Trust

The bustling streets of Konoha were empty at this moment.

Yet, in the shadows of the eaves on both sides, dense clusters of Anbu and Root ninja crouched in wait.

They had surrounded this district so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.

Uchiha Shisui, serving as an Anbu, crouched within the shadows of a rooftop as well, cold sweat already soaking through the clothes on his back.

Watching the slow-moving long line of Uchiha Clan members below, Uchiha Shisui's heart sank to the bottom of a valley.

Uchiha Fugaku... are you truly going to take this step?

His face was full of tension, his eyes constantly hoping that his clansmen would turn back from their misguided path.

However, Uchiha Fugaku and the others leading the procession clearly had no intention of turning back.

They set out from the Uchiha Clan district, marching openly and grandly toward the village gates.

The entire process was carried out without the slightest attempt at concealment.

Leading the way on the street, the Uchiha Clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, walked with steady strides.

And those following behind him were no ordinary Uchiha clansmen, but the elite of the Military Police Force.

Dozens of scarlet Sharingan ignited in the dim afternoon light.

It was a radiance sufficient to chill the heart of any enemy.

The stated purpose of their journey was to head to the border of the Land of Water to pay respects to their fallen clansmen, but in the eyes of the Konoha high command, this was the undisguised prelude to an Uchiha Clan rebellion.

"Hiruzen, what are you still hesitating for?!"

Danzo stood atop a high building, staring fixedly at the Uchiha Clan below.

His voice carried an unquestionable killing intent.

"Give the order, right now. Let me use force to crush this budding Uchiha rebellion in the cradle!"

But Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing beside him, was still waiting patiently.

On the street below, Uchiha Tekka walked at the very front of the formation.

Feeling the faint, lingering gazes directed toward the Uchiha Clan from all around, a twisted sense of pleasure rose in his heart.

He even held his head high, enjoying the vanity of being watched with fear.

This was how these commoners should see the Uchiha Clan.

So powerful, enough to strike fear into the hearts of others.

Let these commoners tremble, he thought. Let them remember who the most powerful clan in the village is.

Just as Uchiha Tekka was immersed in the glory of the Uchiha Clan, a golden figure stood silently in their path at the very front of the district.

"Ugh!"

When Uchiha Tekka saw him, he instinctively took a step back.

Because standing before him was the "Yellow Flash," renowned throughout the ninja world for the Flying Thunder God.

The Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Minato Namikaze!

It was only after he glanced back at his clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, that Uchiha Tekka swallowed hard and summoned the courage to continue walking forward.

But the closer he got to Minato Namikaze, the more nervous Uchiha Tekka became.

It was not just him; apart from Uchiha Fugaku, all the Uchiha clansmen were reacting the same way.

Had Uchiha Fugaku not continued to walk forward with such determination, this entire unit would likely have collapsed long ago.

But everyone was instinctively slowing their pace as they walked.

Until finally, Uchiha Fugaku, who had originally been in the middle of the formation, slowly ended up at the very front.

When he was about three steps away from Uchiha Fugaku, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, finally spoke slowly, "Fugaku, where do you intend to take your clansmen?"

Uchiha Fugaku stopped in his tracks and said in a deep voice, "To the border of the Land of Water to pay respects to the ninja of our clan."

"The era of turmoil has only just ended; the sacrifices of ninjas are a common occurrence. As the head of the Uchiha Clan, you should be well aware of this."

Minato Namikaze's voice was soft, yet it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

"Aware?" Uchiha Fugaku sneered. "Our Uchiha Clan can only die on the sunlit battlefield; we must never die like rats in a filthy gutter!"

As he spoke, he pointedly looked up at Danzo and his entourage, who were hiding on the roof.

Danzo dismissed this with a look of utter disdain for Uchiha Fugaku.

Perhaps it was just an illusion, but Uchiha Shisui, also hiding in the shadows, felt that for a brief moment, Uchiha Fugaku had glanced in his direction.

On the rooftop, Danzo looked at his old friend beside him. "Hiruzen, did you see that? This is the loyalty of the Uchiha Clan! Give the order; let's wipe them all out now!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag from his pipe, his expression shifting uncertainly amidst the swirling smoke.

He opposed Danzo's use of force, but he feared a true rebellion by the Uchiha Clan even more.

Looking down at the dense sea of Sharingan below, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that if war truly broke out, Konoha would suffer a devastating blow.

Minato Namikaze did not put on the airs of the Fourth Hokage. He simply walked up to Uchiha Fugaku and said sincerely, "I promise you, such a thing will never happen again."

"Hmph!" Uchiha Fugaku snorted coldly. "Why should I trust you, just as the village has never trusted us Uchiha?"

In Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, he was merely planning to lead his clansmen to the Land of Water to pay respects to their fallen kin. Yet, the village's upper echelons had no intention of believing them. Why, then, should he trust the village?

Minato Namikaze was silent for a moment, then stepped aside, clearing the path out of the village. "I trust you, so I am letting you leave."

At that moment, not only Uchiha Fugaku but even the Uchiha elites behind him were stunned. Everyone's heart was stirred by the words of the Fourth Hokage.

Uchiha Fugaku asked in disbelief, "You really intend to let us go?"

Minato Namikaze nodded. "But you must accept supervision by Anbu ninjas along the way. You cannot communicate with ninjas from other villages, and you must not harbor any intentions of betraying the village."

He then looked into Uchiha Fugaku's eyes. "If you do... I will personally come to bring you all back."

"Absurd!" Danzo, who had been watching from above, was trembling with rage. He glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Hiruzen! Give the order! Command the Anbu now!"

When Danzo had prepared to use force to stop the Uchiha Clan, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had volunteered to mediate first. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had opposed it, he could not sway Minato Namikaze's persistence and had tacitly allowed it.

But judging by Minato Namikaze's actions just now, this was no mediation!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand holding the pipe could not help but tremble. In that instant, the Third Hokage's previously hesitant heart finally reached a final decision. This time, he chose to stand on Danzo's side.

Minato is still too young... Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly. At a time like this, the village must employ iron-fisted measures.

He slowly raised his hand, preparing to signal the strike.

Just at this critical juncture—

"Lord Hokage!"

A hurried shout came from the other end of the street. Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane were seen supporting a dust-covered, ragged ninja as they stumbled toward them.

That man was none other than the ninja who was supposed to have sacrificed himself in the Land of Water: Uchiha Yatsuhashi.