When power speaks, truth becomes negotiable.
"What? Are you trying to silence the Uchiha?"
Fugaku's gaze turned icy.
His crimson Sharingan locked onto the Root shinobi.
Killing intent radiated from him—
sharp, suffocating.
Even the Root operatives felt their backs grow cold.
This man—
had earned the title "Wicked Eye" on the battlefield.
Against him—
even working together, they might not win.
And beside him—
stood Yashiro, another Jonin.
Noticing only Fugaku and Kai had returned—
the Root squad leader frowned.
A bad premonition crept into his mind.
"…Captain Fugaku," he said stiffly, "one of our members is still unaccounted for. Do you know his whereabouts?"
Fugaku glanced at him indifferently.
"He attacked members of my clan."
"I've already killed him."
"…What?!"
Shock rippled through the Root ranks.
In Konoha—
what clan dared to kill a Root operative?
This was no longer a small matter.
This was—
a declaration.
After a brief hesitation, the Root Jonin spoke again:
"Then… Captain Fugaku, please hand over the remaining Root member."
Endure for now.
Lord Danzō would handle the rest.
Fugaku's expression didn't change.
"That won't happen."
"I will report this matter to Hokage-sama. He will decide."
"But Lord Danzō—"
"I said—I will report it to the Hokage."
Fugaku cut him off.
His Sharingan deepened in color—
ominous.
If they dared make a move—
he would bury them where they stood.
…
Hokage Tower.
A spacious conference room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the center.
Beside him—
Danzō Shimura.
Koharu Utatane.
Homura Mitokado.
Konoha's highest authorities.
Fugaku stood below.
Next to him—
a bound Root shinobi.
Still trapped in genjutsu.
Eyes vacant.
Foam at his lips.
Like a broken puppet.
Several ANBU stood guard nearby.
Leading them—
Hatake Kakashi.
The atmosphere—
was suffocating.
Hiruzen turned to Danzō.
"Danzō, how do you explain Root attacking Uchiha clan members without cause?"
His brows were tightly furrowed.
This—
was troublesome.
If Root dared attack the Uchiha today—
what about tomorrow?
Other clans?
Even civilians?
Handled poorly—
this would shake the village's trust.
And his authority.
Danzō, however—
remained calm.
"Captain Fugaku," he said evenly, "Root is the backbone of Konoha's protection. We exist to safeguard the village. We would never harm its people."
"The Uchiha are part of the village."
"Do not let recent tensions lead you to slander Root."
"It damages our… relationship."
The meaning was clear.
Stop making accusations.
Koharu's tone was even sharper.
"Uchiha Fugaku, everything you've said is merely your own claim. There is no evidence."
"As it stands, your clan suffered nothing more than fright—"
"While Root has lost a Jonin and has another injured."
"And yet you accuse them?"
"Your intentions are questionable."
She didn't even bother calling him "Captain."
Disrespect—
laid bare.
Homura followed:
"Captain Fugaku, all matters require evidence."
"Where is yours?"
Hiruzen's gaze shifted to Fugaku.
He wanted—
to believe this was a misunderstanding.
Because the alternative—
was worse.
Fugaku let out a cold laugh.
"So none of you believe me."
"Fine."
"We form a joint investigation—ANBU and Uchiha."
"The Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans act as overseers."
"In two days, we'll have a report."
"Then we'll see whether I fabricated this."
The attack—
must have left traces.
Fugaku had already secured the site.
An investigation—
would reveal everything.
And with the Ino-Shika-Chō clans supervising—
the results would be credible.
After all—
they wouldn't side blindly with Root.
They had their own interests.
And fears.
Danzō scoffed.
"Captain Fugaku, your people arrived first. Who knows what you've altered?"
"I don't accept your proposal."
Koharu pressed further:
"Uchiha Fugaku, stop playing games."
"If you cannot produce evidence, then your unlawful killing of a Root operative—"
"will be punished."
Fugaku laughed.
Cold.
Sharp.
"As expected."
"Then let the Yamanaka clan extract the truth directly."
"Have Yamanaka Inoichi search his mind."
"Let's see whether the Uchiha are lying—"
"or Root attacked us."
Yamanaka Inoichi—
a master of mind techniques.
He could extract memories directly.
There would be no lies.
Danzō stood up abruptly.
"No."
His voice was firm.
"Root has served Konoha faithfully since its founding. Every member is willing to sacrifice themselves for the village."
"I will not allow them to be humiliated like this."
He knew—
if the Yamanaka intervened—
everything would be exposed.
His dealings.
Orochimaru's experiments.
Everything.
Even Hiruzen—
would not be able to protect him.
Silence fell.
All eyes—
turned to Hiruzen.
He took a slow drag from his pipe.
Exhaled.
"The Yamanaka clan's techniques are meant for enemies—not our own," he said.
"But Captain Fugaku's concerns are not without merit."
He paused.
Then—
"I propose this."
"The prisoner will be handed to the Torture and Interrogation Division."
"They will extract the truth."
"What do you think?"
"I agree."
Danzō responded immediately.
Every Root member—
bore the Tongue Curse Seal.
No interrogation—
would uncover anything.
Koharu and Homura nodded as well.
"We agree."
Finally—
Hiruzen looked at Fugaku.
"Captain Fugaku…"
"What do you think of my proposal?"
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