"Have you figured it out?"
"Was it the Uchiha clan?"
"Are they finally making a move?"
Inside the Root headquarters, Danzo Shimura stood beneath flickering candlelight, questioning the subordinate behind him.
The massive blackout across Konoha that night was far too suspicious.
Given the timing, it was only natural for Danzo to suspect that the Uchiha clan had chosen this moment to act.
But the thought surfaced only briefly before he dismissed it.
Danzo knew the Uchiha would never strike so openly.
With Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan in play, those innately evil Uchiha would never choose to clash head-on with the village.
The ninja hidden in the shadows remained silent for nearly ten seconds.
Remembering the true cause of the blackout, even beneath the mask, his face twisted uncontrollably.
"…It was Uchiha Ryan and Uchiha Sasuke."
"They were… training Lightning Release beneath a utility pole. They pulled down two live wires, which caused a large-scale power outage across Konoha."
The moment those words landed, the vast underground chamber fell into deathly silence.
After a long while, Danzo finally spoke again.
"What about Shisui's situation lately?"
The Root ninja lowered his head.
"He hasn't been alone."
"Itachi… has been staying at his side constantly."
"We… have no opportunity."
Danzo's brow furrowed deeply. He tightened his grip on the cane in his hand and slammed it hard against the stone floor.
"I want results," he barked coldly.
"Not excuses."
"Go receive your punishment."
"And next time—"
"You know the price of failure."
The ninja's body trembled slightly. His head dipped even lower.
"Yes, Danzo-sama!"
With that, he vanished back into the darkness.
After standing in place for a long time, Danzo finally turned and left the Root base, cane tapping rhythmically against the floor.
Hokage Office
"Third Hokage-sama, please believe us!"
"My father would never declare war on the village at a time like this!"
Uchiha Itachi bowed deeply, his tone earnest. Shisui followed immediately beside him.
"Yes. The clan head would never act without absolute certainty."
Both Itachi and Shisui knew very well—
They were the Uchiha clan's true trump cards.
Fugaku and the elders intended to rely on their power to deal with the village's upper ranks without bloodshed.
Facing Konoha head-on…
The Uchiha clan had no chance of victory.
More importantly, neither of them wished to see open conflict between the clan and the village—an outcome that would only invite foreign invasions and endless suffering.
The Third Hokage looked weary. He held his smoking pipe loosely, his gaze still fixed outside the window.
"Itachi. Shisui."
"I hope the two of you will continue working together on Uchiha affairs."
He paused briefly, inhaled deeply, and then continued.
"I will do everything I can to find a comprehensive solution."
"Thank you, Third Hokage-sama."
"Thank you."
The two exchanged glances, both feeling that the road ahead finally seemed bright—that the Uchiha future was full of hope.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
All three immediately turned their attention toward it.
"Third Hokage-sama, we'll take our leave—"
Shisui bowed slightly, reaching to pull Itachi along.
After all, with ANBU investigating the Uchiha, it was best to avoid suspicion.
"No need."
"Staying to listen might be better."
The Third Hokage waved his hand with a gentle smile.
"Come in."
The door opened.
It was an ANBU ninja—but when the three inside saw who it was, they were visibly surprised.
They all recognized him.
Hatake Kakashi.
At that moment, the same question flashed through all their minds.
Why is Kakashi here now?
"Third Hokage-sama…"
Kakashi's voice came through the mask, carrying equal parts helplessness and disbelief.
"There's something I need to report…"
Over the next ten minutes, Kakashi recounted everything that had happened that night—every detail, from start to finish.
When they finally learned that Konoha's massive blackout had been caused by Fugaku's two younger sons training Lightning Release—
The entire room fell into silence.
Even Kakashi himself went quiet.
The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe repeatedly, his expression increasingly irritated.
Shisui kept glancing at Itachi, disbelief clear in his eyes.
He remembered…
Ryan and Sasuke hadn't been this outrageous, had they?
Kakashi, after days of monitoring Uchiha Ryan, had already developed a certain… resistance to absurdity.
At this point, even if those two did something even stranger, he wouldn't be that surprised.
As for Itachi—
Being stared at by the other three made his scalp prickle.
He felt embarrassed. Helpless. Unsure whether he should apologize or explain.
After nearly half an hour, the Third Hokage finally broke the silence.
"Itachi…"
"Have I been putting too much pressure on you lately?"
Itachi immediately responded humbly.
"No. For the sake of the village and the clan, everything I've done is my duty."
The Third Hokage shook his head.
"I don't want to hear empty words."
He stood, walked to a bookshelf, and retrieved a scroll before tossing it to Itachi.
"A B-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu."
"Lightning Clone."
"Take it back and give it to your two brothers."
"Don't let them keep… causing chaos in the village."
Based on intelligence reports, the Third Hokage's impression of Itachi's brothers was clear—
Two kids who weren't exactly… right in the head.
Something like Might Guy.
Training Lightning Release by climbing utility poles…
What kind of reckless confidence did that take?!
And more importantly—
If the Uchiha ever truly lost their minds and launched a coup, the consequences would be unbearable for both sides.
One scroll in exchange for peace of mind.
Itachi's expression nearly cracked. He wanted to explain that his brothers were merely mischievous—not mentally deficient.
But seeing the Hokage's firm expression, he accepted the scroll with both hands.
"Thank you, Third Hokage-sama."
"When I return… I will keep a close eye on them!"
Kakashi, standing nearby, rolled his eyes.
He seriously doubted Itachi could keep those two under control.
"You may leave."
The Third Hokage waved them off.
Just as Itachi was about to exit, the Hokage called out again.
"Oh, and about tonight's damages…"
He deliberately left the sentence unfinished, dragging out the final note.
Itachi instantly understood.
He bowed again, apologetic.
"All losses will be covered by the Uchiha clan."
As if worried that wasn't enough, he added—
"My father will agree as well."
The Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction and waved them away.
At that exact moment—
The office door burst open.
Danzo strode in, cane in hand, shouting before the door even fully closed.
"Tonight's blackout was definitely Fugaku's conspiracy!"
"We must act immediately!"
Unaware of the darker intentions behind his old friend's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at him coldly and spoke in a stern voice.
"You've been far too reckless lately."
"Don't forget who you are."
"And one more thing—"
"I am Hokage."
He emphasized his authority without hesitation, reminding Danzo that as an advisor, he had no right to overstep.
The title of Hokage had always been Danzo's deepest wound.
Those words ignited his fury.
He let out a cold snort, left behind a single sentence, and slammed the door as he departed.
"Hiruzen…"
"You'll regret this."
As always, their exchange ended in discord.
Meanwhile—
At the original scene of the incident, a pitch-black, thoroughly electrocuted Sasuke clung to Uchiha Ryan, cheering excitedly.
"It worked!"
"I think—I finally understand how Lightning Release is supposed to feel!"
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