I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

When Uchiha Sakugo returned to the camp, night had already fallen. A crescent moon hung in the sky, its silvery light spilling onto the Uchiha streets. The place was quiet and solemn, and even the clansmen who usually patrolled walked very quietly, afraid of breaking the peace.

He pushed open his own courtyard gate, then suddenly stopped, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.

The room was lit by a warm yellow light. He usually lived here alone, and apart from his uncle Uchiha Kagami, no outsiders would ever come to visit him.

But at this moment, in the small courtyard paved with bluestone, there was a pair of unfamiliar black wooden clogs. The workmanship was exquisite and excellent, with a little mud on the toes. The style was rigid and rigid, definitely not the style that Uchiha clan members would wear.

Without needing to think it through, he had already made up his mind.

He slowly stepped onto the wooden corridor without making a sound, and gently pushed open the living room door. The three figures inside immediately turned their heads and their eyes fell on him.

Uchiha Kagami sat in the main seat, his back still straight as a pine tree, his expression seemingly calm, but a hint of worry was hidden in his eyes as he looked at him. His fingertips tapped lightly on his knees, clearly indicating that he had been waiting for him for a long time.

On the opposite side of the guest seats, an old man and a young boy sat upright; they were none other than Shimura Danzo and Shimura Takuya.

Danzo sat even more upright than Kagami, the host, with one hand on his cane and the other on his knee. His chin was slightly raised, and his gaze was casually fixed on the Uchiha clan crest hanging on the wall. He didn't look at Sakugo directly the whole time, exuding an arrogant and condescending aura, as if he had come to inspect rather than apologize.

Shimura Takuya huddled beside him, his head bowed low, almost burying his face in his chest. He trembled uncontrollably, barely daring to breathe. The arrogance he displayed during the day at the training ground had vanished, leaving only extreme fear.

Shuoge walked silently into the house without saying a word, stood quietly beside the mirror, his eyes lowered. He seemed obedient, but in reality, his aura was calm and composed, without a trace of the timidity of a six-year-old child.

Only then did Danzo glance at him indifferently, his gaze cold and perfunctory, as if examining an insignificant object, before quickly looking away and speaking to the mirror in a tone so flat it was almost dismissive:

"Isn't everything fine? No injuries whatsoever, why make a fuss?"

Shuoge's hands, hanging by his sides, tightened slightly, a chill rising in his palms, his heart filled with nothing but sarcasm.

Is this an apology?

They brought the perpetrators to their door, their attitude even more arrogant than the host's, without a single word of apology or remorse. Instead, it was as if they were bestowing favors upon the Uchiha clan, forcing them to settle the matter peacefully.

This is not an apology; it is clearly an attempt to use the elders' status to openly exert pressure and bully the Uchiha, making it impossible for anyone to refute them.

Seeing that Kagami remained silent, Danzo continued, his tone carrying a blatant threat: "It's just children's competitiveness. There's no need to make a big deal out of it. If the whole of Konoha finds out, it won't be good for the Uchiha's reputation."

Jing raised his eyes, his gaze calm yet steady, his tone unwavering: "What happened today cannot be forgotten simply because you weren't injured. Explosive tags, a school, a dense crowd—to try to kill a six-year-old child—this isn't just being competitive, it's viciousness, it's blatant disregard for Konoha's rules."

Danzo's brow furrowed sharply, his tone instantly hardening: "But the fact is, your nephew is unharmed, and no substantial damage was caused. Is the Uchiha determined to hold this against you, trying to incite conflict within their clan?"

Jing's gaze darkened slightly, and she stopped arguing with him, simply watching him quietly, her aura not at all inferior.

Seeing this, Danzo, too lazy to continue the pretense, took out a black scroll from his pocket and casually tossed it onto the low table. The scroll was printed with the Shimura clan crest. He nonchalantly pushed the scroll toward the mirror, his tone dismissive:

"I heard your nephew uses Wind Release chakra. This is a scroll of Wind Release: Vacuum Ball ninjutsu. Consider it an apology; it's quite useful. Let's drop this matter and not mention it again."

He spoke of it so casually, as if this scroll of ninjutsu was such a great blessing that it could atone for the sin of malicious killing and erase the humiliation inflicted on the Uchiha.

Shuoge looked at the scroll on the table, his sarcasm deepening.

B-rank ninjutsu was nothing more than a piece of junk that the Shimura clan and Danzo, an elder, could easily obtain. To use such a thing to fob off the Uchiha was an utter disgrace.

Shimura Takuya wanted his life, but now he wants to end it with a single ninjutsu scroll? There's no such thing as a free lunch.

He remained silent, standing quietly, wanting to know what choice his uncle, who was so eager to integrate the Uchiha clan into Konoha, would make.

A deathly silence fell over the living room. Mirror stared at the scroll on the table for a long time, then slowly reached out and gently pushed it back, his tone unwavering: "The Uchiha cannot accept this apology."

Danzo's face instantly turned ashen, and he shouted angrily, "Uchiha Kagami, what do you mean?"

