All of Konoha Says the Uchiha Are Rebelling

"Third Hokage, please seek justice for the Uchiha clan!"

Inside the Hokage Office, Fugaku stood with his various squad leaders, his expression heavy and grim.

"Fugaku, wait a moment. I don't even know what has happened yet," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, looking at the Uchiha clansmen filling his office before turning his gaze to Fugaku.

Just moments ago, an Anbu had reported that Uchiha Fugaku was leading the Uchiha clan toward the Hokage Building.

He had feared the Uchiha were about to launch a direct assault on the Hokage, but as it turned out?

Setting aside Fugaku, what was the meaning of the aggrieved expressions on the faces of the lead Uchiha squad leaders?

Fugaku did not speak; he merely looked at the Third Hokage calmly, his eyes filled with exhaustion.

"Third Hokage, allow me to explain," Hayato said, stepping out from behind Fugaku to face Sarutobi Hiruzen with a calm expression.

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised an eyebrow and gave a slight nod.

"This morning, while the Police Force members were conducting their routine patrols, they heard some rumors... including, but not limited to, claims of me defying the elders, that the Nine-Tails Incident was caused by the Uchiha, and..."

"The entirety of Konoha is saying that the Uchiha are planning a rebellion."

"Defying the elders was a mistake of my youth, and I will apologize to the Council of Elders and the others in person later. But—the Nine-Tails Incident and the accusation that our clan is planning a rebellion are charges the Uchiha clan cannot bear."

Hayato bowed as he spoke.

"We of the Uchiha clan are a part of Konoha. Konoha is our home. Third Hokage, who would ever want to destroy their own home?"

Fugaku, standing to the side, spoke up as well: "Hayato is right, Third Hokage. Konoha is our home; who would want to destroy their own home?"

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

"Fugaku, and everyone from the Uchiha, I understand," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, rising quickly. "As for defying the elders, that is simply not the case, and regarding these rumors, I will need time to investigate."

"Once everything is clarified, I will certainly provide the Uchiha clan with a satisfactory explanation."

"Hiruzen! There certainly should be an explanation—see for yourself what is happening outside."

The doors to the Hokage Office were pushed open as Danzo stepped in, accompanied by Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. Their gazes swept over the Uchiha clansmen in the room as if they were inspecting prisoners.

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, looking at Danzo with clear dissatisfaction.

By all rights, Danzo should have been confined to his home.

The next moment, an Anbu appeared at Sarutobi Hiruzen's side and whispered a brief report.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face drained of color, and he hurried to the window.

Below, in front of the Hokage Building, countless ordinary villagers were swarming toward the structure. Sarutobi Hiruzen threw the window open, and a chorus of petitions flooded into the office.

"Hokage, strictly investigate the Uchiha!"

"Don't let them threaten the village!"

A cold light flashed in Danzo's eyes as he heard these voices. Hiruzen, if you cannot make a decision, then let me make it for you.

Now that all of Konoha is saying the Uchiha are planning a rebellion, I want to see how you, as Hokage, manage to suppress this.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched the villagers gathering before the building, the veins on his withered hands bulging as he gripped the windowsill.

This situation again...

Beside him, Kakashi, who had come to report, maintained a blank expression beneath his mask; it seemed his father had faced a similar situation years ago.

"Uchiha Fugaku!" Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent, Danzo turned to Fugaku and barked, "You must have heard the voices outside, haven't you? The village requires an explanation from your clan."

His tone was filled with malice. Hayato's expression remained unmoved.

An explanation? They only want to trap the Uchiha in a mire of self-incrimination.

"Elder Danzo is right," Hayato said, speaking before Fugaku could. "We Uchiha have indeed come to provide an explanation, but before we do, I have a small question I would like the Third Hokage to resolve."

Danzo narrowed his eyes at Hayato, who had humiliated him previously. "You? A mere child..."

"Danzo," Sarutobi Hiruzen finally looked back. "Let Hayato speak."

Hayato bowed slightly toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, a look of appropriate confusion appearing on his face.

"Since this morning, we have heard too many voices... some saying we killed Anbu, some saying our clan was training in secret at night, others saying we have always intended to rebel..."

Hayato paused, his face full of bewilderment. "These voices have different sources, different contents, and they don't even align on basic timelines. Yet—"

"They all happened to emerge from every corner of the village on the same day, as if they had been coordinated."

Hayato looked directly at Danzo. "So, I would like to ask this Elder Advisor, who should be confined to his home: based on the basic qualities of a ninja—that is, intelligence analysis—what do you call this phenomenon?"

The people in the office felt their brows twitch imperceptibly.

No one here was a fool; it was just that some things could not be spoken of too openly.

Danzo's face darkened. This brat was truly a nuisance; instead of taking the bait of his demand for an explanation, he had turned the spear back on him.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Danzo's voice was cold and sharp.

"I want to say—" Hayato turned to face Sarutobi Hiruzen, his tone becoming sincere and frank, "Third Hokage, and the two Elder Advisors, we of the Uchiha clan did not come here today to explain ourselves, because we have no idea how to explain such rumors."

Shisui, standing to the side, took the opportunity to produce a scroll and handed it to the Anbu standing next to Hiruzen.

"These are the patrol logs of the Police Force from previous years. Every day, every hour, and every location of duty is recorded with absolute clarity. I ask that you examine them, Lord Third!"

"Furthermore, regarding the accusations appearing within the village, we Uchiha are willing to confront our accusers and invite Konoha to assist in the investigation—be it the Hyuga or the Yamanaka clan!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had just reached out to take the scroll, paused.

Even Danzo looked on in astonishment, for such words were not something one would expect from the Uchiha clan; the Yamanaka clan's mind-reading technique was a direct intrusion into the brain that could strip away every secret one possessed.

Danzo had orchestrated this move precisely because he had counted on the Uchiha's nature: proud and disdainful of offering explanations.

Just like Hatake Sakumo back in the day.

At this moment, he was genuinely worried that Hiruzen might agree. Once he did, all the actions Danzo had taken would be exposed before every ninja clan in Konoha.

By then, he would become the target of every clan in the village.

Utatane Koharu frowned and spoke up, "Uchiha Hayato, are you questioning the testimony of the villagers?"

"Testimony?" Hayato turned his gaze toward Utatane Koharu. "Elder Koharu, testimony is not based on subjective speculation, but on perception, knowledge, legal procedure, and verifiability."

"You are virtuous and respected, having assisted Lord Third for many years. You know best what the stability of the village relies on—it is the Will of Fire, it is mutual trust, and it is the ability to bring every word and every deed into the light."

Hayato sighed, his tone filled with helplessness. "Yet the current situation is that someone is hiding in the shadows, using vague remarks like 'I heard' or 'someone said' to sow discord between our clan and the village. Today they can fabricate lies about the Uchiha, and tomorrow it could be the Hyuga, the Aburame, or the Akimichi..."

"After all, who doesn't have a few secrets? And among the ninja clans, whose Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques are not something others fear?"

Hayato looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with complete composure. "Lord Third, the Uchiha clan requests that you thoroughly investigate the source of these rumors—not to prove our own innocence, but for the sake of the village."

"These rats hiding in the dark are targeting us today, but tomorrow, they might just as easily target you, Lord Hokage."