When trust is broken, even patience turns to steel.
Because many of Root's darker dealings had been carried out under Hiruzen's tacit approval, he now found himself—unexpectedly—standing on the same side as Danzō.
Fugaku slowly raised his head. His eyes locked onto Hiruzen, filled with disbelief. His lips parted slightly, yet no words came out.
He had expected Danzō, Koharu, and Homura to stand together. But Hiruzen—the Hokage—choosing to blur the line between right and wrong?
Unbelievable.
In the end, Fugaku said nothing. He turned and walked out.
It was a blatant act of disrespect. But to him, there was nothing improper about it. Respect was earned—and these people were not worthy.
At that moment, something in Fugaku changed.
Once, he had been a moderate—enduring, compromising, trying to ease tensions between the village and the Uchiha. Even when radicals within the clan pushed for stronger action, he had responded cautiously.
But now, he saw it clearly.
Everything he had done meant nothing. It had all been futile.
A village like this was not worth trusting. Only strength could earn the Uchiha respect.
"Uchiha Fugaku! How dare you show such disrespect to the Hokage!" Koharu snapped, furious.
Fugaku didn't stop. With his hands behind his back, his voice calm and laced with mockery, he replied, "The Hokage's proposal is excellent. I agree. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
There was nothing left to say.
He walked toward the door.
Suddenly, Kakashi stepped in front of him.
"Captain Fugaku," he said coldly, "show respect to the Hokage."
Fugaku looked at him—and smiled.
His crimson Sharingan met Kakashi's gaze. For a moment, Kakashi felt a chill run through him.
"Kakashi…" Fugaku's voice was low. "Think carefully—who gave you that Sharingan."
Kakashi froze.
Fugaku pushed past him and left.
Outside, the sunlight was blinding. Inside, only shadows remained.
Kakashi stood there as if struck. Memories surged through his mind—Obito, crushed beneath falling stone. That eye… a final gift.
"…Did I… make the wrong choice?" he whispered.
Back inside, Koharu was still fuming. "Hiruzen, this is unacceptable! Strip him of his position as head of the Military Police!"
But no one responded.
They all knew.
If the Yamanaka clan had been allowed to intervene, the truth would have been exposed—Root had attacked the Uchiha. That outcome was unacceptable.
So this… was compromise.
Otherwise, killing a Root jōnin would not have gone unpunished.
Soon, Koharu and Homura left. Only Hiruzen and Danzō remained.
Silence lingered.
Then Hiruzen spoke. "It's just the two of us now. Explain—why target those two Uchiha children?"
Danzō was his shadow. Though they often disagreed, their bond ran deep. After Biwako's death, Danzō was the only one Hiruzen truly trusted.
Danzō didn't elaborate. "The Uchiha are a threat. Studying them yields valuable intelligence. Everything I do… is for the village."
A clean answer, positioned perfectly.
Hiruzen sighed. Smoke curled in the air. He asked no further questions.
…
Outside the Hokage Tower, Fugaku walked in silence.
Heavy. Angry.
The truth had been clear—Root had acted without cause. And yet… "insufficient evidence."
Hiruzen's tolerance of Danzō had gone too far. This path would destroy Konoha.
When he returned home, Kai and Itachi were already there.
Fugaku hesitated. For a moment, he couldn't meet their eyes.
He had failed them.
Forcing a smile, he asked softly, "…Are you both alright?"
Kai frowned but didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Clan Head… what was the result?"
He already knew. But he needed to hear it.
Fugaku gave a bitter smile. "Insufficient evidence. The matter has been handed to the Torture and Interrogation Division."
"…As expected."
Kai's expression didn't change. Once it reached that stage, the outcome was already decided.
But Itachi reacted differently.
"Why?!"
His fists clenched, his eyes burning with frustration.
He had felt it—those Root shinobi had intended to kill them. If Fugaku hadn't arrived, they would have been taken, their lives at Root's mercy.
And now… nothing?
What kind of justice was this?
Wasn't the Will of Fire meant to protect children?
Then why had Root attacked them?
What kind of Will of Fire… was this?
Fugaku placed a hand on Itachi's head. Guilt and resolve filled his voice.
"If Konoha won't give us justice… then I will. I will make Root pay."
…
By sunset, Kakashi had finished early.
With time to spare, he stopped by a flower shop and bought two bouquets. Then he made his way to the Konoha cemetery.
Obito. Rin.
He placed the flowers before their graves.
Fugaku's words echoed in his mind—a slap, a wake-up call.
Back then, after Obito gave him the Sharingan, many Uchiha had opposed it. A bloodline was a clan's foundation; giving it to an outsider was dangerous. Even the village elders had little ground to interfere.
But Fugaku had honored Obito's will. He had stood firm and allowed Kakashi to keep the eye.
Otherwise… it would have been taken.
Again.
Kakashi stared at the gravestone in silence for a long time.
"…Obito. I think… I made a mistake today."
He turned and left.
Not long after, space rippled.
A figure appeared—a man wearing a spiral-patterned mask.
He stood before Rin's grave and casually knocked the flowers aside.
"Kakashi…" His voice was cold. "…still as hypocritical as ever."
Silence followed.
Then his tone hardened.
"The real world is too cruel. A world of illusion… isn't so bad."
"Rin…"
"I'll create a world where you exist."
No matter the cost.
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