Do You Guys Have Something You're Hiding From Me?

Hayato bowed slightly, his tone calm yet resonant: "Thank you, Lord Hokage, for your clear judgment and for remembering the original intent behind Konoha's founding. My Uchiha clan lives as people of Konoha and dies as souls of Konoha; we have never harbored any intention of betraying the village."

"I trust that Lord Hokage will grant the Uchiha, and all of Konoha, a fair outcome."

Having said this, Hayato stepped back behind Fugaku. His words had given Sarutobi Hiruzen plenty of face.

Shisui, however, stood to the side, feeling somewhat bewildered. Wait, Hayato only said a few sentences—why does it feel like he achieved what I've been striving for all this time?

Watching the Third Hokage look at Hayato and him with such a warm expression, Shisui found his heart unable to settle for a long while.

Uchiha Shisui suddenly felt an indescribable joy; he felt that he was truly not alone anymore.

Hayato was a like-minded comrade.

Fugaku remained calm and unruffled, though his gaze drifted toward Hayato from time to time.

His previous plan had been for the Uchiha to accumulate strength during this period and, at a specific moment, lead the entire clan to leave Konoha.

There was no other way.

Rebellion would simply force the Uchiha into a position of being outnumbered.

By then, the enemy would no longer be just the so-called Hokage, but every ninja clan in Konoha.

It was foreseeable that the Uchiha clan would face certain death. Leaving the village as a whole would significantly lower the probability of other clans attacking them, and at the very least, a few Uchiha might escape.

But Hayato's actions just now had shown Fugaku a different possibility.

Although this possibility was not yet entirely clear, it gave him another path to choose from.

Hayato ignored the gazes cast his way, feeling absolutely delighted inside.

Bitter Fruit—so much of it. From the Third, from Danzo, from the Council of Elders.

It might look like the Uchiha clan hadn't gained anything, and the Council of Elders had even shown them naked malice.

But did that matter?

This was an unavoidable situation, and with this incident, Danzo would only become more frantic in his actions against Hayato and the Uchiha.

When that time came, he could harvest the Bitter Fruit, and he would also be able to obtain leverage from Danzo's schemes. Once that information was released, it would provide him with plenty of room to maneuver.

That was enough.

Inside the office, Danzo's gaze was fixed intently on Hayato. This Uchiha was different from the ones in the past.

Inexplicably, a sense of threat surfaced in Danzo's mind. This Uchiha must not be left alive!

"Danzo!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice rang out, his tone filled with indifference.

Danzo, pulling back his thoughts, did not respond, only staring straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen. As an old friend of Hiruzen, he knew exactly what the man was thinking just by the tone of his voice.

Coward!

To have your heart swayed by a few words from a brat—Hiruzen, you are as indecisive as ever.

Seeing that Danzo did not respond, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, bracing his hands on the desk. "Danzo, as a consultant of Konoha, you have passed judgment before investigation and used inflammatory language, shaking the unity of the village. This matter is inappropriate."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances but did not step forward.

At the very least, they realized that some of Danzo's actions and words had indeed gone too far.

Moreover, they both understood that they had been used as pawns by Danzo.

Therefore, they did not refute Hiruzen's words, while Danzo pursed his lips, about to speak.

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised a hand, denying Danzo the chance to retort, and delivered his verdict: "Tonight's incident will be investigated by the Anbu directly under the Hokage. As for the content of the investigation you mentioned, you will discuss it with me later."

"From now on, the Root is not to intervene without my orders, nor are they to take any unauthorized action against the Uchiha."

"During this period, you are to confine yourself to your quarters and reflect deeply on your behavior."

As his voice fell, Hiruzen looked at everyone, his tone calm yet drowning out all other noise: "Konoha's rules are to speak with evidence and act with justice. Whoever continues to sow suspicion and incite conflict is working against me, and against the foundation of Konoha."

"Fugaku, I will also need Shisui and Hayato to cooperate with the investigation."

"We will obey all instructions from the Third Hokage; the Uchiha clan will always be the Uchiha of Konoha." Fugaku nodded slightly, agreeing to the request.

By bringing the matter into the open, even if Danzo had some tricks up his sleeve, he would have to consider whether the Third Hokage still cared about his own reputation.

As for safety, Fugaku was not worried about anything happening to Shisui and Hayato.

Hayato gave Fugaku a mental thumbs-up. Nice, he even threw in a show of loyalty, even if it was just lip service.

Thinking of this, Hayato signaled for Shisui to step forward with him, saying to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "We will cooperate with all legitimate investigations by the village."

As for how long such an investigation would last, given Danzo's nature, it was likely just a baseless charade.

The Third's words just now, while appearing to be weary of Danzo's actions, were also a form of protection.

Discuss it separately?

It would likely just mean the door to the Hokage Office would be slammed again later, and the so-called investigation would be nothing more than a formality.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was very satisfied with the stance taken by Fugaku, Hayato, and Shisui, his face full of gentle smiles.

"Very well, Fugaku, you may all return now."

After saying this, Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand at Fugaku and the others, as he still had to argue with Danzo.

Fugaku nodded upon hearing this, then led Hayato and Shisui out of the Hokage Office.

As soon as Hayato stepped out, he ran into Kakashi, raising an eyebrow and giving him a nod.

He had to thank Kakashi for his actions tonight; he hadn't used that kind of attitude to forcibly detain him and Shisui.

Although, that might have been out of consideration for a certain lunatic.

Kakashi did not respond, merely glancing at Fugaku before walking toward the office.

A strange look flashed in the depths of Fugaku's eyes; fortunately, he had already had the three clan elders pacify the clansmen before he arrived.

"Danzo--!"

Just as Kakashi opened the door to the Hokage Office, Hayato, still in the hallway, heard Sarutobi Hiruzen's roar.

Click!

Kakashi quickly shut the door, cutting off the sound.

Fugaku only paused for a moment before leading Hayato and Shisui straight out of the Hokage Building.

Hayato looked toward Shisui at his side, signaling him to hold back and that they would discuss everything later.

As they gradually approached the Uchiha Compound, Fugaku suddenly changed direction, leading the two toward the banks of the Naka River.

"Shisui, Hayato, is there something you two are keeping from me?"

Fugaku stood on the riverbank for a long while before finally speaking.

At these words, Hayato's heart stirred. Fugaku had likely guessed something; after all, he and Shisui had taken out eight Root operatives, and such a feat was not easily accomplished, even with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.