Trust!

What, coming after me?

Why are they coming after me!

Kagami Uchiha felt sharp gazes on him. His former teammates' eyes were filled with disappointment. Just moments ago, the six of them had been huddling together for warmth, resisting the immense pressure Mito Uzumaki was exerting. Now, they had fallen apart.

Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Torifu Akimichi, as if telepathically linked, distanced themselves from Kagami Uchiha. Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained rooted to the spot, watching Kagami Uchiha with a complex expression.

Mito Uzumaki's hair floated ethereally. Those familiar with her knew she was on the verge of exploding.

The immense chakra within Mito Uzumaki surged outwards, forming visible chakra masses around her. Tiny cracks appeared on the hard floor beneath her feet. With just a little more force, it would shatter.

Say something!

I have to say something!!!

Kagami Uchiha bore Mito Uzumaki's pressure alone, feeling like a tiny boat adrift on a boundless ocean.

The sky above the ocean was dark and stormy, with lightning and thunder. Waves dozens of meters high roared and crashed towards him, filling Kagami Uchiha with a profound sense of powerlessness.

Killing intent, mixed with various negative chakras, enveloped Kagami Uchiha's entire body, yet his limbs felt heavy and useless.

Weak!!

Kagami Uchiha had never felt so weak before. In his memories, the old woman before him was kind and gentle, always with a smile.

Even so, Kagami Uchiha had never underestimated her. Her identity was no secret to the Uchiha, and her strength was always praised by the clan elders.

"That old hag Mito isn't someone easy to deal with. Even I would only be evenly matched with her," an old Uchiha from the Warring States period had once commented on Mito Uzumaki.

Now, Kagami Uchiha understood that the elders in his clan talked more nonsense than he imagined. He had imagined Mito Uzumaki's strength, believing that even if he wasn't her match, he would at least be able to put up a fight.

Now, it seemed he had thought too much.

"It wasn't me. I would never leak information, nor would I swear on the Uchiha name so casually!"

Kagami Uchiha invoked the Uchiha clan. He hadn't degenerated to the point of casually making a death oath for the entire Uchiha clan.

However, Kagami Uchiha's defense seemed pale and weak. The moment the six of them returned to the village, they had gone straight to the Senju Clan Land to deliver the bad news. They hadn't met anyone else in between. Upon arriving at the Senju Clan Land, they hadn't left.

Yet, the news of Tobirama Senju's death had spread throughout Konoha in just one afternoon.

The source of the information was the Uchiha. Including Mito Uzumaki, only seven people knew about Tobirama Senju's death, and Kagami Uchiha just happened to be Uchiha.

The Uchiha weren't without methods for secretly transmitting information. Did messages always have to be delivered face-to-face?

Kagami Uchiha's explanation clearly failed to convince Mito Uzumaki. The incident had already happened, and someone needed to take responsibility.

Whether Kagami Uchiha was responsible or not was no longer important to Mito Uzumaki. Since the news came from an Uchiha, Kagami Uchiha had become an accomplice. Who could he blame? He was an Uchiha.

Mito Uzumaki stood up, killing intent radiating from her eyes. This brat from the Uchiha clan couldn't be killed, but she could certainly beat him until he was bedridden for half a year.

"Lady Mito!"

"I believe Kagami Uchiha!!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, then stepped in front of Kagami Uchiha, his eyes fixed on Mito Uzumaki.

Everyone present was astonished. Even at this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi dared to step forward and protect Kagami Uchiha.

A flicker of surprise crossed Mito Uzumaki's face, but it was fleeting. After staring at Hiruzen Sarutobi's determined expression for a few seconds, she spoke from her throat:

"Monkey, do you know what you're saying?"

"Trying to play the hero here, put on a show?"

"These petty tricks won't move me."

Mito Uzumaki's aura shifted from Kagami Uchiha to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Kagami Uchiha looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a grateful expression and began to pant heavily. The feeling of floating on the sea, on the verge of drowning, had vanished.

Cold sweat had soaked through his underclothes, clinging uncomfortably to his skin. But Kagami Uchiha didn't have the luxury to care about that now.

"Hiruzen, don't push yourself. Kagami Uchiha is an Uchiha, after all!"

Shimura Danzo looked at his good friend, bearing the pressure alone, protecting someone who had leaked information.

In Shimura Danzo's opinion, the person who leaked the information among the six of them had to be an Uchiha.

Teacher Tobirama had always been wary of the Uchiha. Kagami Uchiha, being an Uchiha clan member, leaking information to the Uchiha was not entirely unacceptable.

"Shut up!!"

"Did I ask you to speak?"

Mito Uzumaki looked at Shimura Danzo, displeased with his interruption.

Shimura Danzo immediately shut his mouth, becoming as docile as a quail under Mito Uzumaki's murderous gaze.

"Lady Mito, I have no intention of playing tricks."

"I believe Kagami Uchiha is not that kind of person."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, his gaze sharp and his tone devoid of any fear.

"State your reasons."

Mito Uzumaki pressed for details.

"Kagami Uchiha is special. He doesn't have the Uchiha's arrogance or condescension. He is gentle and kind."

"He was always gentle with his companions. On the battlefield, he was a reliable comrade. I could trust him with my back."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly, recounting everything he knew about Kagami Uchiha, from the small details of his life to their shared life-and-death experiences on the battlefield.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's memory, the Uchiha clan members were always arrogant, especially those who had awakened the Sharingan, who were incredibly conceited.

Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled the Uchiha of his generation. Two individuals stood out among the Uchiha: one was the Kagami Uchiha he knew well, and the other was Uchiha Nan.

They were powerful yet humble. Ordinary ninjas could joke with both of them.

Even if they occasionally offended them, neither of them truly got angry, dismissing it as a slip of the tongue and letting it pass with a smile.

This was why Tobirama Senju had attempted to take them as disciples: Kagami Uchiha and Uchiha Nan.

Kagami Uchiha accepted, while Uchiha Nan refused.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's detailed account moved everyone present. Even Shimura Danzo, who had just concluded that Kagami Uchiha was the leak, began to doubt if he had wronged Kagami Uchiha.