Konoha's Tatsuya

Konoha Village, Root's underground base. Danzo Shimura had just returned with his contingent of Root ninja, only to find the Third Hokage waiting there with a large detachment of his personal ANBU guard. Hiruzen slowly turned to face Danzo, his voice heavy. "Danzo, you led Root members out to ambush and kill a Uchiha elder and clansmen without my orders. Have you prepared your explanation for this?" The Third Hokage's eyes bored into Danzo, filled with unconcealed anger and killing intent. This sudden incident had caught the Third completely off guard. It wasn't until Uchiha Hiroaki and the others returned to Konoha that Hiruzen dispatched ANBU to investigate discreetly, uncovering numerous secrets hidden within Root in the process. When the irrefutable evidence was laid before him, Hiruzen suddenly realized that his old comrade standing before him had changed completely. Danzo's actions this time had thoroughly enraged the Third Hokage. He couldn't let Danzo run rampant any longer! Hiruzen resolved inwardly.

Danzo remained silent. He lifted his head and met Hiruzen's gaze, showing no trace of fear or remorse in his eyes. After a moment of silence, Danzo finally spoke. "Hiruzen, Yashiro Uchiha was the leader of the Uchiha radicals. Without him, the Uchiha clan problem could be delayed for at least a few more years. Ambushing him was done for Konoha's sake. I didn't request your permission because I knew you lacked the resolve to make the decision."

"For the village?" A sarcastic smile touched Hiruzen's lips. "Weren't you really after the Uchiha clan's Sharingan?" Hearing this, Danzo's pupils contracted sharply. His gaze slowly shifted towards two Root members currently being held captive by the Hokage's ANBU.

"No need to look," Hiruzen stated calmly. "They both have your Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal carved onto them; they couldn't possibly reveal the truth. I saw the evidence myself in the laboratory right here in this base." As he uttered the word "laboratory," intense anger and regret flared in Hiruzen's eyes. It was only now that the Third Hokage finally understood the full truth behind Orochimaru's defection. Coveting the Sharingan, disregarding his explicit prohibitions, continuing forbidden live human experiments using the First Hokage Hashirama Senju's cells… All of this had trampled upon Hiruzen's fundamental principles.

Danzo fell silent once more. Looking at the uncommunicative Danzo, Hiruzen issued his orders coldly. "Danzo, I hereby officially strip you of your positions as Advisory Elder and Head of Root. You will be confined within the Hokage Tower. Furthermore, all Root members are forbidden from leaving this base without express permission from the Hokage's Office." With a cold wave of his hand, two of Hiruzen's ANBU operatives stepped towards Danzo. Seeing this, Danzo offered no resistance. He allowed the two ANBU to take him into custody and followed Hiruzen out of the Root base.

"Lord Ryoma, what do we do?" Seeing Danzo being escorted away, the assembled Root ninja looked bewildered. With Danzo gone, Ryoma Aburame was effectively the highest-ranking operative present. "Wait for now," Ryoma Aburame replied, shaking his head slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. He wasn't concerned for Danzo's safety; even in his fury, the Third Hokage wouldn't likely execute Danzo directly. What worried Ryoma was that with Root's secrets exposed, the organization would likely face severe suppression from the Third Hokage.

An hour later, at the Hokage Tower. On the second-floor corridor, Fugaku Uchiha, his face livid with anger, strode rapidly towards the Hokage's Office. As he rounded a corner, a figure suddenly stepped into his path, blocking his way. "Clan Head Fugaku, please halt!" The man was Nara Shikaku. He addressed Fugaku softly. Fugaku's eyes narrowed dangerously. He stared at Shikaku. "Shikaku," he bit out, each word sharp, "what is the meaning of this?" A sharp, dangerous aura emanated from Fugaku. Shikaku seemed to ignore the palpable threat, his expression calm. "Clan Head Fugaku, Lord Hokage is aware of your purpose in coming. He asked me to deliver a message."

"What message?" Fugaku demanded, his face grim. Nara Shikaku relayed the Hokage's words: "Clan Head Fugaku, the matter concerning Elder Yashiro is deeply regrettable. However, Lord Hokage requests that you urge your clansmen to exercise the utmost restraint. According to information the village has gathered, Elder Yashiro, Uchiha Yasumasa, and the others did not die at the hands of Root, but rather two unknown, powerful individuals who suddenly appeared. Their timing clearly indicates an intention to provoke conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village. As for Root's actions in this matter, the village will provide the Uchiha clan with an accounting. Lord Hokage has already decided to strip Shimura Danzo of his positions as Advisory Elder and Head of Root, and he is currently confined within the Hokage Tower."

"An accounting?" Fugaku's suppressed anger instantly erupted, a mocking sneer twisting his lips. "This is the village's accounting to the Uchiha clan?" The deaths of a clan elder and several elite clansmen exchanged for nothing more than Danzo's trivial dismissal from his posts and temporary detention! This was blatant disregard for the Uchiha clan from the village leadership! Nara Shikaku remained silent, his face impassive. He was merely relaying orders; the Nara clan had no desire to become entangled in the conflict between the Uchiha and the village leadership. Fugaku stared silently at Shikaku for a long moment, then finally reined in his fury. With a cold snort, he turned and departed.

Walking out of the Hokage Tower, Fugaku's expression had returned to complete calm, but a pensive expression settled on his features as he walked. Two unknown powerful individuals? Hiroaki mentioned being saved by one strong person... could there have been another? Who were they? What were their objectives? Mulling over these questions, Fugaku returned to the clan compound and had the village's decision communicated to the clan members.

As expected, the leadership's decision instantly caused an uproar among many members of the Uchiha clan. They felt intensely slighted and acutely threatened. If even a clan elder like Uchiha Yashiro could be ambushed and treacherously killed, then what did that mean for the rest of them? However, Fugaku quickly dispatched personnel to suppress this rising sentiment. Without Uchiha Yashiro, the radical ringleader, secretly pulling strings and fanning the flames, no one within the Uchiha clan currently possessed the authority to challenge Fugaku.

Back in the Hokage's Office. After listening to the ANBU's report, the Third Hokage fell into deep thought. Over the past two years, it seemed significant changes had indeed occurred within the Uchiha clan. However, their strength remained formidable; he still couldn't afford to lower his guard.

Within the Uchiha clan compound, inside Uchiha Hiroaki's home. Hiroaki knelt alone in the center of the room. No lights were on; the dimly lit space felt gloomy and oppressive. Why? Why did the clan have no reaction? Did Elder Yashiro and Yasumasa truly die for nothing? Don't they understand that Elder Yashiro and Yasumasa sacrificed themselves for the clan!? What meaning is left in belonging to such a clan!? In the dim room, Hiroaki's hands clenched tightly into fists, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

Deep confusion and bitter resentment twisted Hiroaki Uchiha's face. He hated it all! He hated the entire village of Konoha! He hated the passive, unresponsive Uchiha clan!