I just returned to Konoha and found that my entire clan was gone.

"Uchiha Yelan, stop making excuses. As the Hokage's advisor, I have the right to arrest you for committing this crime. All of you, get him! If you resist, you will die!" Danzo didn't care about Tsunade, the Hokage. In his eyes, Tsunade's behavior showed immaturity, and only he was doing what was best for Konoha.

"What are you doing, Danzo advisor?" Just as the Root members were about to make their move, Kakashi arrived, with Guy by his side.

Fortunately, Ye Lan didn't make a move just now, otherwise even if Kakashi arrived, he wouldn't be able to speak up for Ye Lan. He didn't have a good impression of Danzo. He had even instructed Danzo to assassinate the Third Hokage. Later, after becoming the Captain-Commander of the Anbu, he understood the operation of Root and knew what kind of person Danzo was.

"Kakashi, this is none of your business. Uchiha Yelan murdered his fellow villager, and I'm taking him back to Root for interrogation." Danzo didn't take Kakashi seriously; in his eyes, Kakashi was merely a tool, devoid of his own thoughts and will.

"Well, I didn't witness this myself, so let's leave it to the Hokage to decide, Danzo." Kakashi seemed to be advising, but he had actually already stood beside Ye Lan. The bodies of the Root members who had just died were probably not even cold yet, and Kakashi could say such things, which made Ye Lan take another look at him.

"Advisor Danzo, I know Ye Lan's personality quite well. If he did something to kill his comrade, I, Might Guy, will never let him get away with it!" Guy walked over and gave Danzo a thumbs up. His signature toothy smile made Danzo's face twitch involuntarily.

"Hmph, whatever." Danzo knew he couldn't deal with Ye Lan this time. He slammed his cane on the ground, turned around, and left with the Root. He didn't need Tsunade to believe him; what he wanted was for the other two advisors to stand on his side.

As long as he spreads the news of Ye Lan killing his companion throughout the village, those who don't know him will start to think that if he keeps talking about it, Tsunade will no longer trust Ye Lan like this. Once he plants a thorn in Tsunade's heart, he will have plenty of ways to deal with Ye Lan.

Kakashi smiled and said goodbye to Danzo and the others, but only after they left did he look at Ye Lan seriously and ask, "What exactly happened?"

Ye Lan then recounted the events that had just occurred in detail, and then asked, "Kakashi, you've been in the Anbu for so long, there are some things I'd like to ask you."

Kakashi remained silent for a long time before sighing, "Ask away."

"What exactly happened to the Uchiha clan when I left the village?" Ye Lan didn't believe that Kakashi, as the captain of the Anbu, was completely unaware of what had happened to the Uchiha. He hadn't asked before because he hadn't found a suitable opportunity, but this time, with Danzo's interference, it was an opportunity.

“I thought you would never speak up about this kind of thing…” Kakashi said leisurely. “To be honest, I’m not very clear either. It’s just that the Anbu were indeed monitoring the Uchiha clan at the time, but I can confirm that none of the Anbu members made a move that night. Our orders were to stay and guard the area around the Uchiha clan’s territory.”

So, the Konoha leadership at the time knew what would happen to the Uchiha that night. Ye Lan felt much more at ease, but still had some questions. He asked, "Monitoring the clan? What did the Uchiha do that made them so wary?"

"You know about the Nine-Tails' rampage twelve years ago, right?"

He had some questions when Kakashi mentioned this. Ye Lan was only three years old at the time and was hiding in Konoha's defense facilities, so he didn't know much about it.

"It is said that on the day of the Nine-Tails' rampage, a member of the Uchiha clan controlled the Nine-Tails." This was the first time Ye Lan had heard this news from Kakashi. He understood that the Sharingan, especially the Mangekyou Sharingan, had a strong restraining effect on tailed beasts, but who could control the Nine-Tails, which was known as the strongest tailed beast?

Shisui? No, Shisui had just graduated from the Ninja Academy at the time; he couldn't possibly have had the Mangekyou Sharingan. The Fourth Hokage died because of this incident, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, who returned to power, would definitely be wary of the Uchiha clan.

"I can't imagine who had the ability to control the Nine-Tails back then. To be honest, even with my current abilities, it would be very difficult to control a tailed beast," Ye Lan said truthfully. His Mangekyou Sharingan was not an ability that leaned towards genjutsu, but rather an enhancement of ninjutsu and physical constitution.

"But that night, many ninjas saw the Sharingan in Kurama's eyes..."

