Fugaku paced back and forth in the spacious study.
His footsteps thudded heavily against the wooden floor.
"This is a disaster!"
"The higher-ups already have it in for us, and now some masked fellow has shown up."
"If he starts assassinating people in the village and then reveals his Sharingan..."
"We Uchiha won't be able to clear our names, no matter what we say!"
Fugaku kept pacing around the study, a sheen of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
He stopped by the window to look out into the night, then turned toward Chikage.
"Should I go to the Hokage Building right now?"
"And explain everything to the Third Hokage in person!"
"Tell him a dangerous individual has infiltrated the village, and he has nothing to do with us Uchiha!"
Chikage leisurely blew on the hot tea in his cup.
He did not even lift his eyes.
"What exactly would you tell him?"
"That someone wearing an Orange Spiral Mask was chatting with your eight-year-old son at the Drill Ground?"
"And he claimed to be Madara Uchiha?"
"Do you think the Third Hokage would believe you, or send you to the psychiatry department at Konoha Hospital?"
Fugaku was left speechless.
He rubbed his cheeks in frustration.
"But we can't just do nothing, can we?"
"If something really happens and the Daimyo's Diplomatic Mission is attacked in the village, that would be a serious charge!"
"How about I summon everyone in the Konoha Military Police Force immediately?"
"Have them patrol the village around the clock and put everyone on combat readiness!"
Watching Fugaku flounder, Chikage could only shake his head inwardly.
He finally understood why the Uchiha Clan had ended up being wiped out in the original story.
This clan head normally looked so imposing.
But the moment something unexpected happened,