A Clan

"Bastard!"

"How dare you!!"

"You dare speak so wildly to Lord Danzo! Who do you think you are?!"

"Do you think this is still the Warring States Period?! Even if you're Uchiha..."

Before Danzo could speak, the Anbu ninja behind him had already begun shouting curses.

Root's full name was the Anbu Training Department. It was not yet the brainwashed killing machine Danzo would later create, and many Anbu ninja had been selected from its ranks.

Having taught them before, Danzo was still highly respected by these Anbu.

A tall figure stepped forward and shielded Kamizuki behind him.

"Kamizuki was indeed disrespectful, but..."

Iwamasa said blandly, "When Konoha was founded, the First promised not to pry into the secret techniques of the various clans or interfere in the internal affairs of ninja clans."

"Lord Danzo... are you going to defy the First's orders?"

The familiar tactics of the older generation.

The Police Force had already ended the battle, arresting all the pursuing ninja and gathering behind them.

Pairs of Sharingan opened in the darkness. The terrifying pressure made the Anbu ninja grip their sword hilts, yet none of them dared act rashly.

Overly autonomous noble ninja clans were a massive obstacle to Konoha's development...

Lord Tobirama had been right.

Danzo half-closed his eyes and said indifferently, "I was merely curious and asked in passing. Clan Head Iwamasa, there's no need to pin such a grave accusation on me."

So what if he defied the First? He had inherited the Second's will.

Now... only the Uchiha remained.

They possessed law enforcement authority and countless privileges. The Uchiha truly behaved like a "state within a state." Even a mere brat dared contradict him to his face...

Danzo shifted his gaze to Kamizuki. "As for what you said... there is no need to trouble the Uchiha. The Shimura Clan has sacrificed much for the village. It will likely die out in my generation."

"Are you satisfied now?"

In politics, showing weakness was a tactic.

Danzo had been the one to ask about a secret technique first, crossing a taboo, and Iwamasa had immediately escalated the matter.

You were showing your edge, so he would yield.

Once word of this spread, Konoha's ninja clans would not think Danzo was at fault. They would think the Uchiha were being overly aggressive and had no respect for the Hokage's advisor.

A small lack of patience could ruin great plans, Uchiha...

Keep being even more arrogant. Once everyone became dissatisfied with you, it would be time to settle accounts!

The Anbu looked at Kamizuki with clear hostility.

He had actually treated Lord Danzo, who had sacrificed so much for Konoha, like this... It was downright vicious!

Satisfied, or not satisfied?

This question absolutely could not be answered. Any answer would be wrong!

Iwamasa frowned, still considering how to respond.

Not speaking was best. Silence would do!

He was just about to signal Kamizuki.

"Was the Shimura Clan the only one that made sacrifices?"

Kamizuki said calmly,

"Lord Danzo, do you remember Senior Kagami?"

"If he learned that the companion he had risked his life to protect was targeting his own clan, how do you think he would feel?"

Trying to change the subject and play the emotional card?

Sorrow surfaced in Kamizuki's eyes as he sighed. "By seniority, I should have called him uncle. After my parents died, he took great care of me and even spoke to me about you. I never expected it to be this..."

The malice in the Anbu's eyes faded, replaced by shame.

What was I just thinking...?

This was only a child whose parents had both died. What ill intentions could he possibly have?

Lord Danzo really was a little...

"Enough!"

Danzo's face darkened. Kamizuki's clumsy acting naturally could not fool him. Besides...

Had you even been born when Kagami died?!

What could he have told you?! In a dream?!

And you idiots, do you believe whatever this brat says?! Can't you use your brains even a little?!

"Take her away."

Before Kushina was led away by the Anbu, she bowed to Kamizuki. "Thank you... thank you for saving me."

"It had nothing to do with me. Even if I hadn't come, you wouldn't have died."

Kamizuki paused, looking at the girl who had suffered the pain of losing her clan yet still had to pretend to be strong.

"As long as you are still alive and still bear that surname, the Uzumaki Clan has not vanished."

"Carry your clan onward."

"A clan..."

Danzo directed the Anbu to hurry Kushina away, then looked at Iwamasa. "Hand over those people too."

Iwamasa hesitated before waving for someone to bring up the prisoners from Kumogakure and Kirigakure.

"This matter ends here, Clan Head Iwamasa. Keep him under control..."

Danzo gave Kamizuki a deep look. "I don't know what little schemes you have, but you had best stay away from her."

He could not be mistaken. Kamizuki definitely had designs on Uzumaki Kushina.

It was a special instinct shared between villains.

Kamizuki snorted coldly.

If he had been strong enough, Kamizuki would not have wanted to waste his breath arguing with that old bastard.

He would not wait until Danzo had fully turned dark and was ready to strike against the Uchiha before retaliating.

Hurting others before they could hurt him was Kamizuki's creed.

"You really hate Danzo?"

On the way back, with no one around within the clan grounds, Iwamasa asked quietly.

"You don't?"

Iwamasa gave an awkward smile. "I just wouldn't make it so obvious. Kamizuki... sometimes, you should learn to hide your emotions too. Otherwise..."

"Go home and lecture Fugaku. I'm not learning that."

The corner of Kamizuki's mouth lifted slightly. "As an Uchiha, you do not even dare show what you like or dislike. You really have grown more cowardly with age."

Iwamasa did not quite understand.

The Uchiha had indeed been at odds with the village's upper ranks before, but the radicals led by Setsuna had all been dealt with by Tobirama Senju.

To secure his position as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen had also granted the Uchiha ample preferential treatment.

In recent years, most of the clan had advocated peaceful coexistence with the upper ranks. Whose influence had Kamizuki fallen under?

Surely not the Third Hokage's disciple? That would be a real joke.

With those possibilities ruled out...

It could only be innate.

At the entrance to Kamizuki's home, Iwamasa sighed, lowering his voice further. "The times are different, Kamizuki. You have seen the outcome of a clan fighting against a great nation... the Uzumaki Clan."

"Do you not understand your own position?"

"As Orochimaru's disciple, you are the Uchiha most likely to enter the village's decision-making ranks. Before that..."

Kamizuki stepped onto the stairs, then stopped and turned back. His gaze turned cold.

"Relying on my status as Orochimaru's disciple? Is that what you truly think?"

"Honestly, don't waste what little goodwill I still have toward you."

"Who do you think I am..."

A chilling presence spread as a low, oppressive roar erupted.

"I will surpass my ancestors!"

"Madara Uchiha lost, but I will not!"

Within his scarlet pupils, a second pitch-black tomoe split forth.

Whoosh—!!

Demonic Pupil Power surged outward!

The stone steps cracked under the violent impact, and the surroundings warped.

Even Iwamasa, whose heart had long become as still as water after weathering the changes of the world, could not help but have his knees weaken.