[Note: Read up to Chapter - 64 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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In the heart of Konoha Village, at the Hokage Building, Kanzou made his way to the office of the Third Hokage.
It wasn't Kanzou who had requested the meeting—Sarutobi Hiruzen had sent someone to summon him.
"Uchiha Kanzou, you've arrived." Hiruzen greeted him with a warm, fatherly smile.
To most of the village's youth, the Third Hokage was the image of a kind elder.
But Kanzou knew better. He understood exactly what kind of man Sarutobi Hiruzen truly was. If this old man had summoned him, it probably wasn't for anything good.
"The Police Force has its hands full. May I ask why the Third Hokage has called me?"
"Ah, yes. It's about Konoha's security. I must thank your Police Force for their hard work."
"It's all for the sake of Konoha. Where the leaves dance, the fire will burn. No matter how hard the work, if it's for the village, it's worth it. I, too, am an inheritor of the Will of Fire."
Kanzou spoke without a hint of shame, not even blinking as he delivered the words with perfect sincerity.
Hiruzen let out a soft chuckle. "Kanzou-kun, you truly understand the spirit of the Will of Fire."
"As long as the leaves continue to dance, the fire will keep burning. The shadow of the flame will protect the village, and new leaves will grow. That is the essence of Konoha."
He looked pleased, almost sentimental, as though watching the rise of another heir to his ideals.
"The youth are the future of our village. Kanzou-kun, I believe you'll become one of Konoha's great pillars someday."
His expression shifted slightly.
"I've heard there's been some unrest within your Uchiha clan recently."
"Yes," Kanzou replied, sighing. "It's been an unfortunate time. A traitor emerged from within the Clan... the assassination of two elders—what a disgrace. Thankfully, the culprit has been brought to justice."
As Kanzou spoke of the so-called traitor, his voice took on a tone of righteous fury.
"That bastard Uchiha Haruto… the two elders dedicated their lives to our clan, and he repaid them with betrayal. If I had my way, I'd cut him to pieces and feed him to the dogs."
"Was the murderer truly Uchiha Haruto? The affairs of the Uchiha clan are also the affairs of Konoha. I wouldn't want to see an innocent man wrongly accused," Hiruzen said, his expression laced with concern.
"It was definitely Uchiha Haruto," Kanzou replied firmly. "He committed Seppuku out of guilt. That alone speaks volumes, doesn't it?"
He paused for a moment before adding, "However, I suspect he had accomplices. He might just be the one to raise the knife… someone might even be behind him who ordered the assassination. But sadly, that's just a hunch—I have no solid evidence."
Hiruzen observed Kanzou quietly, the young man's appearance composed and polished. But inwardly, the Hokage felt a twinge of doubt.
When the news of the two elders' deaths first reached him, Hiruzen had also suspected Uchiha Kanzou. But the situation had progressed far too quickly—before he could step in, the case had already been "resolved," and Uchiha Haruto had conveniently taken his own life.
Whether it was a true suicide or something far more deliberate, he couldn't say. But the latter seemed increasingly likely.
"Hokage-sama," Kanzou said, breaking the silence. "I have something to report."
"Go ahead, Kanzou-kun," Hiruzen said, coming back to his senses, the usual amiable smile still on his face.
"Lately, the Konoha Police Force has been running low on funds," Kanzou began. "I was wondering if Hokage-sama could consider allocating additional resources. Frankly, we're struggling to keep the lights on."
"There's barely enough to go around. My subordinates are losing motivation, and as their captain, I feel powerless. If the Police Force can't operate properly, how can we guarantee the safety of the Village? Just thinking about it keeps me up at night."
Kanzou laid it on thick, playing the part of the underfunded, overworked employee who was being exploited.
It wasn't all an act either—Sarutobi Hiruzen had summoned him here to probe for answers, so Kanzou saw no reason not to ask for something in return.
