From Naruto onwards, I've become a dreamer.

Chapter 12 Attack of Uchiha Fugaku
root.

The room, which is dark and gloomy like a sewer, is perpetually devoid of sunlight, much like tree roots buried underground.

Danzo, wrapped up like a mummy, leaned on his cane, his gaze cold as he stared down below, his dissatisfaction evident on his face: "Ryuma, with your skills, you can't even take down a greenhorn Uchiha brat? I'm so disappointed in you!"

His tone was stern, and his words were quite harsh.

The management of 'Root' is extremely strict, and its internal rules and disciplinary regulations are so cruel that they are terrifying.

A 'root' member who fails a mission is very likely to be stripped of everything, such as identity, name, family, friends, past, etc., and eventually disappear from the world.

The Root members standing nearby, upon hearing Danzo's rebuking tone, showed a hint of sympathy for Ryoma Aburame, who was kneeling below.

"I'm sorry, Lord Danzo. Uchiha Munetsuki is very cautious, and I sensed the Hokage's jutsu, so I aborted the mission without permission."

Ryoma Aburame knelt on the ground, his head bowed deeply, but there was no reverence in his eyes.

Having already seen the 'dragon,' how could he be afraid of a rat hiding in a ditch?

Danzo had a gloomy face, or rather, he always had that expression.

Although the mission failed, he did not intend to punish Aburame Ryoma, after all, he was his most capable right-hand man.

Danzo thought to himself, "It's just a small mistake. A few words of reprimand will suffice." He planned to wait for Aburame Ryoma to beg for forgiveness, and then let him make amends.

However, His Highness remained completely silent.

Danzo had been waiting for so long, he was almost hallucinating, but Aburame Ryoma remained silent: "Ahem, Ryoma, don't you have anything else to say?"

"I have failed Lord Danzo's expectations, and I voluntarily take responsibility," said Aburame Ryoma.

The word "you" made Danzo feel embarrassed, and his already wrinkled old face became even more unsightly.

Fortunately, another Root member noticed his leader's predicament and quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Lord Danzo, I don't think the failure of this mission was entirely due to Ryuma, but rather the Hokage's intentions. I believe they were a warning to us."

"In that case, then the punishment will be waived."

Danzo quickly followed up, saying, "Ryuma, your mission remains the same: continue to monitor Uchiha Munekichi and report everything he does, but don't act rashly for now!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Aburame Ryoma slowly got up and left the room.

Watching his most trusted subordinate's departing figure, Danzo felt a strange unease: "Is it just my imagination? Why does Ryoma seem a little distant?"

But Ryoma Aburame, who had left, became even more determined.

"I made the right choice."

"Just as Lord Sogetsu said, Danzo is nothing but a rat hiding in the gutter, and he has no courage to look directly into the sunlight."

"This kind of person is not worth following, and the 'peace of mind' I seek does not exist with them!"

"Lord Zongyue, I will remove all obstacles for you!"

Inside the dark passage, Ryoma's eyes shone even brighter and more determined.

By the time they returned to the Uchiha mansion, it was almost sunset.

Zongyue had just returned when she bumped into a woman.

"Zongyue, you're back? Fugaku has been waiting for you for a long time, saying he has something to talk to you about." The woman, heavily pregnant, beamed with happiness.

But seeing Zongyue's tired expression, she asked worriedly, "Are you alright? You look very tired. Should I ask Fugaku to come and see you another day?"

"I'm fine, Lady Mikoto." Zongyue forced a smile, but her gaze fell on her stomach: "It's you who should be more careful now that you're pregnant, and take care of your health."

If nothing unexpected happens, this should be the famous Uchiha 'filial son'.

Mikoto smiled, her right hand stroking her slightly protruding belly, her chubby face radiating a maternal glow: "It's alright, the baby is still a long way off. I have nothing to do in the room anyway, so I might as well come with Fugaku to see you."

"Lady Mikoto, since Lord Fugaku has been waiting for me for so long, I'll go see him first. I apologize." Munezuki apologized and pushed open the door.

"came back?"

Fugaku Uchiha was sitting inside. When he saw him come in, he waved him over and said, "Sit down. You look like something's happened to you?" Why did you come all this way to ask about this?
Zong Yue pondered for a moment, then decided to feign resentment. She nodded slightly, revealing a hint of bitterness, and said through gritted teeth, "You're right. It seems that my joining the Dark Division has stirred up some people's nerves."

"Danzo?" A glint flashed in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes, but he concealed it well, saying calmly, "He attacked you?"

Judging from the aura of Fugaku's ethereal body, he clearly knew about this all along.

It's funny that they knew all along, but didn't warn them.

A clan leader who can lead a major clan in Konoha is indeed no ordinary person.

Zong Yue sneered inwardly.

Then, he pretended to clench his fist, suppressing his anger, and said, "That's right, it was Danzo. This guy was planning to attack me, but then for some reason, he suddenly left."

"I never imagined the Uchiha clan would be in such a dangerous situation," Fugaku Uchiha said, seemingly with a mix of感慨 (gan3kai3, deep emotion) and sorrow. "We were originally the greatest contributors to the founding of the Konoha clan, but now we've fallen to this state. Following the Senju clan, are we going to suffer the same fate?"

Fugaku didn't say the second half of the sentence, but it seemed like he said everything.

"Lord Fugaku, do you mean...?" Munezuki stared wide-eyed in shock.

"That's enough, stop talking, Zongyue."

Fugaku looked apologetic, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "I will go to the Hokage for you and ask Danzo for an explanation!"

"Lord Fugaku." Muneki couldn't help but show gratitude, but then hesitated again: "But, won't this make Danzo hate us even more?"

"No need to say anything, Zongyue."

Fugaku straightened his back, his eyes filled with authority: "No matter what, you are a member of the Uchiha clan. For your sake, and for ours, I must go find the Hokage!"

"Thank you, Lord Fugaku."

Zongyue expressed her sincere gratitude.

"We are all of the same kind, and we should help each other."

Fugaku patted him heavily on the shoulder and said, "Sougetsu, you're already a Jonin, qualified to participate in the clan's meetings. Remember to come to Naga Shrine tomorrow."

"Yes, Lord Fugaku."

Zong Yue verbally agreed, but her mind wandered elsewhere.

"Alright, you should get some rest." Fugaku acted like a true elder, showing concern, "Don't forget, you'll always be a member of the Uchiha clan, we're family."

"I understand, Lord Fugaku."

Zong Yue clenched his fists, his eyes resolute, and said, "I will always be a member of the Uchiha clan. Today's incident has taught me that neither Danzo nor that person can be trusted!"

"It's good that you understand."

Fugaku smiled and said mysteriously, "Look forward to tomorrow. Our Uchiha clan is far more complex than you see."

After saying that, Fugaku went out, took his wife's arm, and the two walked away laughing into the distance.

Gazing at their retreating figures, Zong Yue smiled knowingly.

It seems that this was Fugaku's true purpose.

By deliberately concealing the information and through Danzo's methods, he made Danzo develop a dislike for the Hokage lineage, thus solidifying Danzo's choice to join the Uchiha clan.

Surprisingly, Fugaku Uchiha, who seems harmless in the manga, is quite cunning and ruthless.

And they are ambitious!

Perhaps the Uchiha clan's rebellion in the original work was not only due to external factors, but also inextricably linked to internal issues.

December 6th, sunny.

The whole office has been infected with H1N1, and we've been helplessly watching ourselves get surrounded... When will this awful work schedule finally end?!



(End of this chapter)