Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 163 The Informant of the Uchiha Clan Association

The autumn night of Konoha in 56 was slightly chilly.

Hidden deep within a dense maple forest, the vermilion torii gates of Nankagawa Shrine resemble a bleeding wound under the pale moonlight.

Inside the main hall of the shrine, the air was as still as lead.

The candlelight flickered in the enclosed space, casting the huge Uchiha clan crest on the wall in a dim light, the red and white pattern appearing as if it might drip blood at any moment in the shadows.

Even the strong incense could not mask the anxiety and anger that permeated the crowd.

Almost all of the core Jonin of the Uchiha clan were on the list.

They sat upright in front of Fugaku, dressed in dark clan clothing, their faces filled with barely suppressed resentment.

The candlelight flickered, illuminating pairs of restless eyes.

"Clan Chief Fugaku!" Uchiha Tekka slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, his voice booming like thunder in the oppressive hall.

"Has Konoha ever treated the Uchiha clan with even a shred of fairness?! The police force? Hmph! They're nothing but cages that confine us to a corner of the village! Look at the location of our clan's territory, look at the hypocritical faces of those higher-ups! They fear our power and treat us like thieves!"

“That’s right!” Uchiha Inahi immediately chimed in, her voice filled with deep resentment.

"The Nine-Tails' rampage—they pinned all the blame on us without any investigation! Over the years, every aspect of our mission allocation and resource allocation has been deliberately designed to suppress us. The Third Hokage's so-called 'peace' and 'inclusiveness' are nothing but a slow, insidious process, designed to wear down the Uchiha clan's edge and eventually wipe us out completely!"

"We are not lambs to the slaughter!" another voice roared, filled with inflammatory fanaticism.

"Lord Fugaku! You are the head of our Uchiha clan, a powerful figure with the Mangekyou Sharingan! Look at the hearts of our clansmen! Konoha has long been rotten and needs new power to cleanse it!"

"If you raise your voice, our Uchiha clan will surely follow you, overthrow Hiruzen Sarutobi's rule, and support you to become the Fifth Hokage! Let the name of the Uchiha resound throughout the ninja world once again!"

"I support Lord Fugaku! The Fifth Hokage!"

"This is rebellion, Chieftain!"

"We can't take it anymore!"

The frenzied roar, like long-accumulated volcanic lava, surged and roared within the main hall of the shrine.

Pairs of scarlet eyes were fixed on Uchiha Fugaku, who sat in the main seat, their anticipation, coercion, and fanaticism intertwined, almost igniting the air.

Fugaku Uchiha sat upright, like a silent stone statue.

His face was resolute, his features were cold and hard, and his figure was tall and straight under the Jonin vest.

The candlelight cast deep shadows on his face, and his Mangekyou Sharingan, hidden behind the shadows, calmly scanned the faces below, contorted with rage.

He felt the pain and humiliation of his people.

He was more aware than anyone of the suspicion and suppression from higher-ups.

However, as the clan leader, he saw far more than that.

He witnessed the war.

They foresaw that if the Uchiha raised their banner in rebellion, Konoha would inevitably descend into an unprecedented bloody civil war.

Not to mention the Sarutobi clan, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio...

The Hyuga, Aburame, Inuzuka, Kurama, Shimura, and other ninja clans.

We will not stand idly by.

There are also the dark areas and the roots...

Not to mention Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin who was at the height of his power, and Tsunade, who was traveling abroad and whose stance was unclear.

No matter how strong or how deep the foundation of the Uchiha clan, they could never possibly contend with the power of the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

This path of coup is a road to annihilation!
not to mention……

The Land of Stars, which rose to prominence in the western part of the ninja world, and the "Uchiha Hikaru" who possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, were like a sword hanging over their heads, making the Uchiha's situation even more delicate and dangerous.

It's only been a few years since the Kaguya clan launched a rebellion and was suppressed and exterminated by Kirigakure.

They've forgotten!
"enough!"

Fugaku's voice wasn't loud, but it swept through the frenzied Lord like a cold current.

The clan leader's authority and the invisible pressure from the Mangekyou Sharingan in that voice brought all the noise to an abrupt halt.

A pair of scarlet eyes looked at him with suspicion and uncertainty.

Fugaku slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over every face with an undeniable certainty: "Rebellion? The Fifth Hokage?"

A cold, almost mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"What do you take Konoha for? A toy for us Uchiha to take at will? Or do you think you can fight against the entire village's strength with just your passion and these eyes?"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a weight that pierced the soul: "That was war! A foolish act that wiped the Uchiha clan off the map of the ninja world! The glory of the Uchiha is not earned by instigating civil war and causing rivers of blood to flow!"

"I, Fugaku Uchiha, as the clan head, will never lead my clan to this dead end!"

"Don't forget Uchiha Madara!"

His resounding words were like ice water, pouring harshly into everyone's hearts.

The frenzied atmosphere cooled instantly, replaced by a stunned silence and oppressive stillness.

Fugaku's gaze finally settled on two silent figures at the back of the crowd.

Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi.

Both of them had their heads slightly lowered, so their expressions were not visible, but Fugaku could sense the heavy worry on their faces, which was quite different from that of most of the clansmen in the hall.

"Meeting adjourned!" Fugaku said no more, turned around with a flick of his sleeve, and disappeared into the shadows leading to the inner room.