Besides, he wasn't lying. The Police Force had always been underfunded. The budget Konoha allocated to them was embarrassingly small.
Back when Fugaku was captain, it was the Uchiha clan who privately funded the Police Force. But now that Kanzou was in charge, he had no intention of spending his own money to manage the police force.
Who did they think Uchiha Kanzou was?
Even if a bird flew past his door, it would have to leave two feathers as a toll—there was no way he was going to lose money.
"Ah… well, the village's finances are a bit tight at the moment," Hiruzen replied awkwardly. "But don't worry, Kanzou. I'll do my best to secure some funding for you soon."
"If the village is short on funds, I wouldn't dare trouble Hokage-sama," Kanzou said with a faint smile. "I'll just try my best to keep the Police Force in line during this difficult time."
'Playing games, are we?' Kanzou wasn't fooled by vague excuses.
Konoha claiming to have financial troubles? What a joke. Everyone knew Konoha, being the village in the Land of Fire, was the wealthiest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Why else would the Shinobi villages of other nations repeatedly start wars with them, if not to profit from their resources?
The Land of Fire was the wealthiest nation, and Konoha Village was the richest among the hidden villages. That was precisely why the ninja villages of other great nations often chose to go to war with the Land of Fire—to seize its wealth.
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask, Hokagay-sama? If not, I'll take my leave. The Police Force can't run without its captain."
"Very well," Hiruzen nodded, but with a bit of a frown.
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"Uchiha Fugaku can't win against Uchiha Kanzou…"
After Kanzou left, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but shake his head. From their brief exchange, it had become clear—Uchiha Kanzou was a cunning fox.
Uchiha Fugaku would never be able to outmanoeuvre him.
"It looks like I'll need to give Fugaku a hand," Hiruzen murmured.
Rather than allowing the Uchiha clan to fall under Kanzou's control, it would be safer to support Uchiha Fugaku. Kanzou was too dangerous—he had already assassinated two elders and used the chaos to clip Fugaku's wings. The threat he posed was too great to ignore.
Ruthless and unscrupulous—if Kanzou became the Uchiha patriarch, he would be an undeniable destabilising force.
He dared to assassinate the elders of the Uchiha clan—what's to say he wouldn't one day set his sights on the Hokage?
At the mere age of seventeen, Kanzou already possessed quasi-Kage-level strength, and it was highly likely he would awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in the future.
Just thinking about the power of the Mangekyō made Hiruzen both shiver in fright and feel a flicker of envy.
If he knew Kanzou had already reached Kage-level and had also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he might not have even summoned Kanzou. Even if he did summon him, his gay buddy would have definitely been there, accompanying him.
…
Meanwhile, Kanzou—walking out of the Hokage building—was unaware that Sarutobi Hiruzen had decided to support Fugaku.
But even if he had known, Kanzou wouldn't have cared.
Even if Hiruzen wanted to back Fugaku, he couldn't openly interfere in the internal affairs of the Uchiha clan.
And if he tried, the entire Uchiha clan would push back.
Moreover, Kanzou wasn't afraid of Sarutobi Hiruzen. Even if things turned hostile, his Kage-level strength gave him all the confidence he needed.
And it wasn't just that—Kanzou had not only reached Kage-level, but also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and mastered the Shikai of Ryūjin Jakka.
At this point, as long as Uchiha Madara—who was still lurking in the shadows—didn't personally make a move, Kanzou had no reason to fear anyone.
...
Elder Tadayoshi's Residence, Uchiha Compound
After preparing tea for her grandfather, Mikoto served it to him. "Sofu-sama… your tea," she said softly.
"Hmm…" Tadayoshi murmured in acknowledgment, still seemingly lost in thought.
She placed the cup on the low table. Noticing that he hadn't stirred from his reverie, she asked gently, "Sofu-sama… what are you thinking about?"
Tadayoshi looked at his granddaughter and hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Have a seat."
