Naruto: I am Uchiha Fugaku

"So he really intended to use that jutsu to perish together..."

Uchiha Fugaku stood beside the massive hemispherical crater, a sneer tugging at the corner of his lips.

He had long been prepared for Danzo Shimura's suicidal jutsu. As expected, things had gone just as he anticipated.

"While he's not among the strongest Kage-level shinobi, he is undoubtedly one of the most troublesome."

He checked the chakra within his body—it was nearly depleted.

Even though his chakra reserves had doubled compared to before, it had still been almost completely drained. That alone showed just how troublesome Danzo was.

Of course, that trouble was largely due to Danzo obtaining the Uchiha clan's forbidden technique—Izanagi.

"So what if the Uchiha clan becomes the prime suspect after your death?"

Thinking of Danzo's last words, Fugaku let out a soft chuckle.

The Uchiha clan had mobilized so many members and left the village. Once an investigation began, it would certainly draw suspicion.

The news of Danzo's death would soon reach Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Third Hokage would no doubt suspect the Uchiha.

Fugaku had anticipated this all along. And yet, he still chose to eliminate Danzo.

Because he no longer needed to hide.

With Danzo and his elite Root operatives gone, the strength of the Third Hokage's faction had been severely weakened.

Meanwhile, Fugaku had united the power of the Uchiha clan and, through several corpse-refining experiments, had greatly increased his strength.

With this shift in power, his side was no longer inferior to the Third Hokage's faction.

And without concrete evidence, even if the Third suspected the Uchiha, he would be powerless to act against them.

Now, neither he nor the Uchiha clan could be controlled at will.

"Tch! Danzo Shimura, you finally got what you deserved!"

Third Elder Uchiha Shi's expression was full of excitement as he approached the crater.

Danzo—the scheming man who had always opposed the Uchiha—was finally dead.

"That thorn in our side is finally gone!"

Great Elder Uchiha Satsuna sighed in relief.

The surrounding Uchiha clansmen were all visibly exhilarated.

For years, Danzo had suppressed and targeted them. Now, that threat was no more.

"What are the casualties?"

Fugaku asked.

"Thirteen injured, five seriously. No fatalities."

Uchiha Onji quickly reported.

Though there had originally been over a hundred Root operatives, they had suffered heavy losses under Fugaku's ambush.

The Uchiha forces outnumbered them several times over. Each Root ninja had been besieged by two or even three Uchiha shinobi.

So while there were injuries, none of the Uchiha had died.

"Good."

Fugaku nodded in satisfaction, then issued a command:

"Clean up the area. Don't leave behind any trace that can be linked to us."

The Third Hokage's faction would surely suspect the Uchiha of Danzo's death—but suspicion alone wasn't enough. There must be no concrete evidence.

"Yes!"

The Uchiha clan members responded and quickly moved into action.

They erased any chakra residue or signs unique to Uchiha techniques and gathered all of the Root corpses for cremation.

Only one body—a Yamanaka with sensory abilities—was sealed into a scroll by Fugaku.

Half an hour later, all traces had been wiped clean, and the Uchiha quickly vacated the area.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, at the moment of Danzo's death, unrest began brewing among the remaining Root members.

They all noticed something shocking: the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal placed on them by Danzo had vanished.

"What's going on? Why did the seal disappear?"

"That seal was implanted by Lord Danzo. If it's gone... could it mean he's dead?"

"Impossible! With Lord Danzo's strength, how could he die?"

Panic spread among the Root operatives, disrupting the previously disciplined organization.

The sudden disorder was quickly detected by the ANBU, who reported it to the Third Hokage.

Upon hearing the news, the Third Hokage, along with Advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, rushed to the Root base.

"Where is Advisor Danzo?"

The Third asked, frowning at the Root shinobi.

Silence.

Long, unyielding silence. No one responded.

Officially, Root was under the Third Hokage's jurisdiction.

But in reality, Danzo had brainwashed them into being loyal only to him—they would never obey the Hokage.

His face darkening, Hiruzen scoffed coldly.

He turned to a bull-mask-wearing Root operative—likely a squad leader—and demanded:

"Tell me. Where is Danzo?"

His voice was icy, like a chilling gust of wind.

Feeling the pressure, the squad leader hesitated, then finally answered:

"Two days ago, Lord Danzo led many elite Root operatives out of the village. His whereabouts are currently unknown."

"Unknown?"

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

He connected this with the recent activity involving the Uchiha. He already had a theory about Danzo's objective.

What he didn't understand was why Root was suddenly in turmoil just two days after Danzo's departure.

"What happened? Why is Root in chaos?"

Before Hiruzen could ask, Koharu spoke up first.

The bull-mask shinobi hesitated again, then revealed:

"The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal… Advisor Danzo placed on us… it's gone."

"What?!"

Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura's expressions changed drastically.

They were well aware of how the seal worked.

If all of the seals had vanished, there were only two possibilities:

Either Danzo had removed them voluntarily,

—or Danzo was dead.

And knowing Danzo's nature, there was no chance he'd willingly release the seal.

Which meant...

Danzo Shimura was likely dead.

"Impossible… how could Danzo die?"

Koharu's face went pale.

She turned to the bull-mask operative and asked urgently:

"Why did Advisor Danzo leave the village? What was his mission?"

"We only know he left with elite operatives. We don't know his objective."

The ninja shook his head. Though he was a squad leader, Danzo had clearly not entrusted him with full details.

"Does anyone know why he left?"

Koharu looked around at the other Root shinobi.

No one answered.

Perhaps they genuinely didn't know. Or perhaps they knew—but didn't dare say it.

After all, Danzo's mission was to assassinate Uchiha Fugaku.

If that were revealed, it would spark immense trouble.

'Failed to assassinate Uchiha Fugaku... and died by his hand?'

Hiruzen's gaze darkened. He had already guessed Danzo's objective.

He had set out to eliminate Fugaku—and failed.

Now that the seals were gone, it could only mean Danzo had died, and likely at Fugaku's hands.

"Danzo was cautious. He must have taken a large force with him. How could he fail? Unless…"

A sharp glint appeared in Hiruzen's eyes as a chilling thought crossed his mind:

Had Fugaku already anticipated Danzo's ambush and prepared a counterstrike?