36-40

*Chapter 36: A Moment of Calm Before the Storm*

The Hokage Building:

"Uchiha Fugaku is no longer the head of the Uchiha clan, and Uchiha Sougen has taken over as the new leader of the Uchiha... Kakashi, are you sure this isn't some kind of joke?" The Third Hokage, sleepless in the dead of night, stared in disbelief at Kakashi, who was kneeling on one knee in front of his desk.

"Yes, Fugaku told me this personally. There were also hundreds of Uchiha members from the police force present at the time, so it’s unlikely to be a prank."

Kakashi dutifully reported everything he saw and heard during the mission.

To be honest, if he hadn’t experienced it himself, he too would find it hard to believe. In fact, even as someone who witnessed it firsthand, he was full of doubts that had yet to be resolved.

The Third Hokage asked Kakashi several times to confirm the story, finally believing he wasn’t lying and hadn't been put under any genjutsu... meaning the Uchiha clan had truly undergone a major shift. The seasoned Fugaku had stepped down, replaced by the 15-year-old Uchiha Sougen.

"...This is... definitely not good news!" The Third Hokage groaned, feeling the veins near his temples throb.

Fugaku, for all his fierce appearance, had actually been easy to handle once you understood him. But now, the new leader was the young Uchiha Sougen. Reflecting on their recent encounter in the forest, that boy, though young, was far more difficult to fool than Fugaku ever was.

And this resignation letter brought by Kakashi was the clearest evidence of that.

As for Uchiha Shisui... a descendant of Kagami, the Hokage had once considered bringing him under his wing. Unfortunately, Shisui could never fully sever his ties to the Uchiha clan. His heart was with the village, but he couldn’t completely let go of his family, which had left the Hokage disappointed.

Luckily, he had found another promising talent—Itachi.

Itachi’s abilities rivaled Shisui’s, and his understanding of the Will of Fire seemed even deeper. Though still young, with time, he would surely become useful... in a few years.

To be frank, the Hokage wasn’t particularly concerned about Shisui leaving the Anbu. While Shisui hadn’t fully broken free from the Uchiha’s limitations, he believed Shisui wouldn’t betray the village, so there was no need to be overly cautious.

What worried him more was what moves the troublesome young Uchiha Sougen might make. He had a strong feeling that this boy was nothing like the obedient Fugaku. Once Sougen was firmly in control of both the Uchiha clan and the police force, he would undoubtedly become a huge problem.

“No, I can’t just sit by and do nothing... A 15-year-old leading a clan? This is ridiculous...” The Hokage frowned deeply.

He began calculating in his mind. There was no way he could let this situation be. He had to find a way to remove the troublesome Sougen from his position as clan leader, or at least weaken his influence.

But this wasn’t something he could do alone.

Interfering in the internal affairs of a clan, especially one as notorious as the Uchiha, was a risky move. He would need to gather as much support as possible from other clans like the Hyuga and Aburame. Fortunately, the Uchiha’s reputation in the village wasn’t great, especially after the Nine-Tails incident, so garnering support wouldn’t be too difficult.

“Kakashi!” The Hokage called to the boy kneeling silently before his desk like a scarecrow.

“Go find the two elders and tell them we need to meet immediately. Have them come to my office as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Lord Hokage.” Kakashi accepted the order and left.

The Third Hokage summoned another Anbu member and issued a similar command, but this time asking for Danzo instead of the elders.

---

Time flew by, and before long, the moon had set and the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon. The radiant morning sun rose, dispelling the remnants of the night and awakening the village from its slumber.

“Good morning, Chihaya.” Sougen greeted Uchiha Chihaya, who had just entered as he re-fastened his belt.

“Already up, huh?” Chihaya remarked, glancing at the long couch, which still bore the marks of someone who had been sleeping there.

“I’m not a kid anymore!” Sougen shook his head helplessly.

When he was younger, getting out of bed had been a daily struggle, no matter the season. He would always stay curled up under the blankets, reluctant to get up. Fortunately, he had a childhood friend, Chihaya, who took great joy in waking him up every morning, turning it into a game.

“Where’s Shisui? Is he up yet?”

Last night, they had all stayed at the police department instead of going back to the clan grounds. Sougen had slept on the couch in what was now his office. As for Shisui... there were plenty of couches in the police department.

