Chapter 149: Danzo, Don't Bully People Too Far

Uchiha Fugaku hurried through Konoha's streets, the clan compound's main gate appearing in his sight.

The next second, Fugaku abruptly halted his steps, his brows furrowing instantly.

Only to see outside the clan compound's main gate, dozens of Root ninja wearing white masks stood in strict formation, surrounding the clan compound's main gate in a tight circle — Root ninja, without a doubt.

And on the inner side of the main gate, the Uchiha clansmen pressed tightly together, forming a human wall, faces full of anger and unease, confronting the ninja outside.

Suddenly, a young Uchiha clansman with sharp eyes spotted Uchiha Fugaku and immediately shouted excitedly: "The Clan Leader has returned!"

The moment his voice fell, the entire clan compound instantly boiled over. Cheers and discussions rose and fell in succession, as if they had found their backbone.

At this time the Root ninja also noticed Fugaku's arrival; the Root ninja swiftly adjusted their formation, a portion turning to face Fugaku, faintly encircling him within.

The leading white-masked ninja stepped forward, voice deep and cold: "Uchiha Fugaku, you've come at just the right time. The village has orders — please cooperate with the investigation."

Hearing this, a trace of cold light flashed in Fugaku's eyes. He didn't utter a word, walking straight toward his clansmen as if he hadn't heard the other's words at all.

The white-masked ninja's body visibly stiffened for an instant, clearly not expecting Fugaku to ignore him so completely.

The white-masked ninja strode forward a step, blocking Fugaku's path. His voice carried a hint of annoyance: "Uchiha Fugaku, did you not hear me speaking?"

Fugaku's steps didn't stop; he merely tilted his head slightly. In an instant, the Three Tomoe Sharingan emerged, his gaze sweeping over the other like lightning.

That instant, the white-masked ninja only felt a bone-piercing chill rush straight to his forehead, as if his whole person had been thrown into an ice cellar.

"Impossible. This is!"

The white-masked ninja staggered back, body trembling violently. He prided himself as a genjutsu master, yet in a single exchange he had been utterly crushed.

"Thud!" With a sound, his legs went weak and he suddenly knelt on the ground. Rapid breathing came from behind the mask, as if experiencing indescribable fear.

The surrounding Root ninja seeing this, all retreated half a step, hands on sword hilts, yet no one dared act rashly.

Fugaku arrived before his clansmen, gaze sweeping over everyone's tense faces, and asked in a deep voice: "What exactly happened?"

A white-haired clan elder stepped forward quickly, voice carrying barely concealed anger: "Clan Leader, these people suddenly barged into the clan compound, saying they want to search our residences. Not only that, they even brazenly declared they would detain all Uchiha clansmen!"

Hearing this, Fugaku's pupils sharply contracted, a wave of biting killing intent instantly erupting. His Sharingan unconsciously activated, the three tomoe spinning wildly, as if wanting to crush everything before his eyes. "You dare!"

The Root ninja blocking the way ahead involuntarily retreated a step, a few even subconsciously swallowing their saliva.

The reputation of Fierce-Eyed Fugaku they had long heard of; before coming they had already made preventive preparations, but the oppressive feeling personally experienced at this moment far exceeded everyone's expectations — could the other party have been hiding his strength all along?

Fugaku coldly scanned the Root ninja before him, the three tomoe in his eyes slowly rotating, and he said word by word: "I'll ask once more — who gave you the authority to be so rude to the Uchiha Clan?"

Before his voice fell, dozens of black shadows flashed into existence from all directions like ghosts, instantly surrounding Fugaku in a tight circle. These newly appeared Root ninja moved with neat uniformity, weapons in hand, ready to strike at any moment. A cold light flashed in Fugaku's eyes, he was about to speak, yet heard a wave of steady footsteps come from the crowd. People involuntarily made way for a path, only to see a figure slowly walk over: "Uchiha Fugaku, for Konoha's safety, please cooperate with our operation."

Just at this moment, a wave of steady footsteps came from the crowd. Only to see a figure slowly step out — precisely Konoha Root's leader, Shimura Danzo. His expression was stern, gaze coldly fixed on Fugaku.

Fugaku's eyes turned even sharper; he asked in a deep voice: "Danzo, what is the meaning of this? What authority do you have to issue such an order?"

Danzo answered expressionlessly: "Uchiha Madara attacked the village, Nine-Tails jinchuriki Kushina died, the Nine-Tails was taken away, Minato Namikaze was severely injured, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was also severely injured. In such an extraordinary period, the Hokage Advisor naturally has the authority to take necessary measures."

"Uchiha Madara?" Fugaku frowned slightly, his gaze toward Danzo filled with incredulity, as if looking at a madman. He gave a cold laugh: "Danzo, are you joking? Uchiha Madara died at the Valley of the End many years ago — how could he suddenly appear in Konoha?"

Danzo gave a cold laugh: "Facts speak louder than words — all this is thanks to your Uchiha Clan's ancestor. If you don't believe it, look at your clansmen!"

Hearing this, Fugaku turned his head to look at the clansmen behind him. Only to see each of their faces carried a thread of shock and bewilderment.

A young clansman spoke with a trembling voice: "Clan Leader, I... we indeed saw a giant blue warrior. That form... is the same as the power of Uchiha Madara in the legends."

Danzo gave a cold laugh: "Not only that — after Uchiha Madara was heavily wounded and near death he fled in panic; his existence has already become a hidden danger threatening the entire Ninja World. Soon, the entire Ninja World will go all-out to capture this traitor."

Fugaku's expression instantly froze, a trace of shock flashing in his eyes, but he knew now was not the time to pursue it deeply.

He quickly composed himself, turned toward Danzo, voice firm: "Even if it's truly as you say, that Uchiha Madara suddenly revived and attacked Konoha, what does that have to do with us? Back when Uchiha Madara chose to betray Konoha, our Uchiha Clan chose to stay and serve Konoha. Our loyalty has long needed no proof!"

Danzo narrowed his eyes, pressing step by step: "Regardless of whether you believe it, facts are facts. As the Uchiha Clan's Clan Leader, you have the responsibility to accept investigation. To prevent spies from appearing within the Uchiha Clan, we must temporarily control the entire Uchiha clan compound."

Danzo's words were like a bomb, instantly detonating the entire clan compound. The entire clan compound instantly boiled over. Uchiha clansmen angrily shouted out one after another, faces written full of anger.

"Absurd!"

"We've guarded Konoha generation after generation, participated in wars — on what grounds do you treat us like this?"

"This is provoking the entire Uchiha Clan!"

Some hot-blooded clansmen had even already activated their Sharingan, ready to strike at any moment.

Fugaku abruptly raised his hand, stopping the clamor of the clansmen behind him. He stared dead at Danzo, the three tomoe in his eyes spinning wildly: "Danzo, you're far too self-righteous — you have no right to do this. I warn you, don't bully people too far!"

Danzo narrowed his eyes, tone carrying sarcasm: "Oh? Looks like you intend to rebel against your superiors, resist the village's decision? Doesn't this perfectly confirm my suspicion? The Uchiha Clan truly harbors ill intentions."

Hearing these words, Fugaku's heart sank; he deeply knew Danzo's words were pinning the "traitor" hat on the Uchiha Clan — once established, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Fugaku gave a cold laugh, the killing intent in his eyes undisguised: "Danzo, are you sure you want to do this? You'd better think clearly — the consequences of doing so, you will pay the price."

(Chapter End)