Scheming

Yamanaka Inoichi was not merely the head of the Yamanaka Clan.

He was also one of the strongest intelligence shinobi in the entire Ninja World. Before him, any lie or concealment was as transparent as glass, easily seen through—especially with his sharp insight.

With a single sentence, he struck at the point the Uchiha Clan could not avoid.

Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru had vanished within the Uchiha Clan!

"Clan Head Fugaku, please give our two clans a reasonable explanation."

Aburame Shibi wore sunglasses, half his face hidden behind the high collar of his trench coat, as he spoke up immediately afterward.

Uchiha Fugaku's expression darkened, and he did not know how to answer.

Hyuga Hiashi, standing nearby, shifted slightly and said coldly, "And there is also the matter concerning my Hyuga Clan. If the Uchiha Clan cannot provide a reasonable explanation, then Lord Hokage should uphold justice!"

Yamanaka Inoichi and Aburame Shibi's eyes deepened slightly as they looked at Hyuga Hiashi, but neither said anything.

If their words had still fallen within the scope of questioning,

then Hyuga Hiashi's words were clearly intended to provoke Uchiha Fugaku. The atmosphere instantly became heavy and stifling!

"Why should the Uchiha Clan admit to something we never did?"

Uchiha Itachi's face was cold and hard, with a trace of anger.

"Heh."

Hyuga Hiashi sneered, his gaze carrying the contempt one might show a child. "Uchiha Itachi, that is precisely why we are questioning the Uchiha Clan. If the evidence is conclusive, your Uchiha Clan should be sitting in Konoha's prison right now!"

"Or are you saying that the Uchiha Clan has long intended to betray the village?"

"Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru were killed by you long ago?!"

In an instant, the air froze. Uchiha Itachi's pupils suddenly contracted, his breathing quickened, and a disbelieving shock appeared in his eyes.

In the eyes of the other great clans, was the Uchiha Clan simply destined to rebel sooner or later?

"Enough!"

Uchiha Fugaku roared, a trace of scarlet in his eyes.

"If there is anything, come at me! The Uchiha Clan knows nothing about Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru!"

"Then produce the evidence!"

Hyuga Hiashi refused to back down, pressing forward step by step.

"Even if Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru did something wrong, that would not give the Uchiha Clan the right to kill them on your own!"

The matter had yet to be decided.

Yet from Hyuga Hiashi's words, it was as though the Uchiha Clan had already been branded the "murderers."

Uchiha Fugaku and Itachi exchanged a glance. Their breathing became extremely rapid, veins bulging on their foreheads, as though their scarlet Sharingan would emerge the next moment. But rebellion now would inevitably end in death!

All around the Hokage Building

were countless Anbu!

"Where is the evidence?"

But at that moment, with a snap, a clear voice rang out.

"Where is the evidence?"

Everyone's gazes immediately fell on Uchiha Akira. His expression remained unchanged, and his voice was like a basin of clear water, dispersing the oppressive atmosphere. He shrugged.

"I mean, the evidence that Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru died in the Uchiha Clan."

He gave a disdainful laugh, his gaze fixed directly on Yamanaka Inoichi and Aburame Shibi.

The two froze, thoughtful expressions appearing on their faces.

Hyuga Hiashi's expression changed at once. If the Yamanaka Clan and Aburame Clan were persuaded to withdraw, the Hyuga Clan alone would be no match for the Uchiha Clan.

He hurriedly said, "Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru disappearing within the Uchiha Clan is proof enough."

"Uchiha Akira, do not think you can argue your way out of this!"

Anger filled his eyes.

Uchiha Akira again!

Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi had clearly already run out of options just now, merely waiting to be executed. If the two had acted then, it would have been the perfect opportunity to use the Uchiha Clan's rebellion as an excuse to completely suppress them.

But because of Uchiha Akira's words,

everything had become nothing but a bubble!

Yet Uchiha Akira did not even look at him.

"Clan Heads."

He spread his hands and continued, "The Uchiha Clan's territory lies at the very edge. Forget outsiders—even the clans closest to us never approach the Uchiha Clan. Why would Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru come to our clan?"

"Shouldn't you two be asking their superior officers?"

His words made no attempt at concealment.

Though he had not answered the question directly, he had given them the answer.

Yamanaka Inoichi and Aburame Shibi exchanged a glance, seeing uncertainty and alarm in each other's eyes. Yamanaka Inoichi cupped his hands and said, "I understand. Lord Hokage, we will take our leave first."

He gave Uchiha Akira a deep look, an unreadable expression in his eyes, as though he had understood something.

Uchiha Akira's expression remained calm.

As expected, no one who worked in intelligence was an idiot.

After leaving the Hokage Building and walking for quite some time, Yamanaka Inoichi suddenly said, "We were set up."

"What do you mean?"

Aburame Shibi froze. "We were set up?"

"Shibi, Uchiha Akira already made it very clear. Kaede and Toru died at his hands, and the most likely reason was Danzo's mission."

Yamanaka Inoichi's expression was solemn as he warned him word by word.

"Do not interfere in this matter again. We will pretend we know nothing about it."

Aburame Shibi: "???"

His face was filled with astonishment. He opened his mouth and said, "No, when did he tell you that? Why did I not hear it? Even my insects did not hear it!"

Yamanaka Inoichi: "..."

He could not be bothered to respond and strode away.

Neither of them was foolish. They knew about the enmity between Uchiha Akira and Danzo. Later, Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Toru had been sent to the Uchiha Clan, making the purpose clear enough. Those who killed would eventually be killed.

Even as clan heads, they had no complaints.

Inside the Hokage Building, Hyuga Hiashi stood where he was. The smug anger on his face had turned into anger toward Yamanaka Inoichi and Aburame Shibi, while a trace of panic appeared in his eyes.

No loyalty!

No sense of honor!

How embarrassing!

"So what if the Yamanaka Clan and Aburame Clan choose not to pursue the matter?"

Hyuga Hiashi's voice had already lost some of its confidence as he stared at Uchiha Fugaku.

"Uchiha Akira, you disrupting my Hyuga Clan's internal grand competition is an undeniable fact. Today, your Uchiha Clan must give me a reasonable explanation!"

But Uchiha Fugaku did not respond. He looked out the window. "Itachi, the scenery is quite nice today."

"Why does the sky above the Hyuga Clan seem a little dark?"

Uchiha Itachi nodded.

At once, Hyuga Hiashi clenched his teeth, his expression turning grim as he could no longer maintain his dignified bearing.

"So, Hiashi, what did you just say? I did not hear clearly. Please say it again."

Uchiha Akira smiled warmly, wearing the look of someone listening attentively.

Hyuga Hiashi immediately flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Before leaving, he threw down a harsh warning.

"Do not forget that the Uchiha Clan is ultimately Konoha's Uchiha Clan!"

An unreadable look flashed through his eyes, carrying both warning and anticipation.

"Do not make a mistake."

"All of Konoha is watching your Uchiha Clan!"

"Especially you, Uchiha Akira!"

As though recalling something, Hyuga Hiashi let out a brief, mocking laugh.