at the two corpses and said calmly.

"I see. You may go. Leave the bodies here."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile.

Shisui had just emerged from Root's location, looking puzzled. Danzō had summoned him and spoken a lot of meaningless words.

Shisui could clearly tell that Danzō simply wanted to keep him occupied, preventing him from leaving.

So, what was the reason for keeping him here? What could it be...

Kagato!

Shisui thought of it. The evening was precisely when he taught Kagato. Danzō keeping him away at this time was likely to make a move on Kagato!

Damn it... could it be?

Although Shisui had guessed it, he was still reluctant to believe it. He didn't understand why Danzō would target Kagato. Kagato was completely uninvolved in the affairs between the Uchiha and Konoha.

I hope my guess is wrong.

Praying this, Shisui first went to the training grounds but didn't find Kagato. He then went to Kagato's home, bypassed his parents, and met Kagato.

In Kagato's room, after hearing the account of what happened, Shisui's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Lord Danzō, why... dammit..."

Shisui couldn't understand. In his eyes, Danzō had no reason to attack Kagato, absolutely none!

Kagato, however, wasn't surprised at all. He had long expected Danzō to make a move against him. The fact that Danzō had waited this long to act was already beyond Kagato's expectations.

"Brother Shisui, a while ago, Danzō's Root tried to recruit me, and I refused."

Shisui frowned, gritting his teeth.

"Just because of that? Because of that, Lord Danzō would move against you?"

Kagato pondered for a moment, then calmly replied.

"I suspect there are other reasons why Danzō believes I could never join Root. In his eyes, I, a genius, am an unstable factor within the Uchiha clan, an unstable factor that he cannot control. That's why he decided to act against me."

Shisui fell silent, covering his face with one hand, remaining silent for a long time.

Only after a very, very long time.

Shisui finally looked up, stood up, and spoke.

"Kagato, it's late, you should get some sleep. I'm leaving too."

Kagato stood up.

"Brother Shisui, I'll walk you out."

Shisui gave a faint smile.

"No need."

With that, Shisui left immediately using the Body Flicker Technique.

It was clear that Shisui was in a very bad mood and left abruptly.

Kagato bit his lip, said nothing, and soon fell asleep.

The next day.

In the Hokage's Office, Danzō found the Third Hokage with two corpses covered by white cloths.

"Hiruzen, last night, Uchiha Kagato of the Uchiha clan, without any reason, brutally murdered my Root members. I demand the immediate arrest and interrogation of Uchiha Kagato's entire family!"

The Third Hokage looked at Danzō in disbelief. He had just told Danzō yesterday not to lay a hand on Kagato, and yet, this morning, Danzō was here accusing Kagato. The Third Hokage knew very well that Danzō was most likely responsible for this.

But this was the Third Hokage's weakness. Even knowing that Danzō was probably behind it, seeing the two undeniable corpses, he couldn't directly dismiss Danzō's claims.

"Danzō, an immediate arrest is too extreme. Besides, are these two really killed by Kagato?"

Danzō sneered.

"It was definitely Uchiha Kagato. There's no doubt about it. And I believe an immediate arrest is necessary. The Uchiha already harbor rebellious thoughts, and now they dare to attack Root? We must use swift and decisive action to intimidate the Uchiha clan!"

The Third Hokage retorted.

"What is your evidence? Without any proof that Kagato was responsible, we cannot arrest him."

Danzō pulled back the white cloth, pointing to a charred corpse.

"These are injuries caused by the Great Fireball Jutsu, a technique extremely common among the Uchiha. That Uchiha Kagato knows it as well."

Then Danzō pointed to another corpse with its throat pierced.

"This is a wound from a kunai piercing the throat. The attacker's kunai skills are extremely proficient, and coincidentally, Uchiha Kagato's kunai skills are also outstanding. Based on these two points, I believe Uchiha Kagato is the perpetrator."

The Third Hokage was furious.

"Kagato has no reason to attack Root. On the contrary, Danzō, didn't you make the first move against Kagato?"

Danzō said with a cold face.

"How could I possibly attack a child? As for why Uchiha Kagato attacked Root, I don't know either, which is precisely why he needs to be arrested and interrogated. If he's innocent, he can be released afterward, right? Right now, he should be arrested immediately!"

This was the Third Hokage's inclination towards stability. Even knowing the truth in his heart, he had to act if there was seemingly solid evidence on the surface.

After a period of verification, with even some Anbu members claiming to have witnessed Kagato's brutal attack, the Third Hokage reluctantly announced the arrest of Uchiha Kagato!