Unsure if Danzo had hidden the letter, Sai decided to try his luck at the prison. He never expected to stumble upon Danzo in the middle of a jailbreak.
An unusual commotion erupted from the direction of the prison, and Sai dared not act rashly. He was afraid he would be captured and dragged back in himself.
Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll!
Sai unrolled his scroll, his brush dancing across the paper. A great ink bird emerged from the parchment, and Sai leaped onto its back, ascending quickly into the sky. Few shinobi in the world could fly, and though Sai was only eleven, he knew that as long as he was airborne, he was safe.
.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ceremonial cannons roared.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Fireworks shot up into the sky one after another.
The entire Uchiha Compound had become a sea of celebration. The inauguration ceremony for the new Uchiha clan head had officially begun. Every Uchiha wore a smile of pure happiness. For some, it was the return of a son who had been traveling far from home. For others, a husband long separated had finally returned. Some clan members even came home to find a new younger brother who was already several years old.
The situation in the years prior had been precarious, and many Uchiha and their families had harbored a sense of impending doom. If the extremist faction had launched their coup back then, the Uchiha would have paid a heavy price, regardless of the outcome.
Fortunately, the wise and resourceful Lord Kawasaki had defused the crisis. Not only did he manage to shift the stance of the extremist Uchiha, who had been a thorn in Konoha's side, but he also actively developed the clan's commerce, allowing them to earn a fortune. Over the past two years, apart from those who wished to improve their strength, very few Uchiha still living in the village took on missions. The clan members could live comfortably off the profits from their restaurant businesses alone.
All of this was thanks to Lord Kawasaki.
When Clan Head Fugaku was injured, everyone had a premonition of what was to come. Sure enough, Fugaku soon announced his intention to step down. And now, Uchiha Kawasaki was finally taking his place as the head of the clan. Every Uchiha firmly believed that with Lord Kawasaki leading them, the clan was destined for even greater prosperity.
Just then, a small commotion started among the Uchiha at the edge of the crowd. The people quickly parted to form a path.
It was the Third Hokage, arriving with Jiraiya and a few Anbu in tow.
Uchiha Kawasaki, dressed in a magnificent ceremonial robe, emerged from the crowd, surrounded by his clansmen. "Lord Third, for you to take time out of your busy schedule to attend our ceremony is truly a great honor."
The Third Hokage's gaze swept past Kawasaki, landing on Shisui and Itachi standing behind him. Beside Itachi was Sasuke. To Kawasaki's left were Tsunade and Naruto. Tsunade gave the Third Hokage a slight nod, while Naruto waved enthusiastically. To Kawasaki's right stood Kabuto Yakushi, with the Sound Four behind him.
From within Konoha, only Hiashi Hyuga had been invited; no other Konoha officials were present. Several inquisitive gazes came from the side—they were representatives from Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure. All of them were keen to discern the true relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha.
The Third Hokage scanned the entire venue but did not see Orochimaru, feeling a hint of disappointment. But that was just like Orochimaru; it was hardly unusual for him to avoid public appearances.
The Third wore a benevolent expression, speaking like a caring elder. "Kawasaki, I never thought you'd become the Uchiha clan head. Where is Fugaku?"
Kawasaki replied naturally, "Great Elder Fugaku has not yet recovered from his injuries, so it's understandable that he is not here."
In shinobi clans, when a clan head stepped down, they would typically become an elder. The positions of First and Second Elder of the Uchiha had belonged to Fugaku's predecessors, who had long since passed away. Thus, only the Third and Fourth Elders remained, as the first two had still been alive when they assumed their roles. Since all elders held equal authority, there was no system for promotion. With no new elders appointed in years, the positions of First and Second Elder had remained vacant.
Back when they were rescuing Shisui, Fugaku had temporarily invented the title of Vice Clan Head to bolster Kawasaki's standing. The Uchiha had never had such a position, and everyone understood it was just Fugaku's way of showing his support for Kawasaki. The title was originally just for show, but Kawasaki's subsequent performance was so outstanding that the name stuck.
