The Might of the Mangekyō, Konoha's Compromise

Lu Ming stepped forward, his powerful presence bearing down on everyone present.

"Since I have taken over as head of the Military Police Force, I must fulfill the duties of that position."

Lu Ming's gaze was as sharp as a blade as he stared at Danzo.

"The Konoha Military Police Force is responsible for maintaining the village's public order and laws! Law enforcement requires evidence! It requires procedure!"

"But look at this dark Root!"

With a sweep of his hand, Lu Ming pointed at the Root ninja lurking around them in the shadows.

"Indiscriminately taking lives, treating human lives like grass, acting without restraint."

"With such dark, cancerous methods, where is even a trace of the 'Will of Fire' passed down by the First Hokage? You are simply disgracing Konoha!"

Every word struck at the heart!

Lu Ming had directly seized the moral and legal high ground, using his identity as head of the Military Police Force to tear Root apart without leaving it an inch of dignity!

Danzo was so furious that he nearly spat blood. "You... you..."

Lu Ming gave him no chance to retort and turned directly to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Third Hokage, Root's authority has completely spiraled out of control."

Lu Ming's tone was icy as he declared with absolute force.

"As head of the Military Police Force, I am making this clear today."

"From this day onward, the Military Police Force and the Uchiha Shrine will keep watch over Danzo and his Root!"

"So long as they dare to overstep their authority or violate the rules, so long as they dare harm the innocent, we Uchiha will investigate to the very end and show no mercy."

"When that time comes, do not blame the blade in my hand for showing no distinction!"

This overwhelmingly domineering declaration made the blood of the forty-three Uchiha Shrine elites behind Lu Ming boil!

"Investigate to the very end! Show no mercy!"

The Uchiha Shrine elites roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Cold sweat poured down Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. He understood that Lu Ming was not joking; he was delivering a final ultimatum.

"Clan Head Lu Ming is right."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi wiped the cold sweat from his brow, he hurriedly went along with the situation and nodded repeatedly in promise.

"Root's methods have been far too extreme. Rest assured, as Hokage, I will personally oversee a complete rectification of Root. I will never allow something like today to happen again!"

When he heard the Third Hokage publicly yield and make that promise, Lu Ming's gaze shifted slightly.

His objective had been achieved.

Tonight, he had not only established his authority and displayed his strength, but also gained the legitimate power to monitor and suppress Root.

"Since the Third Hokage has made a promise, then I will wait and see."

Lu Ming answered, then turned around and flicked the hem of his broad trench coat.

"There are still many handover matters within the clan that require my personal attention, so I will not stay here chatting with you two."

Without sparing Danzo another glance, Lu Ming directly gave the order. "Uchiha Shrine, withdraw!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The forty-three Uchiha Shrine elites moved in perfect unison, guarding Lu Ming at his side.

Under the awed and frightened gazes of every ANBU and Root ninja present,

Lu Ming led the members of the Uchiha Shrine calmly out of the dark underground base and vanished into the night.

The display was absolute. No one dared stop them!

Watching Lu Ming's departing back, Danzo knelt on the ground, his sole remaining eye bloodshot.

"Hiruzen! You are just letting him go like that?!"

Danzo pounded the ground in impotent rage and roared through clenched teeth.

"He is shitting on the heads of the Konoha Leadership! That boy must not be allowed to live!"

"Enough, Danzo."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head and looked at Danzo's hate-filled face.

There was no longer any of his usual tolerance in his eyes, only deep exhaustion and coldness.

"The times have changed."

Hiruzen Sarutobi tightened his grip on the Adamantine Staff in his hand.

The terrifying image of Lu Ming's Mangekyō and those forty-three pairs of Three Tomoe eyes replayed in his mind.

Faced with an Uchiha clan possessing three Mangekyō users and an immense reserve of elites, Konoha no longer had the means to suppress them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo and issued a warning.

"From today onward, without my permission, neither you nor your Root are to provoke any Uchiha again."

"If you dare act on your own and stir up conflict again, I will no longer indulge you. I will personally cripple your Root!"

The Third Hokage's warning echoed through the empty underground base.

Danzo was filled with fury, yet utterly helpless.

The Third Hokage, meanwhile, had fully recognized the Uchiha's new strength and no longer dared casually allow Danzo to suppress them.

Inside the Hokage Office on the highest floor of the Hokage Building.

Bang!

Shimura Danzō's only intact left hand slammed onto the solid wooden desk, sending the classified documents scattered across it flying everywhere.

He ignored the agonizing pain from the wrist Lu Ming had severed and glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi sitting in the Hokage's chair.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura looked at Danzo's twisted face without saying a word.

"Hiruzen! You have truly gone senile!"

Danzo roared, spittle flying as he fiercely condemned the Third Hokage's decision.

"What the hell were you doing in Root just now? You actually bowed your head and apologized to some brat from the Uchiha in front of so many people! You trampled the dignity of the Konoha Leadership and the Hokage beneath your feet!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair without speaking, packing tobacco into his pipe.

Seeing that Hiruzen did not refute him, Danzo waved his left hand and shouted furiously.

"You think your concessions can buy peace? Wrong! You are letting a tiger return to the mountains!"

"That little Uchiha bastard, Lu Ming, has not only awakened the Mangekyō, but has secretly cultivated forty-three Three Tomoe elites!"

"Once those young Uchiha fully mature, Konoha will no longer possess any force capable of keeping them in check!"

Danzo moved closer to the desk and bellowed.

"Now is the perfect opportunity to deal with the Uchiha!"

"They dared to forcibly enter Root today. That is ready-made proof of treason against the village!"

"With one order from you, ANBU and Root can mobilize in full force. While their wings have yet to grow, kill Lu Ming and those dozens of Three Tomoe users in the cradle."

"This is for Konoha's future. You cannot be softhearted!"

Faced with Danzo's clamor,

"Tap, tap."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe, took a drag, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

He raised his eyes and looked at Danzo through the haze.

"Deal with the Uchiha? Kill them in the cradle?"

"Danzo, do you think the current Uchiha are still the soft persimmon you could manipulate as you pleased?"

"What do you mean?" Danzo asked.

"I will tell you a fact."

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe against the edge of the desk.

"Just as you sent men to forcibly detain Lu Ming, Fugaku Uchiha came to my office. He reported Lu Ming's appointment as the new clan head to me."

"So what?"

Danzo snorted coldly, his face full of contempt.

"That coward Fugaku stepped down and was replaced by an arrogant brat. That only proves the Uchiha have completely lost control and should be eliminated even more!"

"That is not all."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Danzo.

"When Fugaku reported to me, he demonstrated his power before my eyes. He had also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."