“No idea!” Chihaya responded bluntly.

She only enjoyed waking Sougen. It had become a habit from childhood. As for others... they weren’t her concern.

“No idea... Alright, fine. Chihaya, could you get us some breakfast? I’m going to wash up.”

Sougen grabbed a fresh set of toiletries and went to freshen up.

By the time he returned to the office, breakfast was already laid out on his desk: two slices of golden toast, a strip of bacon, a fried egg, and a steaming cup of milk. Shisui was sitting on the couch, munching on a slice of toast.

“Shisui, how was the couch?”

“Not bad. It’s definitely better than those tents we used to sleep in on the battlefield.”

“True.” Sougen chuckled. After experiencing the battlefield, most discomforts didn’t seem so bad. Back then, you had to sleep with one eye open, always gripping your weapon, ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

“By the way, did you see where Chihaya went?” Sougen asked.

“She’s out practicing her swordsmanship.”

“She’s really dedicated. Never takes a break, does she?”

“Sougen, are we heading out after breakfast?” Shisui asked, his voice slightly muffled by the toast.

“Yeah, the sooner we deal with this, the better…” Sougen replied as he sat down, swiftly devouring his breakfast.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 37: Family is the Most Important (Vote! Support!)

The peaceful and serene atmosphere of Konoha Village in the early morning spread across the streets.

Children heading to ninja school chased each other playfully, their laughter echoing through the alleyways. This cheerful vibe unconsciously infected passersby and shop owners, bringing smiles to their faces. However, this lively calm was abruptly broken by the appearance of two distinctive individuals.

The black cloak, adorned with the prominent Uchiha fan symbol on the back, was impossible to ignore. It seemed like the image of a fearsome demon, possessing the uncanny power to strip others of their joy.

"We're really not welcome here at all, huh?"

With his hands tucked into his sleeves, Sougen shook his head as he noticed the wary glances from people on the street and the sudden busy activity of shop owners. Casually, he turned to Shisui. "Look at that! Our clan's reputation is so bad now—it’s on par with a street thugs."

"If you know that, why insist on walking through the streets? Couldn’t we just use the rooftops?" Shisui sighed repeatedly.

Part of it was the clan’s terrible reputation, and part of it was because of his leader's twisted sense of humor!

"What’s the rush?"

"Didn’t you say, 'the earlier we go, the earlier we get back'?"

"I changed my mind. Is that a problem?"

Sougen stopped walking and waved at a small blond boy standing by a lamppost, shyly tracing circles in the dirt with his foot. "Hey, Naruto!"

"Brother Sougen!!" Naruto lit up, his face breaking into a wide smile as he ran toward Sougen.

At this time, Naruto and the Uchiha clan shared a similar fate—they were both disliked by the village. The difference was that while the Uchiha had a power that commanded fear, few dared to openly insult them. Naruto, on the other hand, was met with unmasked hatred wherever he went. Villagers didn’t bother hiding their disdain.

"What are you doing standing here? Hurry up, or you’ll be late for the academy, and your teacher will make you stand as punishment." Sougen ruffled Naruto’s already messy hair. His hair was clean, but clearly, Naruto didn’t care much for combing it.

"I’m waiting for Fujika."

"Fujika?"

"Yeah! We agreed yesterday after school to meet here in the morning."

"Oh, I see! Well, you might have to wait a bit—Fujika likes to sleep in. She probably won’t be here for a while… But if you get tired of waiting, just head to the academy. No need for both of you to be late and punished."

"No worries! We made a promise, so I’ll wait. Besides, I’m not scared of punishment!" Naruto replied with an unshakable look of determination.

Sougen studied him for a moment. It wasn’t bravado—this kid truly wasn’t afraid.

"You’ve got guts."

"Heh heh!" Naruto scratched his head, embarrassed.

Compared to the cold glares and hatred he’d gotten used to, a punishment like standing in the hallway seemed trivial. Actually, for someone who rarely received praise, compliments made him a bit shy.

"Brother!!!"

The familiar sound of his little sister’s voice rang out.

Sougen turned to see her sprinting toward him like a rocket.

"Fujika, how many times have I told you not to run on the street?" Sougen grabbed her head and gently stopped her momentum. "Why are you up so early? I thought you’d just woken up!"

