Compared with Utatane Koharu's sharp tongue, Mitokado Homura was much gentler, though his words were still dripping with sarcasm.
"Fugaku, I can let today's incident slide, but Uchiha Yan locking Orochimaru up in your clan's private prison is a very serious matter."
"Orochimaru is the culprit behind the Third's murder. He must be taken into Anbu custody!"
"We're here representing the will of the village. Hand Orochimaru over, or this will be ironclad proof that the Uchiha intend to rebel!"
Uchiha Fugaku looked at the two men, shivering all over from the cold but still unable to face reality. He let out a cold laugh...
At last, he understood what Uchiha Yan had meant when he said he would make Konoha unable to do without the Uchiha.
The Anbu were leaderless, and Danzo of Root had vanished without a trace. No one knew what he was thinking.
Only the Uchiha, living in a remote area and having prepared in advance, had escaped the worst of it.
Of all the major clans, the Uchiha had suffered the fewest losses.
"Rebellion? Ironclad proof?"
Fugaku slowly rose to his feet. His usually gentle gaze turned razor-sharp in an instant. He braced both hands on the table and leaned forward slightly!
The presence of a top-tier powerhouse surged from him.
"Honored advisors, I suggest you get your tongues straight before you speak."
Seeing the terrifying pressure radiating from Fugaku, the two men finally remembered.
The usually meek Uchiha Fugaku had once been known as Wicked Eye Fugaku, a name spoken in the same breath as Namikaze Minato.
As the atmosphere between them grew tense.
At Kurenai's home.
Steam hazed the room, where a faint incense burned.
Uchiha Yan lay sprawled on the tatami, eyes half-closed, his whole body completely relaxed.
His head rested on Kurenai's full, soft thighs as he breathed in the faint scent of her skin after her bath.
Kurenai's head was slightly bowed. Her thick black hair, like a waterfall, spilled over her fragrant shoulders, and a few playful strands brushed Uchiha Yan's cheek, making it tingle.
She wore a loose, pale pink house kimono, tied at the waist with a white sash that hung loosely.
When she leaned forward slightly, a generous expanse of pale skin lay in full view if Uchiha Yan opened his eyes.
Feeling the tickle on his cheek, Uchiha Yan opened his eyes and admired the lovely sight before him.
"Yan, you scoundrel. Where are you looking?"
Kurenai looked down and caught Uchiha Yan staring fixedly at her slightly open collar, his gaze openly burning with desire.
The cheeks of Kurenai, who had been massaging him, flushed all the way to her ears.
Embarrassed and annoyed, she stopped and pinched his cheek, her lovely eyes shimmering as she chided him:
"I was worried you'd been hurt internally when you fought Orochimaru today, so I left the door open and stayed up to keep you company. But you're clearly full of energy, and all you can think about is these naughty ideas!"
Still not satisfied, she poked him twice on the forehead.
Uchiha Yan didn't feel embarrassed at all. Instead, he rolled over and slipped an arm around Kurenai's slender waist.
He pressed his face against her stomach.
Her kimono was already loose and light.
His warm breath passed through the thin fabric, landing squarely on Kurenai's sensitive stomach.
"Ah..."
Startled, Kurenai stiffened slightly and let out a gasp.
That heated breath seemed to travel up from her stomach, sending shivers through her whole body.
She instinctively tried to draw back, but the hand around her waist tightened, easily holding her still.
"Yan, you... let go... don't tease me," Kurenai said, her voice trembling.
She rested her hands lightly on Uchiha Yan's shoulders, trying to push him away.
But in the end, Kurenai was no match for Uchiha Yan's teasing.
Before long, he had swept Kurenai off her feet and carried her into the bedroom.
Meanwhile, inside the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were both taken aback by Fugaku's fierce reaction this time.
They couldn't understand why Uchiha Fugaku, who usually yielded whenever the Konoha High Command pressured him, was suddenly being so unyielding.
Was it really because Hiruzen was dead?
Mitokado Homura wisely chose to back down for now. He stood and said, "Clan Head Fugaku, I may have chosen my words poorly. How about we both take some time to cool off and talk again tomorrow?"
Uchiha Fugaku replied perfunctorily, "We'll see. See them out."
Utatane Koharu had finally had enough. She pointed at Uchiha Fugaku and said, "Uchiha Fugaku, what makes you think you're so important?"
"Let me tell you, you're just a Military Police Force captain clinging to life on the legacy of your ancestors."
Her voice had turned shrill and grating with anger.
Her expression had also lost all its usual composure. As her emotions spiraled out of control, the veins on her forehead throbbed.
"You think that with Hiruzen gone, it's your turn to rule Konoha?"
"I'm telling you, as long as Hiruzen and Homura are still around, there's no way we'll let a bunch of red-eyed lunatics like you Uchiha run the village!"
"If our teacher hadn't shown mercy back then, you Uchiha—"
Her words were both arrogant and foolish.
Mitokado Homura's face changed drastically as he heard her.
He wished he could stuff the old woman's mouth shut.
"Koharu, stop," Mitokado Homura said, tugging at her sleeve in an attempt to calm her down.
But by then, it was too late.
As Utatane Koharu ranted like a shrew, Uchiha Fugaku didn't argue. He slowly stood, walked over to her, and looked down at her from above.
He grabbed Utatane Koharu by the throat and lifted her straight off the ground with a flex of his arm.
"Ghk!" Utatane Koharu felt a crushing sense of suffocation.
She weakly pounded on Uchiha Fugaku's arm. Her mouth opened and closed, but not a sound came out.
Mitokado Homura had finally accepted reality. He hurriedly tried to dissuade Fugaku in a conciliatory tone. "Fugaku, calm down. Utatane Koharu may be an advisor, but if she dies in your office, it'll look bad."
Mitokado Homura could only try to reason with Fugaku and appeal to his feelings, hoping he would calm down.
Fugaku had never intended to do anything serious to Utatane Koharu anyway.
He snorted and dropped her to the ground.
Utatane Koharu landed on her knees in a heap and began coughing violently.
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