Beat the Shimura Clan to Death (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"Young Yoichi, Kakashi's safe return this time owes much to your help. Without your care, Kakashi might have..."

Upon entering the Security Force building, Hatake Sakumo spoke to Uchiha Yoichi.

As a father, learning that his son had nearly died due to a leak from within the village stirred anger even in the usually mild-tempered Hatake Sakumo. He knew Kakashi had teamed up with Uchiha Yoichi and trusted his son's judgment, so he hadn't interfered—and the village's higher-ups were surely aware of it.

Yet despite that, Kakashi and Uchiha Yoichi's squad had been schemed against by those same higher-ups, their mission leaked to Kumogakure.

This was something Hatake Sakumo could never tolerate. The Konoha Village built by their predecessors was meant to protect the younger generation, not to persecute them for selfish gain.

"Hatake Senior, you know the situation, so I won't hide it from you. I'm ten percent sure this was Danzo's doing. That's why I went after the Shimura clan—it's my revenge. Nearly dying from a betrayal within the village? I can't swallow that without striking back!"

Uchiha Yoichi finished speaking and pulled out a map of sentry posts drawn by Iwagakure, continuing, "This is the evidence to convict the Shimura clan. How I got it doesn't matter much, but it shows Iwagakure is restless, looking to expand their interests in the Land of Grass."

"So the shinobi world is unsettled again."

Hatake Sakumo glanced over the Iwa-drawn map and its annotations. As long as Uchiha Yoichi insisted it was seized from the Shimura clan, they were pinned down. Even if they tried to explain, it wouldn't help—could they search Uchiha Yoichi's mind?

"I understand. Then let it end here, Young Yoichi. I've seen Danzo's ruthlessness firsthand—these people probably won't implicate him."

Hatake Sakumo warned. During the Second Shinobi World War, he had served under Danzo and witnessed his cruelty firsthand. For the sake of a major victory, Danzo had unhesitatingly sacrificed over a dozen of their own. Hatake Sakumo had disagreed with Danzo's methods then, and they'd clashed over it.

But Danzo was the battlefield commander at the time, and even if Hatake Sakumo disapproved, there was nothing he could do. It ended with him being reassigned, cutting the argument short. This time, they could bury these Shimura clan members, but it might not reach Danzo.

"I know, Hatake Senior. After all, the Third Hokage won't watch his old teammate fall."

Uchiha Yoichi sneered. Even an assassination attempt could be forgiven—he couldn't fathom how low Hiruzen Sarutobi's tolerance for Danzo could go. This blow wouldn't finish Danzo, but Uchiha Yoichi held grudges. He'd never forget Danzo's 'care' for him.

"Let's go, Young Yoichi. I need to report to Lord Hokage."

Hatake Sakumo said, picking up the evidence against the Shimura clan along with other 'corroborating materials' and heading out of the Security Force building.

Outside, everyone's eyes turned to Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Yoichi.

Clutching the evidence, Hatake Sakumo approached the Third Hokage and said in a low voice, "Lord Hokage, this was gathered from those Shimura clan members. It contains Iwagakure's expansion plans in the Land of Grass and remnants of trade contracts with Land of Earth merchants."

All of it had been obtained by Uchiha Yoichi during his previous two missions, now used against the Shimura clan.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished reviewing the evidence Hatake Sakumo handed him, his face darkened. He turned and said in a heavy tone, "Danzo, you are hereby relieved of your position as Hokage's Assistant and placed under Anbu investigation."

"Sun Slash, you—"

"Until the Anbu investigation concludes, Root will be taken over by the Anbu."

"No, I—"

"Enough, Danzo. I am the Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his voice in reprimand, silencing Danzo on the spot. But the bulging veins on his hand showed Danzo's fury.

After delivering Danzo's punishment, Hiruzen turned to Uchiha Fugaku and said, "Clan Head Fugaku, since the evidence against those men is conclusive, hand them over to the Security Force. Handle it according to Konoha's regulations—do what must be done."

With that, Hiruzen adjusted his Hokage hat and left.

The evidence was in their hands. Though Hiruzen knew Danzo wouldn't harm Konoha, and the evidence might have been intelligence Uchiha Yoichi gathered on missions, Yoichi had held onto it until now to nail these Shimura clan members.

After Hiruzen left, Danzo departed with a face like thunder. With both parties gone, only the Security Force remained.

Uchiha Yoichi spoke up, "Senior Masato, Senior Yokokawa, just throw those men in prison. There shouldn't be any more trouble for now. Sorry for the trouble."

Uchiha Masato nodded. "No problem. Not much left to do after this."

Uchiha Yokokawa clapped Uchiha Yoichi on the shoulder. "Young Yoichi, if you can beat me in a fight, I'll respect you."

"I'll try, Senior Yokokawa."

With that, Uchiha Yoichi took his leave, barely speaking to Uchiha Fugaku the entire time. That gesture alone signaled there was no room for reconciliation between them.

"Young Yoichi, the outcome was good this time, but you were too impulsive."

Elder Kenji set down his teacup and spoke slowly. He had quietly gone near the Security Force and witnessed nearly the entire event.

He was deeply gratified by Uchiha Yoichi's decisiveness and courage, but Yoichi had been too bold. That single slash had even made Elder Kenji's heart race—as if the blade had been aimed at him, not Uchiha Fugaku.

"You can swing a blade at Danzo—he's under suspicion of colluding with Iwa—but you cannot swing at the Clan Head. No matter how much you despise him, Uchiha Fugaku is the leader of the Uchiha Clan."

"Today, you humiliated Fugaku, but once word spreads, your reputation will be mixed at best."

"You'll need to find ways to mend this later. Otherwise, between you and Fugaku, most will still choose Fugaku."

Elder Kenji rambled on, but his words were clearly from Yoichi's perspective, almost openly signaling that he was grooming him as a future clan head.

"I understand, Elder Kenji. I'll be more cautious from now on."

Uchiha Yoichi spoke with gratitude; today, he owed much to Uchiha Kenji for backing him up. Otherwise, aside from a mutually destructive approach, it would have been difficult for him to gain any advantage over Danzo.

"As for the Shimura clan, there will be plenty of opportunities later. They have business outside the village—I'll handle that. If the chance to cross swords with Shimura ninjas arises, Young Yoichi, you'll take it."

Uchiha Kenji nodded. "Reputation and winning over clan members—if we do these two things well next, we can neutralize most of the fallout from today's events. After all, the clan members who went today all hope the Uchiha Clan can stand firm and stop endlessly compromising."

"But for now, you need to keep a low profile. Don't take any missions for a while."

"Also, come with me to see the Great Elder. Don't say a word when we get there. Oh, and bring a portion of the lamb that was delivered yesterday."

Please vote!

Also, to clarify: three chapters a day would be too fast a pace. I'm talking about the rhythm of word count and recommendation scheduling for a new book. Updating too quickly might cost me a lot of recommendations. Once the recommendations are set, I'll switch to three chapters some days and two chapters others. Mainly, I need to slow down—otherwise, going without recommendations during the new book period would hurt too much.

Also, please consider investing! If you've read this far, it's probably been about ten minutes—just click it. The number of investors is too low.