A chill ran down Ye Lan's spine. He felt as if he had grasped something, as if a giant hand was controlling everything. The Nine-Tails' rampage, the annihilation of the Uchiha clan, and now the Akatsuki organization targeting the Tailed Beasts. Yes, it was the Akatsuki. They were definitely connected to all of this. Ye Lan pondered many things, but now he still lacked some crucial evidence and needed to figure out the motives of the mastermind behind all this.

"Actually, the decision to monitor the Uchiha clan was made by Elder Danzo. The Third Hokage considered it for a long time before making the decision. At that time, Konoha was already extremely fragile, so the Third Hokage couldn't afford to be careless." Kakashi still said some good things about Hiruzen Sarutobi. He left the matter of being hostile to the Uchiha to Danzo, and that was also the truth.

"Danzo... does he have the authority to mobilize the Anbu?" Ye Lan was surprised by Danzo's influence in the village. He had seen that the respect the Anbu members showed to Danzo was genuine.

"That's not the Anbu, it's Root." Kakashi didn't hide anything, knowing that Ye Lan would find out sooner or later. Not to mention that Sasuke, who had joined the Anbu, would definitely hear about Root. Rather than Sasuke telling Ye Lan later, Kakashi decided to lay it all out now.

"root?"

"In their own words, they are the roots of the great tree, deeply embedded in the darkness to protect Konoha in their own way."

Ye Lan couldn't help but laugh in exasperation upon hearing this statement. He hadn't even seen a trace of Orochimaru's invasion or Itachi's arrival.

"Let's go, don't keep Lady Tsunade waiting. She should have received the news by now." Kakashi said to Ye Lan after they had finished talking. Killing a member of Root could be a big or small matter, and he trusted that Tsunade would make the judgment.

Chapter 58 Decentralization

"I already know what happened. Just focus on doing your job well and don't ask any more questions."

Tsunade's calm answer surprised both Ye Lan and Kakashi. Ye Lan had no proof to support his words, and as the Hokage, Tsunade would not have made such a decision no matter how much she trusted him.

Tsunade looked at the two puzzled people and said, "Don't overthink it. I believe my judgment isn't that bad. I can still tell what's important and what's not."

Ye Lan didn't linger any longer; he needed to oversee the repair of the barrier afterward.

After Ye Lan and Kakashi left, Tsunade opened a drawer in her desk, inside which was a videotape. Tsunade trusted Ye Lan, but not to the point of complete confiding. While repairing the barrier, Tsunade had arranged for the Anbu to install numerous cameras around Konoha. This wasn't out of distrust of Ye Lan, but rather out of fear that someone like Itachi Uchiha or Orochimaru might infiltrate the village again.

Unexpectedly, the video captured the scene of the argument between the two parties. Although there was no sound in the video, it clearly showed the Root member's desire to die. Tsunade had some understanding of Danzo's character, and the fact that Ye Lan did not intervene but chose to believe in her gave her a reason to support Ye Lan.

What's even more coincidental is that it was Uchiha Sasuke's group who brought the video recording. They reported it to her immediately, and Tsunade made a decision instantly after learning what had happened.

"Tsunade!" The office door was pushed open again while Tsunade was still thinking about the next steps.

Entering the house were Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura. Danzo couldn't wait to announce that Uchiha Yoru had shown no respect for elders, disregarded village rules, and killed his comrades. Tsunade watched Danzo's performance silently, resting her chin on her hand.

"Tsunade, Uchiha Yoru has gone too far! We absolutely cannot let him get away with this! He killed one Root member this time, and who knows who will be next!" Seeing that Tsunade remained unmoved, Koharu Utatane also began to fan the flames from the side.

Mitokado Homura also wanted to say a few words, but after seeing Tsunade's faint smile, he fell silent.

"Advisor Danzo, are you tired of talking?" Tsunade finally spoke, looking at Danzo's words, which were not repeated, from Ye Lan to the Uchiha being an evil clan, and how she knew that this clan had no good members, and that he was only doing it for Konoha, etc., which gave her a headache.

She got up, poured herself a glass of water, handed it to Danzo, and said, "Have some water after all this talking."

Danzo was pleased to see Tsunade's good attitude, thinking that she had listened to him and that his words had not been in vain. He was indeed thirsty, so he accepted the water cup from Tsunade with both hands as a sign of respect.

"Now that we've finished talking, let's all take a look at this." Tsunade turned on the television in the corner of the office and inserted a videotape.

While everyone was wondering, the videotape clearly showed the scene of the conflict between Ye Lan and Root. The Root member lunged at the ninja sword in Ye Lan's hand as if seeking death, piercing through his heart. It also showed Ye Lan's attempt to retaliate but his subsequent calming down, and Danzo's relentless pursuit of Ye Lan's goal.