The Third Hokage reflected on Kawasaki's rise, which felt almost dreamlike. Every move Kawasaki had made could be described as a work of genius. Jiraiya had told him that Kawasaki hoped for the Uchiha to have a chance to enter Konoha's upper echelons. The Third had long suspected that Kawasaki intended to achieve this through indirect means, and now, that goal had been fully realized. Under the watchful eyes of so many other great ninja villages, he was forced to compromise. He had even felt the need to act before Kawasaki's inauguration, just in case.
The Third Hokage spoke slowly. "Kawasaki, since we arrested Danzo, we have been conducting a thorough investigation. We have discovered that Danzo has committed numerous injustices against the Uchiha clan in the past, taking many actions specifically targeting you."
"He even spread many slanderous rumors about the Uchiha, causing your clan to endure immense suffering over the years. As Hokage, I bear a grave responsibility for this dereliction of duty."
"Here and now, I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Third Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, formally apologize to the entire Uchiha clan."
With those words, the Third Hokage removed his conical hat and bowed deeply to Uchiha Kawasaki.
Kawasaki did not step aside, accepting the gesture of respect with a calm demeanor. His face remained an unreadable mask, but behind him, many of the Uchiha clansmen were already overcome with emotion.
"Did you see that? The Third Hokage apologized!"
"I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears!"
"The Third Hokage apologized to us!"
"Haha, hahahaha..."
The Uchiha clansmen's emotions surged. Some even began to weep with joy. For years, they had suffered from suspicion, misunderstanding, and persecution within Konoha. They had nowhere to voice the grievances and resentment that festered in their hearts. That was why they craved change—not for power, but for fairness.
As time went on, many of them had also come to understand a harsh truth. If not for Kawasaki's sudden appearance, the Uchiha clan might have already been wiped from existence in Konoha. Kawasaki's various strategies had finally forced Konoha, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, to bow its head.
One Uchiha clansman was so emotionally stirred that, without him even realizing it, the Sharingan in his eyes evolved from two tomoe to three. The sheer intensity of the shock was palpable.
"Long live our Clan Head!" someone shouted with a trembling voice.
"Long live our Clan Head!" more voices joined the fervent cry.
"Long live our Clan Head!"
The shouts merged into a single roar. Many Uchiha spontaneously gathered around Kawasaki, chanting his name. The Third Hokage, who had been about to say more, was pushed to the side by the swelling crowd.
On the edge of the cheering throng, Mikoto supported Fugaku. "Fugaku, did you hear that?" she asked, her own heart pounding with excitement.
Fugaku closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes, I heard," he said. His hand, gripping Mikoto's, trembled slightly, betraying his own turbulent emotions. "Kawasaki did it. He made Konoha apologize."
Itachi and Shisui stood side by side, their eyes meeting. In each other's gazes, they saw relief and gratification. The younger Sasuke and Naruto didn't quite understand the situation, looking bewildered by the frenzied atmosphere. Hiashi watched the Uchiha with a touch of envy, thinking how wonderful it would be if his own clan were so united.
Tsunade stood with her arms crossed. In that moment, she truly understood the depth of the unjust treatment the Uchiha had endured in Konoha.
Amidst the deafening cheers, an Uchiha named Qiming raised the ceremonial fan representing the clan and presented it to Kawasaki. Kawasaki looked at the fan, surprised. Where had this come from? The moment he held it, he understood—it was a replica. No matter, it was only a symbol anyway.
Taking advantage of the atmosphere, Kawasaki raised the fan high!
"I declare," he boomed, "that as of today, I, Uchiha Kawasaki, formally assume the position of Clan Head!"
"OOH!" The cheers erupted once more.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The cannons thundered.
The entire Uchiha Compound trembled with the celebration.
Ding...
A long-forgotten system notification sound echoed in his ears...
...
After Kawasaki declared himself the new clan head in the Uchiha Compound, the crowd burst into another round of fervent cheers. The carefully planned succession ceremony was rendered completely useless. But the atmosphere had reached its peak, and it would have been improper for him not to accept the position. The formalities no longer mattered. As long as the clan was happy, that was all that counted.
Though the proceedings had gone off-script, the other preparations were not wasted. Following Kawasaki's suggestion, the event had been organized as a buffet-style banquet. Tables laden with a dazzling array of food and drink filled the venue, free for all to enjoy.
Once everyone's emotions had settled slightly, Kawasaki invited them to eat, drink, and be merry. It was only then that the Third Hokage and his companions, who had been left on the sidelines, were able to approach again.
The representatives from the other great villages had never seen such a banquet and found it novel, sampling the various dishes. However, their attention remained primarily fixed on the Third Hokage. Seeing him about to speak with Uchiha Kawasaki again, they all gathered closer. The Third Hokage hadn't anticipated such a reaction from the Uchiha and had been awkwardly ignored for a while. But Konoha had sown these seeds, so he had no choice but to swallow his pride.
The Third Hokage took out a scroll and handed it to Jiraiya, who understood its significance and passed it to Kawasaki. Kawasaki had a feeling he knew what it was and unrolled it directly.
"Kawasaki," the Third Hokage said, "this is an appointment letter for the position of Konoha Honorary Elder. Consider it a form of compensation from Konoha to the Uchiha. I hope we can coexist in harmony from now on."
Kawasaki saw that the name on the appointment letter was Fugaku's and chuckled inwardly. They probably chose him because they see Fugaku as honest and easy to manipulate. It didn't matter, though. He had planned to put Fugaku in a high position anyway.
"Lord Third, you are too kind," Kawasaki said, spreading his hands in a gesture of magnanimity. His words were formal and perfectly diplomatic. "The Uchiha have always been a part of Konoha. It was only because certain individuals with malicious intentions were targeting us that we were forced to take a step back to protect ourselves. If those villains receive the punishment they deserve, the Uchiha will naturally return to the fold of Konoha."
Standing beside them, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Kawasaki had a way of making people feel awkward without ever being direct. The Third Hokage, a veteran of countless political battles, also felt a bit uneasy at Kawasaki's attitude.
"Danzo's 'Root' organization has been mostly dismantled. We will be interrogating Danzo himself soon. Clan Head Kawasaki, you are welcome to observe the proceedings. The representative of Otogakure is also welcome." The Third did not forget Orochimaru's proxy.
"Of course. After all, the grudge between the Uchiha and Danzo runs deep," Kawasaki replied with a smile.
Kabuto Yakushi also nodded, indicating he would be there.
At that moment, a masked Anbu approached and whispered something in the Third Hokage's ear. The Third's expression changed drastically. "Clan Head Kawasaki, something urgent has come up. I must take my leave."
"Please, go ahead," Kawasaki nodded. What could have happened to make the Third Hokage leave in such a hurry?
The Third left with Jiraiya, but two Anbu members stayed behind. They removed their masks.
"Kawasaki, congratulations on becoming clan head."
"Lord Kawasaki, thank you for your help back then."
It was Kakashi and Tenzo. So, Kakashi was back from the brink of despair? One of Kakashi's eyes was still covered by his forehead protector, and his expression was still somewhat somber, but at least he seemed composed enough to hold a conversation. The man beside him was Tenzo, the one Kawasaki had helped in passing all those years ago. This time, no one had given him the codename Yamato. He would likely be known as Tenzo from now on.
"Oh? No longer wallowing in despair?" Kawasaki's single sentence made Kakashi a little awkward.
Kakashi touched the empty space where his left eye used to be. "No matter what, I have to face it. There are many enemies in the village, and I can't afford to stay like this."
Kawasaki looked at Kakashi. His current state of recovery was barely passing, but at least it was a step forward.
"You two are here for Tsunade, aren't you?" Kawasaki guessed their intentions immediately. The Third Hokage had likely brought Kakashi along to deal with his eye problem, but something had interrupted his plans.