"Grandpa woke me up!" Fujika pouted, pushing away her brother’s hand. She straightened her messed-up bangs and puffed up her cheeks. "You’re the one who promised to take me to school! You didn’t come home all night. You’re such a liar!"

"Sorry, sorry. Something urgent came up last night. How about this… I’ll buy you cake after school?"

"I want strawberry cake!!!"

"Deal! You can even have strawberries without the cake if you want!"

Satisfied with the promise of treats, Fujika took off like the wind toward the academy, with Naruto hurrying after her. Neither of them remembered to say goodbye to Sougen.

Watching his sister disappear around the corner, Sougen sighed. "Alright, Shisui, let’s get going."

With that, he leapt onto the rooftops, moving swiftly across the village. Shisui followed closely, his mind troubled.

Finally, unable to hold it in, Shisui asked, "Sougen, were you stalling earlier just to wait for Fujika?"

"What else?"

Sougen raised an eyebrow. "You didn’t think I enjoyed being treated like a plague, did you? I hate it too. But I promised Fujika I’d walk her to school. Last night, we were too busy for me to go home, so I had to wait halfway to say something to her."

Shisui was left speechless.

"What's wrong, Shisui? You think I care too much about personal matters?"

"No, not at all."

"Good! Because to me, family is the most important thing. If you don’t cherish your family, you’re worse than a beast. When Fujika was born, she was so tiny. I had just come back from the battlefield, and I was too scared to even hold her, afraid I might hurt her with my rough hands."

"I’ve watched her grow up, learn to talk… Honestly, Shisui, I don’t want to fight the village right now. I’m terrified that a battle could hurt Fujika, my parents… or that destroying Konoha would leave Fujika wandering aimlessly. I’m scared everything I’ve done will be for nothing..."

"But the more afraid I am, the more I know that this is the time when we can’t back down. Only when we show we’re willing to fight to the death, and make those who think they can control us realize our strength, will we avoid a fight to the death."

"So—"

"Shisui."

"Wait… Don’t drag me down!" Sougen’s soft words sent a chill down Shisui’s spine.

He looked up into Sougen’s Sharingan eyes, which burned with deadly seriousness.

"I understand, Clan Leader!"

Swallowing hard, Shisui felt his heart pound in his chest. He silently prayed that nothing would go wrong in the coming events.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 38: Pressure (Asking for Votes! Asking for Support!)*

As the two walked and talked, they passed through several streets and arrived at the Hokage Building. The building, with its red-painted outer walls, was considered a landmark in Konoha Village, though in truth, it lacked any real distinction. From Sougen's perspective, it looked like nothing more than an oversized, upside-down plastic bucket.

There was no architectural beauty to speak of!

Nor did it convey the authority and solemnity expected of a government building.

"This aesthetic..." Sougen shook his head, recalling how his own police department wasn't much better in terms of appearance. He immediately entertained the thought of rebuilding the Police Department headquarters. However, there was no rush. Like the establishment of the Legal Affairs Department, this could be done gradually. For now, the priority was making it clear to the village that the Uchiha were not some pushover clan to be trifled with.

He stepped forward and walked up the stairs toward the wide-open entrance.

As soon as they entered the lobby on the first floor, someone immediately approached them.

It was Kakashi!

"Patriach Uchiha, please follow me," said Kakashi, wearing a fox mask but with his distinctive messy white hair standing out as usual. "Lord Hokage is waiting for you in the meeting room."

"The meeting room? So besides Lord Hokage, there are quite a few others as well?"

"Yes, the heads of the Hyūga, Aburame, and Nara clans, among others. I won’t list everyone—you'll see when we get there."

After that, they walked in silence.

When the door to the meeting room opened, not a sound could be heard—an indication that the staff likely made sure to oil the hinges daily.

As the door swung open, voices flooded out like a tide, and a light gray haze of smoke drifted lazily toward him. However, even the secondhand smoke couldn't obscure the keen sight of his Sharingan.

After all, the Sharingan was once known as the "Eye of Insight."

Sougen's gaze flicked around the large meeting room, taking in the sight of the village’s most prominent figures, all seated at the long table. The gathering of elites gave the impression of lions preparing to pounce on their prey.

"And I... I must be the rabbit they’ve set their eyes on!"

The thought came to Sougen instinctively.

