The Fuse? No, I Am the Fire

The atmosphere inside the shrine was suffocating.

Finally, a middle-aged Uchiha ninja spoke up first.

"Clan Leader, we cannot endure this any longer."

"They have already infiltrated our territory to seize our people!"

"Today it was Shin-getsu, but will it be our children tomorrow?"

Others immediately chimed in.

"That's right!"

"How much blood have we Uchiha shed for Konoha?"

"How many of our kin died on the night of the Nine-Tails Incident?"

"And what was the result?"

"The village suspects us, monitors us, and has pushed us to the fringes."

"Now they even dare to snatch our children to use as test subjects!"

"What kind of treatment is this?"

"Are we truly Konoha's comrades, or are we just livestock kept for their materials?"

As soon as these words were spoken, a low rumble of angry voices erupted throughout the shrine.

Many clenched their fists tightly.

Some of the younger clansmen had even activated their Sharingan.

The scarlet pupils appeared particularly piercing under the flickering firelight.

Fugaku did not rush to speak.

He simply watched the crowd in silence.

As the clan leader, he had to hear the true sentiments of his people.

But the more he listened, the heavier his heart became.

The rift between the Uchiha and Konoha was deeper than he had imagined.

Last night's incident was like a blade, tearing through the thin veneer of peace they had barely managed to maintain.

An elder of the clan spoke slowly.

"Fugaku, what have you discovered regarding the bodies?"

Fugaku looked toward the member of the Police Force standing nearby.

The man immediately stood up and said in a low voice, "There were no identification marks on either of the two corpses."

"Their ninja tools had also been tampered with."

"However, based on their equipment, their tactical habits, and their infiltration route, they do not appear to be ordinary rogue ninjas."

Another clansman sneered.

"If they aren't rogue ninjas, then who else could it be?"

"Who else could bypass the village patrols, pinpoint Shin-getsu's residence, and dare to strike within the Uchiha compound?"

"Aside from those within the village, who could pull this off?"

"The Anbu?"

"No, they bore no Anbu insignia."

"Then there is only one place left."

He stopped there, leaving the rest unsaid.

But everyone knew exactly what he was referring to.

Root.

Shimura Danzo.

The name was not spoken aloud, yet it hung over the shrine like a shadow.

Shisui frowned.

He looked toward Fugaku.

Fugaku remained silent.

At that moment, another radical Uchiha stood up.

"Clan Leader, we must demand an explanation from the Hokage!"

"And what if the Hokage refuses to give us one?"

Another man asked coldly.

The shrine fell silent once again.

Indeed.

What if the Third Hokage refuses to provide an explanation?

Or what if he simply says he will "investigate," only for the matter to be swept under the rug?

It is not as if such things have not happened before.

Every time the village suspected the Uchiha, it was the Uchiha who had to back down.

Every time a conflict arose, it was the Uchiha who were told to consider the bigger picture.

Over time, the clansmen have increasingly lost faith that the Konoha leadership would handle things fairly.

"If they don't give us an answer, it only proves they have something to hide!"

Someone shouted in anger.

"Then we'll investigate it ourselves!"

"Investigate?"

Another clansman sneered.

"Root is hidden underground, reporting directly to Danzo."

"Without an order from the Hokage, how are we supposed to investigate?"

"Are we supposed to just barge in?"

"Why not?"

"They dared to seize our children, yet we are still expected to follow the rules?"

This statement instantly ignited the emotions of the crowd.

"That's right!"

"We can't endure this any longer!"

"The Uchiha are not lambs to be slaughtered!"

"Clan Head, give the order!"

"At the very least, we should mobilize the entire Police Force and blockade the perimeter of the clan grounds!"

The voices grew louder and louder.

The atmosphere began to spiral out of control.

Itachi stood behind Fugaku, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

He could understand the clansmen's anger.

If it had been Sasuke who was taken last night, he would not be able to remain calm either.

However, if the Uchiha were to directly confront the village now, the consequences would be dire.

Konoha had only recently recovered from the shadow of the Nine-Tails Incident, and the internal state of the village was already sensitive.

