Every Root ninja's actions were directed by Danzo, so they had no idea what mission the two were carrying out. But seeing their teammate collapse to the ground under Genjutsu, an inexplicable rage rose within them.
The noble Root.
When had they ever suffered such humiliation from the Uchiha?
Thus, the Root Jonin threatened, "Captain Yashiro, no matter what happened, let us dispel the Genjutsu on our teammate first. We can decide what to do after we have clarified the situation."
"Everything can wait until Captain Fugaku returns." Within the clan, they addressed Fugaku as Clan Head.
Outside, however, they had to address him by his position as captain, because Fugaku was the captain of the village's Military Police Force.
Before Fugaku left, he had Itachi pass along the order that no one was to approach the Root ninja.
Especially Root!
Yashiro carried out the order strictly!
"Captain Yashiro, Root is an organization under Lord Danzo. It cannot be insulted. I hope you do not play with fire and burn yourselves!" Seeing that Yashiro refused to see reason, the Root Jonin's gaze gradually turned sinister.
It seemed that if another word went wrong—
A fight would break out.
Itachi suddenly ran out from the crowd and arrived before the Root ninjas, demanding angrily.
"You Root are an important force protecting the village. Wherever Konoha's leaves danced, the fire burned on without end. Wasn't the Will of Fire meant to protect us?"
"Why did Root attack two children like us?"
"Is being born an Uchiha some kind of original sin?"
Itachi shouted his questions furiously.
His voice had become somewhat hoarse.
Itachi had already come to regard Genya as a good friend.
Now that Genya was being hunted by Root ninjas and his life or death was unknown, Itachi was overwhelmed with grief.
Itachi was questioning Root.
At the same time, he was questioning himself.
Was the Will of Fire truly fair and just?
Everything Root had done ran completely contrary to the Will of Fire.
The Will of Fire seemed to have become a joke.
Itachi's words—
Darkened the expressions of the Uchiha present.
The Uchiha had clearly been one of Konoha's two founding clans.
Even Konoha's name—
Had been chosen by the First Clan Head, Uchiha Madara.
Yet after all these years—
The Uchiha had received no respect from the village. They could not help feeling the sorrow of a rabbit dying and a fox grieving.
Itachi's words did not move Root in the slightest.
They looked down at everyone with scrutiny in their eyes.
"Root is loyal to Konoha. We have always toiled silently in the shadows, sacrificing ourselves to protect the village. We are forever the enforcers of the Will of Fire. What happened today was an accident. Hand him over to us and prevent this matter from escalating. That will be good for Root and good for the Uchiha."
"Dream on!" Yashiro crossed his arms, his gaze icy as he refused to yield an inch.
The atmosphere grew taut.
"Stop!"
Just as the conflict was about to erupt—
Fugaku and Genya finally returned.
Negotiation (Please Favorite, Vote, and Keep Reading, Thank You!)
"What? Are you planning to silence the Uchiha by killing us?"
Fugaku's eyes were as cold as ice.
His scarlet Sharingan stared directly at the Root ninjas.
The imposing, murderous aura made the Root ninjas shudder, the hairs on their backs standing on end.
During the Third Shinobi World War, the man before them had earned the renowned title of Fierce Eye.
Even if several Root ninjas attacked together, victory would be difficult to secure. Not to mention that Jonin Yashiro was standing nearby.
Seeing that only Fugaku and Genya had returned, the Root Jonin furrowed his brow. A bad premonition rose in his heart, but he forced himself to ask.
"Captain Fugaku, Root has another member. May I ask where he is?"
Fugaku glanced sideways at him and said indifferently, "He attacked my clansmen and has been killed by me!"
"What!?" The Root Jonin was shocked.
In the Hidden Leaf Village, what clan would dare kill a Root member? This was no different from declaring war on Root.
This had become serious!
"In that case, please hand over the other Root member to us first, Captain Fugaku," the Root Jonin said after hesitating for a moment.
Endure for now, and calm seas would follow.
Lord Danzo would stand up for them!
"It is impossible for me to hand him over. I will report this matter to Lord Hokage, and he can decide what to do."
"But Lord Danzo—"
"I said I will report it to Lord Hokage!" Fugaku directly cut off the Root ninja, his Sharingan becoming even more scarlet and eerie.
