Silence.
No one could answer him.
Deny prejudice against the Uchiha?
No one here was a fool. It was only after the Fourth Hokage took office that the Uchiha's treatment improved at all.
And even then—
Only slightly.
What other clan had Root operatives monitoring them in large numbers, guarded against like thieves?
What other clan had entry into the Anbu treated as a rare favor?
And the matter of the Military Police needed no elaboration.
A role that looked powerful on the surface but invited resentment in practice—forcing a single clan to shoulder it entirely. Was that truly a benefit?
It only made the other clans and civilians fear the Uchiha more.
It isolated them from the village's heart.
…
One by one, the Uchiha drifted closer to Sora.
They recalled their own experiences.
As Sora had said—
What he suffered was not an exception.
…
At last, it was Sarutobi Shinnosuke who broke the silence.
Shing!
He drew his blade.
Hiruzen moved to stop him—
Too late.
Shinnosuke had already turned the blade toward his own chest.
…
"I know…"
"There are things the village has done wrong. I don't ask for your forgiveness."
"Third Hokage-sama… Father!"
"I request that you do not pursue responsibility against the Uchiha—and that you guarantee no further targeting of them."
Drip.
Blood fell to the ground.
Shinnosuke looked at Uchiha Sora, pleading in his eyes.
"I will repay my life for your mother's."
"Please… stop."
"There's still time. Before the fracture grows any wider, it can still be repaired."
…
"Shinnosuke!!"
Hiruzen seized the blade with his bare hand. His voice trembled.
Tonight, he had already lost his wife.
He could not endure losing his son as well.
Shinnosuke smiled faintly.
"Father… we stand here today because of our past mistakes."
"If my death can bring peace to the village… then it is worth it."
Sora studied him carefully.
The resolve to die in Shinnosuke's eyes was not false.
He truly meant it.
…
"Shinnosuke. You've inherited the purest Will of Fire."
Sora shook his head.
"You wish to become the First Hokage."
"But I am not Uchiha Madara."
"I will not walk the same mistaken road twice."
Flash—
Rayquaza, which had remained still, suddenly moved.
Its claw tightened around Danzō Shimura's head and lifted him high into the air.
Sora's voice turned cold.
"I will return Danzō Shimura to you."
"As the condition—just as I said."
"The entire Uchiha clan leaves Konoha."
"If you refuse…"
"Then we fight here."
"Even if I die in battle, I will never flee alone!"
Your resolve to die is real.
So is mine.
A final gamble.
Victory—or death.
—
Beneath the blood-red moon, Sharingan ignited one after another, eerie crimson light flickering in the night.
Crack—
Hiruzen crushed Shinnosuke's blade in his hand. Blood streamed between his fingers.
His eyes were bloodshot. Each word forced from his throat.
"Not enough…"
"The Mangekyō Sharingan can suppress the Nine-Tails."
"I require Fugaku to assist in sealing it."
"You may leave first. Keep Danzō Shimura."
"When this is done, we exchange hostages."
Hiruzen had accepted reality.
He was no longer negotiating as comrades of the same village.
This was diplomacy.
…
Heh…
Earlier they guarded against the Uchiha.
Now they remembered the Sharingan's ability to restrain the Nine-Tails.
Sora glanced at Fugaku.
Fugaku gave a small nod.
Setting aside all politics, in his heart, he wanted to help Minato.
His decision to strike at Danzō had not been solely due to Sora's pressure—but also because Danzō had prevented him from aiding Minato.
"Then it's settled."
"Clan Head Fugaku stays."
"Shisui. Tekka. Inform the clan at the shelter."
"Yes!"
Several Uchiha, led by Tekka, responded instantly.
Sora's coup had not been impulsive.
Over the past two years, he had secretly gathered younger radicals, forming a "Full Clan Evacuation Group" under his leadership.
He had prepared extensively.
Even taking advantage of the village's distraction during Kushina's childbirth—
He had quietly exhumed Uchiha corpses from the cemetery.
Dead or alive—
They would all be taken.
…
At the same time, he had reached an agreement with the Cat Granny of the Land of Cats.
They would assist in the Uchiha's evacuation.
She was an elder of considerable wisdom—she had long seen the Uchiha's plight in Konoha.
Full defection might not be better.
But it could hardly be worse.
With the Uchiha and the Land of Cats combined, their strength would rival that of smaller nations.
…
Shisui sighed.
"I won't insist on killing him."
"But that eye must be returned."
Sora nodded.
He glanced at Danzō's severed arm.
"You'll have Danzō."
"He won't be taking the Sharingan with him."
Hiruzen let out a long breath.
He seemed to have aged years in a single night.
"…Understood."
"You may go."
—
Rayquaza gave a low roar and carried Sora toward the shelter.
Aside from Fugaku, everyone followed.
Koharu Utatane snapped angrily.
"Fugaku… that brat accumulated so much power right under your nose—and you never noticed?"
She had seen it clearly.
Uchiha Sora was the mastermind.
Fugaku shot her a glance, resignation in his voice.
"Shouldn't I thank Councilor Koharu?"
"If not for you, how would he have gathered so many followers? Even I've been swept along."
"You—!"
"Enough."
Hiruzen wrapped cloth around his bleeding hand.
"Enough. What is the point of these words now?"
He looked older than ever.
"Fugaku. Let's go."
"The Fourth Hokage needs us."
"…Yes. Third Hokage-sama."
Fugaku's admiration for Hiruzen had once been genuine.
He had lived his entire life under Hiruzen's leadership, had witnessed Konoha rise to its peak.
But—
Fugaku couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing now.
If this had been ten years earlier…
He would never have dared follow Uchiha Sora in defiance.
—
—
Uchiha district shelter.
When Shisui relayed the order for full evacuation, many clan members resisted.
Not everyone had suffered equally.
Leaving the land that raised them was no simple matter.
Tap.
Uchiha Sora stepped forward.
Ordinary clan members were more familiar with him than with anyone else. They hurried toward him in concern.
"Sora, what's happening outside? The noise is terrifying!"
"Is another village invading? Are you all alright?"
…
These people had entered the shelter before the Nine-Tails broke free.
They did not know the truth.
A small girl slipped through the crowd and hugged Sora's leg.
"Big Brother Sora… why are they holding swords? It's scary."
"Your hand… does it hurt?"
Sora knelt.
With his uninjured hand, he gently stroked her hair.
Her name was Uchiha Chō.
Daughter of the dango shop on the commercial street.
In Shisui's earlier vision, she had been the first child cut down by the shadow.
Unlike when facing the village's leadership—
Sora's expression now was gentle.
His smile sincere.
"It doesn't hurt."
"Nothing has happened."
"Don't be afraid."
He lifted Chō into his arms and turned to face the clan.
His voice was steady.
"This land is sick."
"We need to leave for a while."
"I promise you."
"We will return."
"And I will cure it."
"Trust me."
He bowed deeply.
All arrogance gone.