The Uchiha Clan was kind

The Third believed Uchiha Yan. By then, Minato Namikaze had already died sealing the Nine-Tails, and no one knew about it yet.

Since Uchiha Yan dared to ask for Minato Namikaze, it meant Minato very likely had given him the intelligence.

Perhaps they happened to run into each other, and with time running short, he could only pass the intelligence to Yan.

The Nine-Tails had been sealed, but the repercussions had yet to begin. Without proper handling, Konoha could very well fall into war again, and might even be destroyed as a result.

Everyone returned to the Hokage Building, where Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had already been waiting for quite some time.

At the sight of Utatane Koharu, the Third paused briefly.

"Where's Naruto?"

"He's fine, asleep at the hospital! What happened to you all? What happened at the Uchiha Clan Compound just now?"

"Heh..."

The Third shot Danzo a cold glance, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Someone's really outdone himself! He arrested a baby barely a month old as a spy, and that baby happened to be the Uchiha Clan Head's youngest son.

Danzo, tell everyone how Sasuke Uchiha sneaked into the Hokage Building.

No! That's asking too much of you. Just tell everyone how he could understand what people were saying!"

"Hiruzen, don't push it..."

Before he finished, Utatane Koharu stared at Danzo in disbelief.

"Hiruzen isn't joking? Danzo, have you lost your mind?"

"You're the one who's lost her mind! The spy I meant was Uchiha Yan, not Sasuke Uchiha!"

"Fine, then! Tell me how a student who just graduated from the Ninja Academy sneaked into the Hokage Building!"

"What matters isn't whether he sneaked in, but that he intended to!"

"Danzo!"

Bang!

The Third slammed his hand on the desk. "You're still lying! Should I bring Minato here and ask whether he ordered Uchiha Yan to come?"

"Why bring him here? He's the Hokage. Don't you know how busy he is? Why bother him over something so trivial?

Besides, I didn't know Minato had given that order. I was only doing my duty."

At those words, Utatane Koharu understood exactly what had happened at the Uchiha Clan Compound. Danzo must have used Uchiha Yan to force the Uchiha Clan to act, leading to a full-blown fight between the two sides.

Mitokado Homura pinched the bridge of his nose, questioning how Danzo's mind worked. While the entire village's ninja were fighting, he had sent Root ninja to force the Uchiha into rebellion.

If they really rebelled, could those Root ninja hold off the Uchiha? With the Nine-Tails' power added to the mix, Konoha would be crippled if not destroyed.

The Third could no longer be bothered with Danzo. What mattered most now was finding out what intelligence Minato had left behind.

"Yan, aside from what you just told us, what else did the Fourth Hokage say?"

"I think there was something else. I got scared just now, so I'm having a little trouble remembering."

"Hiruzen!"

Danzo exclaimed, "You can't actually believe this brat! How old is he? Why would Minato give him important intelligence?"

"You said yourself he's a child. Do you think a child would know about Madara Uchiha? Or the Mangekyō Sharingan?

How many Uchiha even know about the Mangekyō now?

I haven't even asked why you didn't bring Root to provide support. You'd best keep your mouth shut."

With that, the Third turned his gaze to Uchiha Yan, his expression softening.

"Yan, it's all right! Take your time. Tell me whenever you remember."

"Third Hokage, I'm young, so my mind works fast. I've already remembered!"

Uchiha Yan smiled as he spoke. "Fourth Hokage said he'd left some sort of formula on the enemy's back. Anyone who knows the Flying Something Technique would be able to sense it.

Third Hokage, I forgot which ninjutsu it was. Fourth Hokage only said it once.

You should hurry and bring Fourth Hokage back to ask him. It wouldn't be good if I remembered it wrong!"

The Third could now be absolutely certain that Minato had sent Uchiha Yan to seek reinforcements.

But Danzo had arrested Uchiha Yan as soon as he arrived at the Hokage Building, preventing the Third from receiving the intelligence in time. This had left Minato to face the enemy alone, and the Third had failed to save Kushina and Minato in time.

