…Me?
Uchiha Kagami stood frozen.
The weight of every gaze in the room crashed down on him.
Just moments ago—
They had been united.
Six people.
Standing together.
Barely holding their ground under Mito Uzumaki's overwhelming pressure.
And now—
That fragile unity shattered.
Completely.
Shimura Danzo stepped back.
Koharu Utatane followed.
Homura Mitokado.
Akimichi Torifu.
As if by silent agreement—
They distanced themselves from him.
Only Sarutobi Hiruzen remained.
Standing where he was.
Looking at Kagami.
His gaze…
Complicated.
Mito's hair began to stir.
Slightly.
As if lifted by an invisible force.
Those who knew her—
Knew exactly what that meant.
She was furious.
On the edge of eruption.
A vast—
Suffocating—
Chakra burst from her body.
Visible.
Tangible.
The air trembled.
The floor beneath her feet cracked.
Fine fractures spread outward like a spider's web.
If she pushed even a little further—
It would shatter.
Completely.
Say something.
Say something!
Kagami's mind screamed.
Under that pressure—
He felt like a lone boat.
Drifting.
Lost.
In an endless ocean.
Above him—
Dark clouds gathered.
Lightning tore through the sky.
Below—
Waves rose.
Towering.
Dozens of meters high.
Crashing toward him.
Ready to swallow him whole.
Helplessness filled his chest.
Killing intent—
Mixed with chaotic chakra—
Pressed down on him from all directions.
His body refused to move.
Weak.
For the first time—
Uchiha Kagami truly understood that word.
Weak.
In his memories—
Mito Uzumaki had always been gentle.
Kind.
Smiling.
But he had never underestimated her.
Her identity.
Her strength.
The elders of the clan had always spoken of her with respect.
"Mito… that old woman isn't easy to deal with."
"Even I could only fight her to a draw."
An old Uchiha from the Warring States era had once said that.
Now—
Kagami understood.
Those words…
Were generous.
Too generous.
This wasn't a fight.
This wasn't even close.
This—
Was domination.
"I didn't do it!"
"I would never leak information!"
"And I would never use the Uchiha name to swear falsely!"
His voice rang out.
Firm.
Resolute.
But—
Powerless.
The facts were too damning.
Only seven people knew of Tobirama's death.
Seven.
Six stood here.
And one of them—
Was Uchiha.
And the information—
Had spread.
Through Uchiha-controlled channels.
Did information need to be passed face-to-face?
No.
Not at all.
No matter what he said—
No matter how he explained—
It wouldn't matter.
To Mito—
Truth…
Was secondary.
Responsibility—
Was everything.
Someone had to answer.
And Kagami—
Was the easiest answer.
Because he was Uchiha.
Mito stood.
Killing intent surged.
She wouldn't kill him.
But breaking him?
That was effortless.
"Lady Mito!"
A voice cut through everything.
Sharp.
Clear.
"I trust Uchiha Kagami!"
Hiruzen stepped forward.
Without hesitation.
He moved—
And stood directly in front of Kagami.
Facing Mito.
Silence.
The room froze.
Shock rippled through everyone present.
Even now—
He dared?
To step forward?
To protect him?
Mito's expression flickered.
Just for a moment.
Then—
Gone.
Her gaze locked onto Hiruzen.
Cold.
Heavy.
"Monkey."
Her voice dropped.
Low.
Dangerous.
"Do you understand what you're saying?"
"Trying to play the hero?"
"Such tricks…"
"Will not move me."
The pressure shifted.
Instantly.
From Kagami—
To Hiruzen.
Behind him—
Kagami staggered.
Air rushed back into his lungs.
He sucked in breath.
Greedy.
Desperate.
Cold sweat soaked his body.
His clothes clung to his skin.
Sticky.
Uncomfortable.
But he didn't care.
His eyes—
Locked onto Hiruzen.
Gratitude.
Unhidden.
"Don't be reckless, Hiruzen!"
Danzo stepped forward.
Voice sharp.
"That's an Uchiha you're protecting!"
In his eyes—
The answer was obvious.
Tobirama had always been wary of the Uchiha.
And Kagami—
No matter what—
Was still Uchiha.
Leaking information to his clan?
More than possible.
"Silence."
Mito's voice cracked like a whip.
"Did I permit you to speak?"
Danzo froze.
Her gaze cut into him.
Like a blade.
He shut his mouth instantly.
Head lowering.
Like a scolded animal.
"Hiruzen."
Her eyes never left him.
"Speak."
"Give me your reason."
Hiruzen didn't move.
Didn't look away.
"I am not playing games."
A pause.
Then—
"I trust Uchiha Kagami."
His voice was steady.
Firm.
Without hesitation.
"Why?"
Mito's question fell.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Hiruzen answered.
Without pause.
"Because Kagami is different."
"He is not arrogant."
"Not domineering like most Uchiha."
"He is kind."
"Gentle."
"He treats his comrades with sincerity."
He spoke slowly.
Clearly.
Each word—
Deliberate.
"On the battlefield…"
"He is someone I can trust with my back."
"We have fought together."
"Bled together."
"Faced death together."
His voice did not waver.
Not once.
"These are not empty words."
"These are facts."
Among the Uchiha—
Most were proud.
Especially those with the Sharingan.
Arrogant.
Unyielding.
But in his generation—
There were exceptions.
Two of them.
Uchiha Kagami.
And—
Uchiha Ren.
Both powerful.
Yet approachable.
Even ordinary shinobi could speak to them freely.
Joke with them.
Even offend them—
And they would only smile.
Let it pass.
Because of that—
Tobirama had once considered taking them as disciples.
Kagami accepted.
Ren—
Refused.
Hiruzen continued.
One detail after another.
From daily life—
To the battlefield.
Every word—
Steady.
Certain.
Unshaken.
Trust.
Layered upon trust.
The room fell silent.
No one spoke.
Even Danzo—
Who had been certain—
Now frowned.
Doubt crept in.
Unwanted.
Uncomfortable.
Had he…
Been wrong?
Or worse—
Was the real problem…
Still hidden among them?
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