Pressing harder, demanding a council seat

"Bring him out."

As soon as Sasuke spoke, the Third raised his hand. "No. The laboratory's living subjects involve top-secret information. The medical team will take custody first."

Uchiha Takaya drew his blade half an inch. "Top-secret? Transplanting our clansmen's eyes counts as a secret?"

The Anbu blocked the side entrance, and tension instantly gripped the foot of the Hokage Building's steps.

Sasuke did not charge forward. He picked up the charred scroll and walked over to Murata Ryosuke. "Mr. Murata, you asked where your son's money went."

Murata Ryosuke stared at the words "Wood Release experiments" on the scroll and swallowed. "It went here?"

Sasuke turned the scroll toward the crowd. "Death benefits, disability allowances, Uchiha military funding—all of it flowed into the Root laboratory. And now Lord Hokage says the living witness must be taken away first."

Someone among the civilian-born ninja shouted, "You can't take him away!"

"Let him come out and speak!"

"Who knows whether he'll come out alive?"

The Third looked at Sasuke. "You're forcing the village to expose forbidden jutsu experiments."

"I'm forcing you to protect a witness." Sasuke pointed toward the side entrance. "Lord Hokage, if that child dies in the medical team's hands, will you tell us tomorrow that he succumbed to his injuries, or that he killed himself out of guilt?"

Utatane Koharu went pale. "Sasuke, you can't make reckless accusations like that."

Sasuke turned his gaze on her. "Lord Advisor, first you said we couldn't inspect the ledgers, couldn't trust the recording, and couldn't verify the Order Document's source. Now we can't even see a living witness. What exactly do you want everyone to believe? Your promise that you'll handle it?"

Mitokado Homura gritted his teeth. "Don't drag all the senior leadership into this."

Sasuke looked at the Third. "Then let the senior leadership climb out of this mess themselves."

Shikaku Nara interjected. "Lord Hokage, letting the medical team treat the witness here, with Clan Representatives observing, would reassure the people."

Inoichi Yamanaka also spoke. "I can ensure he's lucid before we question him."

The Third's expression darkened. "Take him to the temporary medical tent at the edge of the square. Keep him away from the crowd."

Sasuke immediately said, "An Uchiha Medical Ninja must be present."

"Agreed."

A moment later, two Anbu emerged carrying a stretcher. The child lying on it was frighteningly thin. Bloodstained gauze covered his left eye, while his right eye stared blankly. A Sealing Ring was still clasped around his wrist.

The crowd fell silent.

The child was placed inside the temporary tent, and the medical ninja examined his wounds. Sasuke stood outside without entering.

When Inoichi Yamanaka came out, his expression was grim. "He can say a few words, but not for long."

Sasuke nodded. "Three questions will be enough."

The Third stood at the tent entrance. "I'll ask them."

Sasuke raised his eyes. "Will everyone believe the answers if Lord Hokage asks?"

The Third's expression darkened further.

Shikaku sighed. "Let each of the three sides ask one question-the Hokage, the Uchiha, and the other clans."

No one could object to that proposal.

The child lay half-reclined on the stretcher, his voice halting. "My name is Sawada Ao. My parents were Konoha Chunin."

The Third asked, "Why were you in the Root laboratory?"

Sawada Ao turned his head with difficulty. "Lord Danzo said the village needed Wood Release. It needed eyes. He said we were its roots."

Unrestrained curses rose from the Uchiha crowd.

Shikaku asked, "Where did your Sharingan come from?"

Sawada Ao clutched the edge of the stretcher. "They said it was fresh tonight. They also said the Uchiha would be gone soon, so there was no need to be sparing."

Uchiha Takaya's eyes reddened, and he drew his sword outright.

Fugaku held his shoulder. "Don't make Sasuke tell you twice."

Breathing hard, Takaya pushed his sword back into its sheath.

It was Sasuke's turn.

He walked up to the stretcher and looked down at Sawada Ao. "Who replaced your eye?"

Sawada Ao's lips trembled. "An old man wearing bandages. And a medical ninja with purple hair."

Utatane Koharu immediately looked at the Third. His expression had become unbearable to look at.

Having asked his question, Sasuke stepped back. "That's enough."

The Third immediately ordered, "Medical team, treat him. Anbu, protect him."

Sasuke added, "The Yamanaka Clan will leave someone to record his testimony. The Hyuga Clan will observe from a distance. No one is allowed to approach him alone."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. "The Hyuga will keep watch."

The Third stared at Sasuke. "You have your testimony."

Sasuke met his gaze. "Then it's time to discuss the next matter."

Mitokado Homura's expression changed. "You still want to talk?"

Sasuke took the Hokage-issued document registering him as clan head from his sleeve, then picked up the ledger, the Order Document, and the charred scroll, laying those three items before the steps.

"An extermination order."

"An assassination by Root."

"Embezzled death benefits."

"Experiments on living people."

With each item he set down, the breathing in the square grew heavier.

The Third spoke. "The village will establish a joint investigation team."

