Chikage picked up the teapot and topped up his water.
Holding his teacup, he spoke evenly.
"Uncle, please sit down."
"What top-secret records?"
"In a place like Konoha, what secrets are there to keep?"
"Do you really think that basement at the Naka Shrine is some kind of bomb shelter?"
Fugaku stamped his feet in frustration.
"It has a sealing barrier!"
"No one can get in without the clan head's written authorization!"
"Stop playing dumb and tell me how you found out!"
Chikage took a sip of water and smacked his lips.
"I heard it from other people."
"I went to the Dango Shop on South Street a few days ago. A bunch of retired old men were sitting around bragging."
"Once they'd had too much to drink, they started spinning yarns."
"Something about our ancestor Madara piloting a chakra giant, and eyes bleeding as they shot out black flames."
"I just pieced a few things together, and it all fit."
Fugaku rolled his eyes in exasperation at this explanation.
"Nonsense!"
"How could retired clan members possibly know any of that?"
"These secrets have been passed down orally from one clan head to the next!"
"Don't try to fool me with those lies!"
Chikage set his teacup on the table with a sharp clink.
"Uncle, is there any point in dwelling on this?"
"The Higher-Ups' Anbu go running across our rooftops every day."
"Danzo's Root even knows exactly which way our front doors open."
"With that Telescope Technique of his, the Third Hokage might be watching our Uchiha District every day."
"Stop clinging to those outdated ideas."
Chikage folded his hands in front of him.
"Even if, for the sake of argument, I figured it out myself."
"Now that you know, what can you do about it?"
"Are you going