The Uchiha Caved Again!

"Are you Uchiha planning a rebellion?!"

Shimura Danzō's roar hit like cold water poured into boiling oil, wrenching Yongye's thoughts away from the woman who had fled in disarray.

Yongye blinked and focused on the scene before him again.

Danzo leaned on his cane, his one eye wide. Torchlight flickered across his ugly, half-bandaged face, making him look like a vicious old demon.

Uchiha Fugaku stood opposite him, his face livid and his lips pressed into a thin line. Uchiha Itachi and Shisui Uchiha stood behind Fugaku, one on either side. One looked cold; the other frowned.

Three against one, yet they were utterly outmatched in sheer presence!

Yongye rolled his neck. His joints gave a soft crack.

That enormous deal worth billions he had just made with Uchiha Mikoto had taken a lot out of him. His neck was still a little stiff.

"Don't make baseless accusations."

Uchiha Itachi's voice remained cool as his Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly turned in the darkness.

"We Uchiha will never rebel!"

He paused, his scarlet eyes fixed on Danzo.

"What do you want?"

A savage smile spread across Danzo's face.

That was exactly what he wanted to hear!

He stepped forward with his cane. His voice was raspy but strong, each word striking everyone's ears.

"If the Uchiha don't intend to rebel, then stop sheltering the killer."

"Hand over the killer!"

The scene fell silent for a moment. The crackle of burning torches suddenly sounded crystal clear.

Standing in the crowd, Yongye narrowed his eyes and looked over the sea of heads at Uchiha Itachi's expressionless face.

He knew better than anyone that, while Itachi sounded as though he was standing up to Danzo, he was actually playing along—steering Danzo's sweeping demand toward something specific they could negotiate: handing someone over.

The question facing the entire Uchiha Clan had shifted from "Do we fight?" to "Do we hand someone over, and if so, who?"

The battle had not even begun, yet half the Uchiha Clan's fighting spirit was already gone.

Yongye sneered inwardly. You treacherous bastard. How sneaky can you get? Too bad. No matter what you pull, I'll always be your... strictest stepfather!

Sure enough. Everything unfolded just as Yongye had expected.

Once Danzo narrowed his target from the entire Uchiha Clan to the supposed "killer," the Uchiha present lost much of their will to resist.

Moments ago, they had stood united, gripping their weapons and ready to fight to the death. Now they exchanged glances, hope and hesitation creeping into their eyes. He's after the killer. That has nothing to do with me, right? I didn't kill anyone. What do I have to fear?

Uchiha Fugaku quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

He stepped forward, trying to sound calm and confident. "Danzo, the killer you're looking for isn't here. You've made a mistake."

Just then, several sharp whistles cut through the air, drawing closer.

A figure dropped from the sky and landed steadily between the two groups.

The Hokage's robes snapped in the night wind. The face beneath the hat was lined with wrinkles, yet it still carried an air of unquestionable authority.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

More than a dozen black-clad ANBU landed close behind him, moving in a neat, disciplined formation.

But among all that black was one conspicuous flash of green—thick eyebrows, a bowl cut, a green bodysuit, and a goofy air utterly at odds with the ANBU around him.

Konoha's Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf, Might Guy.

His formidable Taijutsu could largely counter the Sharingan's ability to track movement, as well as its powerful genjutsu.

ANBU commander Sarutobi Shinnosuke had specifically called him over as a precaution. Guy was both a backup plan and a warning!

Guy stood among the ANBU with his arms crossed and his gaze blazing, ready to spring into action at any moment. To his simple mind, Lord Hokage's orders were everything!

"What is going on here?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone brooked no argument.

He surveyed the scene, his gaze moving between the Uchiha and the Root ninja before settling on Danzo.

Danzo snorted. "The Uchiha Clan is sheltering the killer who murdered members of Root and the ANBU. I'd say they're planning a rebellion!"

Uchiha Fugaku immediately protested. "We aren't! We didn't do it!"

His voice was loud, but he could not hide the uncertainty in it. He sounded like a schoolboy called on by his teacher, frantically insisting he had not copied his homework. It made Yongye... want to throw a shoe at him!

"Then hand over every suspect," Danzo said, leaving no room for argument.

"What suspects?" Fugaku froze.

A cold smile curled Danzo's lips.

He raised a hand, and Yamanaka Fū passed him a scroll of names. Danzo unfurled it, his raspy voice carrying through the night wind as he read one name after another.

"Uchiha Ruri, Uchiha Tōno, Uchiha Blue, Uchiha En, Uchiha Masato..."

He named eight people in one breath.

Every one of them was a powerful Uchiha ninja skilled not only in Fire Release, but in Lightning Release as well.

The criteria were precise and ruthless—Fire Release was the Uchiha's hallmark, while the killer had used Lightning Release. Any powerful ninja skilled in both was naturally a prime suspect.

The eight people he named went pale at once.

"Bullshit!"

Uchiha Tōno was the first to leap up, his face red with anger. "I was at home the whole time! My wife and kids can vouch for me! Suspect, my ass!"

"Same here!" Uchiha Masato roared. "I was home all night. I never even went out!"

"I was with my girlfriend the whole time! When would I have had time to kill anyone?" Uchiha En's voice was shrill and frantic.

The other Uchiha named joined in, protesting over one another.

Some pointed at Danzo and accused him of framing them. Others looked to Fugaku, hoping he would speak up for them. Still others had already put their hands on their Kunai, ready for the situation to turn violent.

Uchiha Fugaku stood where he was, his lips moving soundlessly.

He glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi beside him. The Third Hokage was smoking his pipe, his expression hidden behind curling blue smoke.

Fugaku seemed about to speak, but in the end said nothing.

Shisui Uchiha sighed and stepped forward, wearing his familiar gentle smile.

He raised both hands and pressed them downward in a calming gesture.

"Everyone, please listen. It's only an investigation. I hope you'll cooperate. If we haven't killed anyone, the village will clear our names."

Yongye nearly laughed aloud.

The innocent have nothing to fear?

In this world, an investigation involved far more than asking questions.

The Yamanaka Clan's mind-reading techniques, Ibiki Morino's interrogation room, Root's methods that could never see the light of day—how many suspects taken away for investigation had "died suddenly of illness" or "killed themselves out of guilt" along the way?

Such cases were simply rarely made public. Anyone with half a brain understood the danger!

Fortunately, the eight people named were no fools. They knew even better than Yongye what "cooperating with the investigation" meant, and their protests grew louder.

"Why suspect me for no reason? Where's your evidence?!"

"My Lightning Release isn't anywhere near that strong!"

"You're deliberately trying to smear us! Danzo's up to no good!"

Just as the situation looked ready to spiral out of control again, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke.