Shuoye's decisive strike stunned everyone present.
They had never seen him so ruthless—so utterly uncompromising.
For the first time, many truly understood that the young Uchiha clan head was not someone to be trifled with.
"Danzō-sama! I'm innocent! I was only following your orders to—"
The Root captain had completely collapsed.
He could no longer even explain himself.
"Enough!"
Danzō's voice cracked like a whip.
Authority thundered through the courtyard as he forcefully suppressed the humiliation threatening to crush him.
"I don't know what trick you used, brat," he said coldly, glaring at Shuoye, "but this has your shadow all over it."
His gaze shifted to the captain.
"You have disgraced Root."
"You will face punishment."
He gestured sharply, ordering his men to drag the captain away.
Yet in his heart, calculations churned.
If he could pry open Shuoye's secrets—
He could crush the Uchiha once and for all.
"Shuoye."
Danzō's tone turned icy.
"You attacked a comrade within the village."
"This cannot be tolerated."
"You will submit to investigation."
Shuoye let out a quiet laugh.
He looked at Danzō as if at a clown performing on stage.
"Root… dares to investigate the head of the Uchiha?"
"Danzō-sama, your hunger for power grows more shameless by the day."
Danzō trembled with fury.
"Even the noblest are equal before the law!"
"I act for the justice and order of the Hidden Leaf Village!"
Inside, however, he felt a twisted satisfaction.
This was an opportunity.
A chance to expose Shuoye.
Shuoye ignored him.
Instead, his eyes turned toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Third Hokage-sama."
"Is this your stance as well?"
"You would have the leader of the Uchiha subjected to humiliation under investigation?"
Hiruzen's expression grew complicated.
He understood the delicacy of this moment.
"Shuoye… for the sake of the village's peace, I hope you understand."
"An investigation is the best way to prove your innocence."
"The village will not wrong the blameless."
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado nodded beside him, attempting to calm the situation.
But their words felt hollow against Shuoye's faint, contemptuous smile.
Then—
A deep, authoritative voice rang out.
"Shuoye may accept investigation."
"But first—Root must explain why they attempted to infiltrate Uchiha territory."
The Uchiha Great Elder stepped forward.
Behind him—
Members of the Uchiha clan emerged.
They threw several captured Root operatives onto the ground before everyone.
Shock rippled through the crowd.
No one had expected the tables to turn so swiftly.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Danzō's face darkened like the bottom of a pot.
His glare burned toward the captured Root members.
Useless fools.
Hiruzen's expression stiffened as well.
He understood immediately.
Shuoye had come prepared.
If civil war erupted now—
With the Hidden Cloud Village pressing from outside—
The Hidden Leaf Village could collapse entirely.
Shuoye smiled faintly.
"Danzō-sama."
"It seems the situation has reversed."
"Care to explain why your Root operatives were lurking near Uchiha grounds?"
"For what purpose?"
Danzō's face grew storm-dark.
He knew the initiative had slipped completely from his grasp.
Hiruzen quickly stepped forward to defuse the tension.
"Shuoye… since we are all gathered, let us set internal matters aside for now."
"Let us discuss the Hidden Cloud."
He coughed lightly, steering the topic away.
Shuoye smiled as though everything were proceeding exactly as planned.
"If the Third Hokage has spoken—"
"Then let us return inside."
His words were simple.
But firm.
Danzō swallowed his resentment under Hiruzen's warning gaze.
His wariness of Shuoye deepened.
This young Uchiha leader—
Always seemed to seize control at the most critical moment.
Back inside the meeting chamber—
The atmosphere thickened like stagnant air before a storm.
Danzō spoke first, voice rigid.
"The Uchiha are part of this village."
"They should contribute when the village requires strength."
"And now—"
"Is precisely such a moment."
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