The Uchiha clansmen behind Kawasaki stirred with surprise.
How had Elder Kawasaki suddenly become the new Vice Clan Head?
But when they realized this was an open gesture of support from Clan Head Fugaku, the noise died down quickly.
Danzo sneered at Fugaku's words.
"Shisui attempted to assassinate me tonight. That is the truth. My ANBU can testify."
But the elite gathered here were no fools. Everyone knew Danzo's nature. If Shisui had truly attacked, Danzo would have reported it to the Third Hokage immediately—not acted so vague.
Kawasaki burst out laughing.
"And it's also the truth that Elder Danzo tried to assassinate the Third Hokage tonight. Every Uchiha here can testify!"
The Uchiha behind him erupted with mocking laughter.
"That's right! I saw it myself!"
"So did I!"
The surrounding clans tried hard to suppress their smiles, exchanging glances.
Hiruzen's expression shifted; he already understood the situation in his heart but still cleared his throat.
"Since Shisui has been found and is safe… Vice Clan Head Kawasaki, this must be a misunderstanding. Everyone can disperse."
"Misunderstanding?!"
Kawasaki's face hardened instantly.
"Hokage-sama! Shisui's Sharingan is still in Danzo's possession—and you call that a misunderstanding?!"
Danzo snorted coldly.
"Couldn't kill me, so now you resort to slander?"
Ignoring him, Kawasaki turned sharply toward Fugaku and gave him a signal. Then he roared:
"Third Hokage! So, the Hokage faction openly schemes to seize our clan's Sharingan now?!"
Fugaku caught Kawasaki's meaning and his deep voice thundered:
"Hiruzen Sarutobi! If Shisui's Sharingan is not returned, the Uchiha will never let this rest!"
Behind him, the Uchiha warriors silently activated their Sharingan.
In an instant, countless blood-red eyes glared at the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen's face turned ashen. He cursed Danzo in his heart. His recklessness had dragged all of Konoha into danger.
"Danzo! Hand over Shisui's eyes immediately!"
Danzo twitched. He hadn't expected things to escalate like this. Still, he struggled to defend himself:
"I did clash with Shisui, yes—but I did not take his Sharingan!"
Kawasaki narrowed his eyes and drew a kunai.
"Kawasaki, calm yourself!" Hiruzen's voice was stern.
But Kawasaki slowly raised the kunai to his Konoha forehead protector. One cut, and he would declare himself a rogue ninja.
He raised his voice so every clan could hear:
"Everyone in Konoha, listen well! This is the Hokage faction's oppression of us! They will strip you of your bloodlines, your secrets, your wealth! Hyūga clan—you're next!"
The crowd rippled with unease. The Hyūga especially stirred; their Byakugan was just as famous a bloodline.
Hiashi and Hizashi's faces were grim, their cold eyes fixed on the Hokage, waiting.
Hiruzen felt a wave of dread. If he pushed the Uchiha into rebellion now, the entire shinobi world would laugh at him. Worse, no clan would ever trust the Hokage again. The foundation of leadership would crumble.
"Hand over Shisui's eyes at once, or the Uchiha will drag Konoha into ruin with us!" Kawasaki shouted, face twisted, voice like that of a madman.
The threat shook everyone. The Uchiha could rebel—but if they were driven to rebel, it would destroy Konoha's legitimacy.
The clans encircling the Uchiha showed no killing intent. They only watched Danzo and Hiruzen with cold, hostile eyes.
Especially the Hyūga. If the Uchiha fell, they knew they were next.
Even the clans without bloodline eyes still guarded secret techniques and treasures. If the Uchiha's Sharingan wasn't safe, how could their own be?
Finally, Hiruzen exhaled heavily.
"Due to Danzo's misconduct… I hereby strip Shimura Danzo of his position as Hokage's advisor. Danzo, hand over Shisui's Sharingan."
Danzo's snake-like eyes burned with fury.
"Hiruzen! The Uchiha cannot be trusted! Shisui's Sharingan is far too dangerous—I will never hand it over!"
"Enough! Danzo!" Hiruzen snapped.
"I am the Hokage!"
Grinding his teeth, Danzo spat, "Fine. I'll return it when I get back."
Kawasaki scoffed.
"Still trying to stall? Shisui's eyes are on you right now! What nonsense about 'going back'!"
Danzo's expression flickered.
Kawasaki barked, "Stop lying. We Uchiha have secret techniques—we know Shisui's eye is in your right socket!"
The advisor stiffened, humiliated. He had never imagined the Uchiha might have such means. He bitterly regretted even showing up tonight.
Now cornered, Danzo finally ripped off his bandages—revealing a Sharingan in his right eye.
The clans erupted in shock.
The Hokage's trusted aide had truly stolen an Uchiha's eye—and implanted it in himself!
Of course, the Uchiha had no such "secret technique." Kawasaki had gambled that Danzo would be greedy enough to immediately transplant it. Even if it hadn't been Shisui's eye, Danzo's Sharingan would still have been exposed.
Danzo's face twisted in fury, but it was too late. Every clan stared at him with hostility.
Who could say he wouldn't target their families next?
...
Under Kawasaki's piercing gaze, the Third Hokage quickly dispatched a medical-nin to extract the Sharingan from Danzo's right eye.
Fugaku gestured for the eye to be handed over to Izumi, who remained at Shisui's side, to confirm its authenticity.
At that moment, Itachi quietly stepped out of the crowd, walking to Shisui's side.
He had returned as soon as the clan gathered, but until now, he had stayed silent, watching.
He wanted to see what his father intended. Had Fugaku forced the Hokage into a corner to bring Itachi back into the clan? Was tonight truly meant to spark rebellion?
Yet events had spun far beyond his expectations.
His father had hardly acted at all—everything had been handled by Elder Kawasaki.
And judging by the outcome… his father had been right. Elder Kawasaki had managed everything flawlessly.