Morning brought a bizarre sight.
A six-year-old dragged a ninja, bound in turtle-shell bondage like a dead dog, down the main street.
Some didn't understand the binding, finding it odd.
Older folks flushed with shame.
Bold ones commented, "Binding with clothes on? Boring."
"Boring? That's a man!"
"Oh? A man… Now I'm interested!"
Chiren ignored the chatter, heading to the Uchiha compound gate.
He tossed the ninja's mask to the stunned guards, ordering, "Notify the Clan Head and Elders! Anbu attacked me, claiming to be Danzo's man! Invite the Great Elder too!"
Seeing the guard hesitate, Chiren flashed Setsuna's token.
The guard's face changed, realizing the gravity, and ran off.
Chiren checked his rewards. The fight wasted his daily battle, but:
[Defeated Root enemy. Choose an entry: Chakra +1, Potion Mastery, Ninja World Trap Mastery]
He skipped Chakra. Potion Mastery? He was upright—useless. Trap Mastery suited the coming war.
Trap knowledge flooded his mind. Before he could process, Uchiha Cangyue and Elders arrived.
"Chiren, what happened? Who dares attack an Uchiha!" Cangyue roared.
Chiren nodded. Cangyue still backed his clan.
He recounted the attack, crediting his win to the ninja underestimating him and falling to a new genjutsu.
Then he exaggerated, pointing at the ninja. "He said they'll kill all our young Uchiha!"
He patted a five-year-old girl, the Second Elder's granddaughter, feigning heartbreak.
Her presence darkened the Second Elder's face.
Setsuna asked sharply, "Every word true?"
Chiren nodded vigorously.
"Outrageous!" The Second Elder exploded. "I'm going to Hiruzen for answers!"
Even as a dove, he wouldn't tolerate threats to his family.
He glared at Cangyue and Setsuna. "You're enduring this? Cangyue, you have Fugaku! And future grandchildren!"
"To the Hokage Building!" Cangyue's anger ignited.
"Stop!"
Setsuna's cane struck the ground, halting them.
They looked back, disbelieving. Had the hawk grown timid?
Meeting their scorn, Setsuna's face was stone. "What good will a few of you do?"
He scanned the crowd, ordering, "Gather all clansmen with two tomoe or higher. Bring weapons. All of them!"
Ten minutes later, over 300 Uchiha elites, armed and cold-eyed, massed outside.
A murderous aura filled the air.
Chiren gasped inwardly. Did I take the joke too far?
Setsuna raised the Root mask, voice booming. "Will you join me to demand justice from Konoha? You have children, grandchildren. Will you demand answers, or live in shame?"
The warlike Uchiha roared, ignited. "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Cangyue stepped forward. "Calm down! We seek an explanation, not war—for respect and peace!"
Glancing at Setsuna, relieved he didn't object, he ordered, "Uchiha Yakumi, notify the Hyuga, Nara, and other clans to witness!"
The group marched to the Hokage Building, villagers retreating in fear.
Over a thousand ninja and civilians gathered to watch.
The Root ninja was thrown down, gagged, struggling.
Cangyue roared, "Hokage-sama, give the Uchiha an explanation!"
Inside, Hiruzen, in battle gear under his cloak, led dozens of Anbu, landing before Cangyue.
"Cangyue, what happened?" he asked solemnly.
At nearly 40, Hiruzen was at his peak, no pushover.
"You ask your Anbu what they did to our junior!" Cangyue snapped.
Hiruzen eyed the ninja. "One of ours?"
"No, Hokage-sama. Wrong mask and uniform. A spy?" an Anbu replied.
"He said he's Danzo's," Chiren added casually.
Hiruzen's eyes flashed anger and helplessness. He ordered, "Get Danzo. Now!"
"But… they just returned from a mission," an Anbu said.
"If he's not dead, bring him!" Hiruzen growled. "This needs resolution!"
He glared at Chiren, cursing Danzo inwardly. Damn it, Danzo's my advisor! Why send such an idiot?
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The plans are now available.
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