Uchiha Fugaku had never looked this grim. As the Clan Head, he was being threatened with a ninja blade by one of his own clansmen, who had even said he would cut off his head.
His pupils instantly turned blood-red, and the Three-Tomoe slowly rotated. Uchiha Fugaku said darkly, "I'm the Clan Head. I'm going in right now to take the man away!"
"Ha."
Uchiha Yoichi sneered at that. His expression was utterly cold as he tilted his head toward the Security Force's gate behind him and said to Uchiha Fugaku:
"Try it, Clan Head."
Raiya's Blade remained raised. His blood-red double-tomoe Sharingan stared intently at Uchiha Fugaku's Three-Tomoe. Uchiha Yoichi's expression seemed to state a simple fact: If you dare go in, I'll dare cut off your head!
In Uchiha Yoichi's eyes, Uchiha Fugaku was a fool propped up by a single word from Danzo and unworthy of being Clan Head. The Militant Faction of the Second Elder's faction had already made its choice, and Uchiha Fugaku, as Clan Head, had better not betray the will of the clan.
Otherwise, however they had put you up there, they could drag you back down!
To be honest, Uchiha Fugaku didn't possess the Mangekyō Sharingan yet, nor did he have the strength to win the conviction of every Uchiha. Even if he had that strength, the clan still wouldn't submit to him if he made a choice that displeased them.
Take Uchiha Madara, for example. Joining Konoha had been his decision, yet only a few years later he wanted to leave Konoha. There was a limit to how much trouble one could cause. They had already moved the clan compound here, and now he wanted to move it back.
If Uchiha Fugaku really dared take another step forward, Uchiha Yoichi truly dared to cut him down. He wasn't without a trump card. Uchiha Yoichi could still summon King Ghidorah once, and if Konoha wanted to turn hostile, then no one would get off lightly.
He could summon King Ghidorah right in Konoha and destroy this shitty village, starting the Third Shinobi World War two years early and making Konoha a footnote in Ninja World history!
Uchiha Fugaku was caught between a rock and a hard place. Danzo was propping him up from behind, while Hiruzen Sarutobi was watching him.
And if he really went in, that was what infuriated Uchiha Fugaku the most: he, the Clan Head, was actually being threatened by a junior member of his own clan, Uchiha Yoichi.
Uchiha Fugaku felt that if he truly refused to go in, the authority of the Clan Head would be utterly destroyed.
So, a few seconds after Uchiha Yoichi finished speaking, Uchiha Fugaku lifted his leg and walked toward the Security Force's gate. It looked as though he really intended to enter the Security Force and bring the man out.
What a damn Clan Head!
Uchiha Yoichi hardened his resolve. If they were both willing to die together, then who was afraid of whom?
The lightning surging across Raiya's Blade suddenly crackled loudly. The blade flashed as it swung, slashing fiercely toward Uchiha Fugaku's neck.
Uchiha Yoichi held nothing back with this strike. If he backed down today instead of establishing his authority, he might end up living a fate worse than death in the future.
Since Uchiha Fugaku had stepped forward and tried to rely on his status as Clan Head, then he could die!
Clang!
A crisp, ear-splitting metallic impact rang out as a chakra short blade reflecting white light blocked Raiya's Blade.
The invisible Wind Release Chakra on the white short blade directly sliced apart the lightning wrapped around Raiya's Blade.
Wind Release's cutting power countered Lightning Release's piercing force. Uchiha Yoichi had sensed this when sparring with Kakashi before, though Kakashi's Wind Release hadn't been strong enough then for the counter to be obvious.
But against Konoha's White Fang, the elemental advantage was strikingly clear.
"Young Yoichi, please calm down. The most important thing right now is figuring out the matter of the spy. Everyone's getting too worked up."
Hatake Sakumo spoke gently. Just now, he had used a Body Flicker nearly indistinguishable from teleportation to move directly from behind Hiruzen Sarutobi to Uchiha Fugaku's side, drawing his blade to block Uchiha Yoichi's strike.
