Sensing the probing, shocked gazes around him, Genya discreetly cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention back to the present.
He looked at the deeply frowning Third Hokage and offered a suggestion from the clan's perspective.
"Lord Hokage, based on the clues we currently have, Obito Uchiha is the only suspect we cannot completely rule out, and several of the Masked Man's traits could theoretically be linked to him. As unbelievable as that sounds."
"To demonstrate the Uchiha Clan's determination to distance itself from such crimes, and to prevent any potential disgrace from implicating us in the future, I propose..."
"That the Uchiha Clan formally announce the revocation of Obito Uchiha's clan membership."
"His name will be struck from the clan register. Whether he is alive or dead, his actions will no longer represent the Uchiha Clan. If he truly survived and committed those crimes, the Uchiha Clan will regard him as a traitor and an enemy who must be eliminated."
"No!!! Impossible!!"
A hoarse, low cry broke the silence.
Kakashi Hatake, who had been summoned as a key witness and had stood in a corner of the office all this time, seemed to lose every ounce of strength. His back pressed against the wall, and he slid to the floor.
"How could it be Obito... it couldn't be him..."
Kakashi's voice trembled. It was less a rebuttal than a desperate murmur.
"He... he only ended up like that because he was saving me... how could he have survived that... and Rin... later, she..."
He seemed to recall Rin's death, as well as the fact that his left eye had been transplanted from Obito. He clutched his head in anguish, his body trembling slightly.
Genya walked over to Kakashi, who sat slumped on the floor, and crouched to meet his eyes.