“Bastard!”
“How dare you!”
“How dare you speak to Danzō-sama like that!
Who do you think you are?!”
“Do you think this is still the Warring States Period?
Even if you are an Uchiha…”
Before Danzō could say a word, the ANBU ninja behind him could no longer hold back and erupted in anger.
Root’s full name was the ANBU Training Department.
It had not yet become the killing machine Danzō would later brainwash into existence, and many ANBU ninja were chosen from its ranks.
Because Danzō had taught them, these ANBU still held him in great respect.
A tall figure stepped in front of Shingetsu, shielding him behind his back.
“It is true that Shingetsu was rude.
However…”
Iwamasa said calmly, “When Konoha was founded, Lord First promised not to pry into the secret techniques of the various clans, nor interfere in the internal affairs of ninja clans.”
“Danzō-sama…
do you intend to defy Lord First’s command?”
A familiar tactic from the older generation.
The Konoha Police Force had already ended the battle, arrested all the pursuing ninja, and gathered behind him.
Pairs of Sharingan opened in the night.
The terrifying pressure made the ANBU ninja grip the hilts of their swords, yet none of them dared to move rashly.
Ninja clans with too much autonomy are a massive obstacle to Konoha’s development…
Tobirama-sama was right.
Danzō lowered his eyelids slightly and said calmly, “I merely asked out of curiosity.
Clan Head Iwamasa, there is no need to saddle me with such a grave accusation.”
So what if I defy Lord First?
The will I inherited is Lord Second’s.
Now…
only the Uchiha remain.
With their law-enforcement authority and so many privileges, the Uchiha have all but become a “state within a state.” Even a mere brat dares to talk back to my face…
Danzō turned his gaze to Shingetsu.
“As for what you said…
there is no need to trouble the Uchiha.
The Shimura Clan has sacrificed a great deal for the village.
It will likely end with my generation.”
“Does that satisfy you?”
In politics, showing weakness was a tactic.
Danzō had been the one to ask about a secret technique first, violating a taboo, so Iwamasa had immediately raised the stakes.
Since you want to bare your fangs, I will simply take a step back.
Once word of this spreads, the Konoha ninja clans will not think I, Danzō, was at fault.
They will think the Uchiha are overbearing and do not respect the Hokage’s assistant.
Those who cannot endure small setbacks ruin great plans.
Uchiha…
Go on, grow even more arrogant.
Once everyone is dissatisfied with you, that will be the time to settle accounts!
The ANBU looked at Shingetsu with obvious hostility.
To treat Danzō-sama, who had sacrificed so much for Konoha, like this…
how vicious!
Satisfied, or not satisfied?
That question absolutely could not be answered.
Any answer would be wrong.
Iwamasa frowned, still thinking about how to respond.
Silence was best.
Saying nothing would be enough.
He was just about to signal Shingetsu.
“Was the Shimura Clan the only one that sacrificed?”
Shingetsu said calmly, “Danzō-sama, do you still remember Senior Kagami?”
“If he knew that the companions he risked his life to protect were now targeting his kin, what do you think he would feel?”
You want to change the subject and play the emotional card?
Sorrow appeared in Shingetsu’s eyes as he sighed.
“By seniority, I should have called him Uncle.
After my parents died, he took good care of me, and he even mentioned you to me.
I never imagined you would be so…”
The malice in the ANBU’s eyes faded, replaced by guilt.
What was I thinking just now…
He is just a child who lost both his parents.
What evil intentions could he possibly have?
Danzō-sama really is a little…
“Enough!”
Danzō’s expression darkened.
Shingetsu’s clumsy acting naturally could not fool him.
Besides…
Were you even born when Kagami died?!
What could he possibly have told you?
Did he appear in your dreams?!
And you pack of fools, do you believe everything this brat says?
Can you use your brains for once?
“Take her away.”
Before Kushina was led away by the ANBU, she bowed to Shingetsu.
“Thank you…
thank you for saving me.”
“It had nothing to do with me.
You would not have died even if I had not come.”
Shingetsu paused, then looked at the girl who had suffered the pain of losing her clan yet still had to pretend to be strong.
“As long as you are still alive and still carry that surname, the Uzumaki Clan has not disappeared.”
“Keep walking forward with your clan on your shoulders.”
“My clan…”
Danzō ordered the ANBU to hurry and take Kushina away, then looked toward Iwamasa.
“And the others.
Hand them over.”
Iwamasa hesitated for a moment, then waved for the prisoners from Kumo and Kirigakure to be brought forward.
“This matter ends here, Clan Head Iwamasa.
Keep him under control…”
Danzō gave Shingetsu a deep look.
“I do not know what schemes you are harboring, but you had best stay away from her.”
He would not misread it.
Shingetsu definitely had designs on Kushina Uzumaki.
It was the special intuition villains shared with one another.
Shingetsu gave a cold snort.
If he were not lacking in strength, Shingetsu would never bother trading barbs with this old bastard.
He would not wait until Danzō had fully fallen into darkness and was about to strike at the Uchiha before fighting back.
Hurt others before they could hurt him.
That was Shingetsu’s creed.
…
“You really hate Danzō, don’t you?”
On the way back, with no one else around in the clan grounds, Iwamasa asked in a low voice.
“Don’t you?”
Iwamasa gave an awkward smile.
“I would not show it so openly, Shingetsu…
Sometimes, you should learn to hide your emotions too.
Otherwise…”
“Go home and lecture Fugaku.
I am not learning that.”
The corners of Shingetsu’s mouth curved faintly.
“As an Uchiha, you do not even dare show your likes and dislikes.
You really have grown more cowardly with age.”
Iwamasa did not quite understand.
The Uchiha had indeed been at odds with the village higher-ups in the past, but the radical faction led by Setsuna had already been dealt with by Tobirama Senju.
To secure his position as the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi had also given the Uchiha considerable preferential treatment.
In recent years, most of the clan had advocated peaceful coexistence with the higher-ups.
So who exactly had influenced Shingetsu?
Surely not the Third Hokage’s disciple.
That would be a complete joke.
Once those possibilities were ruled out…
It could only be said that he had been born this way.
When they reached the entrance of the Shingetsu residence, Iwamasa sighed and lowered his voice even further.
“Times have changed, Shingetsu.
You saw what happens when a clan stands against a great nation…
the Uzumaki Clan.”
“Do you not understand the position you are in?”
“As Orochimaru’s disciple, you are the Uchiha most likely to enter the village’s decision-making circle.
Before that…”
Shingetsu stepped onto the stone steps, stopped, and looked back, his eyes turning cold.
“Rely on my status as Orochimaru’s disciple?
Is that what you really think?”
“Honestly, do not waste what little goodwill I have for you.”
“Who do you think I am…”
A chilling aura spread, and a low, oppressive roar erupted.
“I will surpass my ancestors!”
“Madara Uchiha lost.
I will not!”
Within his scarlet pupils, the pitch-black tomoe split, forming a second.
Boom—!!
A demonic, godlike Ocular Power howled out from his eyes.
The stone steps cracked beneath the violent impact, and the background warped.
Even Iwamasa, whose heart had long since become still as water after weathering the changes of the world, could not stop his knees from going weak.