Chapter 16: Chapter 14: Home, shitty Home. (Long Chapter)
In this gloomy and rainy country, there was no joy to be found in the scenery, and the mission was utterly miserable. Fugaku loathed the never-ending downpour, which seemed to drench everything, including his mood.
The incessant rain made the journey back to Konoha feel like an eternity, as the muddy roads made each step feel like a struggle. The wet clothes clung to his skin, making him shiver with cold.
Fugaku couldn't wait to leave this damp and dreary place and return to the sunny weather of Konoha. The journey back took four arduous days, with each day feeling longer than the last.
As Fugaku entered the village, he immediately sensed that something was amiss. Uchiha clan members seemed to be everywhere, watching with a heightened sense of alertness.
Suddenly, a shadow darted towards him and a Uchiha clansman materialized before him.
"What's going on in Konoha?" Fugaku asked, concerned.
The man before him was Uchiha Kon, an elite shinobi in the Police Guards with 3-Tomoe Sharingan.
"Congratulations on your promotion to Jōnin," Kon said in a low whisper.
"But I'm afraid I have bad news. Something happened last night and now we are under martial law!"
Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brows and asked, "What exactly happened last night that led to martial law being imposed on the village?"
"A senior Konoha Elder was assassinated. The Police Guards have initiated martial law to find the murderer, and the entire village is on high alert."
Fugaku's heart sank as he processed the news. He knew that the situation was grave, and it was likely that this was an inside Job and the killer was still at large.
Fugaku had a suspicion but asked anyways, "Which Elder was assassinated?"
Uchiha Kon's eyes darted around before he leaned in closer to Fugaku and whispered, "Elder Yamada, one of the most senior members of Konoha's management, was assassinated. It's believed that the perpetrator has already fled the village."
Fugaku found it hard to believe. Konoha still had many prominent figures from older generations who had followed the Second Hokage. Some of them were even Elders in Konoha. Why would anyone bother killing them? What would anyone gain from it? It didn't make any sense!
Uchiha Fugaku expressed his doubts, "But what would be the motive behind such an assassination? It doesn't make sense to target the elderly members of Konoha's management."
Uchiha Kon shrugged, "It's still unclear, but the Police Guards are investigating the matter thoroughly. We can only wait for their findings."
Fugaku sighed heavily, his suspicions about Danzo's involvement growing stronger with each passing moment. "I'm sure Father has analyzed the situation thoroughly."
Uchiha Kon nodded in agreement. "Indeed, but the High Echelon of Konoha keeps putting pressure on the Uchiha Clan. The Police Guards can't just sit by and do nothing. Martial law has been imposed on the village, and we're conducting extensive searches to find the killer."
Fugaku shook his head in frustration. The Uchiha Clan was always under scrutiny, and any misstep they made could be used against them. It was a constant struggle to maintain their reputation and prove their loyalty to the village.
Fugaku nodded, "I see. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for any information that may be useful."
Kon replied, "I appreciate it. In the meantime, keep a low profile. The village is on high alert, and any suspicious behavior may attract unwanted attention."
Uchiha Fugaku furrowed his brows, suspecting that the top management wanted to further strain the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the villagers. The Uchiha were always a proud clan, and with the martial law in effect, they would likely be even more intolerant towards offenders. He made a mental note to discuss this with his father later that night.
"Kon, keep investigating," Fugaku instructed. "But be mindful of your attitude towards the villagers. I'm heading to the Hokage Residence to submit the mission report."
Uchiha Kon smiled and said, "I wish you an early congratulation on your promotion to Jōnin. When this is all over, don't forget to invite me as a guest."
Fugaku nodded and waved before heading towards the Hokage Residence, deep in thought about the possible motives behind the assassination.
As Fugaku contemplated the situation, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The timing of the assassination of Elder Yamada, coupled with the Wind and Earth countries' infiltration of the Land of Rain, seemed too convenient to be a mere coincidence.
Fugaku knew that the leaders of these countries were not fools who would take such actions without a solid plan in place.
It dawned on him that Danzō might have been behind this, with the approval of the Third Hokage. After all, every time an Elder passed away, the Hokage's power increased by a point. This was a fact that Danzō was no doubt aware of, and he could be using this to his advantage to expand his Root organization with less restraint. The mission to the Land of Rain might have merely been a cover for Danzō's ulterior motives.
Fugaku couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he realized that even within Konoha, there were those who were willing to resort to such underhanded tactics for personal gain.
Fugaku was well aware that Danzō was an utter asshole, but he had foolishly thought that he would only reveal his true colors later on. But now, his assumption had been shattered, and it was clear that Danzō was an insufferable piece of shit through and through! He was infuriated at the realization that this manipulative bastard had once again schemed to increase his own power at the cost of innocent lives. Danzō was a scourge upon Konoha, and Fugaku couldn't help but seethe with rage at the thought of this despicable man's actions.