If he had known that the Fourth Hokage had already left a formula, they could have tracked down the culprit at any time with the Flying Thunder God Formula in place.

Then he would have had the Uchiha take part in sealing the Nine-Tails, and perhaps Minato would not have died.

With Minato gone and the Sannin absent as well, Konoha had fallen into an unprecedented state of weakness.

Moreover, with the Hokage dead, the vacant Hokage position would inevitably attract the ambitions of both the Uchiha Clan and Danzo. Another conflict between the two sides was bound to erupt over it.

Thinking of this chain of consequences, the Third could not help glaring fiercely at Danzo.

At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to kill Danzo, but he knew that every bit of strength they retained meant another measure of security for Konoha.

Taking several deep breaths, the Third suppressed his anger and addressed Uchiha Yan with a smile.

"Yan, you did an excellent job on this mission. Once this busy period is over, I'll personally arrange your teammates!"

"Really?"

Uchiha Yan played along perfectly, putting on a delighted expression.

"Then could you please not assign me clan members as teammates?"

"Why? You're a member of the Uchiha Clan. Wouldn't it be better to have your clan members teach you?"

"Hehehe..."

Uchiha Yan rubbed the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed.

"If I have questions about Uchiha ninjutsu, I can ask anyone back at the compound and get an answer. But I also want to learn other senior ninja's ninjutsu and combat experience.

Besides, the Uchiha are all very humble. They never presume to teach others unasked, and I'm thin-skinned, so I don't like constantly troubling my clan members."

"Humble? The Uchiha?"

Everyone present stared blankly, and Uchiha Fugaku's eyes widened outright.

"Yan! Do you hear yourself? Since when have our clan members been humble? How come I've never noticed?"

"Clan Head!"

Uchiha Yan pressed his lips together, looking displeased. "You're the clan head. How can you understand so little about your own people?

Ninja from other clans can't wait to teach their clan members every bit of their combat experience, whether the other person wants it or not. They think only they are right.

Only the Uchiha wait until we ask before telling us, and afterward, they have us test it on the battlefield.

That proves the Uchiha Clan never assumes it's right. Isn't that humility?"

"Humility, my ass. That's arrogance. They look down on everyone, even their own clan members."

"Clan Head, you're wrong again! The Uchiha Clan treats everyone equally.

They respect the strong and have compassion for the weak. Whether you're a clan member or anyone else, it's all the same.

Clan Head, have you ever seen our people bully the weak?"

"Well, no!"

"Exactly! Our people aren't arrogant. They believe all beings are equal, that every person is a living Buddha.

Even when facing enemies, they show the utmost respect, using genjutsu to let their enemies die without any pain.

Take you, Clan Head. Even though Itachi was nearly killed, you didn't kill the Anbu ninja. You insisted on waiting for the Fourth Hokage to come and decide everything.

That's kindness! That's the light of humanity! How many people in the entire Shinobi World could do that?"

"Well said!"

Uchiha Fugaku nodded instinctively. "When you put it that way, the Uchiha Clan really is far too ki-"

Halfway through, Fugaku abruptly shook his head again. "You almost talked me into it. I know the Uchiha better than you do."

"Clan Head, have you ever heard this saying? What you see in others is who you truly are.

Your views of others are often based on your own experiences.

You think the Uchiha are arrogant because you've acted or spoken arrogantly yourself. When you see the same actions or words, you think the other person is arrogant too.

If you don't believe me, ask Third Hokage. He must think the Uchiha Clan is fair and just, a group of humble, courteous, good people devoted wholeheartedly to the village.

Kind people see a kind world. Evil people see nothing but darkness."

Everyone's gaze instinctively shifted back and forth between the Third and Danzo.

"Ahem..."

The Third puffed out his chest, putting on an air of righteousness.

"Fugaku, this is where you're wrong! As the Uchiha Clan Head, you must have faith in your people.

Yan is right. In my eyes, the Uchiha Clan is an indispensable part of Konoha.

The Uchiha are friendly toward the villagers and never use their strength to bully the weak..."

At that point, the Third seemed to remember something suddenly, and a thoughtful look appeared on his face.