Sure enough, the moment he stepped into the room, the lions wasted no time baring their teeth.

"Uchiha Sougen, just what is your clan trying to do?" Elder Homura Mitokado, known for his usually inscrutable expression, was visibly furious today. His anger was nearly written on his face. As Sougen walked casually into the room, Homura slammed the table and raised his voice even further.

"Appointing yourself head of the Police Department without approval—do you even acknowledge the village anymore? Are you planning to betray the village and secede?"

The accusation of treason was thrown out immediately.

The faces of the clan heads and Patriachs seated at the table subtly shifted. They had already agreed, long before Sougen arrived, that they would suppress the Uchiha. There was no way they would allow such a dangerous clan to be led by a mere fifteen-year-old boy.

Indeed, in the eyes of these elders, the idea of a teenager being in charge of an entire clan was absurd. Leadership wasn’t just about strength; this wasn’t the Warring States period anymore. Even back then, overly aggressive clan leaders sometimes dragged their clans into endless wars.

Now that the Uchiha were showing signs of that same aggressive spirit, the elders were understandably uneasy, which is why they had agreed to unite in pressuring the Uchiha.

However...

Homura’s attitude seemed a bit too forceful.

None of them actually wanted to start a war with the Uchiha. Even if they could destroy the clan, the village itself would be severely weakened in the process, and that wasn’t an outcome they desired.

"Homura, calm down," the Third Hokage intervened, stopping his old friend before he could escalate further.

"Even if there’s punishment to be handed out, we should at least give him a chance to explain. Sougen, explain what happened last night with your clan and the Police Department. I know that the Police Department was entrusted to the Uchiha, but you must remember that the Uchiha are still part of Konoha. The position of Police Chief isn’t something that can be handed out at will..."

"Click!"

The sound of Sougen’s tongue clicking in disdain echoed through the meeting room, cutting off the Hokage’s words.

The wrinkles on the elderly Hokage's face twitched slightly as he stared intently at Sougen’s lower face. His previously calm tone turned icy. "Is that your response, Sougen?"

"And what if it is?"

Sougen’s expression hardened, his voice equally cold.

He stood just three steps from the door, chest puffed out, eyes sharp, like a gleaming blade drawn from its sheath. The clan heads and Patriachs seated around the table could feel the sting of his presence, as if an invisible force had cut into them. One particularly heavyset elder shifted in his chair, a frown creasing his face.

For some reason, this scene felt strangely familiar to him, like he had witnessed something similar in the past.

"The Uchiha’s autonomy over the Police Department was granted by the Second Hokage. I’ve personally reviewed the documents in the Police Department archives, signed by the Second Hokage himself. Nowhere does it say that appointing a new Police Chief requires anyone’s approval," Sougen said, his cold gaze sweeping over the room’s most powerful figures. He then sneered, "Or are you suggesting that we should now abolish the rules set by the Second Hokage?"

"Times change! Your clan has acted recklessly—do you expect me to stand by and do nothing? Don’t try to use our teacher’s name to pressure me. He taught us that no rule is set in stone; even rocks are eroded by wind and water, let alone people and institutions."

The Third Hokage remained seated, unperturbed by Sougen’s taunts. "If the Uchiha treat the Police Department with such disregard, as Hokage, I cannot remain idle. While the department is your clan’s domain, it’s still part of Konoha. Even if the Second Hokage were here, he would understand my stance."

"So, what kind of explanation do you expect from me?"

"Don’t worry. I don’t intend to break the autonomy of any clan. But your clan’s actions this time were too out of line. I’ve already sent for your clan leader, Fugaku. Once he arrives..."

"Uchiha Fugaku is no longer the clan leader."

Sougen interrupted the Hokage again, his scarlet eyes sweeping over the assembly. Only the Hyūga dared to meet his gaze. "To be honest, I was mentally prepared for a situation like this... But since you’re waiting for Fugaku, then I’ll wait too. I’m very curious to see what kind of Uchiha you want us to become!"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 39: Yang Release? (Vote! Seeking Support!)

Next to the conference room was a small adjacent room, a space intended for secretaries and bodyguards who accompanied the leaders attending the meeting. Today, Shisui was treated as a subordinate to Sougen and sat in this room.

Although the room was called small, it was only small in comparison to the adjacent conference room.

“Please, don’t let this get out of hand!!!”

