Trust Test

The night wind swept over the stone-paved paths of the Uchiha compound.

Lin Feng followed behind Fugaku and entered that familiar residence.

The study door opened, revealing dim light.

Fugaku walked behind the desk and sat down without offering a seat.

Lin Feng stood before the desk, waiting quietly.

Silence.

Like a blade hanging overhead.

After a long while, Fugaku finally spoke.

"You've been getting very close to Shisui lately."

His voice was even, betraying no emotion.

"And you've also tried to approach Itachi."

Lin Feng did not avert his gaze.

"Lord Clan Head truly observes everything."

"I mean no harm."

"I simply have some doubts that need to be verified."

Fugaku stared at him with a sharp gaze.

"What doubts?"

Lin Feng paused.

"Doubts concerning Uchiha's future."

Fugaku did not press further.

He pulled a document from a drawer and pushed it across the desk.

"This is a copy of a surveillance report intercepted by Root."

"You're already on Danzo's list."

"Classified as an 'unstable factor.'"

Lin Feng glanced over the document.

His name was on it, circled in red ink.

Beside it were two words: Dangerous.

His expression remained calm.

"Danzo's list?"

"Looks like someone is more anxious than I am."

Fugaku leaned back in his chair, his gaze like a blade.

"You think I'm joking?"

"You know Danzo's methods better than I do."

"Those targeted by him have never met a good end."

Lin Feng fell silent for several seconds.

Then he looked up and met Fugaku's eyes directly.

"Lord Clan Head."

"There's something I want to tell you."

Fugaku said nothing, merely watching him.

"I know it sounds absurd."

"But my judgment is this—the Uchiha may be facing a crisis of extermination."

The air seemed to freeze for an instant.

Fugaku's pupils contracted slightly.

Then he slammed the desk and shot to his feet.

"Absurd!"

"Are you the only one who can interpret the stone tablet? What gives you the right to make such a claim?!"

Lin Feng did not panic.

"The stone tablet does indeed record dangerous information."

"I have no intention of concealing it. I simply need time to verify it."

"But the unrest within the clan, the suppression from the higher-ups, Danzo's infiltration..."

"Those are no longer secrets."

"Lord Clan Head knows better than I do what the consequences of direct confrontation would be."

Fugaku stared at him intently.

There was anger in his eyes, along with doubt—and a faint, nearly imperceptible wavering.

He slowly sat back down, his tone becoming low.

"Where's the evidence?"

"Without proof, I cannot trust you."

Lin Feng took a deep breath.

"At present, I only have logical deductions."

"But if Lord Clan Head is willing to cooperate—"

"I can obtain more concrete evidence."

Fugaku narrowed his eyes.

"Speak."

Lin Feng stepped closer and lowered his voice.

"Danzo recently obtained a batch of special drugs through Anbu channels."

"They say..."

"They're connected to the Sharingan."

Fugaku's body visibly tensed for an instant.

"Where did you hear that?"

"I must keep my source confidential."

"But its credibility is very high."

"As long as Lord Clan Head lets me investigate, I can get the evidence."

Silence.

Only the breathing of the two men remained in the study.

Fugaku's fingers lightly tapped the desktop.

Finally, he spoke.

"As a test of trust—"

"Go find out what those drugs are about."

"Once you're done, we'll discuss the stone tablet."

Lin Feng gave a slight bow.

"Understood."

"But I need the Lineage intelligence network's support."

"Otherwise, it'll be difficult to avoid Root's eyes and ears."

Fugaku looked at him, his expression complicated.

"I'll give you a method of contact."

"But I won't publicly acknowledge that I authorized you."

"If anything goes wrong—"

"You'll have to bear it yourself."

Lin Feng nodded. "Understood."

"Then I'll take my leave."

He turned and walked toward the door.

When he reached it, Fugaku's voice came from behind him.

"Lin Feng."

He stopped.

"Don't disappoint me."

Lin Feng did not turn around.

"I won't let Uchiha walk toward that ending."

The door closed behind him.

The corridor was empty.

Lin Feng walked out of Fugaku's residence, the night wind brushing his face.

He stood in the courtyard and looked at the moon overhead.

There was no expression on his face.

But his mind was racing.

Too much information had been hidden within Fugaku's words.

He had received an intercepted Root report—meaning someone within the clan was secretly contending with Konoha's higher-ups.

He had assigned Lin Feng to investigate the drugs—not because he fully trusted him, but because he wanted to use Lin Feng's hand to test Danzo's limits.

He had not pressed for the stone tablet's specific contents—showing that he, too, understood something in his heart and was merely waiting for an opportunity.

Lin Feng closed his eyes and reviewed every detail of their exchange.

He had gambled on this conversation.

Gambled that Fugaku was not simply a hardliner.

Gambled that Fugaku was secretly searching for a way to break the deadlock.

It seemed he had won that gamble.

The clan head was no fool.

He was waiting.

Waiting for someone capable of breaking the stalemate to appear.

And Lin Feng had obtained that opportunity.

But it was only an opportunity.

Investigating Danzo's secret drugs was equivalent to leaping into a tiger's jaws.

If he was discovered, he would die.

And Fugaku would not acknowledge that he had authorized it.

Lin Feng opened his eyes, his gaze turning resolute.

What he needed was precisely this "unacknowledged authorization."

With the intelligence network, he could swiftly advance his plans.

Next—

First, he would contact the liaison and obtain basic intelligence.

Lin Feng turned and headed home.

At the window of the grand residence behind him, a man's silhouette stood silently.

Fugaku watched the young man's retreating back.

He did not move for a long time.