Danzo Comes to Ask Me to Come Out, His Face Black as Thunder—What Was He Doing Earlier?

That voice, which rang directly in the depths of their souls like the whisper of the Grim Reaper, instantly shattered every last bit of the watchers' mental defenses.

The fox-masked squad leader felt as though an icy hand had clamped tightly around his heart, making it difficult even to breathe. He stiffly turned his head toward the tightly shut door, as if some primordial beast lurked behind it, ready to devour anyone at any moment.

"Ret... retreat!" He practically forced the words out through clenched teeth, his voice trembling.

The ANBU and Root ninjas fled into the night as though they had been granted a pardon, scrambling away and never daring to approach Uchiha Xuan's courtyard again. This was not surveillance at all—it was one-sided psychological torture!

Meanwhile, Konoha had long since been completely flooded by discussions about Uchiha Xuan.

From streets and alleys to teahouses and taverns, civilians and ninjas alike were frantically discussing the boy who had accurately predicted the Raikage's death. His name had become a legend, a symbol of mystery and immense power.

"Did you hear? That Uchiha genius has been placed under house arrest by the Hokage!"

"What? Why? He warned us in advance about the Cloud Hidden Village's retreat and rendered great service to the village!"

"Who knows? Maybe... the higher-ups are afraid of his ability to see the future."

"This is too much! They punish a hero instead of rewarding him—who will dare devote themselves to the village after this?"

The pressure of public opinion grew larger and larger, like a snowball rolling downhill. This pressure came not only from ordinary villagers and ninjas at the bottom, but also from the major ninja clans with well-informed sources.

The Ino–Shika–Cho clans, the Hyuga, the Inuzuka, the Aburame... Though the clan heads said nothing openly, they were all watching coldly from the shadows, waiting to see how the Hokage Building would handle this hot potato.

If Senju Tobirama truly executed or permanently confined a hero who had rendered such great service to the village simply out of fear, Konoha's unity would suffer a devastating blow.

Inside the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Senju Tobirama sat behind his broad desk, his brows tightly furrowed and his expression grim. Before the immense pressure of public opinion and that unbelievable reality, even his once-unshakable resolve finally wavered slightly.

"Hokage-sama, the talk outside is getting uglier and uglier." Hiruzen Sarutobi stood nearby and spoke cautiously. "If we do not lift Xuan's confinement soon, I fear it may cause unrest within the village."

"Hmph! A bunch of fools! What do they know?" Shimura Danzō slammed his hand onto the desk, his single eye filled with malice. "That brat must have used some underhanded method! We absolutely cannot let him out!"

"Enough, Danzo." Senju Tobirama cut him off coldly. "Can't you see the situation clearly even now? The Raikage is dead, the Cloud Hidden Village has retreated. No matter what method he used, he was right, and we were wrong."

Tobirama rose to his feet and walked to the window. Looking down at bustling Konoha below, a trace of exhaustion flashed through his eyes.

"The entire village is watching us now. If we continue to confine him, we will be slapping our own faces and telling everyone that Konoha's leadership cannot tolerate a genius!"

"But..." Danzo still wanted to argue.

"No buts!" Tobirama's tone allowed no objection. "Lift Uchiha Xuan's confinement immediately. Danzo, this matter began because of you, so you will go personally and invite him out."

"What?!" Danzo looked as though he had been struck by lightning, staring at Tobirama in disbelief. "Hokage-sama, you want me... to invite that evil Uchiha brat?!"

He, Shimura Danzō, Konoha's esteemed advisory elder, had to lower his head before a twelve-year-old boy he had slandered as a spy? It felt worse than killing him!

"This is an order." Senju Tobirama turned around, his red eyes utterly devoid of warmth. "If you cannot even endure such a slight, then perhaps Root needs a new leader."

Danzo's face instantly turned deathly pale. He gritted his teeth hard, the muscles in his cheeks trembling. He knew Tobirama was warning him—and making him the scapegoat to calm public opinion.

But he had no room to refuse.

"...Yes, Hokage-sama." Danzo practically squeezed the words out through clenched teeth, then turned and walked out of the office with a face as black as thunder.

Outside Xuan's courtyard in the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Danzo stood before the tightly shut wooden gate with two trusted Root subordinates, his face so grim it seemed as though water could drip from it.

He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the humiliation and fury in his heart. Then he raised his hand and knocked heavily on the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The knocking sounded especially harsh in the quiet courtyard.

The courtyard remained utterly silent, with no response at all.

Danzo's frown deepened, and he knocked again with more force.

Knock! Knock! Knock! Uchiha Xuan! Open the door!

Still no response.

"Damn it! That brat dares ignore me?!" Danzo's fury surged as he prepared to order someone to break the door down.

Creak—

The wooden door slowly opened.

Uchiha Xuan emerged slowly from inside, dressed in a casual yukata and yawning. He looked as though he had just awakened, his eyes still heavy with sleep, completely lacking the fear and unease expected of someone under house arrest.

"Well, well, who could it be, disturbing someone's sleep so early in the morning?" Xuan rubbed his eyes and looked at Danzo's livid face outside the door, the corner of his mouth curving into a teasing smile.

"So it's Lord Danzo. What, is Root not busy today? You had time to come inspect my little rundown courtyard?"

Hearing Xuan's sarcastic tone, Danzo nearly failed to stop himself from slapping him to death. But he knew his task today, so he could only forcefully suppress his anger.

"Uchiha Xuan," Danzo said through gritted teeth, his voice cold and hard. "By order of the Hokage, your confinement has ended. Come with me to the Hokage Building immediately!"

"Oh? My confinement has ended?" Xuan put on a surprised expression. "But I remember that three days ago, in the conference room, Lord Danzo here confidently declared that I was a Cloud Hidden Village spy and wanted to use the harshest interrogation methods on me."

He took a step forward, meeting Danzo's spite-filled single eye. The smile faded from his face, and his gaze turned incomparably cold.

"What is it, Lord Danzo? Have you forgotten already? Or is Root incapable of interrogating even a spy, so you had to come personally to 'invite' me?"

Those words were like a resounding slap, viciously striking Danzo across the face.

Danzo's face instantly flushed the color of pig liver. His chest heaved violently, and the killing intent in his single eye nearly burst forth.

Humiliation! Unprecedented humiliation!

When had Shimura Danzō ever suffered such treatment?!

"Brat! Don't get too arrogant!" The two Root ninjas behind Danzo immediately drew their ninja swords and shouted sharply.

"Stand down!" Danzo abruptly waved his hand, stopping his subordinates. He stared fixedly at Xuan, nearly forcing out the words through his teeth. "Uchiha Xuan, you'd better recognize the situation. This is Konoha, not a place where your Uchiha can run wild!"

"Is that so?" Xuan gave a light laugh. Rather than retreating, he stepped forward. His aura changed abruptly, and an invisible pressure instantly enveloped Danzo and the other two.

"Lord Danzo, let me offer you some advice as well. Do not take everyone for fools. Those underhanded tricks of yours will not work on me."

He patted Danzo on the shoulder. The gesture was casual and insolent, yet it made Danzo feel an indescribable chill.

"Let's go. Since the Hokage has summoned me, how could I possibly refuse?" Xuan withdrew his pressure and returned to that lazy demeanor. "I hope the Hokage can give me a reasonable explanation this time. After all, I am a hero who has 'rendered great service to the village.'"

Watching Xuan swagger away, Danzo remained where he was, his expression terrifyingly dark.

"Uchiha Xuan..." he muttered through gritted teeth. "I'll remember this debt. One day, I'll make you wish you were dead!"