The Intercepted Military Police Force

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Uchiha Huo used a ninja cat to relay news from the Military Police Force.

The members of the Military Police Force had been intercepted by the Anbu.

Upon hearing the information, Uchiha Fugaku made some guesses. It seemed he would have to make a trip himself; after all, it concerned his mission. If his "great filial son," the hot-headed brat, or Danzo decided to strike at the Military Police Force, his mission would fail.

Uchiha Fugaku would be in tears if that happened. Moreover, if he happened to lose his Eternal Mangekyo, Fugaku could simply announce that he was ready to lie flat in a coffin, be covered by a white sheet, and have the whole village feast at his funeral.

Immediately, Uchiha Fugaku spoke to Uchiha Setsuna, who was beside him.

"Great Elder, I am going to provide support to our clansmen in the Military Police Force to prevent any irreparable incidents."

"Please look after things here; I will return as quickly as possible."

Uchiha Setsuna also thought of Danzo, as it was entirely possible for someone with his personality to do such a thing.

If there were casualties among the Military Police Force, a war between the clan and the village would truly become unavoidable.

Although he had long harbored such thoughts, he understood that for the sake of the Uchiha Clan's continuation, he could not let such a thing happen.

"Very well, Clan Leader Fugaku, go and return quickly."

Having received his reply, Uchiha Fugaku immediately headed toward the Military Police Force.

After all, although the original story didn't mention it, Danzo might well have been the one to strike at the Military Police Force; otherwise, where did he get that pile of Sharingan?

When Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the Military Police Force, he saw the Uchiha clansmen being blocked.

Uchiha Fugaku flashed, appearing silently before his clansmen.

"Did I not issue an order? Regardless of the circumstances, return to the clan grounds first."

Uchiha Fugaku said, looking at the members of the Military Police Force.

The clansmen were about to say something, but Uchiha Fugaku cut them off directly.

"My order is to return to the clan grounds, regardless of the reason."

Seeing this, the members of the Military Police Force had no choice but to head back; after all, Fugaku was not only their clan leader but also the head of the Military Police Force.

At this moment, the three Root members, having been ignored, immediately stepped forward.

"Clan Leader Fugaku, the Hokage has ordered that the Military Police Force is responsible for the village's order and security, and must not move without authorization."

Uchiha Fugaku had no intention of arguing with them. He didn't know when his "great filial son" Itachi or that hot-headed brat Uchiha Obito would arrive; if they came early, no one here could stop them.

"You are Danzo's Root, aren't you?"

The Anbu who had intercepted the Uchiha members flickered, but still answered calmly.

"Clan Leader Fugaku is mistaken; we are Anbu."

Seeing them refuse to admit it, Fugaku smiled and said, "You won't admit it? Then produce the Hokage's transfer order."

Seeing that they still didn't move, Uchiha Fugaku's expression changed sharply as he said, "None? Since there is none, what right do you have to block my Uchiha Clan?"

"I am watching you right now. If you dare to strike again, don't blame me for being merciless."

"Uchiha Huo, Uchiha Zhi, take the men and leave. Return to the clan grounds."

Uchiha Zhi and Uchiha Huo did not hesitate and immediately began to retreat with the others. Those who had been hesitant saw the others leaving and ultimately chose to follow.

The Root members, seeing the Uchiha clansmen beginning to leave, could not possibly agree to it and immediately launched a surprise attack on Uchiha Fugaku.

After all, only by capturing Fugaku could they better control these Uchiha clansmen.

But they likely never expected that Fugaku alone was stronger than all the members of the Military Police Force combined.

As the Demon Blade Thousand Edges appeared out of thin air in Uchiha Fugaku's hand, it shattered, then rapidly reassembled as he swung it.

Watching the blade light flash by, a single thought crossed the minds of the Root members who were too slow to dodge.

"What a bizarre blade."

The Root members who had rushed toward Uchiha Fugaku slowed down, then collapsed together, blood gushing from their bodies to form a pool.

The Uchiha clansmen who were walking slowly couldn't help but shudder before accelerating their departure.

From this moment on, a new image of Uchiha Fugaku began to spread slowly throughout the Uchiha Clan.

"Is this really our Clan Leader Fugaku?"

Uchiha Fugaku glanced at the Root members hiding elsewhere before following the others back to the clan grounds.

After all, if no one reported back, it wouldn't be fun if people were missing tonight.

The Root members hiding in the shadows did not disappoint Uchiha Fugaku; they immediately returned to report everything they had seen.

Upon hearing the report from the Root operative, Danzo felt a surge of joy; he had finally found his opportunity. Under Fugaku's leadership, the Uchiha Clan had been far too cowardly these past few years, leaving him without a decent pretext to strike at them.

The only excuse he could even remotely leverage was the Nine-Tails Incident from seven years ago.

Danzo knew full well that the Nine-Tails Incident likely had nothing to do with the Uchiha Clan within Konoha, but if the Uchiha Clan were not eradicated, how could he begin to dismantle the other clans?

This was, after all, the village development strategy laid down by his own teacher.

Though excitement stirred within him, Danzo maintained a calm expression as he handed the intelligence to the Root operative beside him and issued his command.

"Deliver this intelligence to Sarutobi Hiruzen."

When Sarutobi Hiruzen received the newly arrived intelligence, a flicker of complexity crossed his face after reading it, before his expression hardened into one of resolve.

Had it finally come to this? Still, for the sake of the village's peace, Kagami, do not blame me.

"Are the Anbu personnel all in position?"

"Lord Third, they are all in position, and all unrelated personnel in the vicinity of the Uchiha Clan have been completely cleared out."

Following this, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked into his Hokage Office and took out his crystal ball.

"Telescope Technique."

Sarutobi Hiruzen then began to observe the unfolding situation regarding the Uchiha Clan through the crystal ball.

After all, as Hokage, he could not directly involve himself in the affairs of the village's clans; there was a significant difference between him stepping in and Danzo acting on his own initiative.

As long as he, as Hokage, did not take the first step, there would always be room for maneuver—room to salvage the situation.