The Clash

After school, Obito really did latch onto Houka, insisting on showing off his Sharingan in front of him. Unfortunately, Obito had earned his reputation as a lousy student—he stared wide-eyed for ages but still couldn't activate his Sharingan.

"Obito, maybe next time. I still have to train Taijutsu with Uncle Might Duy." Houka patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly.

"Damn it, why won't it work?" Obito hopped around anxiously, glaring hard at the wall.

Houka shrugged, winked at Guy, who was standing some distance away, and then the two of them slipped off together.

"Houka, I think there's something wrong with this duel." After they left the Ninja Academy, Guy's expression grew serious. "After that Chunin showed up, I went to look for our teacher, Shin Kiyono, but I searched the entire Ninja Academy and couldn't find him. The teachers from the other classes were gone too, as if they'd all agreed to disappear at the same time."

Houka narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah!" Guy's thick, bushy eyebrows took on a grave look.

Houka nearly went blind from the glare.

"Only someone capable of doing that..."

Could be the Third Hokage.

The Ninja Academy was the Third Hokage's domain. Anyone who tried to cause trouble there was challenging his authority!

Houka's expression turned grave.

The Third Hokage had to know about this. So what was his goal?

Houka's thoughts raced, and he quickly pieced it together: he and the Chunin Uchiha Yeshing were probably both pawns of the big shots above them. Someone wanted to use those two pawns to build a platform from which to attack... the Uchiha Clan!

Danzo?!

Houka's heart jolted. For some reason, he had a strong feeling that Danzo was the one pulling the strings.

After all, the Third Hokage was cautious and levelheaded. He was unlikely to move against the Uchiha Clan unless they were clearly plotting a coup. Danzo, on the other hand, would do it.

That meant he had already caught Danzo's eye—and might even have been used as a pawn!

"Damn it!" Houka clenched his fist. He hated this feeling, as if a layer of gloom had settled over his heart.

"What's wrong, Houka?" Guy looked at him with concern.

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing." Houka sighed. He couldn't tell anyone about this, especially since Root's existence was a secret from ordinary ninja, let alone someone like him who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy.

Meanwhile.

In the council chamber of the Hokage Building, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table. Danzo sat beside him, along with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura. The latter two had been Hiruzen Sarutobi's childhood friends and were now Konoha's elder advisors, helping the Hokage govern the village.

On the other side sat Uchiha Chika, the current head of the Uchiha Clan, as well as Uchiha Yamano, captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, and his assistant, Uchiha Fugaku.

Uchiha Chika and Uchiha Yamano were both middle-aged, their temples streaked with gray and their energy somewhat diminished.

"You all know what happened. Now, let's discuss how to handle it afterward." Danzo's face was stony as he glared coldly at the three across from him.

Uchiha Chika narrowed his eyes and smiled. "It was just a childish squabble. Uchiha Houka and Uchiha Ronai are children; it's only natural for them to roughhouse. As for Uchiha Yeshing, he was just overprotective of his son and acted rashly, doing something discourteous. I hope you won't hold it against him, Lord Danzo."

"Clan Head Chika, watch your words!" Utatane Koharu said, slapping the table. "Uchiha Yeshing openly tried to kill a student who hadn't even graduated from the Ninja Academy. This was no childish squabble!"

Mitokado Homura naturally backed Utatane Koharu. "I've heard Uchiha Yeshing is also a deputy squad leader in the Police Force. The Police Force can't escape responsibility for this either."

Uchiha Yamano smiled. "Lord Homura, I've already stripped Uchiha Yeshing of all his positions in the Police Force."

"Hmph!" Mitokado Homura snorted and turned away.

The two sides went back and forth. One side made the matter sound increasingly serious, claiming it threatened Konoha's peace, prosperity, and unity. The other kept playing it down, reducing it to a family matter of children fighting and their parents being called in.

In the end, both sides turned toward the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated at the head of the table.

"Hiruzen, the matter is ultimately for you to decide," Danzo said ominously.

The Third Hokage drew on his pipe, smoke billowing around him and obscuring his expression.

"The Ninja Academy was established to train excellent ninja for the village. I will not allow anyone to interfere with it for any reason!" The Third Hokage's voice grew stern. "The school allows students to duel, but it does not allow outsiders to interfere with a fair duel. Clan Head Uchiha, you owe the Ninja Academy an explanation!"

Uchiha Chika narrowed his eyes and watched the Third Hokage in silence. Only after a long pause did the corner of his mouth curve upward. "I will."

At the end of the table, Uchiha Fugaku looked frustrated, as if he wanted to say something, but Uchiha Yamano stopped him.

"Then that settles it!" the Third Hokage suddenly said. "And I hope Clan Head Uchiha won't make trouble for those two children."

"Of course. They are members of my Uchiha Clan, after all." Uchiha Chika nodded, lost in thought.

As soon as they left the Hokage Building, Uchiha Fugaku couldn't hold back. "It was a trap! A teacher has to be present for a duel at the Ninja Academy! But as far as I know, there wasn't a teacher there when Houka and Ronai fought. And that fellow Yeshing was also..."

"Enough, Fugaku!" Uchiha Yamano snapped. "Stop wasting your breath!"

"But—" Uchiha Fugaku protested, unwilling to let it go.

"Fugaku, you're talented, but you still need experience." Uchiha Chika patted his shoulder. "The Uchiha Clan seems to be heading toward glory, with our power and reputation gradually surpassing those of the Senju Clan. But... you saw it, didn't you? The Third Hokage and the three elder advisors have always harbored unresolved resentment toward our clan. One day, they'll move against us. Fugaku, you need to prepare yourself."

Uchiha Fugaku looked stunned, unable to say a word.

"Let's go. This place isn't our territory." Uchiha Chika turned his head slightly, revealing a bloodstained, ominous Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes.

Standing in the Hokage Building, Danzo stared silently at Uchiha Chika from a shadowy corner. His gaze didn't yield in the slightest.

That night, word spread through the Uchiha Clan that Uchiha Yeshing had been locked up in Konoha Prison. His crimes were disrupting a fair duel at the Ninja Academy and attempting to murder one of its students!

As soon as the news got out, the Uchiha Clan's reputation took a hit. Under Danzo's manipulation and threats, some clans close to the Uchiha Clan gradually began to remain neutral, distancing themselves from the whirlpool of conflict.