My Word Is Proof! (Please Keep Reading!)

The whole crowd erupted!

As Uchiha Jin's words rang out, a bizarre sense of absurdity rose in the hearts of everyone present—from the taciturn Anbu, hardened by countless brushes with death, and the elders and elites of Konoha's major clans, to even the civilian ninja drawn here by the commotion.

Why would Lord Hokage rebel?!

But as that absurdity quickly faded, an overwhelming tension instantly gripped everyone.

The Uchiha were being far too aggressive. Something terrible was going to happen tonight!

And whatever the outcome, tonight's events would inevitably reshuffle Konoha's existing order—and even the balance of power across the entire Ninja World.

With the shadow of blood and fire looming over them, those already contemplating the future naturally felt all the more burdened and conflicted.

Uchiha Jin...

After a brief moment of stunned disbelief, the first thing Sarutobi Hiruzen felt wasn't anger, but an inexplicable fear!

Once again, neither the timing nor the terrain nor the mood of the people favored him. And the young Uchiha elder before him—young to an almost ridiculous degree—had eyes blazing with a genuine, fanatical hunger for war and bloodshed.

They were standing not far from the Uchiha Clan Compound, and nearly all the Uchiha's fighting strength had already gathered here.

The Hokage's faction wasn't weak by comparison, but even with the forces of the Konoha clans already arriving, they were only about half again as strong as the Uchiha.

They might have the greater overall strength, but if the two sides truly fought to the death, Hiruzen might ultimately be able to replenish his forces without end. Even so, they would inevitably suffer unacceptable losses.

Most importantly...

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly shifted his gaze away from Uchiha Jin's exceptionally handsome face. At last, he had the presence of mind to inspect the traces left behind by the battle.

Hmm...

Root had suffered heavy losses. These marks looked like the Uchiha's Susanoo. And that familiar chakra just now... was it Shisui?

Recalling the green giant that had suddenly risen from the ground not long ago, the chakra signature so similar to Shisui's, and the body now missing an eye...

Danzo, you really are a bastard!

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't begin to imagine what the hell Danzo had been thinking. They had clearly devised a flawless plan.

Even if Shisui failed to control Uchiha Fugaku, the Hokage's faction would still gain a Mangekyo user whom the Uchiha had utterly abandoned. They would have far more leverage in any subsequent battle or negotiation.

But that bastard Danzo had chosen this exact moment to attack Shisui—and had been stupid enough to let the Uchiha find out...

"Danzo!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen glared furiously at Shimura Danzo in the distance, still surrounded by Uchiha and looking utterly wretched beneath the protection of the surviving Root ninja.

"Sarutobi! The Uchiha have rebelled! Kill them all—"

Having sensed Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze and finally getting a chance to catch his breath, Danzo shouted back.

"Silence!"

Before Danzo could finish, Sarutobi Hiruzen cut him off sharply. Then he let his imposing aura subside, softened his expression, and turned to face Uchiha Jin, who stood in his way.

"Jin..."

His mind raced over every detail of the scene, but his concern for his dear friend still led him to make a decision against his better judgment.

With that thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen first raised a hand to signal the people behind him not to act rashly. Then he stepped forward alone and bowed deeply toward the Uchiha.

"There must have been some misunderstanding. After tonight, I'll make sure Danzo is punished. I also hope the Uchiha will stay calm and refrain from doing anything that could undermine Konoha's peace and stability."

Hiss...

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen behave this way left not only the Anbu and Sarutobi clan ninja behind him stunned, but even Fugaku, the Uchiha clan head, found it unbelievable.

The Third Hokage of Konoha was actually bowing in apology to the Uchiha, a clan that had always been at odds with them?

Whoosh!

The response to that bow was a side kick as swift as wind and thunder. But Sarutobi Hiruzen was clearly not as naive as Shisui and Danzo. Always wary of his opponent, he deftly stepped back and perfectly evaded the attack, which had carried little killing intent.

But the sudden turn of events made everyone's heart lurch. Even Uchiha Fugaku, some distance away, felt cold sweat soak his back.

Uchiha Setsuna and the other clan leaders felt the same. But it was precisely this moment that Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu seized, stepping forward first with their sharp political instincts.

"Uchiha Jin, you openly attacked an important Konoha department and slaughtered Konoha ninja. And now you're going to attack Lord Hokage too?"

"Is the Uchiha clan openly rebelling?"

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu spoke quickly, immediately trying to pin a charge on Jin and the Uchiha clan to rally Konoha's forces for what came next.

"Even if it's just an acting Hokage..."

Uchiha Jin hadn't expected his surprise attack to succeed in the first place, so he wasn't discouraged. Instead, he casually brushed the dust from his pant leg.

"If anyone dares stop the Uchiha and the Police Force from killing traitors, then even if it's the Mitokado Clan or the Utatane Clan, whose members serve as Hokage Assistants, I'll wipe them out today!"

Uchiha Jin's murderous words rang across the scene. As he spoke, he fixed his gaze on Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who had suddenly jumped into the fray, as if they were already dead.

(Mitokado Homura's thoughts: I'm from the Mitokado Clan...)

"Uchiha!"

Seeing his friend threatened, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help stepping forward again. His powerful aura surged out alongside his vast chakra.

"Danzo was the former Hokage Assistant, after all. What evidence do you have to justify putting him on trial?"

At Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, the Anbu and Sarutobi clan ninja behind him raised their Kunai, taking a stand against the Uchiha.

Negotiation didn't mean backing down. Sarutobi Hiruzen understood the rules of the game and knew how important it was to show strength. Surely no one really wanted both sides to suffer, right?

Though Sarutobi Hiruzen's presence was imposing, the bead of cold sweat at his temple still betrayed his unease.

"Evidence?"

Uchiha Jin gave a derisive laugh. He glanced around the scene, even casting an amused look at Danzo, who was clutching his bandaged right hand.

There was plenty of evidence, of course.

But did he need any?

Looking again at the "strongest Hokage," who was clearly nervous, Uchiha Jin's eyes grew even more scornful. He strode forward once more, pointed at Sarutobi Hiruzen's nose, and roared:

"My word is proof!"