Compromise and entering the game, victory in the first battle

"Remove the ring!"

The Third Hokage had barely given the order when Inoichi Yamanaka rushed into the tent. A Hyuga ninja raised his hand to strike the chakra points on Sawada Ao's wrist, but the black markings on the Sealing Ring crawled up his skin.

Uchiha Takaya anxiously started forward, only for Fugaku to stop him. "Don't tamper with the seal."

Sasuke stood outside the tent, his gaze sweeping over the Hokage Building's steps before settling on the two advisers.

Mitokado Homura immediately snapped, "What are you looking at us for?"

Sasuke ignored him and turned to ask Inoichi Yamanaka, "Can you keep him alive?"

Inoichi's voice came from inside the tent. "The seal is trying to silence him. Forcing it off will damage his brain."

The Third Hokage's face turned ashen. "Who put that seal on him?"

Sawada Ao's body convulsed, more and more blood spilling from his mouth. "Bandages... the old man in bandages..."

Hyuga Hiashi raised his hand, veins bulging around his Byakugan. "The seal's nodes are at his chest and the root of his tongue."

Sasuke looked at the Third Hokage. "Lord Hokage, Root put a silencing seal on a test subject. Does that count as new evidence of Danzo's Village Betrayal?"

The Third Hokage did not dispute it. "Yes."

"Record it."

Shikaku immediately had a Nara clansman write it down. Inoichi Yamanaka called from inside the tent, "He doesn't have much time!"

Sasuke took a step forward. "Sawada Ao, listen. You don't have to name names. Tell us the location."

The Third Hokage immediately looked at Sasuke.

Sasuke paid no one any attention. "Where is the list? Which storeroom? Which wall? Which hidden compartment?"

Sawada Ao's eyes lost focus, his lips struggling to move. "Root... the Root Old Well... third level... Snake-Patterned Door..."

Inoichi Yamanaka shouted, "That's enough! Stop asking!"

Sasuke stepped back. "Save him."

The Medical Ninjas immediately crowded around him. The Hyuga ninja suppressed the Sealing Ring by striking his chakra points, stopping the black markings from crawling farther up, but Sawada Ao had already lost consciousness.

No one spoke in front of the Hokage Building.

Sasuke turned. "Lord Hokage, the old well, third level, Snake-Patterned Door. Do we go now, or wait for Danzo to clear it out?"

The Third Hokage singled out an ANBU. "Kakashi, lead the team."

After accepting the order, Kakashi looked at Sasuke. "Is the Konoha Military Police Force coming along?"

"Of course." Sasuke looked at Takaya. "Take twenty men. Register every sealing scroll on-site. No one opens them without authorization."

Takaya lowered his head. "Yes."

Kakashi turned to leave, but Sasuke stopped him. "Sir ANBU."

Kakashi stopped.

Sasuke handed him the freshly stamped High-Level Meeting Authorization Document. "If anyone on the way says I have no authority to access materials related to the Root case, slap this in their face."

Kakashi took it and tucked it into his ninja tool pouch. "Understood."

Mitokado Homura said coldly, "You really think you're one of the village's higher-ups now?"

Sasuke looked at him. "The Hokage's seal hasn't even dried, and you already want to disavow it, Lord Advisor?"

"Homura, enough," the Third Hokage said sternly.

Mitokado Homura stepped aside, his face livid.

Sasuke did not press the matter. He picked up another blank document and placed it in front of the Third Hokage. "Then there's Uchiha Itachi."

The Third Hokage's brow furrowed. "You want to deal with Itachi now?"

"He killed fellow village ninja, assisted Danzo in massacring his clan, fled the scene, and arranged a meeting with the Uchiha Clan Head." Sasuke laid out each charge in turn. "Lord Hokage, under Konoha law, what rank should he be classified as?"

Utatane Koharu spoke. "Itachi holds village secrets. We cannot lightly declare him a rogue ninja. Push him too hard, and he will turn to our enemies."

Sasuke turned toward her. "Are you saying he can kill his clansmen and still retain his status as a Konoha Ninja, Lord Advisor? Then anyone can commit murder first and claim they hold secrets afterward."

Mitokado Homura sneered. "Itachi's strength is not to be underestimated. You'll only push him into opposing the village."

Sasuke pointed toward the clan compound. "He was already on the opposing side when he entered the compound with a blade."

Fugaku finally spoke. "The Uchiha Clan demands that Uchiha Itachi be declared a rogue ninja and a warrant issued immediately."

The Third Hokage looked at Fugaku. "Fugaku, he is your son."

Fugaku's face was rigid. "He is a murderer first."

At those words, the Uchiha clansmen shouted their agreement.

"Issue a warrant for Itachi!"

"A life for a life!"

"Don't let him escape!"

The Third Hokage turned to Sasuke. "Are you sure you want to cut off his way back?"

Sasuke raised his eyes. "Lord Hokage, you still want to leave him a way back?"

The Third Hokage said nothing.

Sasuke continued, "If he still holds the status of a Konoha Ninja tonight, tomorrow he can claim he was carrying out a classified mission under orders. Then Danzo plays dead, the higher-ups play dumb, Itachi becomes the hero who took the blame, and the Uchiha become the troublemakers again."

Listening nearby, Shikaku felt his temples ache. This child had anticipated every escape route.

