Escalating Conflict

Clues such as scent and tracks vanished at the entrance to Uchiha Fugaku’s home. They might have found more by searching inside, but this was Uchiha Fugaku’s house. Nearly ten pairs of Sharingan behind the Anbu were watching them. If they made any excessive demands, the two sides might start fighting outright.

The Anbu members made their decision in an instant. They split into two groups again, conducted a brief search of the surrounding area, then returned to report to the Third Hokage.

When they returned to the Third Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku was standing nearby as well. The Anbu members glanced at him but did not speak immediately.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Just say what you need to say. Fugaku is the clan leader of the Military Police Force. He has the right to know about matters that endanger Konoha’s safety."

Hearing this, the Anbu operative said directly, "Hokage-sama, following the scent and tracks left behind by Hyuga Mirai, we traced him to clan head Fugaku’s home, where all further clues disappeared. They should have been cleaned up by someone, or…"

The Aburame Clan Anbu member did not finish his sentence, but Uchiha Fugaku’s expression had already turned grim enough.

"The Uchiha Clan has never colluded with Hyuga Mirai!"

Uchiha Fugaku said sternly. He was quite confident on this point. The Uchiha Clan had colluded with someone else, but it was absolutely not Hyuga Mirai, and that person had been under their protection the entire time.

Danzo said in an unfriendly tone, "But the clues point directly at the Uchiha Clan. Do you have some grudge against Hyuga Mirai, so he deliberately framed you?"

A grudge?

Of course not. Whether on the battlefield or in the village, the Uchiha Clan had never had any interaction with that former Konoha medical genius. Even if the Uchiha Clan and the Hyūga Clan had some friction, that was a conflict between the two clans. Would a Branch family ninja who had long since betrayed both his clan and village target the Uchiha Clan over something like that?

Even Uchiha Fugaku could not make sense of it.

"I believe this matter has nothing to do with clan head Fugaku. As for Hyuga Mirai’s intentions, we will have to wait until Kushina wakes up and ask her."

Sarutobi Hiruzen decisively spoke up in defense of Uchiha Fugaku. His thoughts were the same as Fugaku’s: tonight was not a suitable time to escalate the conflict further.

"However, clan head Fugaku will still need to cooperate with us. Even if only to clear your name, I hope the Military Police Force will contribute more effort to tracking down Hyuga Mirai."

Uchiha Fugaku relaxed slightly upon hearing this. Grateful for the Third Hokage’s words of trust, he said, "Naturally, Hokage-sama. The Uchiha Clan will absolutely cooperate with the Anbu in tracking down the Rogue ninja."

"Good. Then we have disturbed you enough tonight. Sorry, Fugaku. This matter is simply too serious. If we do not get to the bottom of it, there may be another attack."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke kindly, showing Uchiha Fugaku ample goodwill.

"Shisui recommended Itachi to me. He believes the boy is a rare talent and could join the Anbu for some experience. If you have no objections, Fugaku, you may have Itachi report to the Anbu in the next couple of days."

Danzo, standing nearby, immediately frowned when he heard this and wanted to object, but before he could speak, Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped him with a look.

Uchiha Fugaku showed a grateful expression and said to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I will ask Itachi what he thinks once I return."

Afterward, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo left with the Anbu. Once they had walked out of the Uchiha Compound, Danzo suddenly said to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Hiruzen, surveillance of the Uchiha must be strengthened. After what happened tonight, we absolutely cannot trust the Uchiha Clan’s words anymore."

"Yes, I know."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and said to Danzo, "I’ll leave this matter to your Root, Danzo. In my capacity as Hokage, I permit you to expand Root’s membership somewhat. But Root must get to the bottom of this."

Danzo’s eyes shifted slightly upon hearing this. "Understood, Hiruzen."

Hyuga Mirai had already left Konoha by another route. They could gain no more information at the Uchiha Compound, and there was also the risk of worsening the conflict, so Sarutobi Hiruzen chose to end things here. However, he could have Shisui investigate within the Uchiha Clan in secret afterward.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen departed, Uchiha Fugaku briefly convened a meeting with the Military Police Force’s Squad Captains and Captains. The Inuzuka Clan and Aburame Clan possessed formidable tracking abilities. Few people in the Ninja World could evade pursuit by those two clans, especially when other tracking ninja had accompanied them.

With so many people confirming that Hyuga Mirai had appeared outside his home, there had to be a problem with the Uchiha Clan’s patrols.

After discussing security matters for a while, Uchiha Fugaku dismissed the others to rest. Before returning home, however, he went to find Uchiha Tekka.

Uchiha Fugaku felt that there was something strange about tonight’s events. He had a vague feeling that the matter was connected to Yasunori Sakai, but he had invited the man himself. Yasunori had been accompanied by clan members acting as guards the entire time, and he was an ordinary person. How could he possibly be connected to Hyuga Mirai?

After finding Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Fugaku asked directly, "Tekka, was Yasunori Sakai guarded by clansmen the entire time after arriving at the compound?"

"Yes, Clan Head. I arranged it personally." Uchiha Tekka said, "Kawaru, Shin, Muke, and Shun were assigned to him. Because of Shisui’s suspicions, the four of them never let Yasunori-kun leave their sight. Even when they sent him away just now, they only returned after dispatching someone to escort Yasunori-kun to the Ninja Cat Clan."

