The Whole of Konoha Was Saying the Uchiha Planned to Rebel

"Lord Third, please stand up for the Uchiha Clan!"

Inside the Hokage Office, Fugaku stood with the squad leaders, his expression grave.

"Fugaku, wait a moment. I don't yet know what happened." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the Uchiha gathered in the office, then turned to Fugaku.

Just moments ago, Anbu had reported that Uchiha Fugaku was leading members of the Uchiha Clan to the Hokage Building.

He had thought the Uchiha were going to storm the Hokage's office. But now?

Forget Fugaku—what was with the wounded expressions on the faces of the Uchiha squad leaders standing at the front?

Fugaku said nothing. He only looked calmly at the Lord Third, weariness filling his eyes.

"Lord Third, allow me to explain." Hayato stepped out from behind Fugaku and looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with a composed expression.

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, then nodded.

"This morning, while members of the Police Force were patrolling the village as usual, they heard various rumors... including, but not limited to, our disrespecting the elders, the claim that the Uchiha caused the Nine-Tails Incident, and..."

"The whole of Konoha is saying the Uchiha plan to rebel."

"I was young when I disrespected the elders. I will personally apologize to the Council of Elders and the others for that mistake. But the Nine-Tails Incident and the accusation that our clan plans to rebel—those are charges the Uchiha Clan cannot bear."

As he spoke, Hayato bowed.

"Our Uchiha Clan is part of Konoha. Konoha is our home. Lord Third, who would want to destroy their own home?"

Fugaku beside him spoke up as well. "Hayato is right, Lord Third. Konoha is our home. Who would want to destroy their own home?"

Following Fugaku's lead, Shisui and the other squad leaders all bowed.

"Fugaku, everyone from the Uchiha, I understand." Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly rose to his feet. "There was no disrespecting the elders. As for the rumors, I'll need time to investigate."

"Once I've gotten to the bottom of everything, I'll give the Uchiha Clan a satisfactory explanation."

"Hiruzen! There should indeed be an explanation. Take a look outside."

The door to the Hokage Office swung open. Danzo strode in with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, their gazes sweeping over the Uchiha in the office as if they were inspecting prisoners.

Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow, looking at Danzo with displeasure.

By rights, Danzo should have been waiting at home right now.

The next moment, an Anbu appeared beside Sarutobi Hiruzen and whispered a brief report to him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen jumped to his feet in shock and went to the window.

Outside the Hokage Building, countless villagers were streaming toward it in groups. Sarutobi Hiruzen opened the window, and one shout after another carried into the office.

"Lord Hokage, investigate the Uchiha thoroughly!"

"Don't let them threaten the village!"

A cold glint flashed through Danzo's eyes as he heard the shouts. Hiruzen, if you can't make a decision, then I'll make it for you.

Now the whole of Konoha was saying the Uchiha planned to rebel. He wanted to see how Hiruzen, as Hokage, could possibly suppress this matter.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the villagers gathered outside the building, his thin hands braced against the windowsill, veins bulging.

This again...

Kakashi, who had come to deliver the report, stood to one side. His expression beneath his mask was impassive, as though his father had faced the very same situation back then.

"Uchiha Fugaku!" When Sarutobi Hiruzen still gave no response, Danzo turned to Fugaku and barked, "You must have heard what they're saying outside. The village needs an explanation from your clan."

His voice was full of menace, but Hayato's expression didn't change.

An explanation? He just wanted to trap the Uchiha in an endless struggle to prove their innocence.

"Elder Danzo is right." Hayato spoke before Fugaku could. "We Uchiha did come to give an explanation. But before we do, I have a small question I'd like Lord Third to answer."

Danzo looked at Hayato, the boy who had embarrassed him earlier, and narrowed his eyes. "You? A mere child..."

"Danzo." Sarutobi Hiruzen finally turned around. "Let Hayato speak."

Hayato inclined his head slightly toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, a suitably puzzled expression appearing on his face.

"Since this morning, we've heard far too many accusations... Some say we killed Anbu. Others say our clan has been training at night. And some claim we've always intended to rebel..."

Hayato paused, his face full of confusion. "The accusations come from different sources, and their content varies. They can't even agree on the basic timeline. But—"

"They all surfaced on the same day, as if they'd been arranged in advance, springing up simultaneously from every corner of the village."

As he spoke, Hayato looked straight at Danzo. "So I'd very much like to ask this elder and advisor, who is supposed to be waiting at home, what this phenomenon is called in terms of a ninja's most basic skill: intelligence analysis?"

The brows of everyone in the office twitched almost imperceptibly.

No one was a fool. There were just some things that couldn't be said too openly.

Danzo's face darkened. This child was a real nuisance. Instead of taking the opportunity to offer an explanation, he'd turned the accusation back on Danzo.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Danzo's voice had turned icy.

"What I'm saying is—" Hayato turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen, his tone earnest and forthright. "Lord Third, and both elder advisors, our Uchiha Clan did not come here today to explain ourselves. We don't even know where to begin explaining these rumors."

Shisui promptly took out a scroll and handed it to the Anbu beside Hiruzen.

"These are the Police Force's patrol logs from past years. They record exactly where each patrol took place and when, down to the day and hour. Please investigate this thoroughly, Lord Third!"

"Furthermore, we're willing to confront anyone in the village making these accusations. We invite Konoha's ninjas to assist with the investigation, whether from the Hyuga or the Yamanaka Clan!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused just as he reached out to take the scroll.

Even Danzo couldn't help staring in astonishment. This was hardly something the Uchiha Clan would normally say. The Yamanaka Clan's mind-reading technique directly invaded the brain; it could expose every last secret.

Danzo had set all this in motion because he'd counted on the Uchiha's pride and their disdain for explanations.

Just as with Hatake Sakumo back then.

Now he was genuinely worried that Hiruzen might agree. If he did, Danzo's actions would be exposed to every clan in Konoha.

Then every clan in Konoha would turn on him.

Utatane Koharu frowned. "Uchiha Hayato, are you questioning the villagers' testimony?"

"Testimony?" Hayato turned to Utatane Koharu. "Elder Koharu, testimony isn't subjective speculation. It must be based on perception, knowledge, lawful procedures, and verifiability."

"You're a woman of great standing, and you've assisted Lord Third for many years. You know better than anyone what keeps the village stable: the Will of Fire, mutual trust, and knowing that every word and every deed can stand in the light."

Hayato sighed, his tone helpless. "But right now, someone is hiding in the shadows, using vague claims like 'I heard' and 'someone said' to drive a wedge between our clan and the village. Today they can slander the Uchiha; tomorrow it could be the Hyuga, the Aburame, or the Akimichi..."

"After all, who doesn't have a few secrets? And which clan doesn't have a Kekkei Genkai or secret technique that others might fear?"

Hayato looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his expression frank. "Lord Third, the Uchiha Clan asks you to thoroughly investigate the source of these rumors—not so we can prove our innocence, but for the sake of the village."

"These rats skulking in the dark are targeting us today. Tomorrow, they might target you, Lord Hokage."