The door to the Hokage's office slammed open.
Shimura Danzō hobbled in on his cane, steps sharp and heavy, the tip thudding angrily against the floor.
"Hiruzen! Konoha is in an uproar—are you going to do nothing?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up, expression calm, and waited.
Danzō's tone grew colder. "I've just been informed—your ANBU, together with the Uchiha Police Force, are rounding people up across the village, even handing out punishments on the spot. Chaos everywhere, public resentment boiling—what are you thinking?!"
Hiruzen was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Those rumors about the Uchiha… you released them, didn't you?"
A glint flashed in Danzō's single eye, then his face went blank again. "I don't know what you mean."
Hiruzen drew on his pipe. "I know you, Danzō. You've always held a deep prejudice against the Uchiha."
Since it was out in the open, Danzō dropped the mask and snorted. "Yes. And what of it? Have you forgotten Lord Tobirama's final teachings? The Uchiha are born tainted. They love more deeply than anyone—but when that love is lost, their hidden hatred and obsession turn them into the most dangerous lunatics. The Sharingan is proof of the curse. They are a massive risk to Konoha. Leave them unchecked and disaster is inevitable."
Hiruzen shook his head. "Lord Tobirama's words belonged to a different era. The root of the 'Uchiha problem' is long-standing distrust and isolation. If we can unravel the history and win their hearts—let them feel the village's warmth and trust—it will be salvation for them, and unprecedented stability and strength for Konoha."
Danzō stared hard at him, searching for any hint of doubt. He was unsettled. Hiruzen had always preached unity and the Will of Fire, yet, in practice, he'd been cautious, even tacitly allowing "Root" to check the Uchiha from the shadows. What changed him?
"You've changed," Danzō said, eyes complex.
"People do," Hiruzen answered softly. "Change can be good. The Uchiha are a double-edged sword. Used well, they might cut open a path through Konoha's deadlocks."
Danzō sneered. "The First couldn't. The Second couldn't. What makes you think you can?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "There are two Uchiha in ANBU now. They might serve as a bridge."
Danzō's eye narrowed. "Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Eiya? One is the clan head's son; the other is a mad dog who killed a superior. You're betting on them? You disappoint me, Hiruzen."
He turned to leave, clearly done with the conversation.
Hiruzen's voice rumbled behind him. "Danzō, as Hokage I order you: have 'Root' cease all actions against the Uchiha. I don't want to hear another word meant to divide the village."
Danzō paused, but didn't turn back. "I'll judge what's needed. For Konoha's future, some things must be done."
Hiruzen's temper finally snapped. He slammed the desk and stood. "Remember—I am the Hokage!"
Danzō grunted. "You'll regret this…"
He swept out.
The door crashed shut, the echo rolling down the hall.
…
Outside the Police Force headquarters.
[Ding! Indulgence successful!]
[The host led men into the streets to beat and detain malicious agitators, struck hard to clean the air in Konoha, and vindicated the Uchiha. Indulgence level: A.]
[Issuing reward…]
[Congratulations: Kagura's Mind's Eye!]
As the prompt sounded, knowledge of how to use Kagura's Mind's Eye flooded Eiya's mind.
A sensing secret art of the Uzumaki: once activated, it could read chakra across dozens of kilometers—positions, movements, numbers, even signatures.
It perfectly patched a weakness of his. Eiya nodded, satisfied, then turned to the ANBU lined up before him. "Mission complete. Pull back. Dismissed."
Uchiha Yashiro, Tekka, Inabi and others gathered around, beaming. They'd finally vented their anger—and there would be no blowback. ANBU had led; that meant the Hokage had tacitly approved.
"We've locked up all the rumor-mongers!"
"We'll interrogate and dig out whoever's behind them!"
Eiya nodded lightly. "Good work."
Yashiro seemed to recall something. "By the way, we still don't know your name."
Eiya lifted his hands and slowly removed the tanuki mask, revealing a young, cold face. "Uchiha—Eiya."
They froze. The name—and the shocking deed attached to it—was already thunder in their ears. Days ago, an unremarkable chūnin had slain a Konoha jōnin in the Hokage's office. Instead of punishment, the Hokage had let him lead this operation?
It overturned everything they thought they knew.
Sensing their doubts, Eiya said evenly, "As an Uchiha, of course I'll shoulder the clan's burdens. If something like this happens again, tell me directly. I'm nothing special, but I have some pull in ANBU, and I can still get a word in front of the Hokage."
The words fell like oil into a hot pan—eyes lit up all around. In the suffocating isolation the Uchiha had endured, someone from their own blood now stood at the core of power and spoke for them.
Even the clan head hadn't achieved that. He had.
After a few more exchanges, just as Eiya was about to take his leave, a Police Force member hurried up and bowed.
"Sir, Clan Head Fugaku requests your presence."