Reactions from All Sides

The next day, when Ren arrived at the Konoha Military Police Force again,

everyone looked at him with burning eyes.

The Uchiha Clan had indeed been persecuted terribly by Danzo over the past few years. Now that Danzo was dead, the clan members were filled with hope for the future.

Ren gladly accepted those looks without deliberately avoiding them.

After many members of the Konoha Military Police Force went home last night and told their families that Danzo was dead,

Ren's prestige among the ordinary members of the Uchiha Clan rose greatly as well.

Whether they were members of the Uchiha Clan or villagers of Konoha, their desire for a peaceful life was the same.

The Uchiha Clan's reputation within Konoha had also improved. Of course, the one whose reputation had risen the most was Ren, the Uchiha Clan's patriarch.

The villagers of Konoha had heard Ren's name before, but that fame came from his status as a Konoha prodigy.

Now, nearly all Konoha villagers knew that Ren had not only been a genius ninja in his youth, but was now also a qualified department head.

After leaving last night, Kakashi sent the scrolls he believed would be useful to the Konoha Military Police Force.

Ren was currently examining them one by one before selecting several and handing them to Mitsuba.

He had her publicly expose Danzo's crimes.

This time, they did not use the Konoha Daily. Instead, they directly used official Konoha Military Police Force documents and posted them throughout Konoha.

The notice roughly stated that after a fierce battle last night, the Konoha Military Police Force had ultimately defeated Danzo.

They had removed the malignant threat hanging over everyone's heads, and from now on, Konoha's residents would no longer need to live in fear.

All children could freely display their talents without worrying about being "disappeared."

Finally, it stated that a large amount of evidence had been obtained from Danzo's final stronghold, proving that he deserved his crimes.

These mainly included desecrating the First Hokage, secretly using Konoha villagers for human experiments, and coveting the bloodlines and secret techniques of Konoha's ninja clans.

They chose not to reveal more of Danzo's evil deeds. After all, what Ren wanted was for Konoha's ninja clans and villagers to turn against Danzo.

He did not want to draw the hatred of the Land of Fire's nobility and the other ninja villages.

Yet even the portion that was revealed filled all of Konoha with righteous indignation, while they applauded the Konoha Military Police Force.

Some ninjas who knew how the previous Konoha Daily reports had come about saw the Konoha Military Police Force's official notice and the irrefutable evidence, and finally acknowledged the Konoha Military Police Force's actions against Danzo.

Of course, wherever there were people, there would be conflict.

Not everyone was pleased by this outcome.

Hokage's Office.

The furnishings were still familiar, but the person who would shove open the door and shout, "Hiruzen!" would never appear again.

Sitting across from Hiruzen Sarutobi

were Konoha's two senior advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

The three had been companions for many years and knew each other inside out, so there was no need for pleasantries.

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke directly. "Danzo is dead. What do you two think?"

Homura Mitokado, who had the more impatient temperament, spoke first.

"Hiruzen, I told you long ago that Danzo had stayed in the darkness for too long. This outcome could only be called inevitable."

Then Homura Mitokado changed the subject. "But Hiruzen, why didn't Koharu and I know about the Wood Release experiments you and Danzo conducted? Did you not trust us?"

As Konoha's esteemed advisors, they had learned about village affairs from a department announcement. Homura Mitokado felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo had abandoned him.

They were all Konoha's higher-ups and all disciples of the Second Hokage, yet Hiruzen and Danzo had their own little circle. They never included them, but now that Danzo was in trouble, they remembered them.

"Homura, I didn't tell you because the results were uncertain."

"After the failures, I ordered the experiments stopped. Danzo continued them in secret behind my back."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to explain. Now that Danzo was gone, these two might not be particularly capable, but they were still somewhat useful. He could not allow internal conflict to arise.

So it still came down to distrust. Homura Mitokado did not voice his thoughts and merely shut his mouth.

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi said no more and turned to the other side.

"Koharu, tell me what you think as well."

Koharu Utatane did not refuse and spoke directly. "Hiruzen, the most important matter now is how to handle our relationship with the Uchiha Clan."

"Danzo's previous approach was not actually wrong. He was simply too impatient and pushed the Uchiha Clan too hard."

Koharu Utatane continued her analysis. "Danzo's methods will no longer work now. It would be better to make peace with the Uchiha Clan."

Danzo's death had clearly frightened Koharu Utatane. Although she was far cleaner than Danzo, she clearly did not want to provoke the Uchiha Clan.

"Koharu, Teacher Tobirama told us to remain vigilant against the Uchiha Clan."

