Late that night, many people in the Uchiha Clan were destined to lie awake.
At the same time, all the Anbu and Root Organization members who had infiltrated the Uchiha Clan were driven out.
Like the Uchiha, Konoha's higher-ups were unable to sleep.
Hokage Office.
"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha have driven all the Anbu out."
"They've even captured several Uchiha informants. Now they've put up a barrier, and we have no idea what's happening inside."
"Lord Hokage, should we intervene by force?!"
Some of the Anbu members asked anxiously.
Among them was a young man with white hair.
He furrowed his brow as he listened to the Anbu.
"Lord Hokage, it's not surprising that the Uchiha, the village's largest clan, have the means to do this."
"But if they're suddenly acting this way, there may be another reason they don't want us to know about."
"If we act rashly, it could have serious consequences."
The white-haired Anbu member spoke up.
His best friend had been a member of the Uchiha Clan.
Though he had died on the battlefield,
based on Kakashi's experience with the Uchiha, they weren't the kind of people the rumors made them out to be.
Aside from a few individuals who were indeed excessively arrogant,
much of it was because certain people in the village were maliciously spreading rumors to tarnish the Uchiha's reputation.
That man was none other than Hatake Kakashi, son of Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo!
"The Uchiha's sudden behavior is most likely an internal matter."
"Don't make any moves for now, but keep an eye on Root."
"Don't let them do anything reckless."
After taking a deep drag from his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke slowly.
"Understood, Lord Hokage."
The Anbu members acknowledged him, then vanished.
Kakashi let out a sigh of relief, too.
After all, he still carried Uchiha Obito's Sharingan!
If they attacked the Uchiha Clan now, Kakashi would instinctively be against it.
Before long, a group of masked shinobi gathered outside the Uchiha Compound.
"Clang, clang, clang..."
Soon, the sounds of battle rang out from the woods not far away.
Half an hour later.
At the Root Organization's headquarters.
"Sir, our operation failed. We couldn't get anywhere near the Uchiha Compound."
Several Root Organization members spoke in frustration.
The ones who had returned all bore injuries of some kind.
"Did the Uchiha ambush you?"
Looking at the state of his subordinates, Danzo's expression darkened.
The Uchiha were already bold enough to act like this.
Once they grew even stronger,
wouldn't they attack the village outright?
Just as his teacher had said,
those Uchiha were born with an evil bloodline.
It seemed he'd have to find another opportunity to suppress them.
Or... join forces with the Hokage and expel them from the village!
"It wasn't the Uchiha..."
"It was... it was the Anbu!"
A Root Organization member replied helplessly.
If it had been the Uchiha, that would've been easy enough to deal with.
They could've contacted Danzo and sent a large number of Root Organization members to attack.
They could even have joined forces with the Anbu...
But the ones stopping them now were the Anbu!
"The Anbu?!"
Danzo sprang to his feet.
His eyes were full of disbelief!
"I understand."
"Go get yourselves treated. I'm going to see the Third."
With that, Danzo stood and left.
Lately, Danzo had noticed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had changed.
He simply hadn't dared—or wanted—to believe it.
But now the Anbu had acted against Root over the Uchiha affair.
Danzo had to ask what was going on.
At Mitokado Homura's home.
"Koharu?"
"Coming over this late—is it about the Uchiha?"
Mitokado Homura looked calmly at Utatane Koharu, his expression unruffled.
"You know?"
"If you already know, how can you sit here like this?"
Utatane Koharu couldn't understand Mitokado Homura's behavior.
The five of them had once served as the Second Hokage's guards, but in the end, only four had become high-ranking officials.
Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Hokage!
Shimura Danzō—the Root Leader!
Mitokado Homura—a High Advisor!
Utatane Koharu—a High Advisor!
Kagami Uchiha, however, had vanished without a trace.
Only they knew what had happened back then.
Now the Uchiha were clearly up to something. How could Mitokado Homura sit there so calmly?
"This has little to do with the Uchiha."
"What matters is the Third and Danzo."
"Can't you see?"
Mitokado Homura sighed helplessly.
Utatane Koharu was excellent in every way, except that she was too impulsive.
She always judged things by her own instincts.
"The Third?"
"Danzo?"
Utatane Koharu's mind seemed to seize up.
"Just tell me directly."
She had tried to think it through, but nearly fried her brain in the process.
So she simply asked him.
"The Third's dissatisfaction with Danzo has reached the point where he can no longer tolerate it."
"It had already reached that point before."
"But until now, there hasn't been anyone to replace Danzo."
"Now the Uchiha have shown enough sincerity and are willing to become a blade in the Third's hand."
"Do you think the Third would pass up this opportunity?"
"Or, put another way, who do you think is more useful: Danzo, who's always eyeing the Hokage Position, or the Uchiha?"
Mitokado Homura carefully explained the situation to Utatane Koharu.
They had no need to get involved in this kind of struggle between the higher-ups.
They could simply watch.
No matter which side won, it wouldn't affect them.
"You..."
"Fine. Next time, tell me in advance. Don't get me worked up."
After leaving him with those words, Utatane Koharu walked away.
Staying up so late was bad for someone her age...
After Utatane Koharu's scolding, Mitokado Homura could only look helpless.
Early the next morning, the barrier came down.
Sasuke went to school as usual. The clan's affairs had little to do with him.
He was just a little kid right now. He could make snide remarks from the sidelines, but it was still too early for him to actually take charge!
If there was nothing he could do about it, there was no point worrying.
He might as well stick to his excellent school-day tradition: study hard and improve every day...
Besides, he still had Neji to win over.
So he'd better take care of the mission first!
"Sasuke!"
Sasuke could hear Naruto's voice from far away.
Seeing the blockhead, Sasuke couldn't help feeling puzzled.
Was this guy the chosen one or something? Shouldn't he have triggered some kind of mission by now...?
Before you continue