Handing Over the Knife

A secret tunnel.

This was an unexpected harvest.

He had originally only intended to catch the traces of Root's probing.

He hadn't expected that by following the Tracking Powder, he would uncover a secret tunnel on the perimeter of the clan grounds.

The value of this thing was far greater than that of a single infiltrator.

An infiltrator could be dismissed as an individual act, a spy from an enemy village, or an accident.

But a secret tunnel was different.

A secret tunnel required advance preparation, long-term maintenance, and familiarity with the outer structure of the clan grounds.

It proved that someone had been systematically infiltrating the Uchiha Clan grounds.

And it had likely been going on for quite some time.

This would cause the Uchiha to completely boil over from within.

Shin-getsu brought up the system panel in his mind.

Soon, a notification sound rang out.

[Uchiha Police Force has discovered a hidden tunnel on the perimeter of the clan grounds.]

[Clues of long-term surveillance by Root have been exposed ahead of schedule.]

[The trust between the Uchiha and Konoha's high-level officials has further fractured.]

[Night of the Clan Massacre Deviation increased.]

[Current Deviation: 5%.]

[Obtained Causality Points: 1500.]

[Current Causality Points: 2800.]

Shin-getsu's eyes brightened slightly.

Five percent.

Two thousand eight hundred Causality Points.

The harvest this time was even greater than he had anticipated.

It seemed that this thread of the secret tunnel might have been very important in the original destiny.

At the very least, it proved that the Uchiha had always been under surveillance and restriction.

Shin-getsu walked back into the room and sat down on the tatami mat.

Physical exhaustion gradually welled up.

But his mind remained clear.

Next, the Uchiha would surely convene a high-level meeting overnight.

Fugaku would face even greater pressure.

The Radical Faction would be furious.

Shisui would be shaken.

Itachi would also rethink the relationship between the village and the Uchiha.

And the Hokage Building...

The Third Hokage would likely be unable to sleep.

Because this time, it wasn't just the Uchiha suspecting them unilaterally.

They had found something tangible.

Even if the tunnel didn't have "Root Exclusive" written directly inside, it would be very difficult for Konoha's high-level officials to explain it away easily.

Shin-getsu closed his eyes and murmured in a low voice.

"Danzo."

"You were too impatient."

"Impatience leads to mistakes."

Northwest of the Uchiha Clan grounds.

By the time Fugaku arrived at the entrance of the tunnel, the surrounding area was already filled with members of the Uchiha Police Force.

Everyone's expression was grim.

Tekka and Inabi stood beside the entrance.

Seeing Fugaku arrive, the two immediately lowered their heads.

"Clan Leader."

Fugaku didn't waste words.

"The situation."

Inabi reported in a low voice, "After tracking the medicinal powder left by Shin-getsu, we discovered that the intruder exited from here."

"There is a camouflaged secret tunnel here."

"The entrance is concealed."

"There are traces of seals inside."

"It is suspected to be Anbu standard."

Fugaku crouched down to inspect the entrance himself.

His fingers brushed over the edge of the camouflaged stone slab.

There were faint marks left by long-term friction.

It wasn't newly opened.

It had been used many times.

Fugaku's gaze turned completely cold.

"Have you explored inside?"

Inabi shook his head.

"No."

"I was worried about traps, and also that someone might use this opportunity to frame us for destroying evidence."

Fugaku nodded.

"You did well."

He stood up and looked at the clansmen around him.

"Seal the news regarding tonight's events for the time being."

Tekka immediately became anxious.

"Clan Head!"

"We're still sealing the news even after this?"

"They dug a secret tunnel on the perimeter of our clan grounds!"

"If we don't make a scene today, will they be digging under our clansmen's beds by tomorrow?"

Many Uchiha also showed expressions of anger.

Fugaku gave him a cold look.

"I said to seal the news, not to suppress it."

"It is to prevent the other party from cleaning up beforehand."

Tekka was taken aback.

Fugaku continued, "Immediately send men to control all surrounding exits."

"Do not enter the secret tunnel for now."

"But set up seal monitoring at the entrance."

"Record every fluctuation of chakra."

"First thing tomorrow morning, I will personally take the evidence of this secret tunnel to the Hokage Building."

