Lord Third, you finally arrived.
Uchiha Douhuan, who had remained silent until now, finally opened his mouth.
"Douhuan… what on earth happened?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Danzō's bisected corpse on the ground before turning to ask Douhuan.
"This morning, we received a mission from the village. But halfway through, we were ambushed."
Douhuan spoke calmly.
"After the three of us eliminated all attackers, we discovered Elder Danzō's body among the corpses."
"You lie! How could Danzō possibly ambush you!?"
Mitokado Homura shouted in fury.
"Regardless of what you believe, these are the facts."
Douhuan's tone remained steady.
"During the fight, he exposed the Sharingan embedded in his right arm. Believing him to be a criminal who had stolen our clan's bloodline, we killed him. Only afterward did we realize it was Elder Danzō."
"Hiruzen, don't listen to his nonsense! This is obviously the Uchiha clan murdering Danzō and framing him afterward!"
Utatane Koharu added sharply.
"The Uchiha clan would never desecrate the bodies of our own kin!"
One of the Uchiha battle-faction elders barked back.
"And what we found… wasn't only the Sharingan."
Douhuan ignored their accusations.
He lifted Danzō's arm, removed the embedded Sharingan one by one, and dispelled the sealing jutsu covering them.
Without the seals, the Hashirama cells instantly consumed Danzō's remains—reducing them to a twisted wooden stump.
"Th-that's… Wood Style?"
Some of the older shinobi present recognized the transformation immediately.
At Douhuan's signal, Inoka dropped Yamato—still unconscious—onto the ground.
"During the battle, we also found this man—a shinobi capable of using Wood Style. I think everyone understands what that implies."
Douhuan's gaze locked onto Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"You dare desecrate the First Hokage's remains!?"
This time, even one of the Uchiha dove-faction elders lost his composure. He had always revered Hashirama.
On the Hokage's side, several shinobi's expressions also shifted.
Danzō's actions had violated the very faith they held.
Hiruzen knew he could no longer stay silent.
"Everyone… I will personally order an investigation. I promise you all an explanation. Please give me a little time."
"We cannot trust them! Douhuan! Lead us—let us revolt! You awakened Lord Madara's eyes! You can lead the Uchiha to glory!"
Two radical Uchiha shouted, unpacified by Hiruzen's promise.
Shisui and Itachi panicked.
But the entire clan was already in a frenzy.
The two exchanged a glance.
If necessary, they were prepared to sacrifice their lives to stop this.
But at that moment—
Douhuan suddenly turned around and roared:
"ALL OF YOU—SHUT UP!"
The Uchiha, who seconds earlier were ready to rebel, froze.
Several battle-faction elders stared at Douhuan in disbelief.
Douhuan's eyes had shifted into their Mangekyō form.
Without mercy, he reprimanded them:
"What are you shouting for!?
Konoha was founded by the First Hokage and Lord Madara together!
We were born here, raised here—this is our home!
We drink the waters of the Naka River together, eat from the same fields—we are a part of this village!"
Shisui and Itachi were stunned.
Could it be… Douhuan didn't intend to rebel?
"Clan Leader, isn't that right?"
Douhuan turned toward Uchiha Fugaku, who had remained silent.
Fugaku stared deeply at Douhuan, then stepped forward and bowed to Hiruzen.
"Douhuan speaks the truth. My clansmen were too emotional earlier. Please forgive us, Lord Hokage."
The radicals behind him wanted to say more, but one look at Douhuan's Mangekyō silenced them instantly.
"That is understandable," Hiruzen said, relieved, taking the opportunity to smooth things over.
"If I saw my clansmen's bodies desecrated like this, even I would struggle to stay calm. Fugaku, take your people back for now. Once everything is investigated, I will give you all a proper explanation."
"However, Lord Hokage—right now, we do require an explanation."
Douhuan suddenly spoke again.
He pulled out the mission scroll he received that morning—stamped with the Hokage seal.
"This scroll—did you authorize it?"
Douhuan asked with a polite smile.
"Douhuan, I issued no such mission. And the mission hall has no record of it."
Hiruzen replied quickly—desperate to distance himself from Danzō.
"So everything… was Elder Danzō's personal scheme, correct?"
Douhuan asked.
Forgive me, Danzō,
Hiruzen thought.
But cutting ties was necessary.
"That's correct," he said aloud.
"How vile!"
Douhuan's expression was filled with righteous anger.
"Lord Hokage works tirelessly for this village, yet some people act out of selfishness and harm the village! Lord Hokage—there are bad people beside you!"
As he said this, Douhuan deliberately swept his gaze across Homura and Koharu.
"Douhuan, I understand how you feel. Rest assured—I will get to the bottom of this."
Hiruzen answered, forced to keep up appearances.
"Lord Hokage, in this matter, the Uchiha clan is willing to share your burden."
Douhuan bowed deeply.
"Douhuan, your loyalty… I appreciate it…"
Hiruzen lifted his head to respond—
—and froze.
Douhuan's Mangekyō was spinning quietly before him.
"Lord Hokage…
The Uchiha clan is willing to share your burden."
Cold sweat slid down Hiruzen's cheek.
Only now did he realize Douhuan's true intention.
He remembered what Shisui told him yesterday—the dangerous ocular ability Douhuan possessed.
Hiruzen knew it couldn't be used to control him into destabilizing the village…
But that didn't mean he wanted to fall under its control.
He had even allowed Danzō's actions to continue partly because he wanted Danzō to draw Douhuan's attention away.
But now—
Hiruzen finally understood:
Douhuan was far more dangerous than any Uchiha he had ever encountered.
With a heavy sigh, he spoke:
"…Since you are willing, then I entrust this matter to you."
At that moment, Douhuan's Mangekyō dimmed.
He bowed respectfully.
"As you command."
He then turned back toward the Uchiha clan.
As Hiruzen prepared to withdraw with his men—
Douhuan's voice echoed once more:
Uchiha clan—salute the Lord Hokage!
Douhuan snapped his right hand to his forehead.
LOYALTY!
Fugaku and all Uchiha present followed in unison:
LOYALTY!