Deceiver

Uchiha Jinyan did not care what sort of occasion this was or who the other person was.

He simply flung a kunai, embedding it in the table in front of the man.

Thud!

The kunai that appeared out of nowhere frightened the man into instantly shutting his mouth. Looking up, he saw only two Uchiha staring at him with disdain.

"Ant, tell me who told you those things. You have only one chance. Uchiha genjutsu can let you see your loved ones, and it can make you tell the truth in your sleep."

"Ninja aren't allowed to attack villagers. That's Konoha's rule. You..."

"I'll count to three! Three!"

"What's with those looks? Bastards! Look me in the eye when you talk to me! You Uchiha scum, I hope you die on the battlefield."

"Two!"

"You Uchiha bastards, look me in the eye! Why aren't you angry, you Uchiha bastards..."

"One!"

The moment the word left his mouth, Uchiha Jinyan activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and the man's eyes instantly glazed over.

"Who told you the Uchiha released the fox?"

"It was Genin Aoyama!"

"Where is he?"

"In the shop next door!"

Having obtained what they wanted, the two walked straight out of the shop, paying no attention to the looks from those around them.

They had barely made it halfway when the man who had just been caught in the genjutsu woke up. Seeing them, he immediately sprang to his feet and began cursing:

"You Uchiha bastards, what did you do to me? Answer me! Aaargh, why aren't you angry? Kill me!

"Bastards, say something! Say something! Uchiha scum, say something..."

As he watched the two push open the shop door and leave, the man's voice gradually weakened, taking on a tearful tone:

"Say something! Why won't you say anything... what gives you the right to say nothing... sob..."

The sight stunned everyone present. It was their first time seeing Uchiha take abuse without reacting.

"Have the Uchiha become more even-tempered?"

"Are you blind? You call that better? They're looking down on people more than ever!"

"Exactly! Did you see their eyes just now? They were looking at him like he was an ant."

"Now I finally understand what true disdain looks like!"

Word of the Uchiha Clan's actions soon reached the Third Hokage. Faced with this situation, he could find no reason to stop them even if he wanted to.

The Uchiha had not harmed any villagers. They were merely using genjutsu to find the source of the rumors, which was a good thing.

Had the rumors not originated with Danzo, he would certainly have given the Uchiha his full support.

With the Fourth Hokage dead and the Third Hokage having left, he really did not want a conflict between the Uchiha and Root.

Just as he was considering how to resolve the matter, a voice outside announced that Uchiha Fugaku requested an audience.

"Fugaku, come in!"

Uchiha Fugaku dispensed with all pleasantries and went straight to the reason for his visit:

"Lord Third, these rampant rumors are presumably other ninja villages' preparations for war. Their aim is to provoke a conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha.

"I propose that the Uchiha track down the culprits, then hand them over to the Hokage Building for trial. Let the villagers understand that this is all a plot by other ninja villages. Only then can we boost morale."

"You're sure you'll hand them over to the Hokage Building, rather than take them to the Konoha Military Police Force?"

"Yes!"

Uchiha Fugaku looked entirely righteous. "The Konoha Military Police Force's duty is to maintain public order. Investigating spies is the Anbu's responsibility.

"However, Konoha is going through troubled times, and the Konoha Military Police Force has a responsibility to share its burdens.

"Since the rumors involve the Uchiha, some people would inevitably object if the Konoha Military Police Force also conducted the trial."

"Very well! The investigation will be entrusted to the Uchiha. Do not harm villagers without evidence.

"The Land of Lightning is moving troops toward the border, and the Land of Earth is also stirring. You'll need to act quickly."

"Yes! Lord Third, could you ensure that child's safety? Mikoto and Kushina were close friends, after all."

The Third Hokage lowered his eyes and took a hard drag on his pipe:

"Certain people have gone too far! Go back and tell Mikoto that nothing will happen to this child. He will grow up safely.

"Whether for Konoha's sake or Minato's, no one will dare lay a hand on him again."

"Thank you on Mikoto's behalf, Lord Third. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave!"

"Go ahead! Thank you for all your hard work lately!"

"We're only doing our duty!"

The Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the Uchiha handed the suspects over to the Hokage Building, the situation would remain within his control.

Once the investigation revealed Danzo's involvement, he could also use it to disqualify Danzo from competing for the position of Hokage.

As for an Uchiha becoming Hokage, he was not worried at all. Not a single clan would support them.

The day of the funeral soon arrived. The heavens obliged, and a fine drizzle fell from the sky.

Uchiha Yan followed the Uchiha clansmen to the cemetery, preparing to attend the funeral for those who had died in the Nine-Tails' rampage.

Everyone they encountered along the way wore a sorrowful expression, and the atmosphere was unusually oppressive.

Yet the instant the Uchiha appeared, the silence shattered, and many people began muttering under their breath.

"Why hasn't the Third Hokage punished the Uchiha? Those three tomoe in the fox's eyes were the Sharingan. The Uchiha are the culprits."

"Those bastards got so many people killed. How do they still have the nerve to come here?"

"..."

The Uchiha offered no response to these remarks, merely sweeping a disdainful glance over them.

"Wh-what's with those bastards' eyes? Are they looking down on us?"

"Do you even have to ask? It's hardly the first day they've looked down on people!"

"You Uchiha bastards, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Stop right there, you murderers! Kill me too, if you have the guts!"

As though they had heard none of it, the Uchiha clansmen walked past the crowd expressionlessly, without sparing them so much as a glance.

Watching this, Uchiha Yan marveled inwardly. What's going on? What happened to the Uchiha during these past few days while I was training in seclusion?

Tugging the sleeve of the man beside him, Uchiha Yan asked quietly:

"Senior Haruna, when did our clansmen become so even-tempered?"

"Wasn't this what you taught us?"

Uchiha Haruna looked surprised. "You said it yourself: the Uchiha's path is destined to be lonely. Taking the words of a bunch of ants to heart is an insult to the Uchiha.

"Don't worry. These past few days, our clansmen have seen clearly that these ants only dare to talk. They don't even have the courage to attack.

"The Uchiha Clan need only ignore people like that. If they dare attack, one Great Fireball will teach them their place."

"Impressive! Just what I'd expect from you, Senior. I couldn't hope to match that breadth of mind even if I..."

Before he could finish, an angry roar suddenly erupted from the crowd:

"The Uchiha murdered the Fourth Hokage! Everyone, don't let them get away! Let's attack together and avenge the Fourth Hokage!"

Uchiha Yan turned to scan the direction of the voice, his gaze instantly locking onto a stubble-faced man dressed as a Genin.

Without the slightest hesitation, Uchiha Yan lunged toward him:

"Senior Haruna, seize him! He must know which one is the spy."

Uchiha Yan was fast, but Haruna was faster. The instant the words fell, he appeared beside the man.

He had thought Haruna would quickly subdue the man, but the man was clearly no ordinary Genin. With a Body Flicker Technique, he vanished from the spot.

"Hahahaha..."

Haruna laughed aloud. "A spy indeed! Deceiver, let the Uchiha's flames dispel the darkness in your heart. Confess your crimes at once!

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"