Jinyan's expression darkened. "Yan, don't think awakening your Sharingan means you can say whatever you like. Since you're a junior, I'll let it slide this time."
"You should think about how you're going to atone with your life first!"
With that, Uchiha Yan turned his gaze to the Third Hokage, his face full of apology. "Third Hokage, I know exactly how this happened. I'll go to the Hokage Building with you right now and explain everything.
"Whatever the responsibility, I'll shoulder it alone. Whether you execute me or cut me to pieces, I, Uchiha Yan, will have no complaints."
The Third Hokage nodded slightly, then instructed the Anbu, "Seal the chakra of every ninja who participated in the fighting and bring them back to the Hokage Building."
"On what grounds? Does the Uchiha... Mmph, mmph..."
Jinyan wanted to say more, but Xiaren clapped a hand over his mouth and whispered in his ear:
"We oversimplified things. If we aren't careful this time, we'll get the clan head and the others killed."
Jinyan's eyes flew wide with disbelief. How was that possible? They had only changed the plan a little. How could the consequences be so serious?
Seeing that Jinyan was still doubtful, Xiaren nodded solemnly. "Don't resist, or you really will die, and for nothing. You'll even be recorded in the clan genealogy as a criminal against the Uchiha."
Jinyan did not resist, and the other Uchiha clan members did not dare resist either. The Anbu sealed their chakra and took them away.
The Third Hokage glanced at Yan, then surveyed their surroundings and sighed. "Koharu, I feel I really am getting old!"
"Hiruzen, you have to hold on at a time like this."
"Let's go! Danzo should be waiting for us."
Watching the Third Hokage and the others leave, Kakashi walked over to Yan and asked quietly, "What exactly did you do? Was it to awaken your Sharingan?"
"You'll know once we reach the Hokage Building. My Sharingan only awakened because certain people were too stupid."
With that, Uchiha Yan headed toward the Hokage Building.
"Yan, will the clan head and Jinyan be all right?"
Yan turned and glared at Xiaren. "If you don't want anything to happen to them, don't do anything reckless from now on. Go back and write to the clan head. Tell him to abandon the plan and wait for news."
"All right!"
Before long, Uchiha Yan arrived at the Hokage Building. The Third Hokage, Mitokado Homura, and the other advisers were all present.
After lighting his pipe, the Third Hokage spoke slowly. "Yan, what exactly happened? I hope you won't lie. The Yamanaka Clan can tell."
"The plan was for the Uchiha and Root to clash on the outskirts of the Forest of Death, prompting you to transfer Lord Danzo to Kirigakure."
Uchiha Yan concealed nothing as he explained his plan. "The plan was already underway when we were in the Land of Rain. Lord Danzo was very cooperative, too.
"The only thing I didn't anticipate was Jinyan and the others using genjutsu on me to protect me, then changing the plan."
The Third Hokage turned to the side. "Jinyan, is that true?"
"Yes!"
Jinyan answered with his head lowered. "I didn't realize it might affect the morale of the ninja heading to the battlefield, either. It's all because Danzo insists on making trouble for the Uchiha."
"Hiss..."
Mitokado Homura drew in a sharp breath. "Uchiha Yan, before you even left the village on your mission, you anticipated that Danzo would seize command of the battlefield on the Land of Lightning's border? You even anticipated that the Third Hokage would take office? Were you that certain Danzo would cooperate with you?"
"Yes!"
Yan still concealed nothing. "After years of war, most villagers want peace. No one would agree to Danzo taking power.
"To take power, Lord Danzo needs enough achievements to his name. Compared with the Hokage position, the Uchiha Clan could be set aside for the time being."
"Then how did you know there was a problem in Kirigakure?"
"It isn't time for the Three-Tails to revive yet. During this period, Kirigakure would certainly tighten its defenses, so we would inevitably receive less intelligence about it than about the other villages. With Kakashi and Taichi as witnesses, and Lord Danzo being so eager for quick results, there was a strong possibility that he would cooperate by staging a clash.
"Even if he didn't cooperate, it wouldn't matter. On the battlefield in the Land of Lightning, the Uchiha Clan would also look for an opportunity to strike at Root.
"For Konoha's sake, Lord Danzo and the Uchiha cannot fight together."
Bang!
Utatane Koharu slammed the table. "You don't trust the Second Hokage's student? Which of us elders hasn't come through the battlefield? How could we attack our comrades during a war?"
"It isn't distrust. It's a precaution! Those who dwell in darkness will always use dark methods, yet in their hearts, they will yearn ever more for the light."
Uchiha Yan looked at the grim-faced Danzo. "Lord Danzo, I admire your willingness to immerse yourself in darkness for Konoha. But for Konoha and the Uchiha, this is the only thing I can do.
"Without light, there is no darkness. Without war, there is no peace. The two have always appeared together.
"I don't know why you hate the Uchiha, but I don't consider you a criminal, because everyone has different experiences in life.
"But you cannot demand that the Uchiha simply await their deaths, doing nothing while you slaughter them as you please."
At these words, everyone stared blankly at Uchiha Yan, shock written all over their faces. Even the usually expressionless Kakashi could not help marveling inwardly:
Was he really only twelve? Compared with him, I knew nothing when I was twelve.
The Third Hokage was the first to recover. He looked at Yan with a complicated expression. Why did someone so intelligent have to belong to the Uchiha Clan? If he were not an Uchiha, he would be the next Hokage.
"Yan, so many people have died. For Konoha's sake, you should know that some things must be done."
"Third Hokage, as I said, everything started with me. I'll shoulder it alone."
Uchiha Yan's expression was resolute. "I can face the judgment of all the villagers. I can die. I only ask that you give the Uchiha clan members and Root ninja a chance to atone through service.
"If that isn't enough to satisfy the villagers' hatred, each of them can stab me once, until I die."
"No!"
Jinyan roared, "Yan, have you gone mad? I acted on my own. What does this have to do with you?
"You're even smarter than the clan head. You can't just die like this."
"What joy is there in life, and what suffering is there in death!"
Uchiha Yan closed his eyes and spread his arms, looking ready to meet death without hesitation:
"To die having fulfilled one's path is a rightful death! For Konoha's victory, for the Uchiha Clan, what does it matter if I alone die?
"Jinyan, I left some books with Itachi. They can treat the mental illnesses caused by the Sharingan. From now on, any clan members who awaken their Sharingan should go to Itachi to study."
"You think dying will be that easy?"
Danzo spoke coldly. "Hiruzen, I believe he must have ties to Kirigakure. Hand him over to Root for interrogation."
"Danzo!"
The Third Hokage's voice was icy, his words laden with warning. "Without Root's cooperation, could there have been so many casualties?"
"What do you mean? Root is a victim, too. Didn't you hear what he just said?"
"I'm saying I feel like I'm about to awaken a Sharingan myself!"
Danzo's stupidity nearly made the Third Hokage cry. They could call Uchiha Yan the mastermind, but Uchiha Yan was only twelve. Could he really be clever enough to trick Danzo?
No one would believe it. Even if they did, what authority would Danzo have left? Would those ninja clans still fear Root?
If word spread that a twelve-year-old child was the mastermind, people would only think the Hokage Building had picked a convenient scapegoat just to absolve Danzo.
Did Uchiha Yan foresee this, and is that why he's so fearless? But it doesn't look like it! His Sharingan awakening was real. It really was awakened by stupidity.
Besides, this boy realized that this incident would affect morale on the battlefield. That alone proves his foresight. It would truly be a shame for him to die like this.
What should I do?
Before you continue