If they wanted to make a move—
Fugaku would not mind burying them in the ground.
Hokage Office Building.
A spacious conference room.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sat in the center.
At his side sat Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and other high-ranking Konoha advisers.
Fugaku stood below them.
Beside him was the bound Root ninja.
At that moment, he was still trapped in the Genjutsu. His eyes were vacant, foam dripped from his mouth, and he looked like an idiot.
Besides them—
Several Anbu ninjas stood guard nearby, led by the genius ninja Kakashi.
The atmosphere in the room was extremely oppressive.
Hiruzen looked at the expressionless Danzo and asked.
"Danzo, how do you explain Root ninjas attacking Uchiha clansmen for no reason?"
Hiruzen frowned deeply, agitated and troubled as he found the matter difficult to handle.
If Root dared attack the Uchiha today—
Then tomorrow they might dare attack members of every major clan, or even unarmed ordinary villagers.
If this matter was handled poorly, it would certainly provoke dissatisfaction among the other clans and villagers.
That would surely damage Hiruzen's prestige and credibility, forcing him to treat the matter with utmost caution.
Compared to Hiruzen's seriousness and tension, Danzo appeared calm and unruffled.
"Captain Fugaku, Root is a pillar of strength in protecting the village. We wholeheartedly defend the village and would never do anything to harm its people."
"The Uchiha will always be a part of the village. Do not slander Root just because of some recent unpleasantness."
"That would damage the deep friendship between us."
Danzo's meaning was perfectly clear.
You Uchiha—
Should not frame Root!
High-ranking adviser Utatane Koharu spoke even more sharply.
"Fugaku Uchiha, everything you have said is merely your own account. There is no evidence whatsoever to prove it."
"The current situation is that your two Uchiha only suffered a scare, while Root has not only lost a Jonin, but also has a wounded Chunin. And now you want to hold Root accountable? Your intentions are vile!"
She was unwilling to even call him "Captain Fugaku," showing the utmost contempt for him.
Mitokado Homura echoed her words.
"Captain Fugaku, everything requires evidence. Please present your evidence."
Hiruzen also shifted his gaze toward Fugaku.
He would rather believe that the Uchiha had fabricated the accusation.
That way, it would not affect the foundations of the village.
The attitude of Konoha's higher-ups chilled Fugaku's heart. He gave a cold laugh and said.
"Since none of you are willing to believe me, then let the Anbu and the Uchiha jointly form an investigation team. Members of the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans can serve as supervisors. Within two days, an investigation report can be produced to prove whether I framed Root!"
The process of Root's attack would surely have left traces.
Fugaku had already sent Uchiha experts to protect the scene.
As long as an investigation was conducted—
It would definitely prove that Root had attacked Genya and Itachi.
The reason he wanted the Ino-Shika-Cho clans to serve as supervisors was to make the investigation's findings more credible.
They were also major clans of the village.
For the sake of their own interests—
The chances of the major clans siding with Root were low.
After all, they also feared Root acting lawlessly and secretly abducting their people!
Danzo sneered.
"Captain Fugaku, your Uchiha were the first to arrive at the scene. I fear you have long since altered it into an environment favorable to yourselves."
"I do not approve of your proposal!"
Utatane Koharu added, "Fugaku Uchiha, stop trying to mystify things. If you cannot produce evidence, then you cruelly killed a Root member without cause. Konoha will have to punish you!"
Perhaps because he knew they were all in league with one another, Fugaku laughed in extreme anger.
"In that case, let Inoichi Yamanaka of the Yamanaka clan use a special secret technique to enter this Root member's mind and obtain intelligence."
"Let us see whether our Uchiha framed Root, or whether Root attacked the Uchiha!"
Inoichi Yamanaka was Ino Yamanaka's father.
He possessed Ninjutsu with extraordinarily powerful mind-control abilities.
He had once used the Mind Reading Technique to enter the mind of one of Pain's corpses and obtain related intelligence.
Inoichi Yamanaka could clearly obtain intelligence from him!
Danzo could no longer remain seated. He suddenly stood and refused outright.
"Since its founding, Root has rendered countless services to Konoha. Every Root ninja is willing to burn himself away and dedicate his life to Konoha!"
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