After the pursuing Anbu failed to apprehend the fleeing attackers, Hiruzen Sarutobi returned straight to the Hokage office, face grim and patience worn thin. He wasn't particularly concerned about capturing the two who escaped.
What mattered most now was the corpse they left behind—and the suspect he had in mind.
After all, the Uchiha Clan wasn't going anywhere. They were still in Konoha. If he needed someone to blame, he could walk right into their compound and do it.
Back in the office, medical ninjas immediately began treating Kakashi. The damage around his eye socket was extensive—the extraction had been brutal. Whoever had done it didn't care about preserving the surrounding tissue.
Without delay, Hiruzen rallied his forces.
Tonight, he would march straight into the Uchiha district.
Meanwhile, Andrew, now safely back at home, slumped into a chair.
"Damn… that jutsu eats too much chakra..." he muttered, clutching his head.
He pulled a specially-marked seal scroll from his robe and summoned a tail of senjutsu-enhanced chakra from Three Tails, who was sealed inside him. The cool, potent chakra flowed into his body, gradually soothing his fatigue.
Stopping time—even briefly—while also using Flying Thunder God twice? That kind of combo was dangerous.
"Better to use that sparingly," he muttered. "Still… totally worth it. Kamui is mine now."
There was only one regret: he'd left too quickly to destroy the Root agents. If Hiruzen managed to identify the corpse… things could get tricky.
Just then, Shisui appeared beside him in a blur, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Andrew! Third Hokage just led a group of shinobi into our compound—he's accusing us of stealing Kakashi's Sharingan. Also… your eye. You used Time Stop again, didn't you?"
Andrew smirked tiredly. "You're quick, as usual. Don't worry, I've stabilized with some tailed beast chakra. My eye's sore, but my body's fine."
He pushed himself upright.
"Let's hear what the old man has to say. After all… none of our clan left the district tonight."
At the entrance to the Uchiha compound, Hiruzen glared at the Fifth Elder, a known moderate within the clan. The man's hesitation only stoked Hiruzen's annoyance.
"Where is Uchiha Andrew? Bring him out immediately! Kakashi's Sharingan was entrusted to him by Uchiha with your clan's agreement. Now that it's been stolen, how do you explain this betrayal?"
The elder hesitated, unable to argue against the forceful Hokage. The pressure of the situation—and Hiruzen's rank—left him speechless.
From the edge of the gathered crowd, Hyuga Hiashi watched with cold amusement.
"So eager to bark at your own villagers, and yet you shrink in front of actual enemies. What a Hokage."
Hiashi had never forgotten how Hiruzen once humiliated him to protect the peace treaty with Kumogakure. That scar lingered.
"Lord Hokage, must you escalate before the facts are clear? Uchiha's leader isn't even present. Don't you think this show of force is excessive?"
"Stay out of this, Hiashi," Hiruzen snapped. "This is Uchiha business. I advise Hyuga not to entangle itself in this matter."
Truthfully, Hiruzen was well aware of the growing alliance between Hyuga and Uchiha. But he wasn't prepared to offend both major clans at once. Still, his patience was running out.
"What's this? Can't sleep, old man? Had to bring your soldiers just to puff your chest out at us?"
Andrew stepped forward with Shisui at his side, voice laced with mockery.
"Even the Hyuga Patriarch speaks a fair word, and now you're threatening him too?"
Hiruzen's expression tightened. "Uchiha Andrew, I'm not here to trade words. Hand over Kakashi's Sharingan."
Andrew blinked innocently.
"Sharingan? From Kakashi? Is it lost?"
Hiruzen's voice grew sharper. "Don't play dumb. If you hand it over now, we can settle this quietly."
Andrew's grin faded into a chilling smile.
"Lord Hokage, if you want a Sharingan, just say so. No need for false accusations. Do you have any proof that it's in our possession? Is it written somewhere that the Hatake clan is born with Sharingan?"
He met Hiruzen's eyes without fear.
"Sharingan belongs to Uchiha. If someone else has it, it's charity. Reclaiming what's ours isn't theft."
Hiruzen's fists clenched at his sides.
"Andrew, this is foolish. The attackers were skilled in Fire Style, knew Konoha's barrier system, and possessed strong chakra signatures. Who else but Uchiha could have done this?"
Andrew folded his arms.
"And Danzo? Did you forget he has an unhealthy obsession with our eyes? Why not question him?"
"Besides, if we really wanted to reclaim that Sharingan, do you think we'd sneak around like cowards? We'd take it directly."
"Also, I'm sure you've never stopped watching us, Lord Hokage. Check the movement logs. No Uchiha left the village tonight. Or… go interrogate the corpse you captured. If there's even one link to us, I'll stand down."
The entire Uchiha district was dead silent.
Even Hiruzen felt a chill at Andrew's poise.
Meanwhile, in the dark depths of Root headquarters, Danzo Shimura was on the verge of collapse.
"WHAT? You didn't get the eye? And you left the body behind?" he roared.
The Root agent kneeled, shaking. "We retrieved it, but… it disappeared. It was in my hands one second, and gone the next. We had to retreat before Hokage arrived."
"Useless TRASH!" Danzo shouted, nearly coughing blood. "You should have at least destroyed the body! Now the Hokage has it!"
The worst part? He had no idea where the Sharingan had gone. From Hiruzen's perspective, this entire mess made him look guilty—and he didn't even have the damn eye.
"Now I look like the villain… and Uchiha gets away clean."
He punched the desk.
"I swear, I'm the most wronged man in all of Konoha right now!"
Back at the Uchiha compound, a tense silence was broken as a messenger Anbu arrived with a scroll.
He bowed to Hiruzen and whispered.
"Lord Hokage… the body was a commoner shinobi. Root markings confirmed. He had the Tongue of Evil Seal engraved on him."
Hiruzen froze.
Andrew smirked.
Hiashi scoffed.
The rest of the ninja leaders exchanged uncomfortable looks.
The Tongue of Evil Seal—Danzo's signature silencing jutsu.
It was irrefutable proof that the attacker was from Root.
"So, Lord Hokage… what now?" Andrew asked with a dangerous smile. "If this Sharingan was indeed meant for Kakashi, we'll honor that contract. But if Root has others out there wearing our clan's eyes, we'll reclaim them."
"And about tonight? We expect a full explanation. We don't want unnecessary conflict… but we won't tolerate slander, either."
Hiruzen's face twisted into a deep scowl. His thoughts churned violently.
Danzo… what the hell have you done now?
"I'll give you an answer… tomorrow," Hiruzen muttered through clenched teeth, then turned on his heel and walked away with his troops.
Andrew watched him go. "Shisui, let's go investigate Root. If we find any more of our clan's eyes stored away, we'll retrieve them—by force."
The moment the words left his lips, Hiruzen's pace faltered slightly.
He knew exactly what Andrew meant.
The Sharingan used on Kakashi? That stayed under contract.
But the dozens Danzo had stolen, implanted into his subordinates and himself? Those were fair game.
And now, Andrew had the strength—and audacity—to take them back.
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