Once the Uchiha took large-scale action, the Third Hokage and the high-ranking officials would certainly interpret it as an intent to rebel.

By then, the conflict would only escalate further.

Itachi instinctively looked toward Shisui.

Shisui was also silent.

In the past, Shisui would have been the first to urge the clansmen to stay calm, telling everyone to trust the Hokage and avoid conflict.

But tonight, he did not speak immediately.

Because earlier that day in the infirmary, Shin-getsu had asked him a question.

If every time the topic of avoiding conflict came up, the Uchiha were the first ones asked to back down, was that fair?

That question had been echoing in Shisui's mind ever since.

It made him unable to easily utter the words "everyone, please calm down" as he had in the past.

Because he suddenly realized that for those who had been harmed, the word "calm" could sometimes be very cruel.

In the corner of the shrine.

A young Uchiha man suddenly stood up.

"Clan Head, I want to see Shin-getsu."

Everyone turned to look at him.

The young man was named Uchiha Tekka, a highly respected member of the younger generation in the Police Force. He had a fierce personality and had always been extremely dissatisfied with the Konoha leadership.

Fugaku looked at him.

"Why do you want to see him?"

Tekka said in a deep voice, "He is the only one who survived last night."

"There are some things that should be heard from his own lips."

"We also need to know exactly what those two intruders said."

Fugaku frowned.

"He is severely injured and needs rest."

Tekka immediately replied, "Clan Head, I am not trying to make things difficult for him."

"But this matter concerns the entire Uchiha."

"If he can stand up and tell the truth, the clan will have more justification to demand an explanation from the village."

As his words fell, many nodded in agreement.

"That's right."

"Let Shingetsu speak."

"He is the victim; his words carry the most weight."

"We cannot remain silent on his behalf."

Fugaku's gaze darkened.

He certainly understood what these people were thinking.

Shingetsu was the victim.

A nine-year-old child taken away to be used as a specimen—this kind of thing was the easiest way to incite the clansmen's emotions.

If Shingetsu were to personally accuse the Konoha higher-ups at the clan meeting, the internal fury of the Uchiha would be pushed even higher.

By then, even if Fugaku wanted to suppress it, he might not be able to.

Yet, if he did not let Shingetsu appear, the radicals would think he, as the Clan Head, was deliberately suppressing the matter.

The situation had fallen into a dilemma.

Just then, a weak but clear voice drifted in from outside the shrine.

"Lord Clan Head."

"I can speak."

Everyone turned their heads in an instant.

At the entrance of the shrine stood Uchiha Shingetsu, wearing an oversized black clan uniform. His face was pale, and he was wrapped in bandages.

Bloodstains were faintly visible seeping through his left shoulder.

A young Uchiha was supporting him.

Clearly, he had forced his way over from the infirmary.

Fugaku furrowed his brows.

"Who told you to come?"

Shingetsu said in a low voice, "I came of my own volition."

He raised his head and looked at the dense crowd of Uchiha clansmen inside the shrine.

In those black eyes, which had yet to awaken the Sharingan, there was no timidity.

Only calmness.

"I know what you seniors want to ask."

"I can tell you about what happened last night."

The shrine fell silent.

Many people looked at this child, and their expressions changed.

Nine years old.

Severely injured.

Parents both dead.

Nearly taken away last night.

Yet now, he actually dared to stand before so many clansmen.

This courage alone was enough to make many Uchiha look at him with newfound respect.

Fugaku said in a deep voice, "Shingetsu, your wounds have not yet healed."

Shingetsu looked at Fugaku.

"Lord Clan Head, I can endure the pain."

"But I do not want others to decide to remain silent for me."

As soon as these words were spoken, many radical clansmen's eyes immediately filled with admiration.

Good lad!

Tough!

This is how the Uchiha should be!

Fugaku took a long, deep look at Shin-getsu.

He suddenly realized that this child's appearance tonight was likely no accident.

Shin-getsu knew he would be used as the fuse.

Yet, he came anyway.

He might even have come here specifically to be that very fuse.