Hokage Tower
Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō sat facing each other, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
Smoke from Hiruzen's pipe curled slowly through the air.
"Danzō," Sarutobi Hiruzen said at last, his voice low but edged with anger.
"What exactly is going on with the Uchiha clan?"
"ANBU has reported that the source of that massive disturbance just now came from Uchiha territory."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Did you have Itachi carry out your plan?"
"The Uchiha clan is still intact—but every Root ninja you sent has vanished."
"Is this the outcome you promised me?"
Danzō's expression darkened.
After he had revealed the extermination plan to Itachi, the Root operatives he dispatched had disappeared completely—without even a trace.
Root had its own specialized communication methods. As long as the distance wasn't extreme, Danzō should have been informed immediately of any changes.
But now—
Nothing.
No bodies.
No signals.
Even the tracking techniques had failed.
It was as if they had been erased from existence.
"Hiruzen," Danzō said coldly, "I only sent Root to assist Itachi according to the agreed plan. I have no idea what happened after that."
"Hah…" Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"Danzō, didn't I make myself clear?"
"I told you I would find a solution that avoided bloodshed on both sides."
"And yet you acted on your own, sent people behind my back, and forced Itachi to shoulder everything."
"Don't you feel even a shred of guilt?"
That calm, almost indifferent tone finally struck a nerve.
Even Danzō—long accustomed to darkness—found it hard to suppress his irritation.
He understood exactly what Hiruzen meant.
If the plan had succeeded, every sin would have fallen squarely on Uchiha Itachi.
After all, Itachi had already agreed.
But now that something had gone wrong—and neither of them knew what—
If this incident surfaced publicly, Danzō would inevitably become the scapegoat.
What disgusted him even more was that the office contained only the two of them, yet Hiruzen still wore that righteous expression.
It was nauseating.
"Hmph," Danzō sneered.
"All the subordinates I sent vanished without a trace, and you think I'm not already dealing with that?"
"Guilt? Guilt for what?"
"If I hadn't been willing to shoulder the darkness of Konoha all these years, do you really think this village would have survived to today?"
"Let alone allow you to sit so comfortably in that Hokage's chair."
"Danzō," Hiruzen replied flatly, a hint of coldness entering his gaze.
"You've gone too far."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sudden sound broke the tension.
For a brief moment, it almost felt as though the room itself had grown brighter.
"What is it?" Hiruzen asked.
"Reporting to the Hokage-sama," an ANBU replied from outside.
"Uchiha Fugaku has arrived—with his son, Uchiha Itachi."
"…What?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed in surprise.
At this hour?
Had Itachi betrayed the agreement?
Was this confrontation—or something worse?
There was no time to overthink it.
"Let them in."
The door opened.
Uchiha Fugaku entered calmly, followed by Uchiha Itachi.
"Hokage-sama. Danzō-sama," Fugaku greeted, his tone steady and restrained, revealing no emotion.
"Fugaku?" Hiruzen said, feigning concern.
"It's quite late. Why have you come?"
"And that disturbance from your clan's territory just now—are you all right?"
"Hokage-sama," Fugaku replied, stepping forward, "that is precisely why I'm here."
"Earlier tonight, several Root shinobi entered Uchiha territory."
"Before our people could even question their intent, a masked man appeared."
"We don't know what technique he used but in an instant, all of those Root shinobi vanished."
"Our clan attempted to intercept him. Unfortunately, we suffered casualties."
"The masked man disappeared soon afterward."
"The loud disturbance you sensed was our clan engaging him."
Hiruzen's brow furrowed.
A masked man again?
Whether his target was the Uchiha—or something else—this situation was becoming increasingly tangled.
"I see…" Hiruzen said slowly.
"Regardless, thank you for stopping him."
"If such an individual had entered deeper into the village, the damage could have been far worse."
He then turned his gaze to Itachi.
"Itachi… are you injured?"
"Thank you for your concern, Hokage-sama," Itachi replied calmly.
"I'm unharmed."
"But my father still has something important to say."
He stepped back, lowering his head, silent.
That single movement sent a chill through both Hiruzen and Danzō.
They feared the same thing...
That Itachi had chosen his clan.
If the Uchiha truly rebelled now, Konoha would enter its weakest era in history.
"Hokage-sama," Fugaku suddenly said, bowing deeply.
"I have come to plead guilty."
Hiruzen was startled but quickly masked it with concern.
"Fugaku, guilty of what?"
"You are not at fault for failing to capture the masked man. Don't burden yourself unnecessarily."
"It's not that," Fugaku replied.
"Previously, some of our clansmen expressed intentions to defect."
"I failed to report this immediately. That responsibility lies with me."
"Though I ordered their execution, the incident itself is still a stain I cannot ignore."
"That is why I came...to take responsibility."
Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe, studying the two before him through half-lidded eyes.
Was this truth?
Or a carefully crafted narrative?
Danzō remained silent, equally focused.
The seconds stretched unbearably long.
Finally, Hiruzen spoke.
"Fugaku… I understand."
"As clan head, you stand between the village and your family."
"Hesitation in such circumstances is only human."
"And tonight, you led the Uchiha in protecting the village."
"I will not pursue this matter further."
Both Fugaku and Itachi exhaled quietly.
Fugaku feared failing Kirito's instructions.
Itachi feared Hiruzen would turn hostile.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Fugaku said solemnly.
"The bodies of those executed have been handed over to ANBU."
"This serves as proof."
"The Uchiha clan remains absolutely loyal to Konoha."
"If such an incident ever occurs again—"
"I am willing to take my own life as apology."
"Enough," Hiruzen said quickly.
"There is no need for such words."
"I have never doubted the Uchiha clan's loyalty."
"If I had, Itachi would never have been allowed into ANBU."
Then...
Danzō finally spoke.
"Clan Head Fugaku," he said coldly,
"What happened in Uchiha territory tonight is a serious matter."
"Several Root shinobi are missing."
"Are you telling us this has nothing to do with your clan?"
His gaze was sharp, openly hostile.
It was clear...
Danzō had no intention of letting the Uchiha walk away unscathed.
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