The Uchiha arrived at the Hokage Building in a grand procession, waking many residents along the way.
Seeing the situation, everyone retreated into their homes, not daring to make a sound, with only a few bolder individuals still peeking out.
The Jōnin Squad arrived quickly; many Jonin had already dispersed around the Hokage Building before the Uchiha arrived, and now they subtly formed a standoff with the Uchiha.
The Hyuga, Ino–Shika–Chō, Aburame, and Inuzuka Ninja Clans also couldn't sit idly by. Several Clan Heads led their people over, observed the scene, and exchanged silent glances.
The Uchiha were serious this time.
So, which side should they support?
On the surface, the Uchiha's chances of winning weren't high; even if they joined, the situation would at best be fifty-fifty.
But standing with the Hokage, to be honest, they weren't very willing.
Everyone had seen Danzo's actions over the years; suppressing the Uchiha, whom he disliked, was routine, and arbitrarily snatching children from Ninja Clans to join Root was commonplace, showing no regard for their opinions.
Yet, the Hokage inexplicably placed immense trust in him, providing him with people, money, and power, leaving them with unspoken grievances.
Especially the Inuzuka Clan Head, as a victim, his thoughts were even more wavering.
His granddaughter had also disappeared. When he went to the Hokage, he only received a dismissive, "Don't worry, the child won't be in danger."
He used to never care about what the Uchiha suffered, but now he truly felt their pain.
The Inuzuka Clan Head looked at Uchiha Fugaku, unconsciously hoping that he could truly be tougher and more assertive than usual, giving him the courage and hope to stand by his side.
"Fugaku!"
Minato should have been ambushed in the southeast corner, but he couldn't stay put. He left a Shadow Clone in his position, and his main body appeared before Fugaku.
"If things escalate like this, the Uchiha will have no way back!"
Fugaku gave a helpless bitter smile, looking up at the brightly lit window at the top of the building.
"The Uchiha never had a way back."
"We were forced onto this precarious path."
"Minato, stay away from here. I don't want to drag you into this."
With that, he revealed a pair of blood-red Sharingan, and his Chakra surged with menacing intensity.
Behind him, the other Uchiha also activated their Sharingan from front to back. The overflowing Chakra almost solidified, as cold as an iceberg and as scorching as lava.
Everyone immediately felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
"Sandaime," Fugaku no longer even added an honorific, his tone stiff, "Are you still not going to show yourself?"
"What is the meaning of this, Uchiha Clan Head?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared on the rooftop with his two Advisors, looking down at everything below.
Even in this critical moment, he maintained his last shred of decorum and did not speak first; instead, Homura Mitokado behind him played dumb.
"Gathering in large numbers near the Hokage Building late at night, can this be called a rebellion?"
Hearing such a question, Fugaku sneered repeatedly: "We are only here to retrieve the missing children of our clan, and to learn the truth about how my adopted son, Uchiha Naraku, truly died."
Utatane Koharu maintained a business-like demeanor, a hint of impatience on her face.
"If the Uchiha have missing children, they should follow proper procedures to report it, not cause a disturbance like this. As for Uchiha Naraku, as long as there is conclusive evidence, there is no reason not to address it."
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