Chapter 17 – Dispute in the Hospital

"Ah~ Hahaha, Michiko's business is really booming these days."

On the bustling streets, Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared as usual, chatting amiably with the young female shopkeepers of Konoha.

"This is all thanks to you, Third-sama. It's precisely because we have such a powerful Hokage like you that other villages don't dare to covet us so easily."

The shopkeepers didn't hold back their flattery, showering the Third with exaggerated praise.

"Hahaha, it's all to protect everyone after all."

Nearly floating from the compliments, Hiruzen tried hard to maintain his composure, responding modestly.

Just as he was about to continue mingling with the crowd, a familiar chakra signature entered his sensory range, making him abandon the idea.

"I just remembered something I need to take care of, so I'll leave you here."

Chuckling, Hiruzen bid farewell to the ladies amidst their reluctant expressions. He turned a corner down the street, where an ANBU operative was waiting respectfully.

"What's happened?"

Hiruzen's expression turned serious. Though he held some disapproval toward the subordinate for not choosing a better time, he concealed it well.

"Yes, Third-sama. Just now, Danzo-sama led his ANBU and came into conflict with the police force."

The ANBU bowed his head and reported everything he had seen and heard.

When he finished, seeing that Hiruzen's expression hadn't changed, the ANBU curiously asked:

"The issue ended with the police backing down. Should we take any measures?"

[So he didn't take advantage of the situation...?]

"Are you sure Danzo made no further moves?"

Weighing the situation in his mind, Hiruzen asked.

"Yes. Although the number of personnel monitoring the Uchiha has increased, Danzo-sama hasn't taken any extreme actions against them."

The ANBU had not observed any other unusual behavior from Danzo.

"And what about Fugaku?"

Hiruzen instinctively reached for his pipe, eyes dark with thought. He was eager to understand Uchiha Fugaku's stance on the incident.

Or more precisely—whether Fugaku had realized the rift that had been steadily growing between the Uchiha and Konoha for various reasons.

...

Switching perspective to Fugaku.

After sending Yakume and the others away, Fugaku rushed to Konoha Hospital without pause.

He checked on the conditions of Yōwan and the others, then, in his capacity as clan head, ordered them to speak the truth.

Faced with Fugaku's face, Yōwan and the others didn't care how respected their parents were within the clan, nor how much their wounds hurt.

Before many fellow clansmen, they admitted it was they who had acted first against Obito.

"Wada-san, there's really nothing more to say about this matter, is there?"

Just as Fugaku was leaving the ward to return to the clan compound, he was stopped by Uchiha Wada.

Looking at this elder relative from a previous generation, Fugaku felt a little helpless.

This guy was a contemporary of Uchiha Setsuna. He had followed Setsuna in a coup attempt during the Second's era, but was later released due to lack of evidence.

He was a known hardliner.

He was also Yōwan's grandfather.

"Fugaku, we nominated you for clan head because we saw your talent and ambition. But in the face of Konoha, all you do is grovel.

Now that Yōwan and the others have been beaten like this, you don't even demand compensation—you apologize to them instead? Just what the hell are you thinking?"

Uchiha Wada glared furiously at Fugaku. If not for Uchiha Yatsushiro holding him back in the hospital earlier, he would've already intervened.

[You idiot!]

Cursing Wada's stupidity in his heart, Fugaku restrained himself from escalating things and tried to explain patiently:

"But the fact is, Yōwan and the others made the first move. Demanding compensation from Danzo recklessly might provoke an unnecessary conflict."

"He's just a cripple from the Shimura clan!

Back in the Warring States period, clans like that were only fit to serve as Uchiha vassals!"

Wada waved his hand dismissively, clearly not taking Danzo seriously.

[You damn well know this isn't the Warring States anymore!]

Fugaku cursed inwardly.

If Danzo were merely a cripple from the Shimura clan, that'd be one thing. But even if he didn't often show it, his strength was comparable to Hiruzen's.

And behind him stood the entire Konoha leadership.

Antagonizing Danzo without thinking would only deepen the Uchiha's conflict with the village.

"Then I'll trouble you to negotiate with Danzo yourself."

Seeing that Wada wasn't going to let the matter drop, Fugaku threw the task of dealing with Danzo back at him.

Go ahead—don't say I didn't give you a chance.

You know where he lives. Why not go have a nice chat with that so-called "cripple" yourself?

Upon hearing Fugaku's proposal, Wada, who had been so full of righteous fury, instantly deflated.

Having once spent time in the Second Hokage's infamous little black room, Wada knew full well how terrifying ANBU methods could be.

Among those who went in with him, perhaps only Setsuna was still alive.

Thinking back on those days, Wada shivered and quickly changed the subject:

"Let's talk about that later. Even if we let outsiders off the hook, we still have to punish Obito. As an Uchiha, colluding with outsiders to harm his own kin is completely unacceptable."

Wada had originally wanted to shift blame to Kakashi, but remembering the fame of the White Fang, he chickened out again.

Shimura Danzo or Hatake Sakumo—either way, he couldn't afford to offend them.

So, he had no choice but to vent his frustration on Obito, who had no backing besides a grandmother.

[Truly despicable.]

Fugaku gained a new understanding of Wada's shamelessness.

At the same time, he began wondering if this old man really deserved so much face.

"How's Yōwan's condition?"

After a brief pause, Fugaku didn't answer Wada directly but turned to Uchiha Yatsushiro instead.

"The damaged areas have been healed with medical ninjutsu. The doctors said there shouldn't be any lasting effects."

Yatsushiro immediately understood what Fugaku was getting at and replied accordingly.

"Wada-san, you heard him. Yōwan's injuries aren't serious. There's no need to keep going after Obito. And don't forget, Obito's parents died for the Uchiha clan. I hope you remember that."

After weighing the pros and cons, Fugaku decided to protect Obito.

The fact that a Shimura child had stood up for Obito proved their relationship was not ordinary.

Why should he offend Konoha's power players for the sake of some half-dead hardliner?

More importantly—

Wasn't this exactly what he'd been dreaming of?

An opportunity to build direct ties with the higher-ups?

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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