Making a move

None of those present were fools, and they soon figured out why Uchiha Yan had said that.

For a moment, the Uchiha clan members looked at Uchiha Yan with complicated expressions.

They thought the little fellow was clever, yet nothing like an Uchiha.

At worst, they could fight it out, and whoever won would call the shots. What was all this crying about?

Fugaku gave a dry cough, then put on a smile.

"Lord Danzo, Yan was following the Fourth Hokage's orders. He can't be blamed for entering the Hokage Building.

Why don't we wait until the Fourth Hokage returns before deciding, or go find him now?"

"Heh heh heh... too much trouble. I think we should simply use the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique."

"Danzo! Don't go too far!"

"Insolence!"

Danzo roared in anger. He had finally seized an opportunity; how could he let the Uchiha off so easily?

No matter what happened today, he would force the Uchiha Rebellion.

"Uchiha Fugaku, this brat is clearly a spy. Don't let him off just because he's an Uchiha!"

Absolutely fucking shameless! Even now, he's still bent on forcing the Uchiha's hand.

Although the danger to his life had not passed, Uchiha Yan still couldn't help grumbling inwardly.

He glanced at Fugaku and saw that, despite his resentful expression, he dared not act. Uchiha Yan's heart sank.

*Looks like I'll have to save myself! This Fugaku is no one to rely on!

If I want to stay alive now, I have to make both sides fight. As long as I can stall until the Third Hokage returns, everything can be worked out.*

Uchiha Yan slowly rose to his feet and looked firmly at Danzo.

"Lord Danzo refuses to seek confirmation from the Fourth Hokage or wait for him to return. You're determined to see me dead.

May I ask what I've done to offend you, Lord Danzo, that makes you want to subject me to Skinning and dismemberment?

Or do you simply want an excuse to kill someone, Lord Danzo, and don't care who it is as long as they're an Uchiha?"

"Are you questioning me? Why should I explain my actions to you?"

"I suspect even Danzo would be too ashamed to say it! You won't even spare an Uchiha child. If you ever get the chance, Lord Danzo, you'll probably wipe out the entire Uchiha Clan.

Or rather, Lord Danzo has wanted to wipe out the Uchiha all along, exterminating every living thing in the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Never mind Uchiha children-you'd even shake the eggs until their contents broke apart and slice the earthworms lengthwise."

At this, Uchiha Yan turned his gaze toward the Uchiha clan members.

"Uncles and aunties, you've seen it yourselves. These people can ruthlessly kill a child like me, let alone you.

The Uchiha Clan's thousand-year legacy rests on treating others with courtesy, winning them over through virtue, remaining humble and prudent, and never bullying the weak.

Yet some people always think the Uchiha are easy to bully. This is intolerable!

Everyone, today we'll show these people that the Uchiha's thousand-year legacy rests not only on propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, but also on the power granted by the Sharingan."

With that, Uchiha Yan rapidly formed hand seals. Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

Under everyone's shocked gazes, a head-sized ball of fire shot toward Danzo.

The corners of Danzo's mouth curled upward. He turned sideways, easily dodging the fireball, then raised his right hand.

"Uchiha Rebellion! Kill them on the spot! Move!"

"Yes!"

"Danzo, don't you dare!"

"What are you standing around for? Move! Hawk Eye, inform Counselor Koharu that the Uchiha Rebellion is underway. Tell her to bring people here at once to suppress it."

Danzo ignored Fugaku entirely and withdrew straight from the center of the battlefield.

Seeing the Root ninja draw their weapons and charge, the Uchiha Clan no longer cared what Fugaku thought.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

"Sharingan, activate!"

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

Boom...

Clang...

Explosions and clashing weapons rang through the sky. Uchiha Yan did not remain idle either, quickly taking Uchiha Itachi away from the battlefield.

"Senior Yan, we were clearly going there to take shelter. Why didn't you say so?"

