I Just Want to Live

Fugaku remained silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly.

"The clan meeting adopts Shin-getsu's proposal."

"Starting tonight, patrols within the clan grounds will be doubled."

"All underage clansmen are to be registered for protection."

"The Police Force will submit a formal document to the Hokage Building tomorrow."

"We demand a public investigation into last night's intrusion."

Having said this, Fugaku's gaze swept across the crowd.

"But I warn you all."

"Without orders, no one is to strike at Root on their own, nor are they to provoke the village's upper echelons."

"Violators will be dealt with according to clan law."

Although the clansmen were still reluctant, this was far better than they had anticipated.

At the very least, the clan head had not chosen to suppress the matter.

Instead, he was going to formally challenge the village.

"Yes!"

The clansmen responded in unison.

Just then, a system notification rang in Shin-getsu's mind.

[Host has influenced the resolution of the Uchiha clan meeting.]
[The original trajectory of the conflict between Uchiha and Konoha has shifted.]
[Deviation of the Night of the Clan Massacre has increased.]
[Current deviation: 3%.]
[Causality Points gained: 1200.]
[Current Causality Points: 1700.]

Shin-getsu felt a slight tremor in his heart.

Twelve hundred points!

As expected.

Changing the clan meeting's resolution yielded more Causality Points than simply influencing an individual.

As long as he continued to push the Uchiha away from their original path, he would soon gather the three thousand points needed for the Two-Tomoe.

Fugaku looked at Shin-getsu.

"Your injuries have not yet healed; go back and rest."

Shin-getsu nodded.

"Yes, Lord Clan Head."

He turned and walked toward the exit.

But just as he reached the door, the voice of Uchiha Tekka suddenly came from behind him.

"Shin-getsu."

Shin-getsu stopped and turned back.

Tekka looked at him and said in a deep voice, "You did not bring shame to the Uchiha last night."

Inside the shrine, many clansmen looked toward him as well.

Some nodded.

Some showed their approval.

Even a few young Uchiha who had not known him before cast looks of admiration his way.

Shin-getsu bowed his head slightly.

"I only wanted to survive."

Tekka grinned.

"To survive, one must also have the courage to draw their blade."

"From today on, come find me at the Police Force if you need anything."

"If anyone dares to touch you again, they will have to ask us if we agree first."

As soon as these words were spoken, many members of the Police Force nodded in succession.

Shin-getsu understood clearly.

From this moment on, he was no longer just an orphan within the Uchiha.

He had gained his first group of natural supporters.

The young faction of the Police Force.

These people were hot-blooded, radical, and easily driven by emotion.

But they were also sharp enough.

As long as they were used well, they would be the first blade he used to pry open the Uchiha in the future.

Shin-getsu did not say much, merely offering a respectful bow.

"Many thanks to all you seniors."

With that, he walked out of the shrine.

The night breeze blew, carrying a hint of chill.

Shin-getsu's face turned even paler.

But his eyes were incredibly bright.

The step of holding the clan meeting had been the right one.

The Uchiha had begun to protect the children within the clan.

The Police Force had begun to demand a public investigation.

Fugaku, too, was no longer keeping the conflict suppressed in the shadows as he had in the original story.

Next, the pressure would shift to the Hokage Building.

How would the Third Hokage handle this?

How would Danzo react?

This was the true beginning.

Meanwhile.

Hokage Building.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before the window, clutching the intelligence scroll that had just been delivered.

His expression was grim.

The scroll detailed everything that had occurred in the Uchiha compound the previous night.

It also contained the latest developments from tonight's Uchiha clan meeting.

"A public investigation..."

The Third Hokage muttered these words, his brow furrowed tightly.

The thing he feared most had come to pass.

The Uchiha had not rioted outright.

Instead, they had chosen a more troublesome path.

A public investigation.

Once this matter blew up, the village's public opinion would be swayed.

When that happened, the existence of Root would be scrutinized by more people.

As for Danzo, more problems might be exposed on his end as well.

In the shadows of the office.

Shimura Danzo leaned on his cane, his voice cold and chilling.