At the Hokage's Office, Fugaku handed over the task scroll to the assistant, who carefully examined the seal and then passed it on to the Third Hokage. Sāndaime Hokage was currently convening an Elder Council meeting, and some speculated that the scroll may have important information related to the ongoing investigation.
As Fugaku left the office, he noticed that the Uchiha district was relatively deserted. Many of the clan members had gone to the streets to aid in the search for the murderer. Fugaku felt a sense of pride seeing his fellow clan members banding together to help their village.
After returning from a long mission, Fugaku felt exhausted and decided to take a bath before retiring to bed. As he soaked in the warm water, he felt the accumulated fatigue from the past few days melt away. Finally feeling relaxed, he lay in bed until it was dark, listening to the sound of the crickets outside his window.
[POV: Narrator]
[Date: Next morning]
[Location: Fugaku's Home]
In the spacious living room, Uchiha Tenjō sat at the head of the table, surrounded by several Uchiha seniors. The atmosphere was tense, with everyone focused on the task at hand.
As Fugaku pushed open the door, he was greeted with a nod from his father. "Welcome back, Fugaku. Wait for a few days until Hokage-sama reviews your mission, and then you can be finally promoted to Jōnin. Meanwhile, you can join us for today's meeting."
Fugaku gave a respectful bow. "Yes, Father."
One of the seniors raised a brow in surprise. "Lord Patriarch, Fugaku is only 13 years old this year, and he has already been promoted to Jōnin? That's quite impressive."
Uchiha Tenjō nodded and replied with a hint of pride in his voice. "Indeed, Fugaku is a prodigy. He has shown remarkable talent and dedication, and his promotion is well-deserved."
Fugaku felt a surge of pride and annoyance at his father's words, but he kept a calm demeanor. Many Uchiha executives also began praising Uchiha Fugaku, but Fugaku didn't feel much of a reaction to their words. He knew that only a few of these Uchiha executives truly saw him as a valuable member of the clan.
Nevertheless, the Uchiha Clan was now in a vulnerable position at the moment, as there were no Uchiha members in Konoha's High Echelon, and as such his achievements and potential helped the Clan's reputation.
He knew that in the Uchiha clan, praise had to be earned through hard work and achievements, not just given freely, but he did not forget that he was pushed into his current position by the Clan intern politics.
The discussion turned to the assassination, with each senior offering their insights and theories.
"Lord Patriarch, I strongly believe that this assassination was carried out by the country of Wind," said one Uchiha executive confidently. "In recent years, the Third Kazekage has been increasing his village's power and influence, and the harsh environment of the Wind Country makes it necessary to provoke wars and expand their territory. It wouldn't be surprising if they were behind this attack."
Another Uchiha executive chimed in: "But it could also be the Land of Earth. They may have carried out this attack to frame the Wind Country and provoke a war between our two nations, giving them the opportunity to take advantage of the chaos and expand their own territory."
"Could it be the Land of Rain?" a third Uchiha executive proposed. "We have been infiltrating and causing chaos in their country. It's possible that they are also responsible for the assassination and want to retaliate by creating a war between Konoha and Wind and Earth countries to weaken us."
A fourth Uchiha senior countered, "But it could also be the Land of Stone, who wants to frame the Wind and Earth countries and start a war between them. It's a common tactic in the ninja world to create chaos and take advantage of it."
Uchiha Fugaku was trying his best to keep a straight face as he listened to the Uchiha seniors arguing. It was like watching a comedy show, except that it was real life, and their theories were as far-fetched as a unicorn riding a dragon.
One of the Uchiha executives suggested that it was the country of wind that carried out the assassination, while another one thought it might be the Land of Stone. Then, one genius thought it was the Land of Rain, and another chimed in with the Earth two countries.
Fugaku had to resist the urge to facepalm himself. How did these guys even get to be Uchiha seniors?
Fugaku could barely contain his laughter as he heard their ridiculous theories. He couldn't help but imagine what would happen if their ideas were actually true. He could already picture a world where unicorns and dragons were riding on clouds, while the Uchiha seniors were trying to figure out which country was responsible for the assassination.
In the end, the Uchiha seniors were still arguing when the meeting ended, and Fugaku couldn't help but feel relieved. He was just glad he didn't have to be part of their nonsensical theories any more.
Their pointless discussion went on for hours, with various theories and counterarguments proposed and debated.
In the end, no conclusive evidence was presented, and the Uchiha seniors agreed to continue investigating and gathering more information to solve the case.
As the meeting drew to a close, Uchiha Tenjō stood up and addressed the group. "Thank you for your contributions, everyone. Let us continue to work together to uncover the truth behind this heinous act."
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