"Danzo is determined to destroy the Uchiha. He doesn't care whether we were seeking shelter. He just wants an excuse to force the Uchiha to act.

We're all children. If a child lay outside your front door, would you think he was a thief?"

"No!"

"There you go!"

"But if you knew he wanted to force the Uchiha to act, why did you attack?"

"If I didn't attack, how would Lord Hokage come here? And if Lord Hokage didn't come, wouldn't I die?

Don't worry. None of them are fools. Without Lord Hokage's orders, none of them would dare kill anyone. At most, they'll suffer some injuries.

Besides, with this much commotion, Lord Hokage will soon-"

"Stop!"

Before he finished speaking, a roar came from the distance, followed closely by a staff as thick as a utility pole that stretched across half of Konoha and finally landed in the center of the battlefield.

"Third Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi ran along the staff at top speed, crossing half the village in just over ten seconds to arrive before them.

"What are you doing? Ninja throughout the village are fighting off the Nine-Tails, yet you're fighting among yourselves here! Are you trying to betray the village?"

Facing the Third Hokage, whose teeth were clenched in anger, Danzo showed no fear and slowly approached him.

"Hiruzen, Uchiha Yan infiltrated the Hokage Building. After being caught, not only did he refuse to admit his wrongdoing, he even attacked me."

"Uchiha Yan? Which one?"

"Waaah... Third Hokage!"

Uchiha Yan threw himself at the Third Hokage, clinging to him with his whole body.

"Third Hokage! I'm Uchiha Yan! Itachi and I just went to find you so you could help the Fourth Hokage.

But as soon as we reached the Hokage Building, they dragged us here. They kept saying Itachi and I were spies.

Waaah... what kind of spy brings along a six-year-old child and a baby who's only just a month old? I haven't even graduated yet!

Third Hokage, you're the strongest of all the Hokage. You have to give me justice!"

"Itachi? Only a month old?"

The Third Hokage looked at Uchiha Yan, then at Itachi standing nearby with Sasuke in his arms, his eyes full of bewilderment.

What does that mean? Itachi and Sasuke are spies? Has Danzo gone mad? Or did I hear wrong?

The Third Hokage swept a questioning gaze over everyone present. The Root members all lowered their heads, embarrassment flickering in their eyes, and even Danzo began avoiding his gaze.

"Heh heh heh..."

Seeing their reactions, the Third Hokage was so furious that he laughed.

"A twelve-year-old genin and the Uchiha Clan Head's two sons, one of them an infant, are actually spies.

Hahaha... Yan, get down first!"

"Okay!"

Once Uchiha Yan was standing on the ground, the Third Hokage roared at Danzo.

**"Danzo! I'm not dead yet! If you want to run wild, wait until I'm dead!

Now! Immediately! This instant! All ninja, go tend to the wounded!"**

"Hiruzen, the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails' eyes were real. We must leave people here to guard against the Uchiha!"

"Third Hokage, he's talking nonsense!"

Uchiha Yan spoke anxiously. "The Fourth Hokage told me the enemy was a one-eyed Uchiha named Madara Uchiha. He also said his Mangekyō's ability was Space-Time Ninjutsu.

There aren't any one-eyed clansmen in our clan, and we don't even know what the Mangekyō Sharingan is."

At these words, the Third Hokage, Danzo, Fugaku, and everyone who knew of Madara Uchiha froze on the spot.

After a long while, Danzo was the first to recover, roaring at Uchiha Yan.

"Impossible! Madara Uchiha died long ago! I saw him die with my own eyes!"

Uchiha Fugaku chimed in from the side. "Yan, did you mishear him? Madara Uchiha has been dead for decades. Even if he were alive, he'd be too old to move by now."

"How would I know? That's what the Fourth Hokage said.

The fox is gone now, so the Fourth Hokage must have driven it away. Why don't we just go find him and ask?"

"Enough!"

The Third Hokage raised his right hand. "Everyone else, go tend to the villagers. Danzo, Fugaku, Yan, come with me to the Hokage Building."