Uchiha Qianyu understood very clearly the concerns in the hearts of people like Fugaku and Shisui.
They feared that his extreme methods would prematurely ignite the conflict between Konoha's upper leadership and the Uchiha clan—tearing off the last layer of pretense and even triggering open rebellion and civil war.
But no one understood better than Qianyu that, for the Uchiha clan, such an outcome would be far better than the one originally awaiting them.
That was why he not only felt no fear toward such consequences—he was even subtly pushing events in that direction.
"The Sarutobi clan…"
"What exactly happened?"
Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamabuki exchanged uneasy glances.
"This… this is bad…"
"A ninja from the Sarutobi clan killed someone…"
"And the one he killed was a civilian from the village…"
"Who did it?" Qianyu asked coldly.
Yamabuki swallowed and said in a low voice,
"It was the second son of the Sarutobi clan head…"
"Sarutobi Jirō."
Qianyu's eyes flickered slightly.
By rights, the Sarutobi clan head should have been Sarutobi Hiruzen—but as Hokage, he had no time to personally manage clan affairs. Those duties were delegated to others.
At present, the Sarutobi clan head was Sarutobi Hiyū, Hiruzen's blood relative.
And Sarutobi Jirō—
Was Hiruzen's nephew.
Qianyu said nothing, only quickened his pace.
"C–Captain Qianyu, wait for us!"
"Should we… should we report this to the clan head first…?"
But Qianyu's figure was already vanishing into the distance.
…
The Sarutobi clan grounds.
"You can't leave… you absolutely can't leave!"
"Get lost!"
Several Konoha villagers were desperately clinging to Sarutobi Jirō, blocking his path.
They had no strength to speak of—but even so, they were willing to risk their lives just to demand justice.
Some grabbed his legs.
Others formed a human wall in front of him.
As the crowd grew larger, Jirō's fury burned hotter and hotter.
"Are you people sick of living?!"
"Do you really think I wouldn't dare lay a hand on you?!"
An elderly woman stood trembling, tears streaming down her wrinkled face.
Her legs were weak from illness, yet she still leaned on a cane and stubbornly blocked Jirō's way.
"Y–You beast… you burned my granddaughter to death…"
"I—I'll fight you to the end!"
She swung her cane at him.
But before it could even touch him, her frail body lost balance. She fell hard to the ground, her forehead smashing against a stone—
Blood splattered everywhere.
"Mom!"
A man who had been clinging to Jirō's leg cried out in shock, releasing him and rushing to his mother's side.
"Mom—y-you're bleeding!"
He desperately pressed his hands to her wound, then tore his clothes into strips to stop the bleeding.
"I—I'm fine… don't let that beast escape…"
"Bastard!" the man roared, eyes bloodshot.
"Sarutobi Jirō! You killed my daughter—and now you want to kill my mother too?!"
Jirō sneered.
"She fell on her own. What does that have to do with me?"
"And besides—she tried to hit me first. Even if she fell to her death, that would be her own fault!"
"You… you…!"
The crowd erupted in furious whispers.
"So that guy really killed someone's daughter?"
"I heard she was burned alive…"
"What?! Why?!"
"Who knows? These arrogant nobles never treat us like human beings—who knows how he offended him!"
"Quiet! That's the Sarutobi clan head's son! Are you trying to get yourselves killed?!"
Even the surrounding ninja hesitated to act.
"This is going too far…"
"Should we report it to the Hokage?"
"ANBU has already gone…"
"All we can do is hope the Hokage handles it fairly…"
"I doubt it… he's Sarutobi clan—and the Hokage's nephew…"
"Hey—don't talk nonsense! How could the Hokage shield a scum like this?"
"…He probably won't… right?"
Just then—
"Move aside. All of you."
A stern figure pushed through the crowd and strode forward. Aside from being slightly younger, his appearance bore a clear resemblance to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Clan Head!"
The Sarutobi clansmen hurriedly bowed.
The man was none other than Sarutobi Hiyū.
"Father! You finally came!" Jirō shouted in relief.
"These lowly civilians keep clinging to me like dog-skin plaster! Hurry and have them arrested!"
But—
Slap!
Hiyū struck Jirō across the face with a brutal backhand.
Jirō was sent flying to the ground, a clear handprint instantly swelling on his cheek.
"Father… you…?!"
"You worthless trash!" Hiyū roared.
"Don't think I don't know—did you kill someone's daughter?!"
The crowd stared in stunned disbelief—then erupted with a mix of shock and grim satisfaction.
"Well struck, Clan Head!"
"That little beast deserved it!"
"Kill him!"
"Kill him!"
Jirō clutched his face, eyes wide with terror, as if he no longer recognized his own father.
"Father, I—I didn't mean to…"
"Didn't mean to?" Hiyū bellowed.
"Then why did that girl die?! Speak!"
An overwhelming pressure burst from Hiyū, crushing down like a mountain. Everyone present felt their breathing grow difficult.
"I—I was just training…"
"I was practicing the clan's Fire Release—Blazing Flame Technique…"
"My subordinates said that once mastered, it could release extremely high temperatures—even burn a person to ashes instantly…"
"They said I had already mastered it…"
The crowd went deathly silent.
Hiyū's face twisted in rage.
"So you used someone's daughter as a test subject for your ninjutsu?!"
"No! No!" Jirō cried.
"My subordinates said something was moving in the grass—maybe a rabbit or deer—and suggested I test the technique…"
"Then—then I heard a scream… that's when I realized it was a person…"
"And my technique wasn't as powerful as they claimed—I couldn't burn her instantly…"
"I could only watch as she screamed, burning alive, crying in pain, running toward us…"
"I—I'll never forget that scene…"
At his confession, the victim's family finally snapped.
"You beast! I'll kill you!"
The man rushed forward in a frenzy—
But Hiyū effortlessly stopped him.
"I understand how you feel," Hiyū said solemnly.
"I'm a father too. But please—calm down."
"Until the matter is fully investigated, do not act rashly."
"I swear, in my capacity as Sarutobi clan head—I will handle this fairly."
"Please… trust me."
The man could not calm down—but he also knew he was powerless. Through tears, he said bitterly,
"Clan Head Hiyū… please… you must give us an explanation…"
"My daughter… she was only eleven…"
Hiyū grasped his hand firmly.
"Rest assured. I will give you justice."
"T-thank you… thank you…"
Hiyū then turned back toward his son—and his expression changed instantly.
"Based on what you just said…"
"You didn't know there was a person in the grass."
"In other words—it was an accidental injury, wasn't it?"
Jirō's face changed sharply.
He wasn't stupid. He instantly understood—
His father was saving his life.
The crowd froze in stunned silence.
Only then did they realize—
Everything Hiyū had done before was nothing more than an act.
In the end—
He was still protecting his son.