Seeing that Koharu Utatane seemed inclined to surrender, Homura Mitokado immediately invoked their teacher.

"Koharu, Homura, it is no longer a matter of whether we can make peace simply because we want to."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had a clear understanding of Ren, reminded them.

"What, does the Uchiha Clan intend to rebel? Danzo was easily dealt with because Root operated outside the rules. We hold legitimate positions, and you are still the Hokage, Hiruzen. Would he dare to attack us directly?"

Koharu Utatane clearly believed Hiruzen Sarutobi was exaggerating the danger in order to incite them to deal with the Uchiha Clan.

Although Homura Mitokado was impatient, he was no fool. "Yes, Hiruzen, don't worry. As long as you send word, the Uchiha Clan will not refuse."

Homura Mitokado clearly shared Koharu Utatane's view. He could offer advice, but asking him to deal with the Uchiha Clan like Danzo had? No chance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the two of them and felt exhausted. Danzo's methods might have been extreme, but he had truly dared to act.

Unlike these two, who buried their heads like ostriches at the first sign of a setback.

Danzo, this was the first day I missed you!

Within the Uchiha Clan compound.

It was still the familiar courtyard, with the same familiar people.

"My lord, after Uchiha Yushu dealt with Danzo, his prestige within the clan has risen even higher."

"Yes, my lord. Is there still any hope if we keep persisting?"

"Hmph! If you are unwilling to persist, then do not come looking for me again."

"Ah, my lord, that is not what I meant."

"That's right. I was merely anxious for a moment and said the wrong thing. Please do not take it to heart, my lord."

"Since you are willing to believe in me, then believe to the end. Continue lying low. An opportunity will come eventually."

"Yes."

The group answered weakly.

Time passed just like that. In the blink of an eye, news of Danzo's death had spread throughout the ninja world.

Hidden Stone Village.

Onoki looked at the intelligence in his hand. "Danzo Shimura, nothing more than this. A rat hiding in the shadows was actually dealt with by a mere brat. That brat is worth paying attention to."

"Have our spies in the Land of Fire gather as much intelligence on Uchiha Yushu as possible."

"Yes, Tsuchikage-sama."

Hidden Rain Village.

A purple-haired woman folded the paper wings on her back and landed atop a raised platform before entering the building.

"Nagato, Danzo Shimura of Konoha is dead."

"Oh? Someone acted before us? Who did it?"

"Uchiha Yushu, the Uchiha Clan's new patriarch."

"A member of Madara's clan? There is no need to pay him too much attention, Konan. Our goal is to bring true peace to the world."

"Yes, Nagato."

Hidden Mist Village.

Inside the Mizukage's office, a figure wrapped in a pitcher plant and split half black and half white suddenly emerged from the ground.

"Obito, Danzo Shimura of Konoha is dead. You'll never guess who killed him."

A figure slowly emerged behind the Mizukage. "Call me Madara, White Zetsu. If there is a next time, I'll feed you to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."

"Oh my! How scary, Lord Madara. Don't you want to know?"

"Speak!"

"It was Uchiha Yushu, the genius from the battlefield back then. Not only has he become the Uchiha Clan's new patriarch, he also defeated Danzo."

"Well, Lord Madara? It seems your plan to destroy the Uchiha Clan cannot be carried out after all."

"But Madara, why do you want to destroy the Uchiha Clan? Aren't you Uchiha too?"

Why? Naturally, to eliminate uncertainties. Obito, who possessed Kamui, knew the potential of the Uchiha Clan.

Rin, to create a world with you in it, everything in this false world could be discarded.

"You do not need to know why. Continue monitoring the Uchiha Clan, especially Uchiha Yushu."

Obito gave the order.

"I'm afraid that can't be done. The White Zetsu we sent out earlier lost contact overnight. The White Zetsu sent afterward also quickly lost contact. Konoha is now a forbidden zone for White Zetsu."

Obito immediately thought of Uchiha Yushu. The White Zetsu had been fine before, yet they had suddenly been discovered.

Having gained such an ability in such a short time, Obito guessed it was likely a Mangekyo Sharingan technique, one related to perception.

Obito also recalled the few times he had observed Yushu in battle. That incomparably exquisite control over Fire Release was at a level even he could not achieve.

If anyone in Konoha could awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, Uchiha Yushu would be first, followed by Uchiha Shisui.

Of course, that brat Itachi Uchiha also had potential, but he was only eleven years old. No matter how talented he was, he could not possibly achieve it yet.

It seems I need to test him.

Obito made his decision.