Two days later.
Inside the Leaf Court.
Everyone had changed into a new set of clothes—suits, to be exact, the kind commonly seen in courtrooms.
Curious about these stylish and unique outfits, people began asking where they came from.
Uchiha Kei explained, "The Uchiha Clan acquired them through trade with foreign travelers."
In truth, these suits had been exchanged by Uchiha Yato from his system.
Uchiha Kei trusted Yato implicitly and smoothly spun this lie to cover for him.
Besides, the suits were undeniably sharp, and his explanation won everyone's approval.
But Uchiha Yato still managed to steal the spotlight.
Not only had he changed into the suit, but he had also transformed his originally black hair into golden, voluminous curls.
This made Yato appear more radiant while adding a touch of solemn dignity.
Yato approached Sarutobi Hiruzen and said, "Hokage-sama, this is the formal attire for the occasion."
"What do you think? Are you satisfied with it, Hokage-sama?"
The novelty was certainly achieved, and the suit looked excellent—Hiruzen couldn't help but like it.
Next came Shimura Danzo, who was also intrigued by the outfit and wanted to try it on.
At that moment, an Uchiha staff member stepped forward to explain that Danzo's attire was different.
He would need to change in a separate area to ensure the proper procedure.
Danzo, ever the schemer, quietly asked the staff member if his outfit was one-of-a-kind.
The staff member gave him an astonished look and replied, "The best in the venue, utterly unique, custom-tailored, and absolutely unparalleled."
Admittedly, not many were yet aware of the tensions between the Uchiha and Shimura Danzo.
For now, everything appeared harmonious.
Hearing the Uchiha staff member's clever little phrases, Danzo was convinced his outfit would be exceptionally striking.
Naturally, he followed the staff member to the back to change.The staff indicated that these minor terms were actually devised by Uchiha Yato, so they warned, "Don't say we didn't warn you when regret comes later."
The preliminary activities concluded swiftly, followed by the standard court proceedings.
First, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, assumed the role of presiding judge, with Uchiha Yato and Uchiha Kei serving as assessors.
Not fully grasping the situation, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane noticed the two prominent seats beside Hiruzen occupied by Uchiha clansmen.
Visibly displeased, they spoke up:
"As Konoha's advisors, where are our designated positions?"
Uchiha Yato responded smoothly, "Naturally, the two advisors hold positions of great importance—representing the broader populace of the Hidden Leaf."
The two advisors, mollified by Yato's explanation, felt their dignity preserved and their moods considerably lifted.
With Danzo absent and causing no disruptions, everything proceeded smoothly.
While addressing the advisors, Yato also addressed the rest of the assembly:
"The cases we adjudicate are not merely for those present in this courtroom."
"They concern all citizens of the Hidden Leaf—everyone has the right to know the truth."
This declaration bolstered the confidence of the villagers who had come to spectate, while also affirming their significance.
Subsequently, seating arrangements were made for others, with key figures such as witnesses and evidence custodians assigned to separate sections.
Had Shimura Danzo been present, hearing Yato's words would have signaled impending misfortune for him.
As a Uchiha staff member called for order, the Leaf Court officially commenced.
First, Sarutobi Hiruzen impartially recited the court's opening procedures.
These included announcing courtroom decorum, verifying the identities of involved parties, introducing the judicial panel and court clerk, informing participants of their litigation rights and obligations, and inquiring about any requests for recusal.
True to his reputation as a skilled orator, though initially somewhat unfamiliar with the formal terminology, Hiruzen quickly grew adept. With just a glance at the content—and Yato's watchful gaze beside him—he grasped the procedural regulations, embodying fairness, transparency, and rigor.
By the time he concluded his speech as presiding judge, Hiruzen had already resolved to retain this system, recognizing its potential to bolster public trust.
Next, the plaintiff (the Uchiha Police Force) presented the indictment.
The charges primarily pertained to Shimura Danzo's incitement of criminal acts and the attempted assassination of Uchiha Yato.
Here, Uchiha Ren deliberately omitted the clauses Yato had fabricated to avoid any impression of impropriety.
For the defense—Shimura Danzo—Yato had even arranged legal counsel (a randomly abducted Root operative).
However, due to the abruptness and confusion of the situation, the defense attorney's arguments were skipped entirely.
The Uchiha Clan then systematically presented evidence of Danzo's atrocities.
Notably, they withheld information about his crimes against other shinobi clans.
First, such details were irrelevant to the current case and insufficient to decisively condemn Danzo.
Second, the Konoha Council of Four were no pushovers. Their willingness to participate in this proceeding was merely to observe how events unfolded.It was impossible to lay everything bare here and now. Doing so would mean openly pitting the Uchiha Clan against the Hokage's top brass.
Third, previously Uchiha Yato could only claim to have evidence that Shimura Danzo killed Uchiha Michiko.
But now, with Aburame Ryoma's capture, combined with the Uchiha Clan's interrogation techniques and the secret assistance he'd enlisted from the Yamanaka Clan, there was now irrefutable proof of Shimura Danzo's crimes.
All that was needed was to initiate this process when Danzo was at his most vulnerable, and he would be permanently nailed to the pillar of shame.
All of this had been arranged in advance with the Aburame clan head, who had openly stated his position and requested the Yamanaka Clan's testimony.
At this moment, the Aburame clan head, sitting in the witness stand, was contemplating how to resolve his clan's current crisis.
On one side was the Uchiha Clan's ferocious tiger, and on the other was Shimura Danzo's ravenous wolf.
A single misstep, and the Aburame clan would face annihilation.
Meanwhile, Shimura Danzo, standing in the courtroom, was both furious and deeply frustrated.
Before the trial began, Uchiha staff had told him that his outfit would be the best in the room—unique and unmatched.
But the "outfit" turned out to be a prisoner's uniform, with his name boldly written on it and the words "Best in the Room" emblazoned front and back.
Instantly, he realized Uchiha Yato was messing with him.
Ding~
"Congratulations, Host, for causing Shimura Danzo's emotions to fluctuate significantly."
"Reward: 50 Emotion Coins."
Up in the spectator stands, Uchiha Yato maintained an expressionless face with great effort.
He was professionally trained—absolutely no laughing allowed.
Thanks to Yato's guidance, the Uchiha staff had also acted professionally, having explained the stakes to Shimura Danzo beforehand.
They made it clear that this case wasn't just being watched by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Recently, Uchiha Yato had even sought counsel from Uzumaki Mito, hoping to use her influence to ensure fairness, justice, and transparency.
This was why the usually arrogant Shimura Danzo remained in the courtroom, enduring humiliation without a single thought of defiance.
Of course, some of this was pure bluff—Uchiha Yato had never actually spoken to Uzumaki Mito. He was simply using her name to intimidate Danzo.
Smart people tended to overthink things. The less explicitly stated, the more they believed.
But the effect was outstanding—Danzo obediently submitted to the trial.
After some back-and-forth, just as they were about to hand down a heavy sentence on Danzo, someone suddenly spoke up.
"We feel this verdict is still not fair enough!"