Conviction

The thick stench of blood and black smoke hung over the entrance to the Root base.

Danzo lay on the ground beside a stretcher, stripped of all four limbs and missing his right eye.

Severed limbs lay not far away, along with the right arm that had turned into a tree.

He had completely passed out. Though emergency measures had stopped the bleeding, the faint rise and fall of his chest showed that he was already at death's door.

But since the Uchiha had not agreed to let him go, Danzo could only remain where he was.

At least until the Third Hokage had pronounced his sentence, he would not be allowed to leave.

In the flickering firelight, the Third Hokage's face shifted between light and shadow.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on him.

The Uchiha's Sharingan. The Hyuga's Byakugan. The stares of Ino-Shika-Cho, and the unreadable expressions behind the ANBU masks—everyone was waiting.

"Danzo—"

The Third spoke with difficulty, his tone grave and heavy.

"As the Hokage's aide, an elder advisor, and the commander of Root, you seized Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan without the Hokage's permission. You also illegally transplanted multiple Sharingan into your own body. You are suspected of murdering Uchiha clansmen, abusing forbidden techniques, and endangering the village's security."

He spoke word by word, and each sentence weighed heavier than the last.

"I hereby announce that Shimura Danzo is stripped of all positions, removed from his status as an elder advisor, and that Root is disbanded as of today. All Root members are to be handed over to the ANBU for review."

"Danzo himself... will be detained for treatment. Once his condition stabilizes, he will be transferred to the Interrogation Division for a public trial."

Having said that, he turned to Zhengye.

"Are you satisfied now?"

A mocking curve tugged at Zhengye's lips.

"A conviction is a conviction, and compensation is compensation. Lord Hokage, the benefits that were eroded from the Uchiha, the authority stripped from our police force, and our clan lands being pushed out of Konoha's center—those cannot simply be brushed aside as 'Danzo's personal actions,' can they?"

The corner of the Third's eye twitched.

Of course he knew the Uchiha would seize this opportunity.

But Danzo's crimes were already irrefutable, so he could only cut ties with him. Yet the Uchiha's demands for "compensation" were the truly deadly issue.

Once this precedent was set, if other shinobi clans followed suit, how much authority would the Hokage have left?

After all, Danzo had not neglected to prey on the other shinobi clans over the years.

But he had no choice.

"Tomorrow, in the Hokage's conference room, representatives of every shinobi clan will attend."

"The Uchiha may state their demands in public, and they will be discussed in public. So long as they are reasonable and justified, the village will not shortchange you."

Zhengye stared at him for several seconds, then swept his gaze across the faces of the other clans.

"Good. I trust that Lord Third will not disappoint us."

When he said the word "trust," he stressed it heavily, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

But the Third Hokage did not respond.

He turned and waved to the ANBU beside him. "Take Danzo away and treat him with everything you have. Make sure he survives."

Several ANBU stepped forward and, together with the medical ninja, lifted the mutilated body before swiftly vanishing into the night.

The Third glanced once more at Hyuga Hiashi and Nara Shikaku. There was a hint of warning in his eyes, but he said nothing as he left with the remaining ANBU.

The battlefield fell quiet.

The torches continued to crackle.

Just as Hiashi was about to leave, Zhengye walked up to him.

"Lord Hiashi, I am Uchiha Zhengye, the Uchiha Clan's Fourth Elder. We will have many dealings in the future. I hope for your guidance."

Hiashi was taken aback. He had not expected the other man to come over and greet him.

Zhengye was very young, but Hiashi still nodded repeatedly with a gentle expression. "Certainly, certainly."

After all, whether in martial strength or political ability, he was not someone to be underestimated.

After greeting Hiashi, Zhengye went on to exchange a few pleasantries with the Ino-Shika-Cho, Inuzuka Clan, Aburame Clan, and the other clans.

Though it was all courtesy and formalities, Zhengye's natural bearing and mature manner of speech left a deep impression on everyone.

Once the crowd had dispersed, Inabi came to Zhengye's side.

"We're really letting Danzo live?"

"Keeping him alive is more useful than letting him die." Zhengye's eyes were as deep as a still pool. "He is the Third's black glove, but he is also the target we can use to attack the Third."

This was the entrance to the Root base, so Zhengye did not say much more.

Inabi seemed to understand, but did not ask further.

Shisui stood to the side, his right eye restored as he slowly adjusted to having his vision back.

He silently looked over the devastation covering the ground. That recovered eye was filled with complicated emotions, as well as a trace of approval.

Perhaps the Uchiha can maintain peace even by being stronger.

"Let's go back." Zhengye turned and looked at the mass of Uchiha clansmen behind him.

"There are still things to do tonight."

The ancestral hall of the Uchiha Shrine.

The candles had been lit again. The clansmen had already gone back to rest, leaving only the core members behind.

They were still the same people, but their spirits were completely different.

Though somewhat exhausted, they were full of excitement.

Most Uchiha were not particularly clever and did not understand politics, but they had always been suppressed by the Third Hokage.

Today, they had finally vented their fury properly.

As they looked at Zhengye seated in the place of honor, their eyes were filled with reverence.

Fugaku sat beside him. At his side were not only Yashiro, the Third Elder, but also the First Elder Tenghong and Second Elder Changhu, who had not previously left the clan grounds.

First Elder Tenghong was over sixty and the most senior elder in the clan. He was mainly responsible for the clansmen's daily affairs. Second Elder Changhu was a hawk like Yashiro, but had a steadier temperament.

They had been dragged out of bed in the middle of the night before learning that such a huge upheaval had taken place within the Uchiha.

Fortunately, the outcome was good.

Besides Itachi and Shisui, Izumi had also been allowed to remain.

Originally, Izumi was not qualified to attend such a discussion, but Zhengye had deliberately kept her here.

She sat beside Itachi, looking nervous and lost.

Then Itachi gently took her hand, and the tenderness in his eyes soothed her unease.

Why is Itachi being so proactive?

Izumi blushed, her heart brimming with bashfulness and sweetness.

Fugaku let out a long breath and opened the meeting. "Everyone..."

"In recent years, clan affairs have been numerous, and my strength has declined somewhat. From now on, I will focus on recovering my strength."

"I will transfer the clan's decision-making authority to all of you elders. I hope you elders can lead the Uchiha Clan to grow and prosper."

His words were tactful, but the First, Second, and Third Elders had always handled part of the clan's affairs.

The decision-making authority he intended to transfer would, in truth, be handed to Zhengye alone.

This was merely a transition before stepping down.

After all, the Uchiha were the foremost clan in the shinobi world. A clan head stepping down and a new one taking office required a certain amount of preparation.

Everyone exchanged glances. There were plenty of powerful people among the Uchiha, but Zhengye was the only one with a truly clever mind.

No one had any objection to this.

After speaking, Fugaku returned to his seat.

Facing everyone's gazes, Zhengye nodded to them.

"Although I have only just become an elder, I have a few personal thoughts regarding the clan's development that I would like to put forward for discussion."

Everyone's expressions sharpened. They knew that after obtaining power, Zhengye was about to interfere with the clan's direction for the first time.

"Do you know why the Uchiha Clan has been growing weaker and weaker?"