"I see."

Uchiha Fugaku frowned slightly. In that case, Yasunori Sakai should have had nothing to do with this. But why had Hyuga Mirai appeared in the Uchiha Clan’s compound?

"What happened, Clan Head?" Uchiha Tekka had gone to arrange the escort, so he did not know what had happened.

Uchiha Fugaku told Uchiha Tekka about what had happened in the village, as well as the clues proving that Hyuga Mirai had left tracks outside his home.

"Hyuga Mirai? When did he come to your home, Clan Head?" Uchiha Tekka found the matter equally unbelievable. Then, recalling what Uchiha Fugaku had asked earlier, he continued, "Clan Head, do you suspect that Yasunori-kun is connected to this?"

Uchiha Fugaku shook his head. "It was merely a coincidence. But based on your description, he likely has little to do with it."

"It definitely has nothing to do with Yasunori-kun."

Uchiha Tekka said decisively. He had just gone to wake Yasunori-kun, and had felt quite embarrassed about sending him away in the middle of the night. Yet Yasunori-kun had been very understanding and kind, even saying that he would invite him to visit the Yasunori Trading Company if there was another opportunity.

Besides, he and several other clansmen had confirmed with their Sharingan that Yasunori Sakai and his guards were ordinary people, with not a trace of Chakra flowing through them. Even after being awakened in the middle of the night, despite their obvious sleepiness, they had not blamed them.

"Clan Head, the other clansmen assigned as guards and I confirmed it. Every so often, we checked on Yasunori-kun’s safety. He never left the house all night."

Uchiha Fugaku said, "Perhaps it was only a coincidence. But Hyuga Mirai did come to our compound; that much should be true. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki nearly came to harm. The village may be tense for a while, so suspend all other matters for now."

"I understand, Clan Head."

Uchiha Tekka nodded. With the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki attacked, the Anbu and Root would likely start hunting everywhere like rabid dogs. And the Uchiha Clan, which did not get along with Root, would most likely be targeted again.

"Auntie Kimura, how is Mom?"

After waking up, Uzumaki Naruto had remained outside Uzumaki Kushina’s hospital room. Several Anbu watched him from ten meters away, while many more remained hidden in the shadows.

The moment he saw Kimura emerge from the operating room, Uzumaki Naruto rushed over to ask.

"Kushina is fine. She has already fallen asleep. Naruto, you have been up half the night. Go get some rest."

Kimura smiled as she stroked Naruto’s messy golden hair.

At Tsunade’s request, Kimura had helped care for Naruto when he was young, whenever Kushina was busy training. She knew Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki but never looked at him with prejudice, so she had a good relationship with him.

Uzumaki Naruto asked, "Auntie Kimura, can I go in?" He did not want to leave. He only wanted to stay with Kushina.

"Go in?" Seeing the hopeful look in Naruto’s eyes, Kimura could not help sighing. She relented and said, "All right. I’ll have someone put a bed in there. But Naruto, once you go in, do not touch any of the equipment around Kushina. Do you understand? Do not touch anything at all. Do not even touch Kushina, including the Curse Mark patterns on her body."

Naruto immediately said happily, "Thank you, Auntie Kimura! I’ll remember!"

Kimura stroked Naruto’s hair again before going to prepare Kushina’s medicine.

Other than Kushina herself, Kimura was probably the one who understood her physical condition best. Every so often, Kimura would give Kushina a physical examination.

Moreover, because Tsunade had asked her to, Kimura did not tell anyone else about Kushina’s condition. Even when the Third Hokage asked, Kimura only gave vague answers to brush him off.

If it concerned the village’s safety, Kimura certainly would not hide it from the Third Hokage. But Kushina’s health was a private matter, so Kimura helped her keep it concealed.

However, the examination just now had greatly surprised Kimura. Kushina, whose physical condition had been extremely poor, was now gradually recovering. It was as though many highly skilled Medical-nin were treating her at the same time. Her internal organs and body cells alike seemed to have been reborn.

At this rate, Kushina would likely recover to the physical condition of an ordinary person before long.

But even the Evil Sealing Method could not seal the Curse Mark on Kushina’s body. How to suppress the Curse Mark’s spread would have to be resolved by Kushina herself after she woke up. After all, there was no ninja in all of Konoha more proficient in Sealing Technique than her.

Kimura now needed to prepare some medicine for Kushina to help her body recover quickly. She also had a headache over how to conceal Kushina’s physical condition. She had not been the only Medical-nin examining Kushina just now. If the Third Hokage wanted to inquire, he could learn the situation from others as well.

Kimura did not command nearly as much authority in the hospital as Tsunade. Ordinarily, she could use her position as Vice Dean to order everyone around, but before the Third Hokage, that position was basically useless.

I remember that in the Infinite Tsukuyomi filler, there was a segment where Namikaze Minato had not died and Naruto’s family of three was together, yet the villagers still despised Naruto for being the Nine-Tails. Naruto went to buy a mask without bringing money, and after he left, the shop owner immediately had someone sprinkle salt. That was when Namikaze Minato was still alive and serving as the Fourth Hokage. Though it was not part of the main story.