The tavern fell into utter silence, broken only by the heavy breathing of those inside.
Only after Yuzuru Uchiha and the short, plump merchant disappeared completely into the alley did someone finally mutter,
"They… they just walked out like that?"
"This is Konoha! How does a rogue like Yuzuru Uchiha dare be so brazen?"
"Just thinking about that fat little man strutting around makes my chest feel tight."
"He killed an Anbu Squad Leader and didn't even run—he just strolled down the street! Does Yuzuru Uchiha think this is his personal backyard?!"
The tavern erupted with angry voices.
They had originally been reminiscing about the Uchiha clan, yet Yuzuru had treated them like air from beginning to end.
Fine, let that be. But why save a merchant?
To risk his life in Konoha just to protect a burden—an ordinary villager from the Land of Lightning—someone so plain he couldn't be plainer… (T/N: Huh! Risk his life…)
You are the leader of the Uchiha clan, a man in Kumogakure whose strength rivals the Third Raikage!
Is this what you should be doing?
Someone like you should be sitting comfortably in the rear lines, eating and drinking, living in luxury!
The more they thought about how they were treated in Konoha, the more envy burned in their chests.
They could endure darkness, but they could not endure watching others bask in the light before them.
In the end, it all circled back to the same thing—those bastards in the Land of Lightning had stolen their lives!
The remaining Anbu finally snapped out of their daze. They exchanged glances before vanishing.
One ran to the Hokage Building for reinforcements, while the others discreetly tailed Yuzuru Uchiha.
————
————
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
In the Hokage's office, Shimura Danzō tore the letter into shreds, his chest heaving violently.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a brow. "Danzō, what has you so enraged?"
Danzō's voice was ice cold. "Yakushi Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto have betrayed me. They've defected to Kumogakure together."
"They even warned me—if I dare touch the orphanage, they'll expose everything they know."
Hiruzen couldn't help the slight curl of amusement at his lips. "Your Root can betray you too?"
"And here I thought they were all emotionless tools."
"But they should have the Tongue Cursed Seal carved on them, no?"
"Kumogakure has the Uchiha clan now. If they really want to get information out, they'll find a way," Danzō muttered darkly, rubbing his forehead.
Hiruzen had "executed" him in public, so Danzō could no longer reveal his identity openly.
If any secrets leaked, he wouldn't be able to maintain his rule over Konoha from the shadows.
But being threatened by two subordinates he had always controlled—that he couldn't stomach.
"Enough. After all these years, you still haven't learned a thing."
"As for the orphanage, just let it be."
Danzō glared at Hiruzen. "Save the sarcasm. Two members of the Shimura clan were killed this morning—what do you think?"
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe, then shook his head slowly.
"You've been too heavy-handed. This could be retaliation."
"You know better than anyone how many shinobi your Root has taken from other clans over the years."
"Danzō, you can't run a village like this. Oppression alone accomplishes nothing—rule requires both kindness and might."
"Enough." Danzō cut him off sharply. "Hiruzen, I am the Hokage now."
Hiruzen snorted. "Danzō... you'll regret this."
BANG!
The office door burst open as a masked Anbu rushed in.
"Lord Danzō, Lord Hiruzen—U-U-Uchiha Yuzuru—"
Danzō jolted upright. "Why the panic? What is that man up to now?!"
The Anbu shook his head, voice trembling. "H-He… he's here. In Konoha!"
What?!
Danzō and Hiruzen shot to their feet. "Explain. Now."
The Anbu repeated everything that had happened in the tavern.
Danzō stared at him intensely. "You're certain it was truly Yuzuru Uchiha?"
"Absolutely! Everyone present can confirm it!"
At that moment, a bright red signal flare exploded in the sky.
Danzō and Hiruzen exchanged a look before hurrying outside.
Yuzuru had always been their greatest threat. Against a powerful Kumogakure, they'd been helpless.
But now he had walked into Konoha himself.
This opportunity could not be wasted.
They would make sure Yuzuru Uchiha never left alive.
————
————
"Sir, we've been discovered… we've dragged you down with us."
Inside an ordinary residential building, the stout merchant clutched his wife and child, guilt twisting his expression as he looked at Yuzuru.
If it weren't for him, Yuzuru likely wouldn't have been exposed.
Now Konoha's shinobi were surely surrounding them. Even someone as strong as Yuzuru couldn't escape while protecting them.
Yuzuru didn't answer. He simply asked, "Anything important you still need to take?"
The merchant clenched his teeth. "No. Just my parents' photo."
"Then, you all take a nap. Leave the rest to me."
With that, Yuzuru cast a genjutsu, putting the merchant and his family to sleep before sending them into his Kamui space.
"So they've arrived."
Sensing the movement outside, Yuzuru's face stayed calm.
He opened the door. The corridor and the courtyard beyond were packed wall-to-wall with Konoha shinobi.
In the back, Danzō and Hiruzen glared at him from within a crowd of guards.
(Reference the scene in Kung Fu Hustle where Sing opens the door to face the Beast and the Axe Gang.)
"Kill him!"
At Danzō's command, the Konoha shinobi charged forward with a roar.
Yuzuru exhaled softly and stepped into the crowd.
He moved like a fully-loaded hundred-ton war machine—unstoppable.
Bones cracked. Screams tore through the air. Blood splattered as shinobi were flung aside faster than they could rush in.
Within moments, the ground around him was empty.
"Don't bother sending yourselves to die, you small fry."
Seeing the shinobi frozen in fear, unwilling to approach, Yuzuru tossed the corpse in his hand aside casually.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō… long time no see."