"Clan Head Yamakaku has already promised that if he fails to uncover the truth, he'll step down. That proves he isn't just yielding endlessly to Konoha to protect his own position."
"And what if this really is the scheme of another ninja village?"
By staking his position as clan head, Uchiha Yamakaku managed to calm the situation—for the moment.
Rasa's expression, however, turned ugly.
If the Uchiha problem settled down, then Konoha would avoid internal chaos.
And without internal chaos, the Konoha shinobi stationed along the border of the Land of Wind would definitely move against Sunagakure.
That, after all, was why they were stationed there in the first place.
"This Uchiha Yamakaku…" Rasa thought. "He looks very much like someone who already knows about Konoha's plan against Sunagakure."
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately emphasized this current period."
"So all of you have your eyes on my Sunagakure, hoping to feast on its flesh and blood?"
Rasa turned and left the assembly hall together with the furious Uchiha.
"Then I'll follow through with my own plan."
Back in the study at home, Uchiha Yamakaku let out a breath and finally smiled.
"Barely settled, at least."
Uchiha Fugaku could not help asking,
"Father… if those things are true, then isn't what we're doing wrong?"
"Wrong?"
Uchiha Yamakaku glanced at him.
"Then what would you have me do?"
"Take a rumor about Kagami-senpai and use it to question the Hokage?"
"Force Konoha to admit that someone sold out one of the Uchiha clan's shinobi?"
"Use the power of the entire Uchiha clan to pressure Konoha?"
Fugaku froze.
Yamakaku continued.
"Whether those things are true or not, handling it this way is what benefits the Uchiha the most."
"If we do what they want, internal conflict will inevitably break out. When that happens, where will the Uchiha go?"
"Who will bear that responsibility?"
"The only correct way is to calm things down first."
"As for what comes after—if those things really are true, then I'll find a way to use them to win back the benefits our clan deserves."
"Even if it's true, we absolutely cannot tear the mask off Konoha completely. The moment we do, there will be no room left to turn back."
He paused, then added,
"And one more thing."
"Do you know that Konoha is currently facing a major opportunity?"
Fugaku shook his head.
Yamakaku said,
"Sunagakure rejected Kirigakure's peace terms, and Kirigakure has launched a fierce assault against them."
"This gives Konoha a perfect chance to take a share for itself."
"That would be an enormous gain."
"And our Uchiha clan would profit from it as well."
"Go get some rest, Fugaku. You haven't slept since yesterday."
Fugaku rose and walked out.
Before long, he returned to his own small courtyard.
A figure came forward to meet him—
His wife, Uchiha Mikoto.
At the doorway, a three-year-old boy looked toward him.
"Good morning, Father."
Fugaku gave a slight nod.
"Good morning, Itachi."
Then he turned to Mikoto.
"Mikoto, prepare me a clean set of clothes. I'll sleep after I wash."
"Alright."
Uchiha Fugaku lay on the bed with the doors and windows shut tight.
Even though he had not closed his eyes in over a day, sleep still would not come.
His eyes remained wide open, full of confusion.
"Father's meaning was clear."
"Even if those things are true, they absolutely cannot be made public. Otherwise, it would mean tearing the mask off Konoha and causing internal conflict—and the Uchiha would not be able to bear the consequences."
"But if all we do afterward is claw back a few benefits, then what meaning does that have?"
"Where is justice in that?"
"Because we're afraid, we just keep compromising?"
"And if Konoha becomes more excessive in the future?"
"Will the Uchiha just keep retreating forever? Keep allowing Konoha to humiliate us? Then accept a little compensation and tell ourselves it's over?"
"Is Father really doing this for the good of the Uchiha clan?"
"Or is it just like those people said—for the sake of his position as clan head?"
At the Hokage Building—
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the ANBU report and slowly let out a breath.
"I didn't expect Uchiha Yamakaku to have at least a bit of the Will of Fire in him."
"He used his own position as clan head to settle the matter and prevent it from developing into the worst possible outcome."
"In that case…"
"We can begin moving on Sunagakure's side."
But just as Hiruzen was about to issue the order—
Suddenly—
A loud voice rang out from in front of the Hokage Building.
"Hokage-sama, I am Uchiha Dou. I have a few questions, and I hope Hokage-sama can answer them."
"First—there is a line in that Kumogakure shinobi's suicide note claiming that Kagami-senpai was sold out by you and the Second Hokage."
"I want to know whether that is true."
"How exactly did Kagami-senpai die back then?"
"When did he die?"
"At whose hands?"
"And where?"
"Second—Uchiha Ta and Uchiha Ki were betrayed by their own teammates on the battlefield. What punishment should such conduct receive? When will Konoha finally give them justice?"
"Why has no investigation into those incidents even been launched until now?"
"And one more thing—"
"Do the Uchiha count as part of Konoha or not?"
Every gaze in the surrounding area turned toward him.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen's face sank at once as he looked toward the ANBU shinobi opposite him.
"This is what you meant when you said Uchiha Yamakaku had already calmed the matter?"
The ANBU lowered his head and said nothing.
Hiruzen's thoughts raced.
How should he respond?
What was the best way to limit the fallout from this?
But no answer came immediately.
"For now, have Uchiha Yamakaku send someone to take him away."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU who had been preparing to approach immediately pulled back.
Another ANBU moved at top speed and headed for the Uchiha compound.
"Yamakaku-senpai…"
The moment he heard the report, Uchiha Yamakaku's expression changed drastically.
"That Uchiha Dou!"
He began cursing in fury.
"He actually went to the Hokage Building and questioned Hokage-sama in front of so many people?"
"Has he gone mad?"
"If he wants to go insane, fine—but now he's dragging the entire Uchiha clan down with him!"
"How am I supposed to clean up this mess?"
Soon, two Uchiha arrived in front of the Hokage Building.
"Uchiha Dou. By order of the clan head, we are taking you back to the Uchiha compound."
Rasa did not resist.
That was exactly what he wanted.
The first step had already been completed.
And the second step—
Would unfold inside the Uchiha compound.
"Hokage-sama, that Uchiha Dou has already been taken away."
Hiruzen nodded, but his brows remained tightly furrowed.
He had been about to issue the order for Shinku Yuhi's forces to strike Sunagakure.
But after this interruption—
He hesitated again.
And just then, another figure stormed straight into the Hokage's office.
"Hiruzen! These Uchiha have gone too far. To come right up to the Hokage Building and spout such nonsense—they've grown far too bold. Hand this matter over to me. What do you say?"
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