"Go and release them," Uchiha Fugaku commanded Uchiha Yakumi, signaling him to bring Shimura Naoya and the detained Shimura family mbers out of the Security Departnt.
"Yes," Yakumi responded, swiftly entering the building.
Monts later, Naoya Shimura and the other Shimura family mbers erged from the Guard Departnt under the watchful gaze of the crowd. They looked worse for wear—faces bruised, clothes torn, and so with arms hanging limply, clearly broken.
"Uchiha Fugaku, how dare you resort to lynching!" Danzo Shimura's voice bood as his sharp glare bore into Fugaku.
"Advisor Danzo, please refrain from baseless accusations," Fugaku replied with calm composure, his tone neither aggressive nor submissive. "Their injuries were not due to lynching but were sustained while obstructing law enforcent."
Danzo's fury bubbled beneath the surface, but Fugaku's perfectly reasonable explanation left no room for argunt. Suppressing his anger, Danzo pressed on.
"Then why weren't their wounds treated?" he demanded.
"That's on you, Advisor Danzo," Fugaku said with mock helplessness. "After detaining them, we intended to provide dical attention, but your sudden arrival with Root operatives forced us to prioritize defense over treatnt."
"You..." Danzo's lips twitched in frustration. He knew Fugaku's explanation was a pretext, yet he lacked the ans to refute it without evidence.
Fugaku turned to Danzo with an expression of exaggerated courtesy. "Advisor Danzo, I leave them in your care. Please discipline them properly to ensure they do not interfere with law enforcent in the future. While Hokage-sama has been lenient this ti, I doubt the sa rcy will be shown next ti."
Danzo's knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists in rage. Seeing Shimura Naoya and the others in such a pitiful state was like salt on an open wound.
"Let's go," Danzo barked, whirling around and leading the Root operatives away with Shimura Naoya and the others in tow.
The Third Hokage, watching silently, spoke at last. "Let's disperse as well," he said to the assembled clan leaders and elite jonin. His calm tone and gentle smile masked a deep sense of unease. As he departed, his mind churned.
Though the Hokage left with a composed deanor, the events of the day heightened his concern over the Uchiha clan. Once isolated and alienated, the Uchiha family had sohow begun to nd relations with several other clans, creating alliances that threatened the delicate balance of power in Konoha.
The heads of other families also began to leave, each processing the events of the day differently. For so, the sharp hostility between the Shimura and Uchiha clans presented an opportunity to align with one side. For others, the growing tension was a sign to remain neutral and avoid entanglent.
As the area cleared, only the mbers of the Guard Departnt remained.
Inside the Guard Departnt, Fugaku returned to his office. His mind lingered on certain nas: Takasaki Kazushi, Iwasaki Hiroshi, and Hoshino Atsumi. These clan leaders had once again shown their unwavering allegiance to Danzo and animosity toward the Uchiha clan.
He had long considered eliminating them but had postponed his plans due to other priorities, such as his mission in the Land of Water. Today's events, however, solidified his resolve. Their continued opposition posed a threat that could no longer be ignored.
That evening, Fugaku returned ho.
"Fugaku, I heard about a conflict between the Guard and the Root today," Uchiha Mikoto said softly as she greeted him. Her eyes scanned him for injuries, and she sighed in relief when she found none.
"There was a conflict," Fugaku admitted, sitting down with her.
"What happened?" she asked, concern etched across her face.
Fugaku recounted the events succinctly. "Shimura Naoya interfered with Guard Departnt operations. I detained him, and Danzo brought Root operatives to the departnt to retrieve him by force."
Her hands tightened around the teacup she was holding. "Did it co to blows?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Fugaku shook his head. "No. The Third Hokage arrived in ti to prevent a fight."
Mikoto relaxed slightly. "Even so, after today, the relationship between the Uchiha and Shimura clans will..." Her voice trailed off, her concern unspoken but evident.
"The relationship between our clans has always been strained," Fugaku said firmly. "If we back down every ti, we'll only invite further disrespect. The Uchiha clan must demonstrate its strength when necessary."
Mikoto nodded, offering a small smile of support. "I trust your judgnt, Fugaku."
She rose to her feet. "Dinner is ready. I prepared so ginseng pork kidney for you—it'll help restore your energy after everything you've been through."
Fugaku chuckled, recognizing the dish for what it was—a traditional tonic for n. "In that case, I'll make sure to eat my fill."
They shared a quiet al, the warmth of their ho a stark contrast to the tensions of the day.
Later that night, just as Fugaku was preparing to retire, he heard footsteps approaching. The three Uchiha elders—Uchiha Setsuna, Uchiha Mamoru, and Uchiha Tsukasa—entered his ho unannounced.
"Let's talk in the study," Fugaku said, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice as he gestured for them to follow him. He led them to his study and closed the door behind them.
The three elders exchanged wary glances. Fugaku's tone and deanor were not hostile, yet they couldn't shake the feeling that he was displeased.
Unaware of the reasons behind Fugaku's apparent frustration, they sat down, their expressions filled with curiosity and a trace of apprehension.
(End of Chapter)
Want to read 50 more chapters check out my patreon!!!
spatreon/john_smith_
Reviews
All reviews (0)