Sasuke shook his head. "An investigation team can only investigate what's already happened. It can't prevent the next time."

Shikaku looked at Sasuke, his brow twitching. He had already guessed what this child was about to demand.

Sasuke placed his hand on the clan head's token. "The Uchiha will no longer accept being shut inside the Konoha Military Police Force to wait for death."

Mitokado Homura's voice tightened. "What do you want?"

"A high-level council seat."

Complete silence fell before the Hokage Building.

The Third fixed him with a heavy gaze. "Sasuke, you've only just become clan head."

"All the more reason I should be there." Sasuke looked at him. "If an eight-year-old clan head can uncover all this in a single night, it means the adults who've sat in the Hokage Building for decades don't deserve to hold meetings alone."

Mitokado Homura roared, "Absurd! A child has no place meddling in Konoha's highest-level decisions!"

Sasuke looked at him. "Rest assured, Lord Advisor. I won't meddle in your retirement. I'll only watch for whether Konoha produces another Danzo."

Utatane Koharu said coldly, "The Uchiha were already suspected of rebellion. Allowing the Uchiha Clan Head into the senior leadership now will only put the village in greater danger."

Sasuke opened Danzo's Order Document. "Whose mouth did those suspicions come from? Danzo's."

He opened the ledger next. "Whose storeroom did the evidence come from? Root's."

Finally, he pointed toward the medical tent. "The victim is lying over there. Do you still intend to condemn the Uchiha on Danzo's word, Lord Advisor?"

Utatane Koharu's face soured under his rebuttal.

The Third spoke. "Attending high-level council meetings is no small matter."

Sasuke nodded. "Of course it isn't. That's why I'm giving Lord Hokage two choices."

The Third narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"

Sasuke raised the ledger. "Option one: as the victims, the Uchiha submit all the evidence to the Daimyo's Residence. That includes the senior leadership's murder of a major founding clan, embezzlement of death benefits, human experimentation, and the Hokage's failure of oversight."

Mitokado Homura stepped forward. "Don't you dare!"

"Option two." Sasuke ignored him. "Konoha recognizes the Uchiha Clan Head's temporary high-level council seat, with participation in all decisions involving Root, the Konoha Military Police Force, the Uchiha, and postwar death benefits, until the Danzo case is concluded."

The Third's eyelid twitched. "Temporary?"

Sasuke answered, "In writing. If you dare put it down, I'll honor it."

Listening beside them, Shikaku grew even more wary of Sasuke. The word "temporary" sounded like a concession, but it actually pried the door open. Once he was inside, driving him out would cost far more.

Mitokado Homura stared hard at Sasuke. "If you enter that meeting room, the Uchiha will gain access to the village's secrets."

Sasuke countered, "Danzo had access to secrets his entire life, and the result was a laboratory and an extermination order. With secrets in your hands, was Konoha safe?"

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Let him in!"

"At least the Uchiha dare to show us the evidence now!"

"Who would trust the senior leadership to investigate themselves?"

The Third looked at the clan heads. "Do you feel the same?"

Shikaku did not answer immediately. He picked up the half-burned scroll from the ground and examined its charred edge. "Lord Hokage, after tonight, the high-level council meetings need witnesses."

Inoichi Yamanaka said, "The Yamanaka Clan agrees to his temporary attendance."

Akimichi Choza also spoke. "At least until the Danzo case ends, the Uchiha should have a place at the table."

Hyuga Hiashi glanced at the medical tent. "The Hyuga have no objection."

The Third's silence made the atmosphere in the square grow increasingly oppressive.

Sasuke added, "Lord Hokage, don't make me think you're more afraid of the Uchiha entering the meeting room than of Danzo entering a laboratory."

The Third finally spoke. "You may attend."

Mitokado Homura shouted, "Hiruzen!"

The Third did not look at him. "A temporary seat, limited to matters concerning the Danzo case."

Sasuke held out his hand. "The document."

An Anbu handed over a blank document. As the Third wrote, his pen paused twice on the page. The Hokage's seal landed with a soft sound, yet it drained the color from both advisors' faces.

Sasuke took the document and scanned it. "One clause is still missing."

The Third's fingers tightened. "Don't push too far."

"The attendee has the right to examine all ledgers, interrogation records, and Root personnel lists relevant to the Danzo case."

Mitokado Homura sneered. "So you were after the names all along."

Sasuke looked at him. "What else should I do? Let the moles keep waiting for orders?"

The Third stared at him for a moment, then picked up the pen, added the clause, and stamped it.

Sasuke handed the document to Shikaku. "Each clan should keep a copy on file."

Shikaku accepted it. "We will."

Just then, a commotion erupted inside the medical tent. A Hyuga ninja suddenly shouted, "Someone tampered with the Sealing Ring!"

Sasuke turned.

Black markings lit up on the Sealing Ring around Sawada Ao's wrist, blasting the medical ninja away. Blood spilled from the child's mouth as he struggled to force out a sentence.

"Lord Danzo said... whoever asks about the names has to die..."