Fugaku's voice carried a bitter edge. Once upon a time the Uchiha had helped build this village alongside the Senju. Now they were isolated, treated like outsiders even when one of their own was nearly murdered for his eyes. It was pathetic.
Taiichi didn't soften the blow. He leaned forward, eyes steady. "You don't have to convince them to help the Uchiha out of kindness. Make them understand the truth. If Root is willing to steal the Mangekyo, they'll come for the Byakugan next. They'll come for the Kurama clan's genjutsu, every secret technique in every clan. Once an organization crosses that line, they don't stop. They keep taking. This isn't about saving the Uchiha. It's about protecting every bloodline and every clan's power from being picked apart. The clan heads aren't fools. They'll see it."
Fugaku studied the younger man for a long moment. Taiichi wasn't just strong. He thought like someone who had already played this game for years. If the Uchiha could truly stand with him and Yohei, maybe the clan still had a future.
"I understand," Fugaku said. "I'll make sure every clan head knows exactly what's at stake. We'll stand with Yohei."
Taiichi gave a small nod, then his expression turned serious again. "This is our first real strike back at Danzo and Root. It's all we can do for now. I don't know how much we'll actually accomplish."
Fugaku frowned. "Even with every clan pushing back, the village would still protect him?"
"Right now the western front is barely holding because of Root," Taiichi said. "Hiruzen won't risk collapsing that line. And the old man… he's sentimental. He and Danzo go way back."
Fugaku stayed silent. He hated how much sense it made.
Taiichi stood. "The village will have to punish Danzo somehow. They can't ignore this completely. How hard they come down on him depends on how much pressure you and the other clans apply. That part is up to you. I've done what I can."
He finished the last of his tea, gave Fugaku a respectful nod, and vanished in a swirl of leaves.
Fugaku sat alone in the quiet room for a while. His wife eventually returned and sat across from him without speaking, simply offering her presence. He appreciated it more than he could say.
Far to the north, Taiichi reappeared near the front lines. The situation with Yohei had reminded him of something important—Danzo had no bottom line. Nono was still working under him on the western front. The thought made Taiichi uneasy. He checked the special Flying Thunder God kunai he'd given her. It hadn't been activated. That was the only reassurance he had.
Back at the southern camp, Jiraiya's detailed report landed on Hiruzen's desk the next day. The old man read it once, then again, pipe forgotten in his hand. By the time he finished, his face was dark with anger.
He summoned Koharu and Homura immediately.
When they arrived, Hiruzen didn't waste time. He handed them the scroll. Both elders read it in silence. Koharu's expression twisted with fury. Homura looked like he wanted to throw something.
"Danzo has lost his mind," Koharu snapped. "Faking missions. Trying to kill one of our own for his eyes. On the front lines."
Hiruzen's voice was cold. "He didn't just cross a line. He burned the whole damn bridge. And he did it while I specifically told him to stay quiet about the Uchiha situation."
Homura rubbed his temples. "We can't afford to remove him right now. The western front is being held together by Root. If we cut him loose—"
"I know," Hiruzen cut in. "That's why I'm not removing him. But he's going to feel this. I want a direct inquiry sent to him. He explains himself. Fully. And it better be good."
Koharu and Homura exchanged a look but didn't argue.
Hiruzen continued. "I'm also summoning Fugaku. The Uchiha deserve answers from me directly. Yohei isn't just their clansman. He's one of our fighters. We don't let our people get hunted by our own."
The two elders nodded. They understood the balance Hiruzen was trying to keep. Punish Danzo enough to satisfy the Uchiha and the other clans, but not so much that the western front collapsed.
While the leadership scrambled to contain the fallout, Yohei remained in the medical tent, still carrying most of his injuries. Taiichi had deliberately left the worst of them untreated. A clean recovery would have looked suspicious. They needed the story to land hard.
Back at the southern camp, the whispers had already started spreading. People talked about how Yohei had been lured out by a fake mission and ambushed. They talked about spies inside the camp. Jiraiya let the rumors run. He even quietly removed a few Root operatives who had been embedded too deeply.
It was all part of the performance.
And while the camp played its roles, Yohei rested, waiting for the next move in a game that had only just begun.