The Reason

After hearing the Anbu Ninja's account of what had happened.

Sarutobi Hiruzen instinctively wanted to take a puff of his old pipe, but unfortunately, he hadn't brought it with him when he left.

Shimura Danzo had secretly hidden a Sharingan, Uchiha Sora had defeated Shimura Danzo, and Uchiha Fugaku possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan...

The situation here was far more complicated than the Nine-Tails situation...

At least with the Nine-Tails, all he had to consider was life or death.

If he couldn't stabilize things here, the Uchiha would rebel as a clan tonight...

Sarutobi Hiruzen could already foresee Konoha suffering heavy losses, with other villages invading Konoha.

After all, the Third Shinobi World War wasn't completely over. Kumogakure was stirring along the Land of Fire's border, and another war could break out at any moment.

Suppressing his anger, Sarutobi Hiruzen said in a grave voice:

"Shimura Danzo, the Hokage's advisor, falsely issued orders in the Hokage's name. He is hereby removed from office and taken into custody. As for the Sharingan in his possession... I'll give you an explanation."

"All Police Force members, go back. I promise to deal leniently with those who took action."

"The most important thing now is to support Minato. Fugaku, come with me!"

Although the Uchiha Clan's actions were unmistakably treasonous, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't be like Danzo and start a fight with them here.

Hold back. He had to hold back!

He would settle these scores after sealing the Nine-Tails!

As for Danzo, who had been caught...

Forget it.

Taking Fugaku with him would also leave the Uchiha Clan without a leader, keeping them from doing anything too extreme.

Like Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't paid Uchiha Sora much attention. Clearly, Fugaku, with his Mangekyō Sharingan, posed the greatest threat.

But after he spoke, Fugaku didn't move. Instead, he looked at Uchiha Sora.

"Third..."

Uchiha Sora spoke calmly. "You seem to have misunderstood the situation."

"What we're asking for is a negotiation, not orders from you."

"Presumptuous!"

Mitokado Homura snapped, "You really think your clan can stand against the village on its own? You—"

"Enough, Homura!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt utterly exhausted.

He had always avoided calling them the Uchiha Clan and instead referred to them as the Police Force, because he didn't want to drive a wedge between the Uchiha Clan and the village.

Talking like that in private was one thing, but Koharu and Homura...

Couldn't they see what was happening? They kept calling them a clan. Would they be satisfied only after pushing the Uchiha out of the village?

This could still be called an internal struggle between factions. The moment they denied that the Uchiha were part of the village, it would become a split!

"Uchiha Sora... right? I know who you are. The villagers say you're a boy who always keeps his word."

Sarutobi Hiruzen saw that Fugaku was waiting for Uchiha Sora to speak. He couldn't help looking down on the Uchiha Clan Head for letting a child dictate his actions.

He said gently, "You were the one who uncovered Danzo's disobedience, weren't you? You truly are a genius of the new generation."

Then his voice grew stern.

"But your methods have been far too brutal!"

Pointing at the village, where fires blazed everywhere, he said solemnly, "The village is facing a grave crisis. Whatever you're demanding, this isn't the time to resort to violence!"

"I can understand the others, but not you!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't hide his anger. "Why did you kill your fellow villagers? That, I can never forgive!"

Uchiha Sora smiled faintly and refuted Sarutobi Hiruzen with a single sentence.

"At least I killed people in battle. They rushed in to die. Orochimaru even went after ordinary civilians."

"Third, answer me."

"How was Orochimaru able to escape the village with you and the Fourth Hokage both there?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened. He opened his mouth to speak but didn't know what to say.

"Hiruzen, don't hesitate! Minato is waiting for you!"

A single eye appeared on the Adamantine Enma Staff, and the Enma King spoke. "Kid, if you want to follow that snake's example, then run."

"You picked your moment well. At least for now, we won't have time to hunt you down!"

Uchiha Sora shook his head. "That's not enough."

"I'll say it plainly. I demand that the entire Uchiha Clan leave the village."

"Impossible!"

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could answer, a man wearing an Anbu mask spoke.

Judging by his uniform, he was probably an Anbu Captain. "Uchiha Sora, you're too arrogant!"

"What gives you the right to make decisions for the clan? No one wants to live the life of a rogue ninja with you. They're living peacefully in the village. They're part of the village!"

Even Shisui, who knew about the clan's annihilation, looked hesitant at Uchiha Sora's words. The other clan members were even less convinced.

They had expected that if they went to war with the village, the worst that could happen was their own deaths. Their families wouldn't be punished.

The Fourth Hokage was broad-minded. He wouldn't go after their clansmen.

But for the entire clan to leave the village...

Even without much political sense, they understood that the village would never allow it. That would truly put the clan in danger of annihilation.

The proud Uchiha didn't believe that their clan alone could stand against the most powerful shinobi village, Konoha.

"Going by your voice..."

"You're Sarutobi Shinnosuke, aren't you?"

Uchiha Sora's expression darkened slightly, and he lowered his eyes. "If things were really as you said... then you wouldn't be speaking to me right now."

Crack—

The man took off his mask, revealing a face somewhat similar to Sarutobi Hiruzen's.

It was Sarutobi Hiruzen's eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke.

"What do you mean by that? Do you know me?"

After a brief pause, Uchiha Sora raised his burned hand and held up two fingers.

"When I was two years old, my mother died."

"The Shinobi World has been at war for years. Lots of people in the village have lost family members. There's nothing unusual about that..."

He pointed at Shinnosuke and spoke calmly.

"I remember that day at the hospital very clearly."

"I waited a long time for a medical ninja to treat my mother, but none came... When I went to look for them, they were treating you."

"We'd both been injured on missions. My mother arrived first, and her injuries were more serious."

"Part of the village?"

"Maybe that's what you believe, but the others don't."

Uchiha Sora calmly explained, "This wasn't an isolated incident. For years, our clan has always been the last to receive help."

"Shisui made a name for himself on the Mist Battlefield, and that seems to have made you overlook something."

"Sending ordinary Uchiha who specialize in Fire Style to fight Kirigakure Ninja who specialize in Water Release is an absurd arrangement."

"I understand that stronger shinobi deserve a greater share of the resources. Chasing equality for everyone in the Shinobi World is foolish."

"But why should we be treated unfairly? We're not weak."

"What Advisor Utatane didn't finish saying—that's the reason."

Uchiha Sora smiled faintly. "Because we're a clan born evil. Isn't that what you all think?"