Watch Closely, This Is How You Rebel (Seeking Follow-ups)

Uchiha Qiantang had to explain: "This matter is a misfortune for our Uchiha Clan and a significant loss. We have been busy handling the funeral arrangements and stabilizing the situation within the clan, which is why we failed to inform you, Lord Hokage, in a timely manner. We hope for your understanding."

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly composed himself, his voice deepening: "This is truly heartbreaking news. Clan Head Fugaku was in his prime and one of the pillars of our Hidden Leaf Village. What exactly was the cause?"

His question struck at the core, his gaze sharp as a torch as he scrutinized the four men before him.

A mere illness could not possibly have taken the life of an Uchiha in his prime.

The bodies of Uchiha Yashiro and Inabi tightened imperceptibly for a moment, while Uchiha Qiantang slowly raised his eyelids. All three looked toward Uchiha Du Yang in unison, yet none of them spoke.

Seeing that no one was willing to answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued to control the rhythm of the conversation, asking: "The Uchiha Clan has gone through many changes, yet you still sent people to communicate with the village in good faith. This is a good thing."

"The Hidden Leaf has always been the shared home of all clans. The village has always valued the reasonable demands of the Uchiha."

He attempted to steer the topic toward controllable areas, such as the authority of the Military Police Force, the expansion of the clan compound, or certain degrees of political participation.

However, a scene that Hiruzen Sarutobi found inconceivable occurred: Uchiha Du Yang stepped to the very front, moving past Uchiha Qiantang, and neither Uchiha Yashiro nor Inabi made a move to stop him.

Then, Uchiha Du Yang spoke the first sentence that made Hiruzen Sarutobi almost doubt his own hearing:

"First, please allow me to formally inform you, Lord Hokage, that following an emergency motion by the Uchiha Clan's Council of Elders and with the approval of the majority of the clan, as of today, I, Uchiha Du Yang, shall serve as the acting head of the Uchiha Clan until a new head is formally elected according to clan rules."

"What?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi jerked his head up, a piercing light erupting in his eyes as he stared fixedly at Uchiha Du Yang.

It was not just him; every Anbu ninja heard it as well.

Had the Uchiha lost their minds? How could they let a mere boy become the clan head? What on earth had happened during this time?

However, Uchiha Du Yang had not finished speaking: "Second, based on our clan's reassessment of the current situation, as well as careful reflection on history and the future..."

Du Yang paused, his gaze sweeping over the portraits of the past Hokage on the office walls, over the Hokage Rock outside the window, and finally settling back on Hiruzen Sarutobi's grim face, enunciating every word clearly:

"I, Uchiha Du Yang, in the name of the new acting head of the Uchiha, formally declare on behalf of all Uchiha clansmen that the Uchiha Clan, as of this day, voluntarily withdraws from the Hidden Leaf Village and dissolves all alliances, subordinate ties, and obligations with the Hidden Leaf."

"Our clan will vacate our current compound within the agreed-upon timeframe, and from this moment on, we shall have no further connection with the Hidden Leaf Village."

This was what he had wanted to say all along, and today, it had finally been uttered.

"Are you joking?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up abruptly, his face even twisting in disbelief.

Withdraw from the Hidden Leaf?!

Voluntarily dissolve all ties?!

Vacate?!

They had assumed the Uchiha Clan had come to continue their submission, but they never expected the newly elected head to say something even more radical than an insurrection.

This was rebellion—an outright rebellion.

To speak of the Uchiha withdrawing from the Hidden Leaf Village and dissolving their alliance was to act as if he, the Hokage, did not exist.

"Uchiha Du Yang, do you know what you are saying? Who gave the Uchiha Clan permission to do this?" The Third Hokage's voice rose sharply, carrying the thunderous fury of one who had long held power, creating a formidable pressure. "The Hidden Leaf was founded by the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara together. The Uchiha are an indispensable part of the Hidden Leaf. You cannot just withdraw because you say so."

