The Third Hokage glanced subtly at Shisui. Based on his understanding, even if such a thing had happened, Shisui wouldn't openly accuse Danzo in such a setting. Shisui's loyalty lay with the village, and during the day, he had even approached the Hokage, hoping to quell Uchiha's unrest using Kotoamatsukami.
But how did it come to this?
While it wasn't beyond Shisui, who still had an idealistic sense of loyalty, to oppose Danzo, Yagami clearly had ways of influencing a straightforward young man with such unwavering faith in the village.
In short, if the truth was not addressed, Uchiha might well turn against the village immediately. Without Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, there was no choice but to negotiate, especially with Shisui lying on a stretcher.
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Sensing the critical gazes of those around him, Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke calmly:
"I sought to improve the relationship between Uchiha and the village and prevent further conflict, but given the situation, I am left with no choice but to reveal the truth. Yes, I summoned Shisui, but he attempted to assassinate me, and I had no choice but to retaliate in self-defence…"
"Are you kidding us?" Yagami interrupted sharply, the red Three-Tomoe Sharingan glaring at Danzo. "Do you take us all for fools?"
"Hmph! Say what you want, but it is true that Shisui attacked me. Everyone in Root can verify it!" Danzo replied defiantly.
His statement left those around speechless. If Shisui had truly attempted an assassination, Danzo would have reported it to the Third Hokage immediately; holding back for the sake of the village seemed out of character.
"Then I declare that Shimura Danzo intended to assassinate the Hokage today—and all of us in Uchiha can testify to it!" Yagami responded with a cold smile.
The Third Hokage's mouth twitched; he understood the situation fully but couldn't respond to that accusation directly, knowing Danzo's actions had indeed crossed boundaries.
"Enough! Now that we've clarified the situation and Shisui has been found, this matter can..."
"Does Hokage-sama mean to let this go?" Yagami cut him off with a mocking tone, his face hardening as he glared at the Third Hokage. "Shisui's eyes are still in Danzo's hands, and you want us to leave it at that? You, as Hokage, would allow the blatant theft of Uchiha's Sharingan? Do you really think Uchiha can be pushed around so easily?"
Fugaku, standing silently by, activated his Sharingan, his chakra flaring as he spoke:
"Sarutobi Hiruzen! Return Shisui's eyes immediately, or else..."
At his words, every Uchiha present activated their Sharingan, their crimson eyes fixed intently on the Third Hokage, tension thickening the air.
The Third Hokage's expression darkened, silently cursing Danzo in his mind. What was he thinking? Now, not only had he botched his actions, but the entire village might have to bear the consequences.
But the problem now was that Konoha could not afford a battle with Uchiha.
"Danzo! Hand over Shisui's eyes!"
Sarutobi's words darkened Danzo's face even further as he struggled to understand how things had spiralled to this point.
"It's true that I had a conflict with Shisui, but I didn't take his Sharingan!" Danzo insisted, unwilling to part with the power of the Sharingan and hoping to make a final attempt to defend himself.
"Danzo, do you really believe our Uchiha clan can't sense our own Bloodline? Do you think covering your eye with a tattered bandage will hide that Shisui's Sharingan is in your eye socket?"
Yagami 's voice turned cold as he continued, "You're still trying to play tricks here. Is this how Konoha's leadership treats its own shinobi? First, it's our Uchiha's Sharingan; next, will it be the Hyuga's Byakugan or the secrets of other great clans?"
With those words, Yagami removed his Konoha forehead protector, his gaze filled with hostility.
Seeing this, the other Uchiha members present began to remove their forehead protectors as well, silently signalling that, without a proper explanation, they were ready to abandon the village.
The surrounding shinobi, after hearing Yagami's words, looked at the Third Hokage and Danzo with wary expressions.
Sarutobi Hiruzen cursed inwardly. Yagami's words struck right at the core of Konoha's foundation. If trust in the Hokage's lineage were to crumble, Konoha would collapse from within. And Uchiha—a clan known for its fierce pride and unity—hadn't yet scratched out the Konoha insignia on their forehead protectors, but the message was clear: without justice, Uchiha would sever ties with the village.
If Uchiha rebelled on their own accord, it would be one thing; the village would deal with it accordingly. But now, this was beginning to look like Konoha forcing Uchiha into a rebellion. If this became known, Konoha would be the laughingstock of the entire ninja world.
"Lord Third Hokage, Danzo's eye is clearly not his own. No clan would stand for having its Bloodline Limit stolen. Hokage-sama, please give us an explanation."
Hyuga Hiashi spoke up, clearly disturbed by Yagami's implications. As a descendant of Konoha, he had no guarantee that what was happening to Uchiha today couldn't happen to Hyuga tomorrow. The disgrace of the Byakugan taken by Kirigakure still haunted the Hyuga clan.
"Danzo! Return Shisui's eyes to Uchiha immediately!" the Third Hokage ordered with a grim expression as the surrounding shinobi turned their gazes to Danzo.
Damn it! Can Uchiha truly sense their own Bloodline Limit? If I'd known, I wouldn't have come…
But now, with no way out, Danzo grudgingly unwrapped the bandage over his right eye, revealing the three-tomoe Sharingan underneath.
The surrounding shinobi erupted in murmurs, shocked to see that Konoha's leadership had taken a Uchiha's Sharingan and implanted it. Many clan members glared at Danzo with suspicion, recalling Yagami's earlier words. Even clans without Bloodline Limits guarded their secret techniques. Who was to say Danzo wouldn't set his sights on them next?
Danzo felt the hostile stares but could do nothing, forced to allow a medical ninja to remove the Sharingan.
After the procedure, Danzo, humiliated and weakened, turned to leave. Confronting Uchiha under these circumstances was out of the question, and he wanted nothing more than to escape the judgmental eyes of the crowd.
"Wait! Where's Shisui's left eye?" Yagami stepped in front of Danzo, blocking his path with a cold, unwavering gaze.