"T-This…Lord Byakuya…"
Uchiha En stared at the sight before him—Uchiha Gen, the clan leader, collapsed on the ground, eyes bloodshot with fury and humiliation. After a moment's hesitation, En stepped forward and restrained Gen without another word. Though Gen still held the title of clan head, Byakuya had already won the loyalty of many within the younger Uchiha ranks.
After years of suppression, mistreatment, and being treated like pawns in Konoha's political game, the younger Uchiha had long grown disillusioned with their elders. Uchiha Gen, despite his seniority, had done little to protect the clan from marginalization after the Nine-Tails incident. And now, with Byakuya rising as a fierce force within the clan, En and others saw their opportunity for change.
"You dare lay hands on me!?" Gen shouted, struggling. "This is treason! Rebellion!"
"Rebellion?" Byakuya's voice was calm and cutting. "You protected a traitor who endangered the village. You sided with someone plotting against Konoha. And now you call me a traitor?"
He narrowed his crimson Sharingan eyes. "In the name of the Will of Fire, I will do what must be done—even if it means casting down my own clan head."
Byakuya smirked inwardly. Every time he invoked the Will of Fire, it became harder for anyone to question him. That ideal—preached endlessly by the Hokage—was so vague, yet so powerful in rhetoric.
No wonder Hiruzen clung to it so often.
"You... hypocrite... despicable...!" Uchiha Gen choked, coughing violently from the stress and injury.
[Ding! Uchiha Gen's anger detected. +300 negative energy. Taijutsu +5]
[Ding! Uchiha Gen's anger intensifies. +400 negative energy. New ninjutsu acquired: Fire Style – Great Fire Annihilation]
"En," Byakuya said lazily as he turned to leave, "find a medic for the old man. I don't want him dying just yet."
This wasn't mercy—it was strategy. Uchiha Gen's indignation was a fountain of negative energy, and Byakuya planned to keep milking it.
"Yes, Lord Byakuya! I'll see to it," Uchiha En answered firmly.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened as he heard the report.
"What did you just say...? Shinnosuke was captured... by the Uchiha?"
The old Hokage rose from his seat. His son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, was a jonin and captain of the Konoha Military Police—although not often featured, canon confirms his existence. Hiruzen immediately feared the worst.
"Is Uchiha Gen planning a coup…?" he muttered. The clan had long been watched with suspicion since the Nine-Tails attack.
But something didn't add up.
Uchiha Gen, though once powerful, had been seriously injured during a mission in his younger years and was no longer in peak condition. Moreover, he had always aligned himself with Hiruzen's vision—the Will of Fire. It made no sense for Gen to rebel.
"No, Hokage-sama," one of the ANBU knelt before him. "This wasn't Gen's doing. Our intel confirms that he too was attacked. The one who captured Shinnosuke and seized control is Uchiha Byakuya."
"Byakuya…?" Hiruzen's brows furrowed. He had heard the name—a young and formidable member of the Uchiha clan. Talented. Charismatic. Dangerous.
Still, could one man truly stand against all of Konoha?
"Prepare a squad," Hiruzen ordered coldly. "We're going to the Uchiha compound. I want to hear from Byakuya himself."
Uchiha Clan Compound
When Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived with an ANBU escort, Byakuya was already waiting. He sat casually on the roof of a building, legs crossed, clearly unbothered.
"Well, well," Byakuya called down mockingly, "if it isn't the Third Hokage himself. What brings you to our humble district?"
"Uchiha Byakuya!" Hiruzen barked. "You've assaulted fellow Konoha ninjas and detained my son without authorization! Explain yourself!"
"Heh," Byakuya chuckled, his voice laced with disdain. "What an accusation, Lord Hokage. I'm merely upholding justice. Your son used his position to abuse citizens, and when questioned, resisted. Isn't the Uchiha Police Force entrusted with enforcing law?"
"You overstepped your authority."
"Did I?" Byakuya leaned forward, his Mangekyō Sharingan flickering to life. "Or is it that you fear someone in the Uchiha finally standing up instead of bowing down?"
Hiruzen said nothing. The tension in the air was suffocating.
"You speak of rebellion," Byakuya continued, "yet it is you who pushed the Uchiha to the margins, confined us after the Nine-Tails incident, watched us with suspicion. Is it rebellion to demand dignity?"
Hiruzen's grip on his staff tightened.
"You've made your position clear," he said at last. "But know this—Konoha will not tolerate disorder, no matter who claims the Will of Fire."
Byakuya smirked. "Then I look forward to seeing how much fire your Will can handle."
"According to our investigation and interrogation, Sarutobi Shinnosuke is guilty of serious misconduct. I intend to recommend his exile from Konohagakure," Byakuya declared, his tone righteous and unwavering.
"I'm carrying out my duty as part of the Konoha Military Police Force," he added with conviction.
"What nonsense is this!? Shinnosuke betrayed Konoha!?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice trembled with fury. "You're accusing my son of being a traitor!?"
The accusation of being a nukenin—a rogue ninja—was grave. Konoha had always treated such matters with the utmost severity, but Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, refused to believe his son would turn against the village.
[Ding! Detected Sarutobi Hiruzen's anger. +300 negative energy. Ninjutsu proficiency +6...]
"I'm not making baseless claims," Byakuya said coldly. "This is the official interrogation report of Sarutobi Shinnosuke."
He retrieved a scroll from his cloak and, without ceremony, tossed it onto the ground before the Hokage.
"You…" Hiruzen's face darkened, veins bulging on his temple. The act was brazen—an outright humiliation. For Hiruzen to pick up the report, he would have to bow his head—something he hadn't done since taking the Hokage mantle.
[Ding! Detected Sarutobi Hiruzen's fury. +400 negative energy. Taijutsu proficiency +7...]
[Ding! Detected Sarutobi Hiruzen's fury. +500 negative energy. Genjutsu proficiency +8...]
[Ding! Detected Sarutobi Hiruzen's fury. +600 negative energy. Acquired: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique...]
[...]
As expected of the Hokage, Byakuya mused. Such potent emotions…
One of the masked ANBU standing behind the Hokage silently stepped forward, picked up the scroll, and handed it to Hiruzen.
"…Hmph."
Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen composed himself and unfurled the report. But after scanning only a few lines, his grip tightened.
"You… You dare fabricate this!?" he snapped, his hands shaking. "Shinnosuke would never commit such atrocities!"
His chakra flared subtly. Though he was past his prime, Sarutobi Hiruzen's presence remained formidable. His gaze bore into Byakuya like burning coals.