The hall was left in a deathly silence, with only the candlelight flickering unwillingly, reflecting the disappointment, resentment, anger, and a trace of fear forcibly suppressed on the faces of the Uchiha clan members.

—————— Hokage's office.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows were wide open, and the night wind carried in the lights of Konoha Village, but it could not dispel the solemnity inside.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, his back slightly hunched.

The pipe in his hand had long since gone out, and the wisps of smoke dissipated in the moonlight.

Behind him, Uchiha Itachi, who was kneeling on one knee, had just finished his report, recounting the entire tense clan meeting at the Naka Shrine without missing a single detail.

"Father... refused." Itachi's voice was low, carrying a weight that was hard for a young boy to bear.

"But the emotions of the clan's Jonin... are on the verge of spiraling out of control. Father... is under a lot of pressure."

He raised his head, his black eyes, inherited from the Uchiha clan, filled with deep concern for the village's future and a hint of barely perceptible pain.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly turned around.

The moonlight illuminated his wrinkled face, and his white beard trembled slightly.

His gaze toward Itachi was complex, a mixture of relief at Itachi's loyalty and deep weariness with the state of the Uchiha clan.

"I understand, Itachi. You did a good job. Go back now." His voice was hoarse, carrying a lingering weariness.

Itachi bowed respectfully, his figure disappearing silently from the office like a leaf blending into the shadows.

The door had barely closed with a soft click when the shadow in the corner of the office began to writhe as if it were alive.

A figure slowly emerged from the crowd, leaning on a cane, his right eye and right arm wrapped in layers of bandages—it was Shimura Danzo.

His single eye gleamed with a sinister, cold light in the dim light, like a venomous snake lurking in wait.

"On the verge of spiraling out of control?" Danzo's voice was dry and hoarse, carrying undisguised sarcasm.

"Humph."

"Hiruzen, are you still deceiving yourself? The Uchiha clan's rebellion is not just 'on the verge,' it's already imminent!"

"Fugaku's refusal is nothing more than the last fig leaf to cover his inability to suppress the raging anger within the clan! Look at those bloodshot eyes! Look at the hatred burning in their hearts! Your so-called 'time' and 'dialogue' are nothing but nurturing a tiger to cause future trouble, sowing the seeds of destruction for Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows furrowed deeply, his pipe unconsciously rubbing against his hand. "Danzo, the Uchiha's resources... are extraordinary. Once a conflict breaks out, it will be a war that engulfs the entire Hidden Leaf Village! We need to concentrate the strength of the entire village, we need a more secure approach..."

"What's even safer? Wait until they actually raise the banner of rebellion and coordinate with Uchiha Hikaru from the Land of Stars from within?!" Danzo abruptly interrupted him, his cane slamming heavily on the floor with a dull thud, his one eye fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"What are you worried about? Is it the Uchiha clan's foundation, or... those legendary Mangekyou Sharingan? Especially Uchiha Hikaru, who has been confirmed to possess the Mangekyou Sharingan and serve 'Shura'?"

"Her existence is a sharp blade hanging over Konoha's head! One Uchiha Hikaru is already so troublesome, what if Fugaku, or other Uchiha... or even Itachi, awakens the Mangekyou Sharingan?! How can Konoha possibly defend itself?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, his gaze fixed on the dimly lit Konoha Village outside the window, his eyes filled with deep worry.

Danzo's words struck at his deepest anxieties.

The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, especially the Mangekyou Sharingan, is powerful enough to change the course of a battle.

According to Shisui's report, the mysterious Uchiha Hikaru's strength may rival that of Uchiha Madara back in the day!
However, Konoha no longer has a powerful ninja like the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

"We can't wait any longer, Hiruzen." Danzo's voice was even lower, carrying a cold and resolute tone.

"We must weaken them before they grow strong and become fully unified! We must cut off their sharpest claws!"

"Enough! Danzo! I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's knuckles were slightly white as he gripped his pipe.

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"

Danzo gritted his teeth, slammed the door, and left.

Door: Bang!
The only sounds in the office were Hiruzen Sarutobi's worried smoking and the distant sounds of the city outside the window.

------

Wood Leaf Root Base.

This place is even more secluded and colder than Nanga Shrine.

A profound, bone-chilling stillness permeated the air.

The light was dim, barely illuminating the crisscrossing metal passageways, and cold water droplets condensed on the walls.

Danzo appeared in the command center at the core of the base.

The sinister and murderous intent in his single eye was no longer concealed, as solid as ice.

“Pass on the order.” His voice was dry, like a rusty blade scraping against metal.

"Gather all members."

"Yes, sir!" Aburame Ryoma immediately relayed the order.

In the darkness, silent ripples spread out.

One by one, Root ninjas wearing animal masks and exuding an aura as lifeless as corpses emerged from their hiding places and gathered before Shimura Danzo like ghosts.

The eyes beneath the mask were empty and numb, revealing only absolute obedience.

Danzo looked at his dozen or so Root members and nodded in satisfaction.

"Shisui of the Body Flicker..." Danzo murmured, a greedy thirst for power gleaming in his single eye.

"We absolutely cannot allow this power to become the basis for the Uchiha rebellion!"

Ever since Danzo learned that Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan was the Mangekyou Sharingan and that his Kotoamatsukami eye technique was powerful, he had been coveting Shisui's Sharingan.

However, due to various reasons, I have not been able to take action.

Now, he can't wait any longer!

(End of this chapter)