Inoichi Yamanaka spoke. "From an investigative standpoint, classifying him as a prime suspect in a serious defection case first would make it easier for every checkpoint to intercept him."

Akimichi Choza nodded. "With the village sealed off, the sooner we issue the warrant, the better."

Hyuga Hiashi added, "The Hyuga agree to issuing it."

The Third Hokage looked at Sasuke. "An S-Rank Wanted?"

Sasuke answered, "S-rank."

Utatane Koharu's expression soured. "That's too severe."

"He possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan, murdered fellow village ninja, and is implicated in a clan massacre." Sasuke looked at her. "You think it's too severe because the dead weren't your family, Lord Advisor."

The words stung Utatane Koharu enough to make her retreat half a step.

The Third Hokage finally picked up his pen and wrote Uchiha Itachi's name on the wanted notice. He paused briefly at the field for the charges.

Standing below the steps, Sasuke reminded him, "Murdering fellow village ninja, assisting Shimura Danzō in plotting a clan massacre, and fleeing to evade punishment."

The Third Hokage finished writing every word and stamped it with the Hokage's seal.

There were no cheers among the Uchiha crowd, only heavy breathing. In a single night, Itachi's name had gone from a Konoha prodigy to a rogue ninja on the wanted list.

Sasuke took the wanted notice and looked at the ANBU. "Make copies, post them at all four gates, and send Ninja Crows to notify the surrounding outposts."

The ANBU looked at the Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage waved a hand. "Do it."

Mitokado Homura stared at Sasuke. "Are you satisfied now?"

Sasuke handed the wanted notice to Takaya. "No. We're only beginning to settle accounts."

Takaya's eyes were full of awe as he accepted it. "Clan Head, about the village entrance..."

Sasuke looked toward the village entrance. "He's still waiting."

Fugaku frowned. "You can't go now. You've just gained deliberative authority, and Itachi has become an S-Rank Missing-nin. He might go berserk."

Sasuke did not answer immediately. Beside the Hokage Building, the footsteps of Kakashi's departing team had already faded into the distance. They had to pursue the lead at the Root Old Well, but they could not let the Itachi lead slip away either.

The Third Hokage also spoke. "Sasuke, that's enough for tonight. Going to the village entrance will only provoke Itachi."

Sasuke looked at him. "Are you afraid he'll kill me, Lord Hokage?"

"I'm afraid the situation will become even more chaotic."

"Then that's all the more reason for me to go." Sasuke raised his freshly bandaged arm. "I'm the one he wants to see. If I don't go, he might head for the clan compound or the hospital instead, or grab a child to force me out."

Fugaku's expression changed. "He wouldn't dare!"

Sasuke looked at him. "Father, don't judge him by a normal person's thinking. If he can kill his parents for peace, he can take hostages to explain himself."

Fugaku pressed a hand to his sword hilt, the tendons on the back of his hand taut.

Shikaku could not help asking, "Clan Head Sasuke, how do you intend to meet him?"

"In public." Sasuke took back Itachi's wanted notice, folded it, and slipped it into his sleeve. "The Konoha Military Police Force will establish a cordon at a distance, the ANBU will stay on the perimeter, and each clan will send witnesses. Don't give him a chance to claim I disappeared after going to meet him alone."

The Third Hokage said, "I'll send ANBU to protect you."

Sasuke looked at him. "Protection is fine, but they can't get too close. If Itachi sees he's surrounded, he'll run."

Mitokado Homura said coldly, "So you understand how to capture rogue ninja, too?"

Sasuke replied, "At least I know not to let the killer hear our footsteps in advance."

Takaya lowered his head and volunteered. "Clan Head, I'll go with you."

"You're going to the Root Old Well," Sasuke refused him outright. "Getting the list matters more than watching me."

Takaya gritted his teeth. "Yes."

Fugaku spoke. "I'll go."

Sasuke shook his head. "You stay. The Uchiha can't be left without a leader tonight. The compound, the wounded, the bodies, the traitors-you need to keep all of it under control."

Fugaku looked at Sasuke and only nodded after a long moment. "Take two guards."

"Fine."

The Third Hokage looked at Shikaku Nara. "Shikaku, go with him as a witness."

The corner of Shikaku's mouth twitched. "You certainly know how to assign work, Lord Hokage."

Sasuke did not object. "The Nara Clan Head is just the right person."

Inoichi Yamanaka added, "I'll send a clansman along to record the conversation."

Hyuga Hiashi nodded. "The Hyuga will send someone to observe from a distance."

Watching Sasuke turn the meeting into a public interrogation step by step, the Third Hokage knew there was no longer any room to dissuade him.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from behind the Hokage Building. An ANBU rushed to the foot of the steps. "Lord Hokage, Captain Kakashi sent word. They found the Snake-Patterned Door on the old well's third level."

The Third Hokage asked, "Have they opened it?"

The ANBU shook his head. "There's a sentence written on the door."

Sasuke raised his eyes. "Read it."

The ANBU glanced at Sasuke, then looked at the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage said sternly, "Read it."

The ANBU forced the words out. "The door says, 'Offer up Sasuke Uchiha's left eye, and the list will reveal itself.'"

Fugaku shattered the stone paving beneath his foot with a single step.

At that same moment, a black crow flew in from the direction of the village entrance, landed in front of Sasuke, and spat out half a piece of bloodstained cloth. It bore Itachi's handwriting.

"Come alone, or I'll kill the person waiting behind the door first."