With a flash of light, the three figures passed through the golden gate.
The next instant, they were back within the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
It was daytime now, yet the atmosphere across the compound felt tense and heavy.
From time to time, shadows flickered past—Uchiha clansmen, moving quickly.
Lefiya's eyes widened as she curiously took in everything around her.
"So this is the world behind the gate?" she murmured.
"The air feels... so heavy."
Ryota chuckled, then explained:
"This is the shinobi world. It's completely different from ours. No gods, no order like in Orario, and no Dungeon."
Lefiya listened with rapt attention, her delicate face gradually taking on a dazed expression.
"So... you mean, there's no Guild here?"
Ryota lightly tapped her on the head, smiling.
"You're missing the point, aren't you?"
"Uu..." Lefiya rubbed her head, muttering softly,
"I just... can't quite picture it, that's all."
Before the words even faded—
Whoosh—
A figure leapt down from the rooftops, followed closely by another who landed beside him.
Uchiha Setsuna and Uchiha Inabi both bowed low.
"Clan Head."
Ryota's gaze swept over them.
"Mm. What is it?"
Setsuna stepped forward slightly.
"The Hokage... Sarutobi Hiruzen, wishes to see you."
"Oh?" Ryota arched a brow.
"In his eyes, he probably just wants to see the Uchiha clan head, doesn't he?"
Setsuna hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes."
Exactly as Ryota had expected. With Danzō dead and Root destroyed, Sarutobi could no longer sit still.
The strange part, though, was that this time the messenger wasn't from the ANBU.
Setsuna glanced at Inabi, who added:
"Clan Head, the one sent here wasn't ANBU, nor a Hokage guard. It was the head of the Hyūga clan, Hyūga Hiashi."
"...The Hyūga clan?"
Ryota's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Hyūga—one of Konoha's oldest noble families, holders of the Byakugan Kekkei Genkai.
"So the old man knows sending ANBU here would just get them slaughtered. Instead, he sends a clan head?"
Ryota laughed softly.
"Overly cautious, aren't we?"
He turned to Setsuna.
"Where is he?"
"At the compound gate," Setsuna replied. "With three attendants, waiting for your response."
Ryota thought briefly.
"Fine. I'll go meet him."
Setsuna and Inabi opened their mouths to object, but Ryota raised a hand, cutting them off.
"You two—stay here."
The words died in their throats. They nodded instead.
"Yes."
Ryota strode forward, Ais and Lefiya walking on either side of him.
After a few steps, Lefiya blinked up at him, asking,
"Um... what exactly does 'clan head' mean? Is it like a captain?"
"Something like that," Ryota replied with a nod.
"But a clan head isn't just about leading charges. He carries the fate of an entire family."
Ais added quietly:
"And right now, the entire Uchiha clan has received Ryota's Falna. It's basically become one huge Familia."
"Ehh?" Lefiya gasped, staring at him in shock.
"Then—that means... you're their god, aren't you?!"
Ryota shrugged, neither confirming nor denying, but clearly amused.
Soon, the three passed through the clan's buildings and reached the gate.
Torches flared outside, illuminating four silhouettes.
As Setsuna and Inabi had said, it was Hyūga Hiashi himself, flanked by three Hyūga clansmen in traditional shinobi garb.
When Hiashi saw Ryota approaching with two young women, his brows furrowed in confusion.
As Ryota drew nearer, he asked:
"And you are? Where is Uchiha Fugaku? I came to see the Uchiha clan head."
To Hiashi, the boy before him—judging by build, demeanor, and attire—looked no different from a regular villager.
No headband. No symbols of Konoha.
Most telling of all, his eyes were dark, showing no trace of the Sharingan.
Strange...
Suspicion deepened. His gaze slid past Ryota to the two girls behind him, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
These two... clearly weren't from the shinobi world.
"I'm the Uchiha clan head. Lead the way."
The words instantly froze the air.
Hiashi blinked in shock, as did the three Hyūga behind him. Their eyes widened with the same expression—Are you kidding me?
This boy, who didn't even look like a shinobi, the Uchiha clan head?
What a joke.
"...Who did you say you were?" Hiashi's frown deepened, suspicion plain on his face.
It had to be a provocation. Even here at the Uchiha compound gates, he refused to believe it.
But bound by the Hokage's orders, he suppressed his anger and gestured to one of his men.
The Hyūga clansman stepped forward, tone sharp and dismissive.
"Brat, don't waste our time. Fetch Uchiha Fugaku, now!"