The sparks from the clash between the two ninja blades had nearly splashed onto Uchiha Fugaku's neck, leaving him shocked, furious, and bewildered.
Uchiha Fugaku had never expected Uchiha Yoichi to truly dare kill him. If Hatake Sakumo hadn't blocked that strike, his neck would probably have been severed by now.
"Uchiha Yoichi!"
Uchiha Fugaku shouted angrily and immediately intended to use his Sharingan to cast a genjutsu and control Uchiha Yoichi.
Before he could do so, however, a hand landed on his shoulder. It wasn't particularly strong, but it interrupted Uchiha Fugaku.
"Clan Head Fugaku, everyone, calm down. Don't let this misunderstanding deepen. We only need to determine whether the people Young Yoichi captured are Stone Ninja spies. Once that's clear, all the misunderstandings will be resolved. Young Yoichi did this for the village.
"Besides, Young Yoichi didn't strike to kill. Even without me, Clan Head Fugaku wouldn't have been harmed. I was the one who interfered just now."
Hatake Sakumo's voice was gentle, but his words were not something anyone present could afford to take lightly.
Because he was Konoha's White Fang—a Ninja whose reputation and distinctive style alone could make enemy Jonin tremble. Even the Sannin respected him. Many Ninjas in the village speculated that, judging by strength alone, perhaps only Hiruzen Sarutobi was stronger than Konoha's White Fang.
Moreover, his words surprised Uchiha Yoichi. It seemed as though he was helping him smooth things over. After thinking about it, Uchiha Yoichi understood. Kakashi had probably told his father what had happened.
Uchiha Fugaku also drew a deep breath and barely suppressed his rage. Hatake Sakumo had just saved him, and his strength was far greater than Uchiha Fugaku's, so he decided to hear how Hatake Sakumo intended to handle the matter.
"Third Lord, the dispute between both sides comes down to whether those people are spies. Since that's the case, let's investigate it now and clear up the misunderstanding between everyone."
Hatake Sakumo turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi to ask for permission. Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer pretend not to hear, so he said, "Very well, Sakumo. You'll be in charge of this matter."
After saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly. Hatake Sakumo rarely sought him out, but he had come to the Security Force with him today because Hatake Sakumo had previously visited the Hokage's Office and told him that Kakashi had gone on a mission and the village's people had leaked the information.
That incident had nearly killed Hatake Sakumo's only son. Moreover, leaking information to harm a Ninja from the village violated the principles Hatake Sakumo believed in.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew Hatake Sakumo would not lie to him. Since he had come to report it, the incident must have happened. Hiruzen Sarutobi also knew that Kakashi and Uchiha Yoichi had been teamed up. With a little thought, he could figure out who in the village had the nerve to do such a thing.
Danzo!
After receiving Hiruzen Sarutobi's permission, Hatake Sakumo turned to Uchiha Yoichi and said, "Young Yoichi, please take me inside for a look. If they really are spies colluding with the Stone Ninja, then they certainly shouldn't be let off."
"...Please follow me, Jonin Hatake."
After thinking for a moment, Uchiha Yoichi spoke to Hatake Sakumo, then walked into the Security Force.
As he entered, Uchiha Yoichi also noticed that many clansmen were looking at him with complicated expressions. There was both awe and shock in their eyes.
They had probably seen that Uchiha Yoichi truly had the nerve to attack the Clan Head, while also intimidating the Root Ninja, greatly enhancing the Security Force's prestige.
In truth, the Security Force had been bullied by Root more than once. The Security Force had vigorously purged spies in the village before, but every time they caught one, Root Ninja would come knocking with all kinds of excuses to demand them.
Their attitude was also arrogant, as though the Security Force was supposed to do the dirty work and cleanup for Root.
So after today, the clansmen gathered outside the Security Force respected him for his boldness. Many of them had also felt a surge of satisfaction upon seeing Uchiha Yoichi intimidate the Root Ninja.
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