"Hiruzen, you cannot let the Uchiha blow this matter out of proportion."

The Third Hokage turned around, his gaze heavy as he looked at him.

"The people from last night—were they sent by you?"

Danzo did not change his expression.

"No."

The Third Hokage stared at him.

"Danzo."

"I hope you understand that the Uchiha are already very sensitive right now."

"Any provocation could trigger irreversible consequences."

Danzo snorted coldly.

"Precisely for that reason, we cannot indulge them."

"The Uchiha actually dare to use the affair of a brat to force the village into a public investigation."

"This shows they have already begun to challenge the authority of the Hokage."

The Third Hokage's expression darkened further.

"Their children were attacked within the clan compound; their demand for an investigation is not unreasonable."

Danzo said coldly, "Hiruzen, you are still too soft."

"The Uchiha don't want an investigation."

"They want an excuse to stir up trouble."

"If you back down this time, they will make even more demands next time."

"In the end, they will point their blades at the Hokage Building."

The Third Hokage did not speak.

He certainly knew that the Uchiha problem was thorny.

But he also knew that if the incident from last night was not handled well, it would only drive the Uchiha further away.

At this moment, Danzo said slowly, "That brat named Uchiha Shingetsu must be placed under close surveillance."

The Third Hokage frowned.

"He is only a nine-year-old child."

Danzo sneered.

"A nine-year-old child who can kill two ninja in self-defense?"

"A nine-year-old child who can force the Uchiha to change their resolution at a clan meeting?"

"Hiruzen, do you really think he is just a child?"

The Third Hokage fell silent.

The intelligence on Shingetsu in the scroll had indeed surprised him.

Especially his speech at the clan meeting.

Too mature.

Too calm.

And too sharp.

A child who had experienced life and death might become precocious.

But to be precocious to this degree made one have to be vigilant.

Danzo continued, "The Uchiha clan is already dangerous enough."

"Now there is an extra brat who can incite the emotions of the clan."

"If he is allowed to grow, he will surely become a great disaster in the future."

The Third Hokage gave Danzo a cold look.

"What do you want to do?"

Danzo said indifferently, "Leave him to Root."

"I will make him disappear from the Uchiha's sight."

"Impossible."

The Third Hokage refused without hesitation.

"Moving against him now will only completely enrage the Uchiha."

Danzo narrowed his single eye.

"Then we wait?"

The Third Hokage said in a deep voice, "Surveillance is fine."

"But you are not allowed to lay a hand on him again."

"At least not now."

Danzo did not answer.

He merely tapped his cane lightly against the floor.

He knew Sarutobi Hiruzen too well.

This old friend was always like this.

He wanted to maintain balance.

He wanted to avoid conflict.

He wanted to solve everything through gentle means.

But the ninja world had never operated on gentleness.

Some unstable factors should be nipped in the bud.

Uchiha Shingetsu was just such a bud.

Danzo turned and walked into the shadows.

"Hiruzen, you will regret this."

The Third Hokage watched him leave and let out a long sigh.

Outside the window, the lights of Konoha remained as bright as ever.

Yet beneath this surface of tranquility, undercurrents had already begun to surge.

The Third Hokage lowered his head to look at the name on the scroll.

Uchiha Shingetsu.

After a long silence, he spoke slowly.

"Come in."

An Anbu appeared in a flash of movement.

"Lord Hokage."

The Third Hokage said in a deep voice, "From today on, observe Uchiha Shingetsu in secret."

"Do not make contact, and do not provoke him."

"Observe only."

The Anbu bowed his head.

"Yes."

At this moment, Shingetsu had no idea that he was already being targeted by both the Hokage and Danzo.

Or rather, he had already guessed as much.

After returning to his hospital room, he leaned against the bed and looked at the Causality Points on his system panel, which had increased to 1,700, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

One thousand three hundred more to go.

The Two-Tomoe was not far off.

Shingetsu gazed out into the night, his eyes deep and inscrutable.

"Tomorrow, the Hokage Building should be quite lively."

"Sarutobi Hiruzen."

"Danzo."

"Let me see how you will handle this move."