Click—

Danzo's water glass had cracked from his grip. He felt like a clown, having put on such a show only to be laughed at by everyone else.

"Danzo!" Mitokado Homura straightened up and said, "I never thought you were this kind of person! Frame your fellow villagers, disrupt Hokage missions, abuse your power for personal gain! What exactly are you trying to do!"

Danzo looked at Mitokado Homura's impassioned expression with surprise. "That's not what you said when you came. Don't you know who I am?"

"You've completely fooled Danzo! How could I have believed you so easily!" Koharu Utatane, without batting an eye, turned her attention to Danzo.

"You guys..." Danzo was really angry this time. He wasn't even this angry when he confronted Tsunade last time. He didn't expect his two classmates to be so shameless. What happened to being united against a common enemy? Am I the one being united against a common enemy by you?

"Danzo, stop talking. Your actions have really affected the unity of the village. No matter what the Hokage decides to do with you, I will agree!" Mitokado Homura was very glad that he hadn't spoken up earlier, so that he could stand up straight now.

"Me too!" Xiaochun from the dorm quickly said.

"That's not a good idea... After all, Danzo has made many contributions to the village." Tsunade said with a troubled expression, as if she was somewhat embarrassed.

“There’s nothing wrong with it!” Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu said in unison.

"Alright! It's decided then!" Tsunade waved her hand, this was the effect she wanted. "From now on, I have decided to remove Danzo from his position as advisor and head of Root."

"No!" The two who had just been upright and incorruptible immediately stopped them.

Just kidding, the roots are the last bit of wealth these old guys have, and they absolutely cannot give it away easily.

Danzo was slightly moved at this moment. Sure enough, his old classmate could still distinguish right from wrong and ultimately stood by his side.

"Tsk," Tsunade knew this wouldn't be easy, but she wasn't too discouraged. She changed the subject and said, "What do you two advisors think? Danzo is getting old. He can remain the leader of Root, but the number of members should be reduced by half to avoid him being too busy. We also need to appoint a deputy leader. I think Mitokado Homura would be quite suitable for the position..."

"I agree!" Mitokado Homura agreed immediately before Tsunade could finish speaking. His actions after entering the room were indeed correct. When Hiruzen was around, his power was suppressed, and now it was finally his turn to turn the tables.

"This..." Koharu Utatane was a little conflicted. How come she didn't get anything and even lost so much face? She and Homura Mitokado were practically equals, but now the other party had suddenly taken a step up, and she felt an indescribable displeasure.

"I remember everything you just said, Koharu, the advisor..." Tsunade said in a leisurely tone.

Xiaochun, who was turning over the dorm, suddenly felt a chill. She had just stirred things up quite a bit. She was already doing well to protect herself, so why would she ask for anything more? She nodded in agreement.

When Danzo saw that the two men had betrayed him again, all his gratitude was wasted. These two were just bullies who picked on the weak and feared the strong, always turning to whichever side the wind was blowing. This Mitokado Homura even patted him on the shoulder with a friendly expression. He would never have dared to do that before.

With the situation hopeless, Danzo knew he could only endure it once more. His expression, which looked like he had just eaten shit, changed repeatedly. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. It was no use whether he agreed or not now, so he could only say, "Let's do as the Hokage says."

These words seemed to have exhausted his strength; he uttered them slowly and deliberately, and then slammed the door shut as he left.

"That Danzo guy is really taking advantage of his seniority! Don't worry, Tsunade, I will definitely keep Root in good order!" Mitokado Homura was beaming with pride, already considering himself the deputy leader of Root.

"Then go and take over the Root. If there are any problems, we can discuss them further," Tsunade said, suppressing a smile. Today, she had figured out the personalities of these two advisors and successfully divided Danzo's power. If Ye Lan had taken action back then, the outcome might have been different.

Chapter 59 First Clues

After a busy day, Ye Lan returned home. The house was the same one that Hiruzen Sarutobi had provided. It only had a small courtyard, not very big, but it wasn't far from the Uchiha clan's territory. There weren't many people around, so Ye Lan could live there alone and it was quite peaceful.

Ye Lan paused at the door, sensing someone inside. Could it be Danzo still not giving up? Ye Lan quietly opened the door, making no sound like a cat.

Upon entering the house, a fragrant aroma wafted towards me. Sasuke was sitting in the living room, holding two servings of Ichiraku Ramen, a famous restaurant in Konoha.

"Why are you here?" Ye Lan lowered his guard when he saw Sasuke still wearing his Anbu uniform. He didn't expect Sasuke to come up with any reason and casually asked, "How's life in the Anbu?"

