"Sandaime-sama, you're finally here."
For the first time that day, Uchiha Touhan—who had stood in silence since the beginning—opened his mouth.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's sharp eyes moved to the battered figure lying on the ground. Danzo Shimura was half-dead, his body barely clinging to life. "Touhan, explain. What exactly happened here?"
"This morning we accepted a mission from the village," Touhan said evenly, his tone calm yet heavy. "But on the way, we were ambushed. After cutting down the enemy, we discovered Elder Danzo among the attackers."
"Impossible!" Mitokado Homura snapped, anger flashing in his eyes. "How could Danzo have turned his blade against you?"
"It doesn't matter what you believe," Touhan replied coldly. "During the battle, he revealed a Sharingan. At first, we thought he was some thief who had stolen from our clan… but it was Danzo himself."
"Outrageous! The Uchiha have framed him!" Utatane Koharu barked, her voice sharp with fury.
"The Uchiha do not desecrate their own," the clan leader standing behind Touhan thundered, his anger spilling into the room.
Touhan remained unshaken. "We found more than a Sharingan." He stepped forward, pulling something grim from Danzo's arm. One by one, he removed the stolen Sharingan, unsealing the bindings. The moment the seals broke, Hashirama's cells consumed the corpse, twisting it into a grotesque wooden pillar.
A murmur ran through the crowd. "Wood Release…?"
Some of the older shinobi recognized it instantly. Touhan gave a slight nod, and Inahori dropped the unconscious Yamato onto the ground.
"During the fight, we captured this shinobi who also wields Wood Release. Do I need to explain what this means?" Touhan's gaze cut sharply toward Hiruzen.
"You dare desecrate the Shodaime-sama's legacy!" an elder Uchiha cried, his voice trembling with reverence. His fury mirrored the faces of many around him—Konoha's faith itself felt betrayed.
Even the Hokage's supporters faltered. The truth was undeniable, and Danzo's sins stained their faith like poison.
Hiruzen's brow furrowed, his voice heavy. "Enough. I will see this matter investigated thoroughly. I promise you all an explanation—"
"We cannot trust them!" a radical Uchiha shouted, eyes blazing. "Touhan! You bear Madara-sama's eyes! You are the one who will lead us to glory!"
The clan erupted in chaos, voices rising in dangerous fervor. Shisui and Itachi exchanged alarmed glances. If this madness spread, it would plunge everything into ruin.
"Silence!" Touhan's roar cracked like thunder.
The radicals froze. Shock swept through the ranks as Touhan's Sharingan swirled, its three tomoe blossoming into a kaleidoscope.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Touhan's voice cut like steel. "Konoha was forged by the Shodaime and Madara-sama together. This village is our home. We drink from the same river, harvest the same fields—we are bound to this land!"
Shisui and Itachi stared, stunned. Could it be? Did Touhan have no intention of leading a rebellion?
"Clan leader, am I wrong?" Touhan turned toward Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku's silence broke. He stepped forward, bowed to Hiruzen, and declared, "Touhan speaks the truth. My people were overzealous. Forgive us, Hokage-sama."
The radicals bit back their words. None dared speak under the weight of Touhan's kaleidoscope gaze.
"I understand." Hiruzen seized the moment, his voice steady but weary. "Even I would rage at seeing the Shodaime's legacy profaned. Fugaku, take your people home. Once this is investigated, I will give the clan its due answer."
But Touhan stepped forward again, holding up the morning's mission scroll. His smile was sharp, cutting. "Then explain this, Hokage-sama. This bears your seal. Did you issue this order?"
Hiruzen's eyes darkened. "I gave no such mission. There's no record of it in the mission hall."
"Then it was Danzo's doing alone, wasn't it?" Touhan pressed.
Hiruzen looked at the twisted remains, the weight of truth pressing down. In his heart, he whispered, Forgive me, Danzo… Yet out loud, he said only: "Yes. It was Danzo's crime alone."
"Disgraceful!" Touhan's voice rose, righteous fury filling every word. "While the Hokage sacrifices himself for the village, others chase selfish ambitions that endanger us all! There are traitors in the Hokage's own shadow." His sharp eyes flicked toward Homura and Koharu.
"I will get to the bottom of this," Hiruzen said stiffly, clinging to composure.
"The Uchiha will stand with you, Hokage-sama." Touhan bowed low, his voice calm once more.
But as Hiruzen lifted his gaze, he froze. Touhan's kaleidoscope spun slowly, hypnotically, like a storm pulling him in. Cold sweat ran down the Hokage's back. So this was his true aim all along…
"Very well," Hiruzen said, voice heavy with resignation. "I'll entrust this matter to you."
The Mangekyō dimmed, and Touhan lowered his head respectfully. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
Then, turning sharply to his people, Touhan's voice rang out like a war-drum: "The Uchiha salute the Hokage!"
He raised his right hand to his brow. "Chūo! Makoto!"
The clan followed in unison, their voices thundering as one. Even Fugaku joined the salute.
"Chūo! Makoto!"
The Hokage stood in silence, the echo of their voices weighing heavily on his heart.
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(End of Chapter )