Nara Shikaku, I ***

"Do you want power? I can make you the leader of Root!"

"If you want, I can give you a legitimate identity. Once the Third dies, I'll support you as the Fifth Hokage!"

"As for so-called honor, I can give you all of that!"

"Do you want money? I've embezzled a great deal over the years. If you want it, I'll give it all to you!"

"Do you want my life? I've already given you so many lives. Just leave me one!"

"Beauty, honor, power, money—whatever you want, I can give it to you with everything I have! Don't forget, I'm Konoha's second-in-command!"

Power? Obito did not need it. His younger self had once dreamed of becoming Hokage, but that Obito was already dead.

Money? Even all of Konoha combined probably could not compare to Kakuzu's little treasury.

Women? Don't use that to challenge Rin's place in my heart!

Danzo had nothing he could use to bribe Obito, so Danzo had to die today!

Outside, hearing the commotion,

four Root members wearing animal masks rushed over. "Lord Danzo?"

"Lord Danzo!!"

"This is bad, there are signs of a fight!"

"Lord Danzo has disappeared!"

"Quick, report this to the Third!"

A blood-red moon hung high in the sky. Tonight was originally meant to be the night of the Uchiha clan's extermination, but because of Sasuke's appearance, because of Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, it became Danzo's death anniversary.

As the disturbance caused by Root and the ANBU grew louder,

lights lit up throughout all of Konoha.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi; Hokage advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

The heads of the Hyuga clan, the Aburame clan, the Nara clan, and the Yamanaka clan.

They arrived at the Hokage Building one after another!

The Third said grimly, "Danzo has disappeared. There is Danzo's blood and evidence of a fight in Root. There is no trace of Danzo's chakra anywhere in Konoha, and Konoha's barrier shows no signs of an intruder. It could only have been someone from within the village. Which clan has not arrived yet?!"

An ANBU member said, "The Uchiha clan's representatives have not appeared yet!"

At the mention of the Uchiha clan, the Third's expression darkened considerably.

Uchiha, Uchiha.

You truly are restless. The Third could not sit still. He knew of Danzo's plan, and he had not stopped Danzo, because the Uchiha truly were a threat.

But had Danzo failed?

Hadn't he said that the odds of success for this plan were as high as 99.9 percent?

Could that 0.1 percent have caused Danzo's failure?

Suddenly, a Root member said, "The Uchiha clan is here!"

Uchiha Fugaku arrived with Itachi and Sasuke behind him, followed by thirteen elite Uchiha clansmen!

At this moment, their faces were full of smug satisfaction!

Fugaku stood opposite the Third and said, "Third, my apologies. Our Uchiha clan lives on the outskirts of Konoha, so we were slower to arrive.

I heard that Lord Danzo has gone missing. It is truly regrettable!"

Fugaku wore an extremely arrogant expression because he was certain of victory.

The Third gritted his teeth. "Fugaku, does Danzo's disappearance have anything to do with you Uchiha?!"

Fugaku said, "Old Third, you won't even call me Captain of the Police Force. That makes your question difficult to answer!"

The old Third swallowed his anger. "Captain Fugaku! Does Danzo's disappearance have anything to do with the Uchiha?!"

Fugaku said, "It has nothing to do with us!"

The Third clenched his fists. "I don't believe you! I want to see the entry and exit records of every Uchiha clansman tonight. Until Danzo is found, you and Itachi must be detained!"

Fugaku laughed. "Heh heh, Third, on what grounds would you detain Itachi and me?

Just because you suspect us Uchiha?"

The Third shouted, "Of course! Tonight was originally..."

The Third abruptly stopped. No matter what, he did not dare say something like exterminating a clan aloud. It would chill the hearts of the other clans.

Originally, the Third had only intended to pretend he knew nothing.

Itachi was completely disappointed in the Third. He said, "Third, what was Danzo going to do tonight?

With your permission, he wanted to exterminate our Uchiha clan, didn't he?!

Just because of your suspicion, you were going to slaughter the Uchiha clan, which has rendered great service to Konoha?!

Don't forget, Konoha still owes the Uchiha a Hokage!!"

Hearing Itachi's words, the Third trembled with rage from head to toe!

He shouted hysterically, "Are you Uchiha planning to stage a coup tonight?!"

Itachi said, "We Uchiha will not stage a coup, nor do we wish to clash with Konoha. Konoha's ninja should not kill Konoha's ninja. We Uchiha merely want to reclaim the rights that should have belonged to us in the first place!"

The next moment, red chakra surfaced around Itachi's body, condensing into a crimson half-body Susanoo.

A jet-black half-body Susanoo appeared around Fugaku.

Sasuke stood before the two Susanoo.

He said to the Third, "Third Hokage, today, we Uchiha are negotiating with Konoha's upper ranks!

First: return the Uchiha clan lands, and let us move back into central Konoha.

Second: let the Konoha Police Force resume responsibility for Konoha's security.

Third: allow the Uchiha clan to establish our own intelligence organization, similar to the ANBU!"

Upon hearing Sasuke's words, the Third trembled with anger. "Why not just hand the Hokage position over to you Uchiha too!"

Sasuke said, "Sure. After all, Konoha already owes the Uchiha a Hokage!"

Seeing the Uchiha and the Third locked in a standoff, Nara Shikaku stepped out to mediate. He also did not want Konoha to suffer internal conflict at a time like this.

Nara Shikaku said, "How about this? I think both sides should take a step back. Third, let's return the Uchiha clan lands. After all, that was their territory to begin with.

Fugaku, as for the second and third conditions, let's forget them. Konoha's internal security is now handled by the ANBU, and what would it look like for you to establish your own intelligence organization..."

Before Fugaku or Sasuke could speak,

Uchiha Jianren behind them shouted, "Nara Shikaku, fuck your mother! Who the hell do you think you are? Those were rights that belonged to us Uchiha in the first place. We're merely taking them back now!"