Hokage-sama, Uchiha Douhuan is heading toward the Shimura clan grounds with a full squad from the Police Force.
What? Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyelid twitched. For a moment, he couldn't figure out what exactly Uchiha Douhuan meant to do.
Hokage-sama, let me go. I'll try to stop him.
At that moment, the on-duty ANBU for today—Uchiha Itachi—stepped out from the shadows, knelt on one knee, and requested permission.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Uchiha Itachi for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh.
"I'm counting on you, Itachi. The village can't withstand another internal conflict."
Uchiha Itachi accepted the order and vanished, darting through the structures of Konoha at high speed. In only a short while, he reached the outer perimeter of the Shimura clan grounds—just as Uchiha Douhuan's group arrived at a leisurely pace.
Inside the Shimura compound, everything was draped in mourning white. In the distance, funereal music could be heard.
Douhuan looked at the person blocking their path. Even with a mask, anyone in the village with eyes could tell who this was—after all, who didn't know that ANBU currently had only one underage member?
"Itachi, we're here to summon certain Shimura clan individuals back to the Police Force for questioning. Did Hokage-sama send you to assist us?" Uchiha Douhuan asked.
Since his identity was already revealed, Uchiha Itachi no longer bothered with the disguise and removed his mask.
"Douhuan-nii… please go back. The village can't handle internal strife anymore," Itachi said.
"So you're here to stop me, is that it?" Douhuan's eyes grew cold.
"Is that your idea, or the Hokage's?"
This was exactly why Douhuan had intentionally taken his time walking openly through the village. With such a large formation moving through the streets, it was inevitable that curious villagers would follow to see what was going on. The Shimura clan grounds were also located in one of the busiest areas of the village—by now, the crowd around them had grown larger and larger.
"Shimura Danzō desecrated the First Hokage's remains and attacked fellow villagers. The evidence is irrefutable. The Shimura clan has been found to have financial ties to him. We're only here to bring them in for investigation.
But now you stand here trying to stop us—what exactly is your intention?" Uchiha Douhuan said loudly, just as more spectators gathered.
"Douhuan-nii…"
Itachi's expression grew uncomfortable under the stares of the surrounding villagers.
"Use titles when we're working!" Uchiha Douhuan cut him off sharply.
"If this is truly Hokage-sama's command, I'll turn around and walk away right now."
Uchiha Itachi turned his head slightly, seeing the crowd craning their necks to watch.
Could he possibly say this was on the Hokage's orders?
What happened yesterday at the village gate had already spread through Konoha overnight.
"Clan Leader…"
Under everyone's stare, Uchiha Itachi could only lower his head.
Uchiha Douhuan simply walked past him with his squad.
Before long, the Shimura clan also learned of the commotion at their gates. The current head of the Shimura clan, Shimura Hiro, brought people out to block Douhuan's path inside the compound.
"My apologies, but the Shimura clan is not receiving guests today," Shimura Hiro said coldly, dressed in a pure black kimono.
"How unfortunate for us," Douhuan nodded. "It seems the Shimura clan is holding a funeral?"
"You Uchiha still have the nerve to come here?!"
A young, furious member of the Shimura clan suddenly lunged at Douhuan. The Police Force members behind Douhuan were ready to act, but Douhuan held up a hand to stop them.
The enraged youth was quickly restrained by other Shimura members.
"The younger generation doesn't know proper conduct. Please don't mind it," Shimura Hiro said.
"I understand, I understand," Douhuan replied with a smile. "But I'm not here today as a guest."
His smile faded.
"Shimura Clan Leader, please summon Shimura Rietō, Shimura Arashi, and Shimura Yūsuke. They are to come with us to assist in the investigation."
The Police Force members behind him—already simmering with irritation—immediately prepared to move. The Shimura clan ninja naturally reacted as well.
"This seems… rather improper," Shimura Hiro said quietly.
"It's only to assist in an investigation. After all, the ledger we recovered from Root clearly shows deep financial ties between the Shimura clan and Root. Personally, I believe in your innocence, Clan Leader Hiro."
Douhuan pulled out the half-burned ledger from his sealing scroll.
"Clan Leader! There's nothing left to discuss! The Uchiha are wolves in human skin! Elder Danzō died at his hands—avenge him!"
The restrained young Shimura ninja shouted furiously.
"So the Shimura clan has been colluding with Shimura Danzō and intends to betray the village," Uchiha Douhuan said coldly as his Sharingan shifted from three tomoe into the Mangekyō.
Shimura Hiro was about to erupt, but once he saw the Mangekyō Sharingan glowing in Douhuan's eyes, he forcibly swallowed his anger.
"Enough! They'll go with you," he said through clenched teeth.
As Danzō's cousin, Shimura Hiro had personally witnessed the legendary battle between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. He knew exactly what kind of terrifying power the Mangekyō held. Otherwise, where did the giant crater at the Valley of the End come from?
If Douhuan unleashed that power here in the middle of the Shimura compound, who knew what the outcome would be—but one thing was certain: none of the Shimura clan would escape.
And with Douhuan standing on the side of righteousness, any open conflict would stain the Shimura clan's name permanently.
"You should've cooperated from the start."
Douhuan chuckled softly and gestured for Uchiha En'u to go take the suspects.
"Clan Leader!"
The young Shimura members immediately protested. They were used to swaggering about the village; they'd never been forced to swallow such humiliation.
"Shimura Clan Leader… don't make this difficult for me," Douhuan whispered in Hiro's ear.
Shimura Hiro's lips twitched, but he ultimately stayed silent and signaled his clan to stand down.
The arrests didn't take long. The suspects Douhuan had named were all present. After placing handcuffs on them, Uchiha En'u returned to report.
Thank you for your cooperation, Shimura Clan Leader, Douhuan said once the captives were secured. "But allow me to offer a word of advice:
At a time like this… holding a funeral for a traitor of the village may not be very appropriate.