Standing in the corner, Shisui’s heart was filled with anxiety, like a bucket hanging from a rope that kept being lowered into the water—he was extremely uneasy. The other people in the room sensed his tension, but no one approached him. As the close aides and guards of clan leaders and ministers, they more or less understood that the early meeting was likely targeting the Uchiha clan.

Besides, the Uchiha clan wasn’t exactly well-liked in general.

No one would go out of their way to chat with Shisui.

While he was caught in his endless worry, the door to the room opened. Another young boy, wearing the fan-shaped Uchiha emblem, walked in. No, calling him a boy wasn’t entirely accurate—he seemed about ten years old.

“I-Itachi?”

Shisui’s eyes widened.

He never expected to meet Itachi here.

Uchiha Itachi walked toward the corner where Shisui was standing.

“Itachi, why are you—”

“Shisui, why?”

“Why what?”

Shisui was confused.

“Why do you support Uchiha Sougen?”

Shisui furrowed his brow slightly. “Itachi, are you blaming me for helping Sougen take your father’s position as clan leader?”

“No.”

Uchiha Itachi shook his head without hesitation.

“I know that Father… wasn’t a very capable clan leader. But compared to Uchiha Sougen, at least my father wouldn’t oppose the village. Shisui, you once told me about the Will of Fire, about how the clan and the village are meant to coexist. But what Sougen is doing is dividing the clan from the village!”

“Itachi, you…”

Shisui was taken aback.

Itachi’s sudden outburst left him speechless. His mind was in turmoil, wanting to say a lot… What did Itachi mean by Fugaku not opposing the village? Fugaku had clearly supported a coup at the Naka Shrine gathering…

As for Sougen dividing the clan and the village, well, Sougen had long abandoned any hopes of coexisting peacefully with the Third Hokage. He was waiting for the arrival of the Fifth Hokage.

“These things are complicated, Itachi. We’ll talk about this properly next time. This isn’t the place for it…”

Just then—

The floor of the Hokage building shook slightly.

Shisui froze. Was it an earthquake? Or… A sense of dread filled his heart. He used the Body Flicker Technique, appearing at the door, and rushed into the hallway. There, he saw a large hole in the wall. Through the hole, he could see the chaos in the conference room.

A second later—

The door that Shisui had slammed into came crashing down completely.

All the bodyguards and attendants in the room rushed out, staring wide-eyed at the hole in the wall. Then, when they saw Danzo, the Hokage's assistant, imprinted into the opposite wall, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.

What had happened?

Who would dare attack Danzo?

“Uchiha Sougen!!!”

At that moment, Danzo, who was embedded in the wall, roared in anger.

Struggling to free himself from the wall, Danzo, despite his old age, was quite resilient. Although he specialized in Wind Release and Sealing Techniques, few knew that he was also proficient in Earth, Water, and Fire Releases. His hardened body had helped him avoid being turned into a pulp by Sougen's punch.

“I’m right here. No need to shout so loudly!”

Sougen stepped through the hole and into the hallway, fearlessly facing everyone.

As for how things had escalated to this point… it all started when Uchiha Itachi, under the Third Hokage’s orders, returned to the clan and confronted his father, Uchiha Fugaku, before they both came to the Hokage building.

The Third Hokage’s plan was to provoke Fugaku’s resentment, hoping he would confront Sougen, allowing the Hokage to position himself as a neutral mediator and benefit from their conflict.

However, the Hokage misjudged the situation. Itachi, who wasn’t privy to secret meetings, didn’t know that his father had publicly supported the coup in front of many clan members the previous night. This led to the Third Hokage’s plan being based on incomplete information, resulting in a miscalculation.

Even though Fugaku was known for being easily swayed, it wasn’t likely that he would immediately turn against Sougen, especially after supporting a coup just the night before.

“I’m sorry, Lord Hokage, but I am no longer the clan leader. The six elders and many jounin of our clan made this decision, and I personally have no opinion on the matter.”

Fugaku’s unexpected refusal threw the Hokage’s plan off course.

“Fugaku, do you really believe a fifteen-year-old can lead your clan down the right path?”

“I am now just an ordinary jounin of the clan. Matters like these… are for the clan leader to worry about.”

Fugaku stepped back, standing firmly behind Sougen.