Mikoto blinked, then sat down, meeting his gaze with some nervousness and some curiosity.
Instead of addressing his thoughts directly, Tadayoshi looked at the scarf around her neck and asked, "How are you feeling now?"
Mikoto forced a small smile. "Better… I should be fine." Beneath the table, her hand clenched into a tight fist, her nails digging into her palm.
Tadayoshi noticed at once that something was wrong. He felt the urge to press her further, but after a soft sigh, he chose not to. He trusted his granddaughter to handle most matters on her own, and he believed that if something truly overwhelmed her, she would come to him herself.
He didn't want to force her to speak before she was ready.
It was a mistake. Perhaps he should have pressed her, because if he had, she might have broken down and told him everything. What would have happened after that was uncertain, but the pain clawing at her heart from all she had endured might have finally found some release.
But he didn't ask.
And she, naturally, didn't want to speak about what she had suffered.
The conversation shifted to what weighed on his own mind.
"The assassination of those two…" he said slowly. "I've been thinking about it."
Mikoto knew about the deaths of the two elders as well. Hesitantly, she asked, "Did Haruto-san… did he really do it?"
Even as she voiced the question, she didn't truly believe it. It was Kanzou who had claimed Haruto was responsible, and Mikoto didn't trust Kanzou's words in the slightest. Especially not after he confessed to her for being responsible for the death of the Patriarch and also the threat he had issued to her in order to coerce her.
Elder Tadayoshi pressed his lips together. "It's uncertain…" He didn't believe Haruto was responsible either, but he had no intention of burdening Mikoto with his suspicions.
Still, the doubt had already taken root in her heart. Lowering her gaze, she asked quietly, "It was… Kanzou-sama… wasn't it?"
"Sometimes… being too clever isn't a good thing," Tadayoshi replied quietly.
"I see…" Mikoto nodded.
Silence settled between them before the elder suddenly spoke again, his expression solemn. "Mikoto… if something were to happen to me, do not seek vengeance."
Mikoto froze, shaken by his words. She shook her head quickly. "W-what are you saying, Sofu-sama? N-nothing will happen to you…"
Tadayoshi sighed. He wished that were true, but Kanzou's warning still weighed heavily on his mind. A man who could kill Patriarch Douma, who could assassinate two elders without hesitation… There was no reason he would spare him forever.
Tadayoshi fully expected that sooner or later, his own assassination would come. And when it did, he didn't want his kind, yet dangerously perceptive, granddaughter to destroy herself by seeking revenge.
"I'm just saying… after all, everyone must die someday," he said softly. "I've lived a good life, and I have such a gentle granddaughter. If there's one regret I carry, it's that I haven't been able to see you married yet. I promised your mother I would take care of that myself… but things have been…" He sighed once more, the weight of unfinished hopes lingering in his voice.
'Married? I no longer deserve that…' Mikoto thought, struggling to keep the tears from rising in her eyes.
Tadayoshi lifted his hand and gently patted her head. "Just promise me… You won't seek vengeance, alright?"
Mikoto bit her lip as her eyes grew wet. She quickly wiped away the tear before it could fall and nodded. "I… I won't…" Yet in her heart, she silently finished the vow: 'I won't let you be assassinated… no matter what it takes.'
Unaware of the thoughts stirring in Mikoto's heart, the elder seemed visibly relieved. As long as she had given him her promise, he felt certain she wouldn't seek vengeance, and that certainty brought him a measure of peace.
But there was another concern weighing on him.
'Her engagement to Fugaku-kun…'
That troubled Elder Tadayoshi deeply. He no longer felt confident about Fugaku's prospects. In fact, he feared Fugaku might one day be killed by Kanzou, and if that happened, it wouldn't be surprising if Mikoto herself became Kanzou's next target.
After hesitating for a moment, he asked gently, "Mikoto… what do you think of Fugaku-kun?"
"Huh? What do you mean, Sofu-sama?" Mikoto was once again caught off guard by the question.