Kagami slowly stood up, looked down at Danzo, and said with a stern gaze: "What I mean is, this matter should be handled fairly according to Konoha's rules. Those who should be held accountable should be held accountable, and those who should be punished should be punished. There is no need to settle it privately, much less to offer such a charity-like apology as you."

Danzo's face was so dark it could drip water. He stared intently at the mirror, his chest heaving with rage. After a long silence, he finally gritted his teeth and squeezed out a single word: "Fine. Since you're so ungrateful, then let Sarutobi handle this. I want to see if, as Hokage, he'll side with your Uchiha clan!"

After saying that, he suddenly stood up, turned around and walked out. Shimura Takuya hurriedly staggered after him, his legs weak and he could barely stand.

As Danzo reached the living room doorway, he abruptly stopped. Without turning around, his sinister voice pierced the night, crashing heavily into the room: "Kagami, you'll regret this!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he yanked open the sliding door and stepped into the night.

"etc."

A clear, childlike voice suddenly rang out. It wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet living room, instantly stopping everyone in their tracks.

Uchiha Sakugo, who had been standing silently in the corner as if he were an outsider, finally spoke.

Uchiha Kagami, Shimura Danzo, and Shimura Takuya all turned their heads and looked at him simultaneously, each with a different expression.

Shuoge slowly walked out from beside the mirror, his face no longer calm as before, but instead bearing a gentle smile, with a touch of childlike shyness and apology, completely unlike the cold-eyed boy from before.

He walked briskly towards Shimura Takuya, his gaze softening and his tone obedient: "I have received Shimura-kun's apology. Elder Shimura is right, it was just a small friction between classmates, there was no need to make things so tense, and there was no need to put Uncle in a difficult position."

Shimura Takuya was completely stunned. He suddenly raised his head and stared at Sakugo in disbelief, his eyes filled with blankness.

The person who made him lose face with a single sentence in the classroom, the person who easily defused his offensive and made him a laughing stock on the training field, the person he wanted to blow up completely with explosive tags, is now smiling and talking to him, and even wants to make peace with him?

Let's make peace.

Uchiha Sakugo stopped and extended his right hand towards him, palm up, fingers together, a standard reconciliation seal, his posture sincere, showing no sign of anything amiss.

"After all, we are classmates and will be studying together at the Ninja Academy in the future, so we should get along well."

Shimura Takuya stood there, at a loss, and subconsciously looked at Danzo beside him, not daring to make a decision on his own.

Danzo narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Sakugo with sharp eyes, scanning the six-year-old child from head to toe, and pondering to himself.

He didn't believe that the Uchiha would give up so easily, but the boy in front of him looked shy and sincere, and he couldn't see any scheming in him. In addition, continuing the stalemate would not benefit him at the moment, so he nodded slightly, indicating that Takuya accepted the reconciliation.

Seeing this, Shimura Takuya had no choice but to steel himself and slowly extend his right hand toward Sakugo's hand, his fingertips still trembling.

Their hands clasped tightly together, a standard seal of reconciliation was formed.

At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the two clasped hands.

Uchiha Kagami breathed a slight sigh of relief, thinking that Sakugo had chosen to back down to avoid conflict within the clan; Danzo's eyes flashed with satisfaction, thinking that the child was quite sensible and knew how to curry favor; Shimura Takuya was even more relieved, and his tense body relaxed slightly.

No one noticed that Shuoge's left hand, hidden behind his back, had a thin, folded yellow talisman pressed tightly against his palm. It was a miniature version of an explosive tag, small in size and easy to conceal.

The instant his right hand grasped Takuya's, his left hand subtly and gently brushed across the back of Takuya's right hand. The movement was gentle and seemingly soothing, but in an instant, he firmly affixed the mini explosive tag to Takuya's hand, gently drawing in chakra to mark the detonation.

The entire process was lightning fast, without the slightest flaw, and no one noticed.

"Alright." Uchiha Sakugo smiled, released his grip, and took a step back, still maintaining his obedient and shy demeanor. "From now on, we'll be harmonious classmates."

Shimura Takuya nodded stiffly, hurriedly withdrew his hand, and subconsciously clenched his fist, completely unaware that a deadly talisman had appeared on the back of his hand.

Danzo looked at Sakugo, a faint sneer curling at the corner of his lips, and said coldly, "The Uchiha clan, at least, still has someone who understands."

After saying that, he didn't linger. He turned around and took another step, intending to leave the Uchiha compound completely.

boom--!!!

A violent explosion erupted without warning, and orange-red flames instantly burst forth in the living room. The smell of gunpowder filled the air immediately, and the wooden floor shook violently.

"What?!"

Danzo's hair stood on end. He turned around abruptly, and the scene before him made his pupils shrink, his eyes filled with boundless rage and shock.

Shimura Takuya's right hand, along with his forearm, was blown to pieces, with exposed white bones, torn flesh, and blood splattering everywhere, staining his sleeves and the floor in front of him.

Shimura Takuya froze on the spot, looking down at his missing arm, his face blank, as if he hadn't realized what had happened.

The next second, extreme pain swept through her body, and a piercing scream instantly tore through the quiet night sky, shrill and desperate.

"Aaaaaaahh ...