Kakashi nodded lightly. With Tsunade now residing in the Uchiha Compound, Kakashi needed Kawasaki's permission to see her. A few days ago, Kakashi had learned that some villagers, under the pretext of visiting the Memorial Stone, had desecrated Rin's grave. But too many people visited the stone to identify the culprits. Besides, pursuing it now was meaningless. As for why someone would do such a thing, Kakashi knew the answer all too well. It was something best left unsaid.
However, Rin's body wasn't actually there. Kawasaki had given Rin's coffin to Kakashi previously. After laying her to rest in a private location, Kakashi had set up a memorial grave near the stone. For that, he was still grateful to Kawasaki. After all, the disaster had been Obito's doing.
"Follow me," Kawasaki said.
...
Naruto and Sasuke had never been to a party like this before. In fact, most people there had never experienced a buffet-style reception. The venue was filled with tables and chairs, laden with all sorts of delicacies for anyone to take. Among the younger generation, Naruto was the most energetic.
"Sasuke, try this cold soba..."
"Sasuke, you have to try this sweet fried rice cake..."
"Alright, stop yelling, it's embarrassing..."
At first, Sasuke maintained his reserved demeanor, but under Naruto's influence, he soon melted into the joyful atmosphere. The two boys ate their way from one end of the venue to the other, their youthful energy seemingly endless.
Tsunade held a glass of grass jelly, stirring it gently with a small spoon. Her eyes followed Naruto as he pulled Sasuke around, their vibrant figures darting through the crowd. A smile graced her lips.
"Tsunade..." Kawasaki's voice broke her reverie. He was approaching with two people dressed as Anbu. Kakashi's hairstyle and mask were so iconic that Tsunade recognized him instantly. The other Anbu had an unremarkable face, with the only notable feature being his pair of dull, lifeless eyes.
"Tsunade, this is Tenzo," Kawasaki introduced him.
Oh? Tsunade looked Tenzo up and down. So this was the infant who survived that experiment? He was all grown up. She had a good idea of why Kakashi was here.
"I'm in a good mood today, so let's not discuss such matters. Come find me in seven days," Tsunade said, waving her hand dismissively. "As for your eye, I can only say I'll do my best. You need to be mentally prepared." Regenerating flesh was not simple, especially for an organ as complex as an eye.
She needed seven days to think it over. After all, her Strength of a Hundred Seal and Creation Rebirth techniques were primarily for her own use. That was why, in the end, she had only been able to create a prosthetic limb for Naruto. Kakashi's situation couldn't be resolved with just a few words.
Both Kakashi and Tenzo smiled. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
Kakashi had suffered greatly from the loss of his eye; the blind spot in his vision was a fatal weakness in a shinobi battle. Coming to Tsunade was a long shot. Kakashi's master was Minato, whose master was Jiraiya, making him and Tsunade from the same lineage. But Minato had been dead for many years, and Kakashi and Tsunade had had little interaction since. If Tsunade had been unwilling to help, Kakashi would have had to find another way. Thankfully, she had agreed to try.
After receiving Tsunade's promise, Kakashi and Tenzo did not linger. This was, after all, a gathering for the Uchiha clan. After he had removed his mask, some people had already recognized him and begun to whisper. Kakashi was also worried about the Third Hokage, so he made a hasty departure.
...
Just as the Uchiha celebration was in full swing, a member of the Hyuga clan rushed in frantically. It was Hyuga Yuto. The Uchiha knew of his friendship with their clan head, so no one stopped him.
"Lord Kawasaki, there's trouble!" Yuto gasped, running up to him. His clothes were damp with sweat.
Kawasaki pulled Yuto to the side. Yuto whispered in his ear, "Danzo has escaped from prison. Two of our clansmen are dead."
Kawasaki's brow furrowed. Danzo escaped? Could Hiruzen Sarutobi have intentionally let him go?
"The prison is covered in sealing jutsu. His own ninjutsu would have been severely weakened, and he's almost seventy years old. How did he escape?"
Hyuga Yuto lowered his voice even further. "There were traces of Wood Style at the scene. A large hole was dug from the outside."
Kawasaki glanced discreetly at Tsunade.