After hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, not only Utatane Koharu, but even Mitokado Homura and Sarutobi Hiruzen were stunned.
A public apology?
The Military Police Force's punishment had already been carried out?
If it had merely been a disciplinary measure, they would not have thought much of it.
Even if they had been beaten badly, it would have been understandable.
But now, the Uchiha were publicly apologizing?
Those were the Uchiha.
And it had been a decision voluntarily made by the clan head standing before them.
In the past, if they wanted the Uchiha to apologize, the higher-ups would have had to pressure them together and offer certain special concessions before it could possibly happen.
Even then, they might have been refused.
The Uchiha's pride was no empty reputation.
"Lord Hokage..."
"Are the others here as well?"
"There's unrest in the village."
At that moment, an Anbu member appeared.
Looking at everyone present, he still reported what he had come to say.
"What unrest?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a headache coming on.
Why did everything have to happen all at once?
"Members of the Uchiha Clan and the clans of the two elders have gone to Shadow Leaf Lake."
"While deciding to head there, the ninja from the two elders' clans used ninjutsu in the street."
The Anbu member quickly reported what had just happened.
While the three Uchiha were apologizing, the ninja of the Utatane Clan and the Mito Clan had immediately begun mocking them.
Even under such circumstances, the three Uchiha had continued apologizing sincerely.
But then, the others had taken it even further.
They humiliated the three in public, and some had even started throwing punches.
Unable to endure it any longer, the three Uchiha fought back.
However, the conflict was still limited to taijutsu at that point.
Seeing