Outside the Hokage Building

"Let's go. Time to meet them."

Takuya instructed his clansmen to carry the heads of Konoha's four elders and headed outside.

The remaining Uchiha clansmen followed in his footsteps, energized and with blazing eyes.

"Stop!"

A shout rang out from the staircase. Takuya turned and saw Kakashi.

Kakashi stared at the corpses on the ground in shock. His gaze swept over the heads held by the Uchiha clansmen before locking onto Uchiha Fugaku at their head.

His hand went to the forehead protector covering his left eye, as though he intended to lift it.

Takuya watched him raise the protector without changing expression. Just as Kakashi was about to uncover his eye, he spoke calmly. "Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo were responsible for White Fang's death. Do you want revenge against the men who killed your father?"

Kakashi's hand stopped, disbelief flashing through his eyes.

Seeing Kakashi frozen in place, Takuya withdrew his gaze and headed for the entrance. The remaining Uchiha clansmen gave Kakashi cold looks before following closely behind Takuya.

Outside the Hokage Building, quite a few ninja from the various clans had already gathered. They had heard nothing, only seeing in shock that Uchiha Clan ninja had taken control of the entrance. They had no idea what was happening inside.

Not knowing the situation, they did not dare rush in recklessly and could only watch from outside.

The Ino–Shika–Cho Three Clans had always advanced and retreated together. At this moment, the leaders of the three clans stood together, staring gravely at the entrance to the Hokage Building.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

Nara Shikaku, Konoha's acknowledged strategist, muttered with a frown. In a low voice, he said, "Prepare yourselves mentally..."

Before he could finish, someone cried out.

"They're coming out! Someone's coming out!"

Everyone stared unblinkingly at the figures emerging from the entrance.

After Nara Shikaku narrowed his eyes and tried to make out the round objects in the Uchiha clansmen's hands, his eyes suddenly widened. A chill surged from the soles of his feet up his spine and straight into his brain.

Boom!

Beside him, Yamanaka Inoichi went pale and grabbed Nara Shikaku's arm, shaking it. "Shikaku, Shikaku, am I seeing things? Why do I see Lord Hokage's head? And the heads of Lord Danzo and the other three..."

Akimichi Choza beside them was staring blankly as well.

Nara Shikaku sighed, his eyes holding three parts bitterness, four parts shock, and an indescribable complexity.

He knew that Konoha's skies were about to change.

Before the Ino–Shika–Cho Three Clans, who were loyal to the Hokage, could react, someone angrily shouted, "Uchiha Fugaku, you have some nerve! You actually dared to murder Lord Hokage!"

The moment those words were spoken, those standing farther back who had yet to see anything were immediately horrified.

"What? Lord Hokage was killed by the Uchiha?"

"My god, are the Uchiha really this ruthless?"

Quite a few people shouted curses, yet none of them made much of a move.

Didn't they see that even the Hokage-loyal Ino–Shika–Cho Clans had remained silent? Some of the more shrewd clan leaders did not step forward, choosing instead to watch how events unfolded.

They had suffered under Danzo's exploitation for years, unable to voice their grievances. Today, seeing Danzo's head, quite a few of them secretly felt delighted.

As for the death of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, they felt somewhat angry—but not by much.

The dead were gone. What concerned them more was whether they could gain something from this.

After all, the dead were dead, while they were still alive, weren't they?

So many watched coldly because Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions over the past few years had been far too terrible. Since the Fourth Hokage's death, after he had returned to the forefront and become Hokage again, he had resolved few problems but made plenty of foolish decisions. He had stood by and allowed Danzo to exploit them. Whenever they went to complain to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo suffered no consequences at all.

They had long since grown dissatisfied!

Leaves did not turn yellow in a single day, nor did people's hearts turn cold overnight!

A three-foot freeze was not formed in a single day!

Yet there was one person who was different! He glared furiously at Uchiha Fugaku on the steps before the Hokage Building, itching to make a move, feeling as if every drop of blood in his body was boiling and burning.

He was Konoha's proud Blue Beast, Might Guy!

Anyone who could kill the Third Hokage, the strongest Hokage of all generations, had to be incredibly powerful!

Looks like my youth is about to burn at its brightest! I can only use that move!

"Eight Gates, Gate of Death—"

Before he could say the word "open," Might Guy was shocked to discover Kakashi in front of him, stopping him.

"Kakashi, why are you stopping me from burning my youth?" Might Guy asked, his face filled with shock and confusion. He continued without pause, "This is a critical moment when Konoha needs its proud Blue Beast to burn his youth most of all!"

Kakashi's face was livid. Takuya had just told him that the Third Hokage and Danzo were the murderers who had caused his father's death. Before he had gotten the truth from them, he naturally could not watch his friend use that move and risk his life against Uchiha Fugaku.

His friend had trained for years. Even Kakashi could not imagine how powerful he would become after opening the Eight Gates. He did not know whether Uchiha Fugaku could withstand the Eight Gates, but if Uchiha Fugaku died, where would he find the truth?

His father's death was the pain of his lifetime. Naturally, he could not watch the truth appear before him and lose this chance to uncover it.

"Calm down, Guy."

Under Kakashi's persuasion, Might Guy ultimately chose not to attack.

Takuya was somewhat surprised to see so many people standing by coldly.

He did not care about those who only dared curse from within the crowd. Looking at the leaders of the major clans, he said calmly, "Shall we sit down and talk?"

The previously tense Nara Shikaku let out a breath of relief. He knew well that Konoha could not withstand further turmoil. As long as Uchiha Fugaku was willing to talk, it would naturally be best if they did not have to fight.

He looked around. None of the heads of the major clans spoke, seemingly waiting for someone to take the lead. Perhaps they were also worried that Uchiha Fugaku might strike against them.

After all, if they were going to talk, they certainly would not do so out in the open on the street. No one present was a fool.

Nara Shikaku hesitated no longer. He feared that delay would bring further changes; if Uchiha Fugaku changed his mind, it would be bad.

He stepped forward and said, "Since Clan Head Fugaku wishes to talk, then naturally we can talk. How would you like to proceed?"

"Everyone is waiting outside. Let the heads of our major clans sit down and talk."

Nara Shikaku nodded. Looking around, he said, "Everyone, shall we?"

Hyuga Hiashi, Aburame Shibi, and Inuzuka Tsume exchanged glances, then all nodded.

With such a huge disturbance today, nearly every Jonin in Konoha who was not out on a mission had gathered here—more than a hundred Jonin in all. They did not believe the Uchiha Clan would dare provoke public outrage by killing the few of them.

Besides, there was no point in killing them. They had neither grudges nor conflicts with the Uchiha Clan.

"Clan Head Fugaku, please."

Nara Shikaku had thought it through even more clearly. Since Uchiha Fugaku wanted to talk, he definitely would not attack them.

With Nara Shikaku taking the lead, the heads of the major clans followed him over.

"Wait outside."

After giving the order, Takuya said "please" to Nara Shikaku and the others as they approached, then turned and entered the Hokage Building.