Inside the small Hokage office, dozens of cold auras locked onto Du Yang; they were the elite Anbu directly under the Hokage.

With just one look from the Third Hokage, they would strike immediately.

Behind Du Yang, Uchiha Yashiro and Inabi were tense, their hands already resting on their ninja tool pouches, as if ready to fight at any moment.

Uchiha Qiantang remained with his eyes cast down, like an ancient stone statue.

"Please calm your anger, Lord Hokage," Du Yang said, unhurried. "The joint founding is a matter of old history. If I may speak frankly, since the Nine-Tails Incident, the only things the Uchiha have felt in the Hidden Leaf are suspicion and exclusion."

"The Hidden Leaf views the Uchiha as a hidden danger, and the Uchiha view the Hidden Leaf as a cage. What is the point of the Uchiha remaining in the Hidden Leaf, other than to cause hatred and even more tragic conflicts?"

He took a step forward and said with great sincerity: "The Hidden Leaf no longer needs to guard against the Uchiha day and night, and the Uchiha no longer need to endure this oppression. Is this not a more favorable outcome for both sides?"

The Third Hokage spoke with harsh, stern words, refuting him: "Absurd. The Uchiha Clan's bloodline, power, and even the land you have inhabited for generations are inextricably linked to the Hidden Leaf."

"Withdraw? Where do you intend to go, and where could you possibly go? As a single ninja clan, how could the ninja world easily allow you to gain a foothold?"

"That is a problem for the Uchiha to face; there is no need for you to trouble yourself, Lord Hokage." Du Yang's response was airtight. "Have the Uchiha not shed enough blood for the Hidden Leaf over these years? We only wish to take what belongs to us and promise that, from this day forward, the Uchiha and the Hidden Leaf will treat each other as separate villages and refrain from mutual aggression."

"Past grievances shall be wiped clean."

Du Yang paused, then added:

"Of course, if the Hidden Leaf insists on viewing the Uchiha's withdrawal as betrayal and attempts to block us by force, then my entire clan, myself included, will have no choice but to defend our right to choose our own destiny at any cost, even if it means crossing blades."

Just then, Shimura Danzō appeared abruptly in the Hokage office, urging the Third Hokage: "Hiruzen, what are you still hesitating for?"

"Do you see? This is the Uchiha you have always wanted to be 'open and honest' with."

"Fugaku has just died, his body not yet cold, and they are already in such a rush to push forward an unknown brat to shamelessly declare their withdrawal."

"This is not a withdrawal; this is an undisguised rebellion, a provocation and betrayal of the Hidden Leaf."

At the same time, more chakra signatures emerged, and the members of Root had already quietly taken their positions.

So, this high-ranking official of the Hidden Leaf had been hiding on the sidelines from the very beginning, likely waiting for Fugaku to arrive so he could immediately seize him.

Danzō continued to urge: "Hiruzen, you cannot let them divide the Hidden Leaf, nor can you let them take the Sharingan. Now, right here, give the order immediately."

"Execute these four Uchiha traitors on the spot."

"Then, mobilize all forces and cleanse the Uchiha Compound immediately."

Danzo spoke with ironclad certainty, as if he were delivering a final verdict upon the Uchiha: "The Uchiha were bound to rebel sooner or later, and now, they have."

"Take advantage of the fact that they are leaderless and in internal chaos to eradicate this scourge in one fell swoop, ending the threat once and for all."

Even the deeply calculating Danzo was uncharacteristically agitated.

However, the moment Danzo appeared and revealed his true colors, the corners of Du Yang's mouth curled slightly upward.

Today, the two most important protagonists of this grand play had finally taken the stage.

To Konoha, and to the Uchiha, he wanted to say:

"Watch closely; this is how a rebellion is staged. He will only demonstrate it once."

Du Yang would use his own methods to make Danzo kill the Third Hokage, plunging Konoha into total chaos.