Some voices in the village dared to argue:
"Even though the Third Hokage still holds the highest title in Konoha, in truth the greatest strength and power now clearly belong to the Uchiha clan. No one can oppose them anymore."
Another added, "The Hokage may be about to fall… and he may even pay the price for striking against his own ANBU."
No one could refute such words.
It was astonishing—such a thing had never happened in any other shinobi village. A Hokage who not only killed his own ANBU, but would soon be judged by the council of clan heads.
The news spread quickly: a full clan council would convene soon to try Sarutobi Hiruzen. And this time, the verdict would represent the will of the entire village.
Meanwhile, the man at the center of it all—Uchiha Ryosuke—was at home, basking in comfort.
His head rested on Mabui's smooth lap, while Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails' jinchūriki, offered him fruit with quiet devotion. Ryosuke's mood was perfectly at ease.
The Third Hokage had been dealt with. Now, the Uchiha faced no enemies within Konoha. They could finally live in peace—provided Hiruzen's downfall was made absolute, his reputation ruined, and his punishment sealed. No one could save him now.
As for the two advisors—Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado—Ryosuke doubted they had the courage to oppose the clan. And if they did? He would deal with them as well.
He had already considered their crimes. They might not need to be destroyed outright, but they had no business remaining among Konoha's leadership.
There were countless failings to accuse them of: during the Great Ninja Wars, during the Nine-Tails' attack, and even during Orochimaru's assault, neither advisor had ever once appeared to fight.
Were they powerless? Of course not—they were Sarutobi's classmates, veterans of the old generation, and undoubtedly strong. That they hid themselves meant only one thing: they were too cowardly or too unwilling to take responsibility. Such people had no right to sit at the top.
Mabui, meanwhile, had heard the news from the village. The Uchiha had captured the Hokage himself. This man, Ryosuke, had even defeated a clansman who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. She could not help but be astonished.
Her desire for his bloodline grew stronger still.
Fortunately, both she and Yugito were already carrying his children. At least two heirs of the Uchiha bloodline were soon to be born. The thought made her heart race. Such powerful offspring could be raised as shinobi of the Cloud. The sacrifice of her body felt completely worth it.
Just then, a small figure quietly pushed open the door and stepped inside.
It was Uchiha Izumi. Her eyes narrowed at the sight of Ryosuke, lounging with women tending to him—two beauties in revealing kimono, their chests exposed without shame.
Her heart tightened. Ryosuke-nii is really too much of a flirt…
Still, she shook off her jealousy. Today she hadn't come to sulk. She had heard the rumors spreading across the village: Itachi had betrayed the clan. The news shocked her deeply. How could this be? He was the clan head's son.
The only one she could turn to for answers was Ryosuke.
Ryosuke spotted her right away and waved warmly.
"Izumi, come here."
She hesitated only a moment, glancing again at the two women before walking over, her chest tight with envy. I'm still small now… but when I grow up, I'll be like them too…
Ryosuke rose and gently ruffled her hair, his eyes soft with affection.
"What brings you here?"
He gazed into Izumi's beautiful eyes. Now that the clan faced no more threats, there would be no massacre. Izumi would not die. Those eyes—those precious Sharingan—would remain hers.
Izumi looked at his strong frame, her cheeks warming. There was something irresistible about him. If not for the other women present, she might have thrown her arms around him already. But she steadied herself. This was not the time for such thoughts.
"Is it true…?" she asked softly. "That Itachi betrayed the clan?"
Ryosuke sighed.
"Of course it's true."
Even he hadn't expected Itachi to make such a choice—to stand with the weakened Hokage in hopes of controlling Ryosuke, and through him, the Uchiha.
And yet, despite everything Ryosuke had done—crossing worlds to lead the clan, thwarting the Cloud's schemes, defeating Shimura Danzō, and proving that the Uchiha could guide Konoha into prosperity—Itachi still sided with the old guard.
It infuriated him.
To betray one's clan to this extent… It's almost beyond belief.
If not for Ryosuke's foresight, Itachi might have succeeded. But his plan was ruined now, his Mangekyō eyes plucked from his skull. He would never cause trouble again.
Izumi's face fell.
"How could Itachi do this? Why would he help outsiders against his own family?"
Ryosuke gave a weary smile.
"Perhaps he thought our clan's strength threatened the peace of Konoha."
Izumi's eyes widened, full of confusion.
"But… isn't a strong clan the best protection for the village? How can power endanger peace?"
Ryosuke could only sigh again.
"That's the logic of a normal person. But Itachi… his mind doesn't work like ours."
Izumi lowered her head. She knew Itachi always had strange, heavy thoughts he never shared. But for him to betray the clan… to become a criminal in their eyes… it was too much.
Ryosuke reached for a slice of fruit from Yugito's tray and lifted it to Izumi's lips.
"Eat. Don't brood. It's not worth it."
She opened her mouth reluctantly and chewed. But her worry remained.
"Then… what will happen to him? Will he be executed?"
Ryosuke shook his head.
"No. That much I can promise. I've left his fate to Clan Head Fugaku. And I don't believe he could bring himself to execute his own son. But punishment will come—severe punishment. Prison, most likely."
Izumi let out a long sigh of relief. As long as Itachi was not killed, she could bear it.
Ryosuke slipped her another piece of fruit, and this time she accepted it more eagerly. Though the news of betrayal had wounded her heart, the reassurance soothed her, leaving her lighter.
Elsewhere, another had heard the rumors of the Hokage's trial: Uzuki Yugao, a loyal ANBU.
She felt no urge to rescue Sarutobi. In truth, she had already sacrificed much in his service. And now she was hearing shocking truths: Shisui—an ANBU like her—was dead, slain because of the Hokage's schemes.
Why would Hiruzen do such a thing?
She could no longer understand him. It felt like his downfall was deserved. Worse still, she had heard whispers of Danzō's secret Root base—filled with human experiments, cruel and inhuman.
She herself had once investigated and reported her suspicions to the Hokage, but Hiruzen silenced her, forbidding further pursuit. Now the truth was undeniable.
The village had been hiding a darkness this entire time.
And without the Hokage's protection, Danzō could never have carried it out unchecked.