In the Hokage's office, the air was thick with tension. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, sat at his desk while on the sofa opposite him sat the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, flanked by the village elders: Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.
"There is nothing more to discuss. The Uchiha clan's wicked ambitions are now laid bare for all to see," Danzō Shimura spoke first, his voice a low growl. "The only correct course of action is to immediately dispatch all Anbu and Root members to surround the Uchiha compound and ensure that not a single one of them escapes!"
Homura Mitokado added, "Since the founding of this village, this is the first time anyone has dared to attempt an assassination on a Hokage. If the Uchiha are not punished severely for this, I fear it will be impossible to maintain order and authority in the future!"
Danzō grunted in agreement. "Humph, Homura is right. If we show weakness, every clan will think they can challenge the authority of Konoha's leadership."
Minato countered, his voice firm despite the pressure. "No. The matter has not been thoroughly investigated. I believe we cannot make such a hasty decision."
Koharu Utatane interjected sharply, "The facts are right in front of us, what is there to investigate? The Uchiha have been making subversive moves for a long time. We must not allow this to continue!"
Danzō narrowed his one good eye, his voice laced with menace. "Minato, this is not the time for sentimentality or indecisiveness. As Hokage, you must make a swift and firm decision."
Minato Namikaze stood and walked to the window, his expression troubled. The pressure from these elders, men from his grandfather's generation, was immense. And what they said made a certain kind of sense, at least on the surface. But he felt a deep unease, a certainty that this situation was not as straightforward as it seemed. The Uchiha clan was filled with powerful shinobi. If they truly intended to assassinate the Hokages, they would not have sent only Yashiro and Tekka. While both were high-ranking members of the Military Police, they were not skilled enough to be elite assassins. Fugaku Uchiha was no fool; he would never have ordered such a self-destructive mission.
There must be a conspiracy here, Minato thought, his mind racing. Danzō's animosity toward the Uchiha was an open secret among the village leadership. He now strongly suspected that the true mastermind behind this assassination was Danzō himself, who was now crying "thief" the loudest. Minato understood Fugaku; while the man harbored rebellious thoughts, it was only because Danzō had pushed his clan to the breaking point. He doubted Fugaku would ever truly commit to a full-scale rebellion, and even if he did, he wouldn't be foolish enough to start it this way. This attack only served to escalate the conflict, benefiting no one but Danzō himself.
After a tense silence, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been quietly smoking his pipe, finally spoke. Everyone's attention turned to him. Though Minato was the Fourth Hokage, in terms of seniority and influence, the elders still answered to Hiruzen. His word was law.
Lord Third, you must speak up for me, Minato prayed silently.
Hiruzen exhaled a long plume of smoke. "This matter may not be as simple as it appears. I believe we should summon Uchiha Fugaku here first. We will question him in person and then make our decision."
"Humph!" Danzō scoffed. "Do you truly believe Fugaku will come? For all we know, he is already planning a full-scale rebellion as we speak!"
Hiruzen's gaze was firm. "If he truly refuses to come, then it will not be too late for us to take decisive action."
Seeing Hiruzen's resolve, no one argued further.
"Someone, come."
With a puff of white smoke, an Anbu ninja appeared, kneeling in the center of the room.
"Notify the head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku Uchiha, to report to the Hokage's office immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
Outside the walls of Konoha, deep within the surrounding forest, two bodies lay sprawled on the damp earth. One was Uchiha Tekka, the other, Uchiha Yashiro.
"Black Zetsu, let's eat. Which one do you want?"
"I'll take Tekka. He's in his forties, just to my taste."
"Tsk tsk, you really are a glutton. You'll eat anything."
Sizzle…
White Zetsu and Black Zetsu separated, each preparing to enjoy their grisly meal.
"Remember to keep their Sharingan. Take them back to Madara. They may be useful."
"Understood."
Slurp, crunch…
As the two creatures were enjoying their feast, a vortex of space swirled into existence, and Obito emerged.
"How did it go?"
White Zetsu wiped its mouth. "Hehe, it went smoothly. My clones, disguised as the Uchiha, completed the assassination attempt. The fuse has been lit."
Black Zetsu added, "Tonight, Konoha will have quite the show."
White Zetsu tore off a piece of flesh and offered it to Obito. "Would you like a taste? The meat of our clansmen has a unique flavor."
Obito shot him a look of disgust, then turned and began to disappear back into the vortex. "I'm going to check on the situation. When you have finished your meal, come and find me."
White Zetsu popped the piece of meat into its own mouth. "Tsk, you unlucky fool. This is delicious!"
Black Zetsu hissed, "Stop talking! Just eat!"
Back in the Uchiha compound, the night was alight with torches. The news of Tekka and Yashiro's assassination attempt had spread like wildfire. The Anbu had searched the entire district but found no trace of the two men.
The Anbu captain growled in frustration. "Damn it, where did those two go? Did they simply vanish into thin air?"
An Anbu beside him responded, "We must continue to interrogate Fugaku Uchiha. He must know their whereabouts!"
Uchiha Fugaku stated calmly, "It is no use asking me. I truly know nothing of this matter."
Swoosh! A new Anbu appeared. "Captain! The Third Hokage has ordered Fugaku Uchiha to report to his office immediately!"
"Yes, understood." The captain nodded, then looked back at Fugaku. "Let's go. The Hokage wishes to see you."
Fugaku's face was a grim mask, the ominous feeling in his heart growing stronger.
"My husband…"
"Father…"
"Dad!"
Mikoto, Itachi, and little Sasuke all looked on with worried expressions. Assassinating a Hokage was the gravest of crimes. As the head of the clan, even if Fugaku was innocent, he would bear an inescapable responsibility.
"My love, you can't go!" Mikoto pleaded, tears in her eyes. She knew, deep down, that her husband would likely not return.
"I will be fine, Mikoto. Do not worry. Stay home and take care of Itachi and Sasuke. I will be back soon." Fugaku smiled and embraced his wife, then gently rubbed his sons' heads. "Wait for me to come back."
Watching his father's back as he was led away, Itachi's expression was complex. He had seen Yashiro and Tekka with his own eyes. It couldn't have been anyone else. Did they really go to assassinate the Hokages? Why would they do something so foolish? Wouldn't that push the Uchiha clan into an impossible situation? Itachi couldn't understand it, but he could not deny what he had seen.
Caw…
Just then, a crow landed silently on his shoulder. He recognized it. It belonged to Shisui Uchiha.
"Mom, I need to use the bathroom."
"Sasuke, don't cry. Father will be back soon."
After comforting his younger brother, Itachi turned and slipped into the shadows of the night. He followed the crow's guidance and soon found Shisui Uchiha waiting beneath a large tree.
"Itachi, where is your father?" Shisui asked, getting straight to the point.
"He was taken by the Anbu. The Hokage wants to see him."
"Did the clan leader resist?"
"No."
"Hmm…" Uchiha Shisui nodded, his face etched with worry. "Itachi, the Uchiha clan… I fear things are about to change."