Jet Black Magatama

"Since Kaede has already executed her, I assume Lord Orochimaru won't object to leaving the body with the Uchiha, will he?" Fugaku's heavy voice carried a calm authority, the bearing of a clan head cultivated through years in a position of power.

Under his stern gaze, Orochimaru's slit pupils narrowed. Should he insist on taking away such a fine test subject, or give the Uchiha some consideration?

"Clan Head Fugaku, this is a mission. There's no room for negotiation."

"But you wanted a living person, not a corpse. Now she's dead. Doesn't that mean your mission has failed?" Fugaku refused to back down.

It no longer mattered whether this clanswoman was a spy. How much intelligence could a corpse provide? This was a contest of prestige. If Orochimaru took a clanswoman's body away in front of him, the clan head, and all these clansmen, how much authority would the Uchiha have left?

Today they could take away the body of an ordinary clansman. Tomorrow, would they demand the bodies of Uchiha shinobi with the Sharingan?

"Clan Head Fugaku, this is the Third Hokage's order. Is the Uchiha Clan now willing to defy the Hokage?" Orochimaru was just as unwilling to give up the body. It suddenly occurred to him that although the woman's body lacked Uchiha blood, what if he found an Uchiha child in her womb?

He had just examined her closely and noticed clear signs of pregnancy. This was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.

"I believe Lord Hokage will understand how much the Uchiha value the bodies of their clansmen. I ask you to leave her with the Uchiha, Lord Orochimaru." No one here was a fool. As an experienced shinobi, Fugaku was just as perceptive.

Not just the corpse—even if she were alive, he couldn't let Orochimaru take her away tonight. Once she was gone, the Sharingan Bloodline might be lost. No ninja clan would let its bloodline fall into other hands.

Orochimaru's smile deepened. "This is rather troublesome. The Uchiha really are both likable and detestable," he thought.

"Then let's settle it that way, Lord Orochimaru." Fugaku turned to signal the Military Police Force members behind him to take the body back to the clan grounds.

"Clan Head Fugaku, are you planning to take her by force?"

"Orochimaru, are you going to provoke a conflict between the Uchiha and the village over one corpse? I have reason to suspect you're coveting the Uchiha Bloodline." As he spoke, Fugaku activated his Sharingan and stared straight at Orochimaru. His crimson eyes, each with three Tomoe, were utterly mesmerizing.

Every member of the Military Police Force behind him activated their Sharingan as well, facing down Orochimaru and the Anbu.

In the pitch-black night, the streetlights were out. The moment this crowd of red-eyed shinobi opened their eyes, it was as if they'd switched on searchlights. Their blood-red eyes looked like those of demons in the dark. The Jet Black Magatama spun rapidly in their eyes, like an endless abyss.

This wasn't just one pair of Sharingan. Dozens of pairs had activated at once. The Military Police Force was made up of Uchiha elites; anyone who couldn't awaken the Sharingan didn't qualify to join.

Even the Third Hokage had probably seen a sight like this only a few times. It had been a long time since the Uchiha had taken to the battlefield in such numbers, and even the usually unflappable Orochimaru was stunned for a moment.

It was a sight he would never forget.

"Lord Orochimaru, may I take my clanswoman's body now?"

Orochimaru didn't say another word. He simply watched in silence as the Uchiha collected the body and carried it back to the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Kaede stood at the back, watching it all. The sight changed his view of the Uchiha. So Fugaku wasn't entirely useless after all. At least in this matter, he'd shown the authority befitting a clan head.

Looks like I was too hard on the Uchiha before. They do have their good points, Kaede thought.

Orochimaru's face was cold as he said, "Take the others to Root. Try not to get killed again, Kaede-kun. I'll remember you."

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Orochimaru. I'm honored," Kaede replied fearlessly.

Is that a threat? If I didn't want to avoid becoming a rogue ninja and wandering the Shinobi World, if I didn't want to keep growing in Konoha's warm embrace, I'd kill even the Hokage for you. Who do you think you are?

Meanwhile, Kabuto had long since gone numb. Tonight, he'd truly witnessed the Uchiha's lawlessness. This was the kind of clan even the Hokage had to be wary of. Even a child dared to stand up to a renowned shinobi like Orochimaru. He had nothing to say.

With the Military Police Force following behind him and the corpse in their arms, Fugaku entered the Uchiha Clan Grounds. There he saw Kaede, Shisui, and another little girl, standing as though they were waiting for something.

When they saw him return carrying the body, they looked at him in surprise.

"Were those your Shadow Clones just now? I couldn't tell at all," Fugaku said first. For once, he gave Kaede a rare smile.

"Hah!" Kaede tilted his head away. He had almost no goodwill toward Fugaku. His Shadow Clone hadn't yet transferred its memories of what had just happened, so he still held his old opinion.

Fugaku didn't know what to do with this clan member. He was a candidate for elder, chosen by another branch of the clan. Even as clan head, Fugaku had no authority to punish him.

"Why are you waiting here? Don't tell me you came to welcome your clan head home!"

"Don't flatter yourself, Clan Head. I'm here to save her." Kaede pointed at the corpse being carried by a Military Police Force member.

"Save her? Isn't she dead?"

"You'll see soon enough. You, form a perimeter!" Kaede ordered the Military Police Force members nearby.

They glanced at Fugaku, who nodded. Dozens of them formed a circle and made Hand Seals in unison, raising a barrier that enclosed everyone.

"When my Thunder Flash passed through her heart, it first released a current that paralyzed her heart and stopped it from beating. Only then did it pierce a small hole through her heart and exit her body. It looked like a fatal wound, but she was only feigning death.

"However, for an ordinary person, a heart wound and such a long pause in its beating are still extremely dangerous. That's why I had Tong wait here in advance. Her Medical Ninjutsu can save her." Kaede explained to Fugaku, who was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Tong was already using the Mystical Palm Technique to repair the damage to the woman's heart. Repairing a heart was delicate work, and she'd never done it herself before. Her little face was taut with nerves, and covered in sweat.

Kaede bent down and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Fugaku and Shisui watched in silence, their attention fixed mostly on Kaede. They couldn't fathom how bold this boy was. He'd not only dared to plan to take the body, but he'd also dared to fake her death.

Did he really have no regard for the Hokage? Fugaku wished he could crack open the boy's head and see how it worked. This kid was a real troublemaker.

And with such a meticulous mind, he'd probably even calculated when Fugaku would return.

"Cough, cough..." The woman coughed softly and slowly opened her eyes.

"Starting today, you are not allowed to leave the house. Understood?" Fugaku said sternly to the woman.

"Yes, Clan Head."