The Third Hokage’s brow furrowed deeply, and the two advisors beside him also looked grim.

Danzo, however, remained expressionless, glancing at the Third Hokage as if to say, "See? There's no trusting the Uchiha!" This only worsened the Hokage's mood.

The Hokage considered using force to pressure Sougen into stepping down. If he resisted… well, that would provide a reason for the village to unite and eliminate Sougen while sparing Fugaku, who could be sent back to pacify the clan.

This was a backup plan.

But he was reluctant to use it, as a confrontation with the Uchiha could severely damage Konoha.

Just as the Hokage was about to make a decision, Sougen, filled with growing fury, took the initiative.

He produced a pile of “evidence,” accusing Danzo of sending his Root agents disguised as Mist ninjas to attack him and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He openly accused Danzo of killing Uchiha clan members to steal their Sharingan and continued arguing with Danzo.

Distracted, the Third Hokage couldn’t prevent their confrontation.

The clan leaders in the room kept silent, unwilling to support Danzo. While they disliked the Uchiha, many also harbored resentment toward Danzo, who had forced talented ninja from their clans into Root.

Sougen’s conflict with Danzo was, in many people’s eyes, a typical case of “dogs biting dogs.” None of them wanted to get involved, secretly hoping the two would destroy each other.

This was exactly what Sougen wanted.

He had thought long and hard about how to fight the Third Hokage and his allies without triggering an all-out attack from the village’s clans. The best solution was to target Danzo.

Attacking Danzo wouldn’t provoke the other clans; in fact, it might make them sit back and watch.

As for angering the Third Hokage… they were already on opposite sides. The more enraged the Hokage became, the more pleased Sougen was. After all, Danzo was the one willing to destroy Konoha for his own ambitions, not the Hokage.

On the other hand, the Third Hokage, known as “The Professor,” cared deeply for the village. He would avoid a war with the Uchiha unless he was certain he could end it with minimal losses.

In the middle of their argument, Sougen suddenly exploded with a speed and strength no one had anticipated, sending Danzo flying with a single punch, leaving a massive hole in the conference room wall. The sheer force made everyone think of Tsunade, the legendary Sannin.

“Yang Release?”

A large, overweight elder sitting in the corner, who had remained silent, suddenly stood up in shock, his enormous body crashing through the table in front of him.

This elder’s sudden reaction delayed the others' attempts to assist Danzo. They all turned to look at their former teammate—Akimichi Torifu.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 40: Torifu Akimichi

This was something well-known among the older generation in Konoha Village. During the time of the Second Hokage, he had six disciples: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Kagami Uchiha, and the least conspicuous of them all, Torifu Akimichi.

Of course, the term “disciple” had some flexibility to it.

These individuals had received teachings from the Second Hokage while attending the Ninja Academy. In reality, only Hiruzen Sarutobi could be considered the Second’s direct disciple. Nevertheless, the Second never denied being referred to as "teacher" by the others, which tacitly acknowledged their status as his students.

By now, the disciples of the Second Hokage had all risen to high positions within Konoha, becoming prominent figures in the village.

Only Kagami Uchiha, who died young, and the low-profile Torifu Akimichi remained relatively unknown.

However, those in the know would never underestimate the strongest member of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio. Torifu, who once served as the Second Hokage’s personal bodyguard, had made a name for himself in the ninja world. But after growing older—and more precisely, after the night of the Nine-Tails attack—he chose to retire.

These days, he only occasionally came out to attend meetings as the head of the Akimichi clan, or to show his face as the military pillar of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.

Like today, Torifu Akimichi had come to the meeting at the invitation of Shikaku Nara, standing in for his old friend Chōza. After all, the Third Hokage was preparing to confront the Uchiha, and no one knew how the situation might unfold. To prevent any disastrous outcomes, precautions had to be taken.

“Could it be... Yang Release?” Torifu muttered under his breath, in a voice barely audible to others.

In today’s era, where the name of the Senju had lost its former glory, the Akimichi clan was the leading expert in Yang Release techniques in Konoha. Their signature technique, the Multi-Size Jutsu, was derived from Yang Release.

Torifu, the plump old man, saw it clearly. The punch that knocked Danzō aside was undoubtedly an application of Yang Release, similar to the monstrous strength of that violent girl Tsunade. Although he wasn’t a sensory ninja, unable to confirm if they were the same, he was certain it was Yang Release.