"The Anbu is alright..." Sasuke took out a bowl and chopsticks, poured the ramen into it, and handed a portion to Ye Lan.

Ye Lan took the ramen and tried the famous Konoha ramen. The taste was indeed not bad, but it didn't feel as amazing as the rumors suggested. This was partly because Ye Lan liked to eat rice.

"You've just joined the Anbu, so don't overthink it. Just take things one step at a time. Spend your free time training. I saw you talk about your idea of ​​infusing the Chidori into your ninja sword last time, and that was quite good." Ye Lan trusted Sasuke and would try his best to help him if he could. He didn't expect Sasuke to repay him in the future, but at least he wanted to leave a seed for the Uchiha clan.

"Hmm..." Sasuke slowly savored the broth with his spoon. This was the essence of ramen, but he seemed somewhat distracted.

Ye Lan ate at a decent pace. By the time he finished, Sasuke still had half left. Seeing that Sasuke was silent, Ye Lan asked directly, "What is it?"

Sasuke must have come looking for me because something happened. Given his personality, it's hard for him to bring it up on his own initiative, so Ye Lan took the initiative to bring it up.

"What happened this morning...it shouldn't have affected you, right?" Sasuke asked, staring at the ramen in front of him.

"How could you..." Ye Lan finally understood why Tsunade had stood by him so decisively. It seemed that he didn't need to explain much; Tsunade had already obtained the evidence.

"Don't worry, I'll handle this. It's all over now." Ye Lan didn't press Sasuke for details. It must be related to his mission. Inquiring about the Anbu's activities would affect Tsunade's impression of him. Since Tsunade wouldn't reveal anything, Ye Lan pretended not to know.

Besides, what kind of classified information could Sasuke, who had just joined the Anbu, possibly obtain? Ye Lan couldn't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small gains.

Hearing Ye Lan's words, Sasuke felt relieved. To be honest, if Ye Lan had taken action that morning, Sasuke really didn't know what he would have done. In the end, Kakashi's arrival resolved the farce.

"Why would that advisor Danzo target you?" Unable to contain his curiosity, Sasuke asked. He couldn't understand why an excellent ninja like Yelan, who had made significant contributions to the village, would be targeted by the advisors.

"He's not just targeting me... he's targeting the Uchiha clan..."

"Targeting...the Uchiha?" Sasuke repeated Ye Lan's words. There were only two of them left in the Uchiha clan, him and Ye Lan. What was there to target?

"Human nature is to fight amongst themselves. People like him will do anything for their own power. Just be careful of him in the future. He's learned his lesson this time, so he won't bother you for now." Ye Lan didn't tell Sasuke about her suspicions about Danzo.

Sasuke can't be of much help right now. If I tell him, I'm afraid he might do something bad in a moment of impulse, which would not only put me in a passive position but also cause me endless trouble.

Sasuke remained silent. He had no idea about the darkness in the village yet, and he hoped that life in the Anbu would not only increase his strength but also allow him to experience the complexities of human nature.

After that, no one bothered Ye Lan when he repaired the barrier. However, the people in the barrier team intentionally kept their distance from Ye Lan. Ye Lan didn't care at all. However, some bad rumors spread in the village, accusing Ye Lan of being a murderer who killed his companions.

Ye Lan smiled indifferently when he heard these words. To put it bluntly, he stayed in the village for the truth. For this purpose, everything else had to give way. He didn't care about building relationships with others.

"Elder Yan, you have disappointed me greatly!" Tsunade angrily slammed a book on her desk. She had finally managed to arrange for Mitomon Yan to become the deputy leader of Root, but Danzo had pulled this stunt.

"Tsunade, this isn't my fault! I haven't been in contact with Root for very long, and hardly anyone listens to me. Besides, Danzo put the Tongue Curse Seal on every Root member..." Mitokado Homura hurriedly explained, how could a leader who was parachuted in compare to Danzo who created Root?

"Alright, let me think of something." Tsunade rubbed her temples. Konoha had experienced something similar before, during the death of White Fang. Tsunade was 100% certain that Danzo was behind it. She hadn't expected the old man to be so dishonest. But even if she questioned him, she wouldn't be able to produce any evidence. Instead, she would only see Danzo's disgusting face.

The control over the village was still insufficient. Even after reducing the number of Root members, they remained unscrupulous. Even the Anbu had difficulty managing Root. Tsunade, who had been pondering this, had a plan in mind.

She glanced at Mitokado Yan, who was still in the room, and dismissed him with disdain. She could no longer count on those two advisors. The more she thought about her plan, the more feasible it seemed. However, if she were to propose it, she would face opposition from many people.