"This time, I want the Hokage to explain it himself."

Hearing this, Tekka finally suppressed his anger slightly.

"Understood."

Fugaku looked at the entrance of the secret tunnel, his heart heavy.

He knew that from this moment on, things could hardly return to how they were.

Yesterday, the Uchiha were only suspicious of Root.

Today, they had discovered the secret tunnel.

If the Hokage Building could not provide a reasonable explanation, the Radical Faction within the clan would completely lose control.

And he, as the clan head, could no longer continue to persuade his clansmen with "patience" and "restraint."

Fugaku looked up toward the center of Konoha.

Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Danzo.

Just how far do you intend to push the Uchiha?

Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage had just prepared to rest when an Anbu suddenly appeared in his office.

"Lord Hokage."

"There has been another anomaly at the Uchiha Clan compound."

The Third Hokage's heart sank.

"Speak."

The Anbu quickly reported that an intruder had attempted to infiltrate Shin-getsu's residence, and that the Uchiha Police Force had discovered a secret tunnel on the outskirts of the compound during their pursuit.

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage's expression shifted drastically.

"A secret tunnel?"

"Yes."

The Anbu bowed his head. "The Uchiha have already cordoned off the scene."

"Clan Head Fugaku has also arrived."

"They have not entered the tunnel; they have only secured the entrance."

The Third Hokage's face turned terrifyingly grim.

He did not need to think twice to know that such a secret tunnel could never have been constructed by ordinary ninja.

What kind of place surrounded the Uchiha Clan compound?

Although they had been relocated to the edge of the village, they were still within the interior of Konoha.

The number of factions capable of maintaining a secret tunnel in such a location for a long period without being discovered could be counted on one hand.

The Anbu.

The Root.

And the Anbu had received no such orders.

That left only one answer.

The Third Hokage stood up abruptly.

"Danzo!"

His voice carried a rare note of fury.

The Anbu knelt on one knee, remaining silent.

The Third Hokage took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his emotions.

"Issue an order immediately: no Anbu are to approach the secret tunnel on the outskirts of the Uchiha compound."

"Without my command, no one is to disturb the scene."

The Anbu bowed his head.

"Yes."

The Third Hokage added, "Send men to watch the entrance to the Root."

"If there is any unusual movement from the Root tonight, report it immediately."

The Anbu hesitated for a moment.

"Lord Hokage, as for the Root..."

The Third Hokage said coldly, "Do as I say."

The Anbu felt a chill in his heart.

"Yes!"

After the Anbu left, the Third Hokage stood in his office, his expression looking worse than ever.

If it had only been last night's attack, he could have attempted to pin the matter on "spies from an enemy village."

But now?

A secret tunnel on the outskirts of the Uchiha compound.

Another infiltration of Shin-getsu's residence that same night.

Eavesdropping Talismans.

Tracking Powder.

Once these things were linked together, the Uchiha would never believe in any Cloud Village spies.

What was even more troublesome was that Fugaku had not acted impulsively this time.

He had not sent men to charge directly into the secret tunnel.

Nor had he destroyed the scene.

Instead, he had secured the entrance, waiting to bring the evidence to the Hokage Building the next day.

This made it difficult for the Third Hokage to even find an excuse.

If Fugaku had charged in, the Hokage Building could have claimed that the Uchiha acted without authorization and sabotaged the village's covert facilities.

But Fugaku did not.

He was very restrained.

So restrained that the upper echelons of Konoha could not bite back.

The Third Hokage suddenly thought of Shin-getsu.

Could the shadow of that child be behind this as well?

Shin-getsu's residence was attacked.

He left behind Tracking Powder in retaliation.

He warned Tekka not to pursue too deeply, keeping only the evidence of the route.

Then the Uchiha discovered the Secret Tunnel, yet did not rashly venture inside.

When all these events were linked together, it felt too much like a well-coordinated combination of strikes.

The Third Hokage's eyes were complex.

If this was truly being orchestrated by a Nine Years Old child, then he was far too terrifying.

But what was even more terrifying was that the person who forced him to become this way was none other than someone else.

It was the very darkness of Konoha itself.

The Third Hokage closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Danzo."

"You have truly crossed the line this time."