Night fell.
The Hokage's Office was thick with the smell of tobacco.
A figure appeared soundlessly in the middle of the office.
Uchiha Itachi knelt on one knee and bowed to the Third Hokage and Danzo.
"Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama."
Hiruzen Sarutobi removed his pipe from his mouth and let out a heavy sigh.
That sigh seemed full of helplessness.
"Itachi, raise your head."
"You've worked hard, child."
"We all know that you are different from the other Uchiha."
"The true Will of Fire burns within your heart."
"More than anyone else, you understand how hard-won peace is for this village, scarred by so much war."
Shimura Danzō gave a cold snort from the side, already growing impatient.
"Hiruzen, there's no need for this pointless talk."
Danzo slammed a dossier heavily onto the desk with a crisp smack.
"Itachi, see for yourself!"
The dossier was pushed before Itachi.
"Top-Secret Investigation Report Regarding Uchiha Yao's Attempt to Collude with Hidden Mist Village and Stone Village Missing-nin to Overthrow Konoha."
This was fabricated evidence carefully forged on Danzo's orders.
Itachi's pupils suddenly contracted.
His trembling hand reached out and opened the dossier.
Its contents were highly detailed.
There were forged letters, even bearing Uchiha Yao's "personal signature."
There were forged meeting records, with times and locations accurate down to the minute.
There was also a so-called "coup d'état plan," detailing how the Uchiha would control the Nine-Tails, destroy the Hokage Building, and establish a terrifying new order ruled by the Sharingan.
Everything pointed to one conclusion.
Uchiha Yao, the young clan head who had only just taken office, was a complete madman.
An ambitious schemer a hundred times more dangerous than Uchiha Madara.
"How could this be..."
Itachi's voice was full of disbelief.
Itachi recalled the Lightning Fire Dragon that Uchiha Yao had crushed