After Oto finished speaking, Uchiha Fugaku glanced at her, his feelings deeply conflicted.
Oto's performance before the Hokage and Kumogakure's Envoy Corps had certainly pleased him as a member of the Uchiha. It had been a long time since the Uchiha had stood so firmly before the Hokage Faction.
But as Clan Head, he had to consider the consequences.
Oto's actions undoubtedly threatened the peace. They might even displease the Third, cost the Uchiha their sole position in ANBU, and completely sever their ties with the village leadership.
And if war truly broke out, the clan shedding blood would be the lesser concern.
If someone pinned the blame for starting the war on the Uchiha, they would be in real trouble.
Fugaku wanted badly to explain the stakes to Oto, but what was done could not be undone. He could only return to the Clan Grounds and convene a Clan Meeting to discuss how to handle a possible continuation of the war.
He did not really understand why Oto had gradually shifted from a conservative to such a radical over the past few years.
As Fugaku hurried back to the Clan Grounds, Oto did not follow. Instead, she walked through the streets, blending in with the other pedestrians.
Compared with the Clan Grounds, she preferred the village's bustling streets, where she could quietly watch the villagers' smiling faces.
When had she developed that habit? She could not say.
Perhaps it had been during her shopping trips with Kushina, whom she regarded as an older sister, or during her many dates with Zou.
When she reached the center of the street, Oto noticed someone greeting her. Looking up, she realized it was the shopkeeper she had saved the night before.
The shopkeeper was wrapped in bandages, but the smile on his