"Say another ridiculous word, and we're done here!"
In Konoha, the Uchiha were already in a precarious position.
Danzō's death and the annihilation of Root had ignited long-standing tensions.
With Hiruzen fanning the flames, overnight the Uchiha had become synonymous with "traitors-in-waiting" and "the village's cancer."
As Hiashi's personal guard, this Hyūga clearly looked down on them.
He didn't just scorn Ryota as some unknown boy—he dismissed the very name Uchiha.
"What's wrong with your clan? Sending a kid to mess with us?"
"Trying to stall for time? Planning to run?"
"Hurry up and—"
He never finished.
Ryota simply turned his head and looked at him.
Just a glance—plain, unremarkable.
The next second—
Bzzt—!
The air tore. The Hyūga froze mid-step, then vanished with a snap, as though erased from existence.
"?!!"
Hiashi's pupils shrank. He stumbled back in horror.
"You—what did you do to him?!"
"He was too noisy," Ryota said calmly, his gaze never wavering.
"If he won't lead the way, he can reflect inside Daikokuten instead."
"Daikokuten?"
Hiashi blinked, mind racing through every jutsu and term he knew.
Before he could even ask, his eyes met Ryota's.
And in that gaze—endless, devouring darkness.
Alarm bells screamed in his mind.
Hiashi shuddered violently, cold sweat dripping down his face.
"You... you're really the Uchiha clan head?"
Ryota didn't deny it.
"Lead the way."
The air thickened, oppressive.
Veins bulged at Hiashi's temple, but at last he gritted his teeth and turned.
"...Follow me."
Guided by Hiashi, the three of them crossed Konoha's streets and reached the Hokage Building.
The night was deep, the tower's shadow stretching long in the moonlight.
Ryota looked briefly toward the Hokage Rock. His face betrayed no emotion.
Soon, they entered the great hall.
But unlike Ryota had expected, it wasn't filled with Clan Heads.
The vast council chamber was empty.
No Hyūga, no Nara, no Yamanaka, no Shimura.
Only one figure sat waiting at the head seat, draped in the Hokage's robes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The old man's bloodshot eyes fixed on Ryota and the two girls as they entered.
"Lord Hokage, I've brought the Uchiha clan head," Hiashi said tersely.
He frowned at Hiruzen, then at Ryota. His lips twitched, but he forced himself silent.
That erased Hyūga had been a branch family member? He could have accepted that.
But this one had been main family—purest bloodline.
To see him snuffed out, without so much as a word... Hiashi's rage burned like fire.
This debt will be paid, one day.
Leaving in seething silence, he departed.
Alone with Ryota now, Hiruzen studied him.
For a moment, he was genuinely taken aback.
So young. Far too young.
And yet, the aura around him, that gaze looking down on all—unmistakable.
Not a boy. A power out of place in this age.
The Hokage wasted no time with pleasantries.
"Danzō and Root," he said.
"What happened?"
Ryota raised his eyes. Instead of answering, he looked around the empty chamber.
"You're alone here."
"But if I recall... you gathered all the other clan heads tonight, didn't you?"
He paused, then smiled faintly.
"So you ask me what happened?"
"Hiruzen... you already know the answer."
The Hokage was silent for a moment.
Indeed, Ryota was right. He hadn't summoned the Uchiha clan head here for explanations.
He wanted to show everyone in Konoha that all of this—everything—was done for the village.
Yes, Danzō had his faults. But he was Konoha's shadow.
Yes, Root's methods were ruthless. But they had won countless victories.
And now both were gone. Someone had to be held accountable.
At last, Hiruzen raised his head, fixing Ryota with a hard stare.
"So—"
"You admit it?"
"It was the Uchiha who killed Shimura Danzō, who wiped out Root?"
Just as Ryota opened his mouth to reply—
The mechanical voice rang out once more.
[Ding! Main Quest, Phase Two Activated]
[Quest Description]:
Konoha's foundation is shaken. The Hokage's authority is no longer untouchable.
Danzō's death and Root's destruction have unleashed waves throughout the village.
Now, before all eyes, you are no longer a bystander—you are the ruler reshaping order.
Unite the clan. Command the council. Seize the ANBU. Weaken the Hokage. Undermine the "Will of Fire"!
[Quest Objective]: Take control of Konoha.
[Quest Reward]: Hidden (unlocked upon completion).
When the voice faded, Ryota smiled.
"That's right. I killed them."
His words rang cold and clear through the chamber.
"So what can you do about it?"