Outside the Konoha Military Police Force's gates, the atmosphere felt seriously wrong.
Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha Clan stood locked in a confrontation. Off to the side, experts from the various shinobi clans exchanged glances, none of them looking happy.
Severed hands and feet littered the ground, blood pooling everywhere. A gust of wind sent the foul, bloody stench straight into everyone's noses.
What the hell was going on?
Apart from the Uchiha and Hiruzen Sarutobi, everyone looked utterly bewildered.
On reflection, that made sense. Hiruzen Sarutobi had hauled them over in a frantic hurry, and even now, they still had no idea what had happened.
Who were these people lying dead before them?
"Clan Head Fugaku, would you care to explain?" Utatane Koharu adjusted her glasses, her eyes gleaming sharply.
"Who exactly are these dead people?"
Mitokado Homura wore a stern expression as well. He drew a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Fugaku.
"That is the key question."
"For the sake of Konoha's stability, your Military Police Force must give us an explanation today."
"Otherwise..."
His voice was ice-cold.
Indeed.
Even though he still did not understand the full sequence of events, one glance at Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, as though he were facing a formidable enemy, gave Mitokado Homura some idea of what was happening.
The other clan representatives held their tongues, but their tightly furrowed brows and the stares they leveled at Fugaku made their position clear.
They wanted an explanation.
Truth be told, none of them wanted to get involved in the ugly business between the Uchiha and the village leadership.
Then again, if the Uchiha could not offer a convincing explanation, Konoha's stability had to be preserved to guard against attacks from other ninja villages. However reluctant they were, they would have no choice but