“Torifu, what’s wrong?” the Third Hokage asked.

He would never underestimate his old classmate, who was quite shrewd. Back in the day, among the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, Torifu stood out enough to be taken in as a student by the Second Hokage, proving he was no simple character.

“Nothing, it just reminded me of the time Uchiha Madara left the village. I was just a kid back then!” Torifu replied.

“Is that so?” The Third Hokage gave Torifu a deep look. His hearing wasn’t failing yet, and he’d clearly heard the words “Yang Release” just now.

“What are you saying, Torifu? That brat is nothing like Uchiha Madara!” Koharu Utatane interjected.

“If you say so,” Torifu muttered, not bothering to argue. Winning or losing such a debate held no benefit, so why waste the energy?

The plump old man simply glanced at the hole in the wall and at the ongoing brawl in the hallway between Sougen and Danzō. “Hiruzen, are you really planning to start a war with the Uchiha? If you don’t control the situation, it’ll spiral out of control. Don’t say I didn’t warn you—unless you bring Jiraiya and Tsunade back, the village might not have the strength to take on the Uchiha.”

Though Torifu spoke these words, he couldn’t help but ponder: Was the Uchiha clan on the verge of rising to new heights once again?

The Ino-Shika-Chō trio had always been viewed as loyal allies of the Sarutobi clan, staunch supporters of the Third Hokage. However, this subordinate relationship hadn’t existed for long. It began with Hiruzen’s father, Sasuke Sarutobi, who was a powerful ninja renowned even in the era dominated by Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. In fact, Uchiha Sasuke was named after him.

Before Sasuke Sarutobi’s rise, the Sarutobi clan was just another unremarkable ninja family, with no bloodline limits or secret techniques. In fact, their contracted summon beasts, the Monkey Clan, were more famous than the Sarutobi themselves.

The Akimichi clan, on the other hand, had a much longer history than the Sarutobi clan. In addition, they inherited the secret arts of Yang Release. Torifu understood very well that any ninja who mastered Yang or Yin Release was an extraordinary force to be reckoned with.

Take a recent example: the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had perfected Yang Release, while Uchiha Madara had taken Yin Release to unprecedented heights. No one in Akimichi history had ever surpassed those two.

Now, however, an Uchiha had mastered Yang Release, and combined with the Sharingan—an embodiment of Yin Release—it created a deeply unsettling combination.

Especially the overwhelming life force that radiated as he threw those punches...

Torifu subtly signaled Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka, who were confused but decided to slow their pace and not follow the Third Hokage into the fray to stop Sougen and Danzō from fighting.

Meanwhile, Sougen and Danzō were already fully engaged in combat in the hallway.

“Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!” Danzō unleashed his most proficient Wind Release technique.

Caught off guard by Sougen’s punch, which had shaken his organs, Danzō’s fury drove him to attack with lethal intent.

“This technique is useless!” Sougen said coldly, throwing shuriken infused with chakra. Each shuriken had the destructive power of a D-rank treasure.

The high-pressure wind orbs were easily shattered by the shuriken, which continued to create holes in the walls, their terrifying power making the Third Hokage hesitate.

Wasn’t the Uchiha clan’s shurikenjutsu supposed to be known for its precision and subtlety? Since when did it have such raw destructive power?

The Third Hokage found himself recalling Torifu’s earlier mention of “Yang Release,” and began to doubt whether, without Jiraiya or Tsunade, the village could truly handle the Uchiha.

“Ryōma!” Danzō shouted.

In an instant, a black swarm of insects erupted from the corridor, accompanied by an irritating buzzing, rushing towards Sougen.

“Shisui!” Sougen called coldly.

Who did Danzō think he was dealing with? Sougen was no loner—he was the head of the Uchiha clan and the new head of the Konoha Police Force.

Flames ignited in the hallway as Shisui intercepted Ryōma Aburame.

If it had been the Third Hokage, Shisui might have hesitated. But for Danzō’s minions, he had no such reservations.

“Everyone, this is a private matter between the Uchiha and Danzō. Please do not interfere!” Sougen warned the clan leaders in the meeting room.

This was his subtle way of declaring that the Uchiha didn’t intend to make enemies of the other clans—unless they decided to provoke trouble themselves.

(End of chapter)