Kakashi announced dismissal.
Everyone returned to the ANBU base.
In the locker room, Eiya sought Kakashi out alone.
"How do you plan to proceed with the investigation?" Eiya asked bluntly.
Kakashi was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "It stops here. I'm going to report what we found to the Hokage."
"Quitting halfway?" Eiya's tone was edged with displeasure.
Kakashi only answered with silence.
Watching him say nothing, Eiya let out a deliberate, cold snort. "Hmph. Because the suspect is likely ANBU, right?"
Kakashi still shook his head. "We don't have a codename or a face. Charging in now isn't wise. We'd only make enemies for nothing. The other squad leaders—and the Hokage—won't sign off on it."
Eiya studied him for several seconds. "So that's your decision."
Kakashi nodded without hesitation. "Even if you put me in the infirmary right now, I wouldn't change my mind."
Eiya turned as if to leave. "In that case, I'll keep digging by myself."
"Wait—" Kakashi blurted, trying to stop him.
Eiya paused and glanced sideways. "What, you going to force me, captain?"
"…I can't." Kakashi opened his mouth, then spoke low.
Eiya faced him again, eyes like torches. "You of all people know how powerful rumors are. And I'm Uchiha. I won't stand by and watch this poison keep hurting my clan."
Kakashi had no answer. He fell silent.
Eiya said nothing more and walked out, leaving Kakashi to watch his back with a helpless sigh.
The next morning, in the Hokage's office.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Enter."
Eiya pushed the door open.
Behind the broad desk, Sarutobi Hiruzen was buried in a stack of documents, thin smoke curling from the lit pipe at his side.
He lifted his eyes, sharp as a blade. "You knew Kakashi wouldn't approve, yet you told him anyway. You understood he'd report everything to me exactly as it happened. Tell me—why bypass Kakashi and come to me alone?"
Eiya smiled. "Nothing special. You're busy, Lord Hokage. I wanted a moment to speak with you directly."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes as if to see through him. "Kakashi told me about your wager, and the result. First day on the job you challenge your superior and seize initiative—Uchiha Eiya, you're a very ambitious man."
"Ambitious?" Eiya shrugged, unbothered. "I prefer 'driven.'"
"You joined ANBU and the first thing you did was investigate the rumors."
"Yes," Eiya nodded slightly. "If we let them fester, the rift between the Uchiha and Konoha will only widen."
Hiruzen frowned. "Things didn't get this far because of one side alone. The Uchiha have their own failings to reflect on."
"Honestly, that answer disappoints me," Eiya said, expression flat.
Hiruzen's hand stilled on the pipe.
"If these rumors are left unchecked, if the rift widens until it can't be mended—do you want to see the village and the Uchiha at war?" Eiya asked.
"The grievances between Konoha and the Uchiha were not formed in a day," Hiruzen replied calmly.
"I don't care who's right or wrong," Eiya said. "If I were Hokage, I'd do whatever it takes to bring the Uchiha's power firmly under control. If I succeeded, Konoha's strength would reach an unprecedented peak."
Hiruzen slowly shook his head. "Your forebear Uchiha Madara fought alongside the First Hokage. Even with that bond, the First couldn't control the Uchiha and, in the end, fought Madara to the death at the Valley of the End. Easy for you to say."
"No," Eiya smiled, meaningful. "Compared to the First or Second, you actually have the best chance."
He met Hiruzen's gaze. "Don't forget—the piece that can change the board is still in your hand."
Hiruzen's brow ticked up. "Is that so? I thought there were two pieces."
"You're overestimating it," Eiya said. "Itachi can't steer the Uchiha. He'll destroy them."
Hiruzen disagreed in his heart. Itachi, son of the clan head and a leading genius of the new generation, was the likeliest next leader—gifted, raised to think like a Hokage, understanding the value of peace. If even he couldn't change the clan's fate, why did this boy think he could?
"If not him, why you?" he asked aloud.
"Talk is cheap," Eiya said. "Time will tell."
Hiruzen stared at him. "So after all this, you want my backing to become clan head?"
"Yes," Eiya said, without a flicker.
Hiruzen frowned. "Only with the majority of the clan behind you can you lead them. Yet you come seeking the Hokage's support… unusual."
Eiya laughed inwardly. Side with the hardliners and you get dragged by their blind zeal, shouting charge every day. Side with the moderates and you end up like Fugaku, conceding step by step until the clan's cornered. Either path is a dead end.
"I have my own plan. And tracing the source of these rumors is to make Konoha better."
Hiruzen sighed at last and gave a clear answer. "Then let me tell you—this wasn't done by ANBU."
"No," Eiya countered at once. "According to my intel, the person spreading the rumors wore an ANBU mask."
"Then tell me the codename," Hiruzen said, unsurprised by his reply.
"…I don't know."
"Description?"
"Also unknown."
"Hmph. Then I suppose this 'source' is your fiction?" Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "Eiya, are you using this pretext to take a swing at ANBU?"
Eiya's face didn't change. "Why say that?"
Hiruzen drew hard on his pipe and didn't answer immediately. He knew Eiya's temperament—and the Uchiha way—well enough to guess he wanted a sweep of ANBU under the banner of 'investigation.' Either to pry into secrets or to use the chance to expand his own influence, even remove a few people to weaken ANBU. ANBU answered to the Hokage. Either way, he could not allow it.
His expression cooled. "Tell me—which side are you on?"
"I'm on Konoha's side," Eiya said without flinching. "A stronger, more unified Konoha with no more infighting."
He smiled faintly. "You've asked your questions. Now it's my turn. If it wasn't ANBU, then the source—was it Root?"
Hiruzen pondered, tapped the desk, and brought his hand down. "This matter ends here."
Eiya inclined his head. "Fine. But the rumors must be put down. Since I'm ANBU, leave it to me."
He turned for the door. Hiruzen couldn't hold back. "How do you intend to do that?"
Eiya didn't look back. "Dealing with these troublemakers is simple—beat a batch, arrest a batch, and the rest will behave."
He strode out, leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen stunned, angry, and frowning in the smoke-choked office, unable to speak for a long time.