Uchiha

The next morning.

Hyuga Hiashi went to Root to visit Danzo.

"Lord Danzo, thank you very much for your help yesterday," Hyuga Hiashi said, bowing to Danzo in gratitude.

Danzo remained expressionless as ever. "No need for thanks. After all, we made a deal."

Hyuga Hiashi requested, "Lord Danzo, regarding Hyuga Clan ninjas joining Root, could you give me some time? I need time to persuade them."

Danzo naturally knew Root's reputation outside. Although Root was slowly changing, that change couldn't be accepted by others immediately.

Besides, Danzo wasn't planning on having Hyuga Hiashi get Hyuga ninjas to join Root right away.

"I can, but don't keep me waiting too long."

"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Danzo. Then, I'll take my leave."

After Hyuga Hiashi left, he went straight to the Hokage Office to find Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hyuga Hiashi reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Lord Hokage, the Hyuga Clan's reform has been successful, and the impact has been minimal."

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe and said with a smile, "Very good, Hiashi. Lead the Hyuga Clan well in the future, and let's work together to build Konoha."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

The streets of Konoha.

Neji proudly puffed out his little chest and asked Uzumaki Menma and the others, "Have you noticed anything different about me?"

Uzumaki Menma and the others looked Neji up and down. "Doesn't seem like anything's changed. What's up? You and Hinata looked miserable yesterday. Why are you so happy today?"

Neji pointed to his smooth forehead and said, annoyed, "Bandage! Can't you see I'm not wearing a bandage on my forehead today?"

Uzumaki Menma curled his lip. "So what? None of us are wearing bandages. What's so special about that?"

Neji's little face flushed red. "You... I..."

Last night, in order to let his friends see the change in him, Neji had specifically requested Hyuga Hiashi to help him remove the Caged Bird Seal.

After all, the method to remove the Caged Bird Seal was only known to a few members of the Main House.

And Hyuga Hiashi was one of them.

After the Caged Bird Seal was removed, Neji felt relaxed all over, with a sense of his soul being purified.

And after seeing the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead disappear, Hizashi Hyuga hugged Neji tightly, so excited that he shed tears.

He thought his friends would notice the change in him, but no one did.

Neji sulked alone.

Hinata stepped forward to comfort him. "Neji, everyone thinking they didn't notice the seal on your forehead is a good thing, because in everyone's heart, you've never been bound by the Caged Bird Seal."

Neji stared blankly at Hinata.

Uzumaki Menma and the others in front turned their heads and urged, "Neji, Hinata, what are you doing standing there? Let's go!"

Neji smiled brightly.

"Coming!"

The group of eight walked down the streets of Konoha.

The people on the street were already used to seeing Uzumaki Menma and the others.

Uzumaki Menma suddenly saw a somewhat familiar person at the dango shop ahead.

"Sasuke, look at that person. Isn't that your brother?"

Sasuke looked in the direction Uzumaki Menma was pointing, practically beaming.

"Brother!"

Sasuke ran straight to Itachi, who was at the dango shop.

Besides Itachi, there was also a boy with black hair and black eyes, who looked a few years older than Itachi, sitting next to Itachi.

Itachi's best friend, Uchiha Shisui.

Itachi saw Sasuke and asked with a smile, "Sasuke, what are you doing here?"

"I'm hanging out with my friends." After answering, Sasuke politely greeted Shisui, "Brother Shisui."

Shisui ruffled Sasuke's hair. "Hello, Sasuke."

At this moment.

Uzumaki Menma and the others followed Sasuke to the dango shop.

As soon as Choji saw the dango, his stomach couldn't help but rumble.

Shisui said with a smile, "Are you all Itachi's younger brother's friends?"

"Yes!"

"In that case, nice to meet you all. Let me treat you to some dango."

Choji perked up immediately. "Can we eat as much as we want?"

Ino scolded him, "Choji, that's not very polite!"

Shisui said generously, "It's okay, eat as much as you can!"

Ten minutes passed.

Shisui's expression began to stiffen.

Everyone else was fine.

But Choji, that kid, was eating way too much.

Although, looking at Choji's size, it was understandable that he could eat a lot.

But what was up with that Hinata girl?

She was eating almost twice as much as Choji.

Shisui was now feeling the pain from his earlier bold statement, 'eat as much as you can.'

Luckily, he had just received his mission reward, or he would have been embarrassed.

The dango shop owner was grinning from ear to ear.

He had gotten a big order today.

But he was running low on glutinous rice for the dango.

"Guests, I've run out of glutinous rice. I'll go get some now, please wait a moment."

"Wait!" Shisui quickly stopped him.

"I think you've all had enough, right?"

Uzumaki Menma and the others said they had.

Seeing Hinata also say 'I'm full,' Shisui breathed a sigh of relief.

But looking at Hinata's lingering expression, it felt like she could eat however much more.

After freeloading some dango from Shisui.

Shisui and Itachi had to leave to take on a mission.

And Uzumaki Menma and his group continued to wander around the streets of Konoha.

Half a month later.

Inside Hiruzen Sarutobi's office.

Danzo sat opposite Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had asked Danzo to come today to discuss the Uchiha Clan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi advised, "Danzo, could you perhaps ease up on the surveillance of the Uchiha Clan? Monitoring them around the clock like this, pushing them too hard, could backfire."

Danzo frowned. "Have you forgotten the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Uprising? Only the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan can control the Nine-Tails!"

"During the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Uprising, your Root operatives were monitoring all members of the Uchiha Clan. You should be well aware that the Uchiha Clan had no opportunity to release the Nine-Tails at that time!"

"The Uchiha Clan are all evil-doers, without a doubt! Therefore, we must guard against any unforeseen circumstances that may arise from the Uchiha Clan in the future!" Danzo said very firmly.

"Was Kagami evil too, Danzo?"

Danzo's eyes flickered, and he recalled the man who had inherited the Will of Fire, who had used his Sharingan many times in battle to help him out of difficult situations, a man who gave him immense peace of mind.