Kakashi's Decision, Yashiro's Concealment, and the Elder's Change
Mikoto's gaze slowly swept over Shisui, finally settling on Obito. She waved her hand slightly, gesturing for Obito to come closer.
"Obito, come here too." Mikoto's voice was gentle and kind, without the slightest hint of reproach.
On the contrary, her tone was full of concern and worry for Obito, as if she were telling him that she understood the pressure and self-blame he was under.
When Obito heard Mikoto's call, his body trembled slightly, but he did not immediately step forward.
He lowered his head, not daring to look Mikoto in the eye, his heart filled with self-blame and regret.
When Obito finally mustered the courage to stand in front of Mikoto, his body trembled slightly, and his emotions surged like a tide.
He looked up at Mikoto's face, tears welling up in his eyes, sliding down his cheeks and falling to the ground.
"I'm sorry..." Obito said softly, his voice filled with endless regret and sorrow.
Mikoto looked at Obito, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes.
She reached out and gently stroked Obito's hair, saying softly, "Silly child, it's not your fault."
"But, if it weren't for me, Koki wouldn't have..." Obito's voice choked with sobs, tears streaming down his face.
As Mikoto looked at Obito and listened to his apology, her heart felt as if it were being pierced by countless tiny needles, a pain that almost made it hard for her to breathe.
She reached out and embraced Shisui and Obito, one on each side.
After a while, Mikoto gently released Obito and Shisui, and her gaze turned to Kakashi had been standing silently to the side.
She softly called Kakashi's name, gesturing for him to come closer. "Kakashi, come here too."
Kakashi's eyes remained calm, without the slightest ripple. He slowly Earth Flow forward and came to the side of Mikoto, Shisui, Obito, and Fugaku.
A subtle sadness seemed to lurk beneath his seemingly calm eyes, yet he chose to remain silent in such a somber moment.
Fugaku gazed at Kakashi, his voice sincere, "Kakashi, thank you so much. If you hadn't brought the body back in time and preserved the scene, we probably wouldn't have found any clues or learned so much information."
Kakashi did not reply immediately upon hearing this.
Kakashi's gaze fell on a delicate bracelet he was clutching tightly in his hand, a gift he had recently given to Koki.
However, at this moment, the bracelet was stained with Koki's glaringly bright red blood, seemingly silently telling the cruel reality and causing Kakashi heartbreak.
Kakashi gripped the blood-stained bracelet tightly; his fingers were pale from the excessive force, and even the tips of his fingers had lost their color.
A flicker of self-reproach and resentment flashed in his unfathomable eyes, as if he had made some firm decision, but he quickly regained his usual calm.
Fugaku's expression was solemn, his brows slightly furrowed. He exuded an aura of authority and composure that inspired awe in those around him.
He slowly turned around and waved to Yashiro behind him, signaling him to come closer.
"Brother Yashiro, have the results of the autopsy come out yet? I need to know the truth as soon as possible." Fugaku's voice carried an unquestionable authority, filling the entire corridor with a tense atmosphere.
Yashiro strode up to Fugaku, his gaze lingering between Fugaku and the elders for a moment, as if weighing something important.
His eyebrows twitched slightly, revealing a hint of hesitation.
Ultimately, he decided to keep the information he had just received for the time being and not tell Fugaku directly.
He took a deep breath. "Chief, we are currently conducting a detailed investigation. I will personally oversee this matter to ensure that nothing is overlooked or neglected. Please rest assured, we will definitely find the real culprit and give everyone an explanation."
Fugaku looked at Yashiro with a hint of doubt in his eyes, but he did not press the matter further.
Kakashi stood to the side, looking at Yashiro with a very strange expression, wondering to himself, "What exactly does this guy mean?"
Did he really not know the identity of the corpse? Or was he pretending not to know?
By simply observing the corpse's clothing and attire, although it's impossible to determine which department he belonged to, it's easy to deduce that he was a member of Root or the Anbu.
Admittedly, Fugaku had never seen the corpse in person, so he was unaware of the details.
However, given the Yashiro's status and position, it was impossible for him not to know about this matter.
So what was his real intention in saying that? Kakashi couldn't figure it out.
Fugaku stared at Yashiro with a serious expression. After a moment of silence, he finally nodded slowly, indicating his understanding of Yashiro's actions, and said, "Alright, I understand. However, I hope you can speed up the investigation and find the culprit as soon as possible!"
Seeing this, Yashiro immediately bowed respectfully to Fugaku and assured him, "Chief, please rest assured, we will do our utmost to find out the truth as soon as possible and give you a satisfactory answer."
Hearing Yashiro's sincere words, Fugaku nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.
He then turned to the other elders and said firmly, "Elders, thank you all for your hard work today. It's getting late, so please go home and rest. I will handle the rest."
Okay, let me know if there's anything you need.
The First Elder and the Third Elder exchanged a glance. Understanding Fugaku's current busyness and pressure, they said no more, nodded silently, and left the hospital first, leaving Fugaku alone to handle the follow-up matters.
However, the Second Elder did not overlook the glance that the Kyudai had cast at him earlier.
A ripple of emotion stirred within him. After a moment's thought, he decided to be frank and tell Fugaku what was on his mind.
"Fugaku, if the murderer this time is really connected to the village..."
The Second Elder's voice was low and serious, as if he had already prepared for the worst.
Fugaku turned his head and stared into the Second Elder's eyes, trying to glean some clues from his gaze.
The Second Elder took a deep breath and continued, "No matter what, I will fully support your decision."
"Second Elder, what is this...?" Fugaku's voice was filled with obvious surprise. He stared at the Second Elder with wide eyes, seemingly unable to believe what he was hearing.
After all, the Second Elder and the Fourth Elder have always been the representatives of the dove faction within the clan. Their attitude towards the village has always been to value harmony. Even when faced with various injustices and oppressions from the village's higher-ups, they always advocate forbearance and compromise.
Therefore, everyone was shocked when the Second Elder said these words.
The other tribesmen exchanged shocked glances, unsure how to react.
In their minds, the Second Elder and the Fourth Elder were never hardliners; they preferred silence and forbearance to openly express their dissatisfaction or take coercive measures.
However, at this moment, the Second Elder clearly stated... this change is truly incomprehensible.
The Second Elder looked around, his gaze sweeping across the faces of every clansman, as if searching for some kind of support or response.
He took a deep breath and then slowly said, "I know that my attitude has long given people the impression that I am too weak, but what happened today made me realize that blind tolerance cannot earn the respect and equality that we deserve."
After saying this, the Second Elder fell silent, his eyes revealing a firmness and determination, but also a hint of helplessness.
Perhaps he was aware of the problem long ago, but never had the courage to change anything.
They really shouldn't, absolutely shouldn't, have done Koki!
This action completely ignited the Second Elder's anger.
His eyes widened, he breathed heavily in anger, his hands clenched into fists, veins bulging.
In the hospital corridor, the Fourth Elder's expression was unusually complicated. His gaze first fell on the Second Elder's firm and resolute face, and then slowly moved to Fugaku.
His eyes were filled with deep thought and hesitation, as if he were struggling intensely in the depths of his heart.
His lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he chose to remain silent.
Like the Second Elder, the Fourth Elder has always advocated resolving the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village through dialogue and compromise.
However, Koki's injury today has also shaken his resolve.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of pain and helplessness. He shook his head, sighed softly, and followed closely behind the Second Elder as they slowly walked out of the hospital.