My Name Is Uchiha Kuragami, I Beat The Villagers And Made Them Scream

Kuragami Uchiha brewed tea in a calm and unhurried manner.

Since his first kill on the battlefield at the age of nine, he had spent six years teetering on the edge of life and death. The countless farewells to comrades and teammates had ultimately granted him the Uchiha Clan's ultimate power, the Mangekyō Sharingan. However, Kuragami could also clearly feel that his mental state had become increasingly unstable under this relentless torment.

Well, it made sense. After all, with the Mangekyō, wouldn't it be a waste if he didn't go a little crazy?

To maintain his sanity, he had taken up the time to study the tea ceremony after the war ended. Not for any profound reason but simply to stabilize his mind.

Inside his modest residence, everything was quiet except for the occasional clink of teaware.

Kakashi, however, had no patience for such tranquility. Seeing that Kuragami had yet to respond, he asked directly: "What exactly is the meaning of that record you showed me today?"

As the boiling water met the tea leaves, the fragrance diffused into the air. Kuragami glanced at Kakashi, then handed him a cup of hot tea before finally responding.

"You went to see Granny Miori?"

Kakashi met Kuragami's gaze with his uncovered eye, then nodded. "Yes."

"Make sure to visit her more often. She's been through a lot. The clan's support is sufficient, but living alone must be lonely."

"Can you tell me what was written in that record first?"

"As for the clan members who have been criticizing you, I'll speak to them. As the clan head, I still hold some authority."

"Kuragami!" 

Kakashi's voice sharpened with frustration at Kuragami's evasive response.

"Look at you, always in such a hurry." Kuragami suddenly chuckled and gestured toward the tea in front of Kakashi.

Then he turned and placed the kettle back on the fire. Seizing this moment, Kakashi swiftly pulled down his mask, drained the tea in one gulp, and then placed his mask back.

Kuragami turned back just in time to see Kakashi's expression twitching from the scalding tea. 

He sighed, shaking his head in exasperation.

"The contents of that report are exactly as you read. But we haven't started a full investigation yet." 

Kuragami finally said after downing his own tea.

"When that incident happened, I wasn't born yet. But over the years, I've heard bits and pieces within the clan." 

He paused. "If what the elders say is true, then Sakumo Hatake was truly a great ninja. He shouldn't have met such an end."

"Is that so?" 

Kakashi sounded doubtful. Over the years, though his father's name had nearly faded from Konoha's history, those who did mention him rarely had kind words.

"I don't know what others think, but the Uchiha Clan has always held a deep respect for Sakumo Hatake." 

Kuragami said. "You know better than anyone; there's no one who values their comrades more than the Uchiha."

"… Thank you." 

Kakashi has calmed down now. Hearing such high praise for his father filled him with gratitude. 

At the same time, Kuragami's words reminded him of his dead old comrade.

"However." 

Kuragami sighed, setting down his teacup: "From what I've uncovered today, your father's death may not have been as simple as it seemed. At the very least, Danzo was involved in some rather shady dealings."

"There's significant debate within the clan about whether or not we should investigate further. The incident back then implicated too many people. According to the elders, Sakumo Hatake had strong support for becoming the fourth Hokage."

Kakashi frowned, trying to grasp the implications.

Kuragami sighed again. For shinobi raised to be efficient killers, politics was certainly beyond their usual training.

Unfortunately, he had no choice. Right now, Kakashi possessed the one thing the Uchiha Clan lacked the most, political influence.

Why had Hiruzen Sarutobi kept Kakashi in Anbu for the past six years? Kakashi himself probably didn't realize just how valuable his status as the sole surviving disciple of the fourth Hokage was. 

Although Minato Namikaze had died before he could fully establish his own faction, many in the village still mourned the Yellow Flash. His former personal guard, though marginalized after his death, remained a force to be reckoned with in Konoha.

That was precisely why Kuragami had orchestrated this entire setup to get closer to Kakashi.

With that thought, he shook his head and said: "Forget it. I'll continue investigating this on my own."

"… Thank you." Kakashi didn't fully understand why, but he could tell Kuragami had made this decision with great determination.

"There's no need to thank me. I simply believe that a hero shouldn't meet such an end." 

Kuragami said. "If you really want to express gratitude, visit Granny Miori more often."

"I understand." Kakashi nodded solemnly.

With that, he walked toward the window, preparing to leave before dawn.

"Oh, one more thing." Kuragami suddenly spoke up, stopping Kakashi in his tracks.

Kakashi turned back, his lone eye filled with curiosity.

"In a few days, come to the Konoha Military Police Force to take custody of that Wood Style user. The interrogation is nearly complete. Since he's the only Wood Style user in the village aside from the first Hokage, keeping him with us is too much of a hassle."

Kakashi nodded, then leaped out the window, disappearing into the night.

After Kakashi left, Kuragami moved to the window, his gaze flickering with thought.

Once he cleared Sakumo Hatake's name, Kakashi, bearing the dual prestige of the hero's son and the Hokage's disciple, would inevitably become the center of attention in the village. At that point, regardless of what others thought, the Uchiha Clan, who had helped him restore his father's honor, would be his most steadfast ally.

And that would mark the moment when the Uchiha Clan truly stepped into the spotlight.