Beneath the archway of the Uchiha compound, several Uchiha ninja saw a group of ANBU walking down the street from afar.
After watching for a while, they confirmed that the ANBU were heading straight for the Uchiha compound.
The men were startled and immediately vanished to notify the clan head.
Several years had passed since the Susanoo Disaster ended, but the Uchiha clan's situation had not improved in the slightest.
Within Konoha, a fixed impression had already formed: the Uchiha were all madmen, and once they became powerful, they would take revenge on the village.
The Uchiha Police Force's work had become increasingly difficult. Whether ordinary villagers or ninja, no one cooperated with them.
Seeing ANBU openly enter the Uchiha compound, some Police Force ninja even thought the Hokage Tower had sent people to arrest someone.
Uchiha Fugaku hurried into the clan hall and looked at his father uneasily.
Uchiha Kagen glanced sideways at Fugaku and said, "Don't panic. ANBU Commander Fox entered the compound through the main gate. It looks more like he came to discuss something, not arrest anyone."
Over the past few years, under his management, the Uchiha clan had been extremely restrained. He was confident they had left no handle for others to grasp.
Uchiha Kagen went down the steps outside the hall and welcomed Commander Fox, White Ram, Leaf Monkey Squad, and the others inside.
Yako sat at the front.
White Ram sat slightly behind him to the side, while Leaf Monkey Squad stood behind them.
On the Uchiha side, Uchiha Kagen sat in front. Uchiha Tōki sat slightly behind him to the side, while Uchiha Fugaku and three other young elites stood behind them.
Yako said, "Clan Head Kagen, can I trust you?"
Hearing the ANBU commander ask such a thing, Uchiha Kagen had no idea what kind of game the village was playing.
He could not guess why the ANBU commander would ask this.
"You can trust me, Commander Fox. After all these years, I believe that whether it is the Hokage, the ANBU commander, or the other village elders, they should all understand one thing: what the Uchiha clan wants is truly not much. Compared with other ninja clans, we are far more obedient."
Uchiha Kagen's posture could be called extremely low.
It had to be.
Not only did the four great villages fear Konoha and Konoha's Fox, but the Uchiha clan also feared Fox.
Even the militant faction of the Uchiha had to admit that Fox was a top-tier powerhouse on the same level as Uchiha Madara.
After news that Uchiha Madara had been killed by Fox reached the clan compound, opposing voices inside the clan vanished overnight.
The militant faction regained their rationality in a single night.
Yako said, "Clan Head Kagen, the shinobi world war is about to begin. I hope the Uchiha clan can fight with all its strength and help the village survive this crisis."
Uchiha Tōki looked at Commander Fox in surprise.
Commander Fox's posture was also very low.
Uchiha Kagen said, "Commander Fox, of course the Uchiha clan is willing to fight with all its strength. I simply wonder which battlefield Commander Fox personally came to assign us to."
He thought to himself that they would probably be sent to fight the Mist ninja again.
The Hidden Mist Technique weakened the Sharingan's advantage, and Water Release countered Fire Release. In every shinobi world war, the Uchiha clan had suffered greatly against Mist ninja.
"Clan Head Kagen, there is no need to beat around the bush," Yako said. "Before the Hokage, I recommended you as the supreme commander of the Land of Hot Water battlefield."
Uchiha Kagen, Uchiha Tōki, and the others were all extremely surprised.
The first surprise was that the village was not sending the Uchiha clan against Mist ninja.
The second surprise was that the village wanted Uchiha Kagen to become supreme commander.
Yako said, "I admit that the Uchiha clan's rogue ninja have caused great harm to Konoha.
Whether it is Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Gogo, or Uchiha Obito.
ANBU has discovered that after Uchiha Obito disappeared from Konoha, he became one of Uchiha Madara's subordinates and is determined to take revenge on the village."
Uchiha Kagen's heart tightened.
Even he did not know where Uchiha Obito had gone.
He had not expected the Uchiha clan to produce yet another rogue ninja. Judging from Commander Fox's tone, Uchiha Obito was also very strong—strong enough for Commander Fox to pay special attention to him.
"However..." Yako said. "However, I do not approve of how the village has treated the Uchiha clan until now.
The Uchiha clan is undoubtedly an extreme clan. I have seen many Uchiha ninja who hate Konoha to the extreme, but does that mean there are no Uchiha ninja who love Konoha to the extreme?
I have read many notes left behind by the Second Hokage. He collected many case studies on the Uchiha clan.
The reason the Second Hokage accepted Lord Kagami as a disciple and guard was because he hoped to see a better change in the Uchiha clan toward Konoha.
The Uchiha clan has already produced several rogue ninja. By probability, it should also produce some powerful Sharingan users who love Konoha.
No gambler loses every day. No child cries every day.
Clan Head Kagen, only in violent storms can the Uchiha clan's true attitude be tested.
The Land of Hot Water battlefield is an important opportunity for the Uchiha clan.
I hope you will give everything you have, win this battle, and completely resolve the Uchiha clan's predicament."
Uchiha Kagen's expression grew solemn.
Yako continued, "The village has always guarded against the Uchiha clan, afraid another rogue ninja like Uchiha Madara would appear.
It is time to guide the Uchiha clan into truly integrating with Konoha and allow more Uchiha ninja to form bonds with Konoha's ninja.
Through companionship and shared experience, more and more Uchiha who love Konoha will be born.
As for a little risk, I am willing to serve as your guarantor."
The hall fell silent.
Only after several dozen seconds did Uchiha Kagen slowly ask, "Commander Fox, why are you willing to help the Uchiha clan escape its predicament?"
Yako shook his head slightly.
"The rift between the village and the Uchiha clan is too deep.
Even if the village releases goodwill, the Uchiha clan will hesitate and worry that the village has some other scheme.
White Ram, Leaf Monkey, step outside first. I will speak with Clan Head Kagen and Young Clan Head Fugaku alone."
Uchiha Kagen also turned to Uchiha Tōki and said, "Tōki, take the others out first."
Before long, only Yako, Uchiha Kagen, and Uchiha Fugaku remained in the hall.
Yako said, "Clan Head Kagen, I know you will not easily trust the village's goodwill. Nor will you easily accept the olive branch the village extends."
Uchiha Kagen said frankly, "The village has guarded against the Uchiha clan for decades. It is impossible for us to completely set aside our prejudice just because of one suggestion from Commander Fox.
Commander Fox, it is not that I do not trust you.
It is that I do not trust human hearts."
Yako nodded repeatedly.
"I understand. Clan Head Kagen, what comes next must not be leaked by you or Young Clan Head Fugaku."
Uchiha Kagen frowned, unsure what Commander Fox wanted to say.
Yako removed his mask, revealing his eyes.
"Clan Head Kagen, if I show you this, can you still refuse me?"
Uchiha Kagen leaned back in terror.
He saw it.
Commander Fox's eyes shifted from black pupils into three-tomoe Sharingan.
Transplanted Sharingan could not be turned off.
Only a natural-born Uchiha could freely close and open the Sharingan.
Konoha's ANBU commander was actually an Uchiha ninja!
He was one of them?
Cold sweat instantly broke out across Uchiha Kagen's forehead.
Wait.
Wait!
Did Uchiha Madara deliberately die at Fox's hands?
Was it to increase Fox's power inside Konoha?
It made sense.
Everything made sense now!
How could someone like Uchiha Madara possibly be killed?