"Ahem…" The elder coughed lightly, then rephrased. "I suddenly realised I've never asked you this, and I feel guilty for it… But tell me, do you have any feelings for Fugaku-kun?"
"F-feelings for Fugaku-sama? I… I don't really know how to answer that," she admitted.
Truthfully, she hardly knew him. There was more than a five-year age gap between them, their social circles didn't overlap, and aside from formal occasions, they barely interacted. If asked whether she had feelings for him… all she could say was that he was her fiancé. Beyond that, she didn't even want to think about it, let alone speak of it.
Tadayoshi could tell that Mikoto didn't seem to harbor any feelings for Fugaku, and in a way, that was a relief.
'If their engagement could somehow be annulled…' he thought. But he also knew how difficult that would be. Fugaku would never accept it easily, and worse still, such a development would invite scrutiny onto Mikoto herself. He didn't want that. Once questions arose, her future would become complicated. After all, who would willingly marry a woman whose engagement had been broken?
Her chastity would inevitably be questioned.
'Unless… she already had a lover…'
The thought startled him. Under normal circumstances, he would have rejected the idea outright, perhaps even condemned her for it. But now, of all times, the notion didn't seem entirely bad. If she had someone of her own choosing, it might provide an explanation, an escape.
Unable to stop himself, he asked carefully, "Mikoto… do you have a secret lover?"
Even as he asked, he doubted it. His granddaughter had always been far too innocent, reserved, and understanding for such things and knew that she wasn't allowed to pursue them. And yet… he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope.
Mikoto's expression changed instantly.
"W-what are you asking?" she blurted out, her face flushing red as her heart began to race, not just from embarrassment and shyness, but from fear.
Fear that her grandfather might have already sensed the truth.
Fear that he was questioning her because he suspected she was no longer pure.
Tadayoshi hadn't expected such a strong reaction. It made him suspect that something might be amiss, so he spoke gently, trying not to startle her further.
"I mean… look at how beautiful you are," he said. "There must be boys out there with good eyes. Someone may have tried to court you. Young people are full of emotions, and I wouldn't be surprised if feelings developed in your heart. Often, we have little control over such things; they just happen. I was simply wondering if that might have been the case for you… or if there is a boy you have feelings for…"
"N-no… nothing like that happened," she replied quickly, her face flushed. She stood up at once, picking up the cup of tea she had set down earlier, untouched. "A-anyway… your tea has gone cold. I'll warm it up…"
Before the elder could stop her, she hurried away, eager to escape the conversation, afraid that if it continued, he might realise something she desperately wanted to keep hidden.
"Mikoto—" The elder called out to her… but she didn't stop at all.
…
In the kitchen, Mikoto lit the stove and set the tea to warm again, but her attention wasn't on the kettle at all. Her grandfather's question kept echoing in her mind.
'W-why would he suddenly ask something like that?'
Fear crept in, sharp and unsettling. What if he had figured out the truth?
But as she thought it over, she realised that it didn't quite fit. If he truly knew, his questioning would have been very different, and he wouldn't have sounded so casual, even faintly amused.
'T-then why…?' She couldn't find an answer.
And yet, his words about a lover, about whether there was someone she might have feelings for, refused to leave her thoughts.
As she dwelled on it, a face rose unbidden in her mind.
It was a face she had carried in her heart since she was very young. Even after her engagement, she had continued to keep it there in secret, content to admire him from afar, knowing all along that her fate was never meant to intertwine with his.
But now, recalling that very face made her breath catch. Fear crept into her chest, tightening until it hurt. 'K-Kanzou-sama…'
Her eyes burned as tears welled, and a fragile, aching question surfaced in her heart. 'Even though I always… always felt this way about you… w-why did you hurt me…?'
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[Note: As the R-18 scene, I will post that part separately, one of these days, as Chapter 8.5]
Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!
[Note: Read up to Chapter - 64 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]