Danzō flipped through the report in his hand.
It detailed the damage suffered by the Uchiha clan.
"You mean to tell me that all this large-scale destruction… was caused by just Fugaku and Itachi?"
The Root operative confirmed, "Yes, Lord Danzō. More than half of the clan district's buildings were destroyed. The scene looked as though several Kage-level shinobi had fought there."
How could the Mangekyō be this powerful?
Danzō paced back and forth. Shisui had only mentioned the ability of Kotoamatsukami to him. Even when Shisui revealed Susanoo under pursuit, it had never displayed such overwhelming might.
Naturally, he didn't know that the Uchiha's Susanoo came in multiple stages. Back then, Shisui hadn't been in good condition, and with little fighting spirit, he had used his Susanoo conservatively.
"How many people did Itachi take with him?"
"Reporting, Lord Danzō, the exact figures aren't clear yet. The Uchiha are not cooperating with the census. Preliminary estimates put it at over a hundred."
"What did the Third say?" Danzō lowered his eyes, his figure hidden in the shadows, emotion unreadable.
The Root ninja answered, "The Third Hokage said that what happened tonight was merely an exodus, not a rebellion."
Hearing this, Danzō slammed his cane hard against the floor.
"Hmph, Hiruzen… you truly have grown old."
"The Uchiha, with their wolfish ambitions, and yet you still shield them."
"Send out our operatives. By tomorrow, spread word throughout the village that, due to the Third's incompetence, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui led their people into rebellion."
After his subordinate left, Danzō stepped deeper into the darkness, greed flickering in his eyes.
Hiashi, Hizashi, and the other Hyūga elders were also examining the investigation report.
The destruction of the Uchiha compound resembled the aftermath of a rampaging Tailed Beast.
Could the Hyūga achieve something like this?
As one of Konoha's only two noble clans, the Hyūga had always been compared against the Uchiha. During the Third Shinobi World War, the two clans had been evenly matched.
Though inferior in numbers, the Hyūga's Byakugan scouting abilities were highly valued. Wasn't it true that the Hidden Mist had practically celebrated when they managed to steal even a single Byakugan?
The Byakugan was indeed formidable.
But now, it was clear—the Uchiha clan had produced two Mangekyō Sharingan wielders. One was the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku. The other was even more shocking—Itachi, a boy of only eleven.
His potential for growth was immeasurable.
"Clan head, the Uchiha delivered this letter earlier this morning," someone said.
Hiashi opened it—it was a recommendation letter from Fugaku.
In it, Fugaku explained that due to injuries, he was unable to handle Police Force affairs, and recommended Hizashi to succeed him as Captain. The rest of the document outlined Fugaku's development suggestions and plans for the Police Force—clearly prepared long in advance.
Hiashi read it, then passed it to Hizashi and the other elders.
Everyone understood what Fugaku meant. This was a declaration of complete withdrawal from Konoha's power structure.
Though Fugaku had hinted at such intentions before, none expected him to act so suddenly—or so decisively.
The destruction of the Uchiha compound was plainly deliberate. Most of the ruined houses had been empty. Casualties were almost nonexistent. In a true battle, how could there possibly have been time to evacuate everyone first?
"I feel like ever since Uchiha Natsuki returned, Fugaku has become like a different person," Hizashi remarked.
The others, all shrewd men, had noticed too. They'd seen how Fugaku changed after Natsuki's return. All had long acknowledged Natsuki's keen mind.
Hiashi spoke at last: "Whatever the case, the Uchiha have now abandoned their former rights completely. Itachi has also taken away a large number of their people. The village no longer has reason to target them."
"Since Fugaku left us such a generous gift upon departure, we Hyūga must not fail in courtesy."
He paused. "As for the remaining few Uchiha in the Police Force, let them continue managing their own district. Double their pay."
Hiashi's tone shifted. "Hizashi, among this new intake of academy students, aside from Hinata, who else is there?"
Hizashi nodded. "Yes, Clan Head. Besides Hinata, there's Neji. This batch also includes Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chōji…"
He went on to list all of the future "Konoha Twelve."
As one of the great clans, the Hyūga always investigated in advance the backgrounds of children who would attend the academy alongside their own, to prepare relationships and pave the way for the future.
Hiashi nodded. "Make sure Neji builds a good relationship with Sasuke."
Sarutobi Hiruzen… Sarutobi Hiruzen… will you regret this, I wonder?
The Third Hokage was already beginning to regret.
He had personally witnessed the devastation at the scene, and finally realized just how terrifying the Uchiha's destructive power truly was.
He felt fortunate the conflict hadn't erupted into full battle, yet also bitter that he hadn't treated the Uchiha better.
Now, the Uchiha no longer wished to play his games.
Early that morning, Fugaku had submitted his resignation along with a recommendation letter. In it, he claimed his failure as clan head had led to irreconcilable differences with Itachi, resulting in Itachi's departure from the village. As atonement, he was resigning, recommending Hizashi as the only one fit to replace him.
Additionally, there was a statement regarding the Uchiha clan's relocation.
Due to the damage to their district, the Uchiha had decided to move their entire clan five kilometers outside the village and rebuild.
The choice of five kilometers was telling. Why?
Because Konoha's surveillance barrier extended exactly five kilometers outward.
The Uchiha were making their intent clear: Don't claim you're protecting us with the barrier. We'll handle our own safety.
At the same time: Don't bother monitoring us. We'll live on our own terms.
Since Hiruzen hadn't labeled Itachi a traitor, the Uchiha technically remained part of Konoha—they were just choosing to live farther away.
Staring at the mountain of papers before him, Hiruzen felt more exhausted than after a full day of governance. Not only had Fugaku resigned, but several other senior Uchiha officials in the Police Force had also resigned at the same time—including the Third Elder Takuya and the Fourth Elder Yōhei, both of whom had left with Itachi. Not a single high-ranking Uchiha remained.
Only a handful of doves were left, in the lowest rungs, their numbers scarce. Likely deliberately kept behind to oversee the clan's own businesses.
For years, the Third Hokage had tried every means to suppress the Uchiha—forcing them into the Police Force, spreading rumors to stoke public suspicion—fearing that one day they might grow too powerful and vie for the Hokage seat.
But now, it was over. The Uchiha no longer wished to play.
If Konoha refused to allow them power, then the Uchiha would simply give it all up.
And as for Itachi's departure, it was impossible to say whether it was orchestrated by Fugaku, or conceived by Natsuki.
What was clear was that this strike had landed squarely in Konoha's gut.
First, the Uchiha claimed publicly that attempts to steal their Sharingan had forced them to leave.
Second, they showcased their power—the awe-inspiring might of the Mangekyō—so that all shinobi clans would think twice before moving against them.
Third, they removed the threat: with Itachi taking away many of the clan's elites, the Uchiha now had fewer members, giving them the excuse of lacking manpower whenever Konoha demanded their service.
Fourth, if Konoha dared move against them, at least three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan could respond—and no one knew where or when Itachi might appear.
Finally, the timing: Konoha was on the verge of signing a peace treaty with the Hidden Cloud.
At such a critical juncture, if Hiruzen sent ANBU to hunt the Uchiha, his regime would be in peril.
For now, the Uchiha had only "departed." If he forced them into rebellion, the Cloud wouldn't come to sign a treaty—they'd come to wage war.
All of this, Hiruzen knew, was Danzō's fault.
If not for his unilateral decision to steal Shisui's eyes, how could matters have ever reached this point?
After all, both Itachi and Shisui had been loyal to the village…
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