The Dead Are Sometimes More Useful Than the Living

As the saying went, good news stayed indoors, while bad news traveled a thousand miles.

Xuanye publicly convicted an ordinary Konoha villager and even arrested her, and the news spread through all of Konoha like a whirlwind.

Before the Anbu made any move, Fugaku stormed into Xuanye's office in a rage.

He had not even waited to summon Xuanye. Rare anger broke through his perpetually sour face.

"Uchiha Xuanye!" Fugaku angrily called Xuanye by his full name.

Xuanye sat behind his desk, his expression unchanged.

"I'm right here. Clan Head, you don't need to shout so loudly."

Seeing Xuanye act as though nothing could faze him, Fugaku took a deep breath and barely suppressed his anger.

"What exactly are you trying to do? Do you know that this will make the entire Uchiha Security Force the target of all Konoha?"

Xuanye leisurely took a sip of tea and looked at Fugaku. "You make it sound as if, without doing this, the Security Division... no, the Uchiha clan would not still be the target of all Konoha."

Fugaku's voice caught, and Xuanye's words left him speechless.

But he quickly regained his senses and shouted, "That is not a reason for you to act recklessly!"

"Today, you must give me a reasonable explanation!"

The moment Xuanye heard that, he knew he had achieved his goal.

Fugaku merely wanted him to provide a reasonable explanation. He had no intention of punishing him.

In other words, if he could give Fugaku a reason convincing enough, Fugaku would compromise with Xuanye.

A compromising personality really was easy to handle.

Xuanye set down his teacup and slowly said, "I will not go over the whole story. Haven't you considered the excuse I used to arrest that Konoha villager?"

Fugaku frowned and quickly recalled the information his subordinates had reported.

"You mean... the Second Hokage?"

If there was one part of Xuanye's reasoning that Fugaku could not understand no matter how much he thought about it, it was Xuanye's repeated emphasis during the enforcement that the Uchiha Security Force had been established by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and followed his will.

Senju Tobirama had a terrible reputation within the Uchiha clan. It was from his generation onward that the Uchiha had been suppressed, a suppression that continued to this day.

Even Konoha's current upper ranks were essentially a faction made up of Senju Tobirama's disciples.

The Uchiha were deeply dissatisfied with Senju Tobirama, to the point that they rarely even mentioned his name in daily life.

"You want to make use of the Second Hokage's identity? But the Second Hokage has been dead for a long time. Now the Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage hold power together."

Disappointment flashed through Fugaku's eyes. He felt that Xuanye's political awareness was far too naive.

Was he really still too young?

Xuanye revealed a meaningful smile.

"You are mistaken. Sometimes, the dead are more useful than the living."

"Because the dead cannot speak or defend themselves, we can embellish them however we please."

Fugaku's scalp prickled beneath Xuanye's gaze.

What did that mean? Why would the dead be more useful than the living?

Though it was the height of summer, Fugaku felt a chill run through his entire body.

Just as he was about to continue questioning him, an Uchiha member hurried over and said to Fugaku:

"Clan Head, the Third Hokage has come to the Security Division. He says he has come to seek justice for the innocent villager harmed by the Uchiha."

The veins at Fugaku's temples throbbed as he looked at Xuanye, his meaning unmistakable.

This was all your doing!

But at that moment, Xuanye stepped forward.

"Clan Head, today I will show you what it means for the Security Division's authority to be limitless."

Watching Xuanye's high-spirited back, Fugaku finally let out a deep sigh.

He had awakened the Mangekyō at such a young age. Fugaku could understand his youthful arrogance.

Basically, every clansman who understood the Uchiha clan's current situation was doing their best to change it.

But politics was not that simple.

Still, it would be good for Xuanye to suffer a setback. Hopefully, he would learn his lesson.

No matter what, Xuanye was an Uchiha clansman, and one who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. He was one of the clan's trump cards.

No matter what happened, Fugaku had to protect him.

After hearing the Anbu report, Sarutobi Hiruzen could hardly believe his ears.

Since when had the Uchiha clan grown such nerve?

That was right. In Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, they had grown nerve.

Where were the Uchiha who used to be denounced and cursed by the villagers, misunderstood yet too proud to explain themselves?

Where were the Uchiha who had always disdained his teacher?

Why had an Uchiha waving Senju Tobirama's banner appeared today?

Of course, once Sarutobi Hiruzen understood the matter, he immediately thought of a way to suppress the Uchiha while raising his own prestige.

He would personally visit them and seek justice for that wronged villager himself.

If he rescued that villager himself, then stirred up public opinion afterward, the Uchiha's reputation in Konoha would immediately become something everyone despised.

Sarutobi Hiruzen did exactly that. After arriving at the Security Division, he did not even enter. He simply stood before its gates with his hands clasped behind his back.

He made it clear that if Fugaku did not invite him inside today, he would stand there until someone else gave in.

But Fugaku did not come. Instead, a young Uchiha walked out.

"Well, if it isn't the Third Hokage. Shouldn't you be resting properly at home after retirement? What are you doing here?"

Xuanye's words immediately caught Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention.

He recognized this young Uchiha. Not long ago, he had defeated Kakashi and become a jonin.

But he had not come to argue, and arguing with a junior would damage his dignity.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced sideways at the rude youngster and snorted.

Just as expected of an Evil Uchiha brat, so utterly lacking in manners.

Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen did not seem inclined to acknowledge him, Xuanye helplessly spread his hands, then instructed Inabi beside him.

"Dispose of the corpse of the criminal we executed just now. Announce her charge of rebellion throughout Konoha."

Xuanye's words completely shattered Sarutobi Hiruzen's composure.

"What did you say?"

Xuanye said in surprise, "Does the Third Hokage not know? Under the enlightened leadership of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, the Security Division, from Chief Fugaku on down, has always upheld Konoha's fairness and justice."

"Just now, someone suspected of being a spy from another country publicly attacked the Security Division in the street. Under Konoha law, she was convicted of espionage and executed immediately, without trial."

"If the Third Hokage came to take this 'spy' away for questioning, then I am afraid you will be disappointed."

"Because you cannot take her away. You can only carry her out."