In the backyard, Uchiha Fugaku, who had already returned to Konoha, was training his taijutsu.
His hands and feet were all bound with weights, and he was also wearing a weighted vest.
Under the added weight, every movement he made consumed his physical strength twice as much.
After just a short while, sweat was already dripping down his forehead.
Stopping his training, a maid handed him a towel. He reached out, took it, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Clan leader, there's news— the Ishizuru clan has been completely wiped out!"
A female member of the Uchiha clan arrived and reported to him.
"The Ishizuru clan wiped out? When did this happen?"
Uchiha Fugaku was slightly stunned, his expression shocked.
The Ishizuru clan—weren't they the small ninja family that lived in that previous village?
Although they suffered casualties after being attacked by Yamanaka Shiho and two others, they definitely weren't wiped out before.
How could they suddenly be completely annihilated?
"It happened last night. Not only the Ishizuru clan, but the entire Ishizuru village was wiped out!"
The female Uchiha replied.
"Do you know which force did this?"
Uchiha Fugaku frowned and asked.
"I heard it was done by a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja. Moreover, the head of the Yamanaka family and two jonin from the Yamanaka clan were also killed because they happened to pass by!"
The female Uchiha answered.
She clearly didn't know about the Uchiha clan's secret cleanup operations against hostile ninjas.
"The Ishizuru village wiped out by Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninjas… and the Yamanaka family head plus two jonin were also killed?"
Uchiha Fugaku's face darkened as he pondered. At first, he was suspicious, then realization dawned.
He played the role of Uchiha Obito who only assassinated Yamanaka Shiho and her two companions, but didn't destroy Ishizuru village.
So who or what force destroyed Ishizuru village?
The answer: Root!
To cover up the forced conscription in Ishizuru village, Shimura Danzo dispatched Root ninjas to wipe out the entire village.
"That's brutal…"
Uchiha Fugaku drew in a cold breath.
He was shocked by Danzo's ruthlessness, who did not hesitate to bring down the slaughter on an entire village.
Although he already knew Danzo had done many cruel things behind the scenes, when he truly learned of such an act, he couldn't help but feel stunned.
"Konoha's darkness really lives up to its name."
Uchiha Fugaku scoffed inwardly.
From this massacre, it was clear just how ruthless and brutal Danzo, who led Root, really was.
Root was deeply rooted in Konoha's shadows, carrying out all kinds of dark deeds.
Calling him the Darkness of Konoha was nothing but fitting.
Such a sensational incident naturally led to another village meeting being convened.
And the meeting's focus was naturally on the village massacre and the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja.
The massacre was defined as a counterattack by the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja against Konoha's attempted extermination.
The previous debate was brought up again.
Should they assemble a stronger ninja squad to hunt down the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja, or should they hold off for the time being?
Both sides held firm opinions, the discussion heated, but no one could convince the other.
Even among Konoha's top leadership— the Third Hokage and the three advisors— there was division.
In the end, this village meeting also failed to reach a unified conclusion.
Uchiha Fugaku did not express any opinion, staying like a ghost throughout.
Having an external enemy wasn't necessarily a bad thing for the Uchiha clan; it allowed Konoha's leadership, led by the Third Hokage, to temporarily divert attention away from the Uchiha clan.
Of course, it was only temporary— once the external threat was gone, the focus would immediately shift back to the Uchiha clan.
Putting the meeting behind him, Uchiha Fugaku went with Uchiha Mikoto and their son Uchiha Sasuke to the village shopping district.
The bustling street stretched straight ahead, with shops on both sides that were busy with customers coming and going.
There were noodle shops, snack stands, and grilled meat restaurants, and from afar, delicious aromas wafted through the air.
Uchiha Mikoto held Sasuke's hand, walking beside Uchiha Fugaku, her face full of happiness.
The three of them out shopping together made her feel very happy— the only regret was that Itachi was on a mission and couldn't join them.
Ahead was a sushi restaurant, faint scents drifting out.
Sasuke's large eyes brightened at the smell, and he turned his head expectantly toward Mikoto.
"Mother, I want to eat katsuo rice balls."
Uchiha Mikoto affectionately patted Sasuke's head and smiled at Fugaku.
"Fugaku, let's rest at this place for a bit."
"All right."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded.
The three entered the sushi restaurant, found a long table, and ordered Sasuke's favorite katsuo (bonito) rice balls along with the chef's recommended dishes for the day.
After eating and resting enough, the three left the sushi shop and continued strolling down the street.
"Come, come, place your bets, place your bets..."
"Odd, I bet odd!"
"Even, I bet even!"
...
Ahead was a casino, noisy sounds coming from within, mixed with a woman's irritated voice.
As they passed the casino, the curtain was lifted and two women walked out.
One had long blonde hair and an impressive, well-endowed figure barely restrained by her loose green outfit; a diamond-shaped mark was on her forehead.
The other was a woman with short black hair, dressed in black, around twenty years old, holding a pig-like pet in her arms.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Seeing the blonde woman, Uchiha Mikoto was momentarily stunned, then surprised and respectfully greeted her.
She had once studied medical ninjutsu at Konoha hospital and had spent some time with Tsunade, deeply admiring her medical skills.
"Oh, Mikoto!"
The blonde woman clearly remembered Mikoto and nodded slightly.
"Lady Tsunade."
Nearby, Uchiha Fugaku paused, hesitated slightly, then addressed her.
These two were the legendary "fat sheep" Tsunade and her little companion Shizune.
Fugaku had no bad impression of Tsunade. Compared to the outwardly kind but actually cunning Third Hokage, Tsunade was undoubtedly much more straightforward.
However, as the head of the Uchiha clan, it was impossible for him to greet her warmly.
"Clan leader Fugaku."
Tsunade's brows twitched slightly as she coldly responded.
The Senju and Uchiha clans had deep-seated grudges.
For a regular clan member like Uchiha Mikoto, she could maintain a normal attitude.
But toward Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head, she instinctively harbored dislike and distance.
"Lady Tsunade, we have other matters. We'll take our leave!"
Sensing the tense atmosphere between Tsunade and Fugaku, Uchiha Mikoto gave a slight bow and said farewell.
Though she greatly admired Tsunade and wanted to chat more, she cared more about her husband's feelings.
"Mm."
Tsunade nodded.
They parted ways, heading in opposite directions along the street.
"Why has she come back?"
Walking along the road, Uchiha Fugaku was puzzled.
For some reason, Tsunade was almost always away and never returned to Konoha. Why had she suddenly come back this time?
"Could it be because of the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja?"
Fugaku thought of the "Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja."
Wood Release was the Kekkei Genkai of Tsunade's grandfather, Senju Hashirama. Of course, Tsunade would care deeply about this.
"Maybe also because of Uchiha Shisui's eye blindness."
Uchiha Shisui was the Third Hokage's trusted aide; now with one eye permanently blinded, the Third Hokage would naturally be anxious.
This would certainly cause Tsunade to return to Konoha to treat Shisui's eye.
"I wonder if it can be healed…"
In theory, after activating the forbidden technique Izanagi, the eye should be permanently blinded.
But Tsunade was the strongest medical ninja in the shinobi world maybe she had some way to heal it.