Danzo's mind went blank for a moment, his killing intent instantly overwhelming his reason, his body acting before his consciousness. He abruptly threw away his cane, his right hand gathering chakra, transforming it into a sharp hand blade, and without holding back, aimed straight for Sakugo's throat, each move deadly, determined to kill this brat who had plotted against his nephew on the spot.

But someone is faster than him.

The moment the explosion rang out, Uchiha Kagami moved. He didn't look at the injured Takuya, nor did he investigate the source of the explosion. Without even the slightest hesitation, he flashed in front of Sakugo, crossed his arms to protect his nephew behind him.

He knew Shimura Danzo too well.

This man is ruthless, selfish, and violent. His first reaction to danger is never to rescue others, but to immediately eliminate all threats and eradicate them completely.

boom!

Danzo's long-awaited chop slammed into Kagami's crossed arm guards with a deafening roar. The force was so great that it shattered the tatami mat beneath Kagami's feet. Kagami groaned and gritted his teeth to withstand the fatal blow. His arm tingled, but he didn't take a single step back.

"Danzo! Are you insane! How dare you kill a child in the Uchiha camp?" Kagami shouted angrily, his eyes cold and full of rage.

Danzo ignored him, his gaze fixed on Sakugo behind the mirror, his killing intent surging.

At this moment, the shy and gentle pretense on Shuoge's face had completely disappeared, and he had returned to his previous calmness. He stood quietly behind the mirror without any expression, without the slightest fear or flinching. He just looked at Danzo coldly, his eyes as calm as a stagnant pool, yet exuding a chilling coldness, as if he were looking at a dying man.

Danzo instantly realized what was happening, and a storm raged within him.

This child did it on purpose!

He calculated that he would fly into a rage and attack, that Jing would risk her life to stop him, and that he had calculated everything before daring to openly plot against Takuya. This kind of mentality and cunning is something that a six-year-old child could not possibly possess; it is simply terrifying!

Danzo knew he couldn't afford to get entangled now; if he detonated it again, Takuya's life would be in danger. He made a snap decision, abandoned the attack, and drew a short sword from his waist. The sword flashed, leaving only a blur.

Blood splattered.

Shimura Takuya's entire right arm was severed at the shoulder and completely separated from his body.

"Aaaaaah—!!!" Takuya's screams became even more agonizing, and he fainted from the pain, his whole body soaked in blood.

Danzo kicked the severed arm, still covered in the remnants of the explosive tag, away and sent it hurtling into the yard. Then, he grabbed Takuya by the collar, used the Body Flicker Technique, and instantly left the living room. His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

boom!

The severed arm exploded again in the yard, sending dirt and bits of flesh flying, and the stench of blood grew stronger.

Inside the living room, Jing remained in a defensive stance, blocking Shuo Ge's way, her eyes fixed on the door, her expression grave.

In the courtyard, Danzo, carrying the unconscious and blood-covered Takuya, stood amidst the aftershocks of the explosion. His face was terrifyingly grim, his gaze piercing through the door, fixed on Sakugo. The coldness in his eyes was like an icy blade in the dead of winter, as if he wished he could tear Sakugo to pieces.

"Who goes there?!"

"Chief! Something's happened!"

The explosions and screams had already alerted the entire Uchiha compound. The patrolling Uchiha Jonin rushed over at the sound, and more than a dozen figures instantly leaped onto the courtyard walls and rooftops, holding kunai in their hands, surrounding the entire compound, their chakra surging, ready for battle.

At the same time, several dark figures emerged from the shadows like ghosts. They were all dressed in black and had expressionless faces. They were members of Root under Danzo's command. They silently landed behind Danzo, protecting him and Takuya in the middle, forming a standoff with the Uchiha group.

The two sides were on the verge of war, the air thick with the smells of blood, gunpowder, and smog. The atmosphere was extremely tense, and a major battle was about to break out.

Kagami slowly straightened up, turned around, and stared at Danzo in the courtyard with hostility. His tone was calm, but it concealed surging anger: "Shimura Danzo, in the Uchiha camp, you dared to kill a six-year-old child? Do you really think the Uchiha are without anyone?"

Danzo's chest heaved violently, his anger surging, yet he was utterly helpless.

child?

Such cunning and ruthless methods are not something an ordinary child could possess.

Jing was clearly using those words to shut him down and protect this brat!

He stared intently at Sakugo inside the room, at the six-year-old boy who was expressionless and terrifyingly calm. After a long while, he suppressed his overwhelming killing intent and said in a cold and piercing tone, word by word, "Uchiha Sakugo, you are quite good."

After saying that, he said no more, picked up the unconscious Takuya, turned around and strode away, with the Root members following closely behind. The group disappeared silently into the dark night without leaving a trace.

Seeing the Root members leave, the Uchiha Jonin looked at each other in confusion. Some wanted to give chase, but were stopped by Kagami raising his hand.

"Let them go." Jing's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible weariness as he waved his hand. "Everyone, step back and clean up the scene. What happened tonight must not be told to anyone."

Upon hearing this, the clansmen responded one after another, quickly cleaning up the bloodstains and mess in the courtyard. They soon finished evacuating, and the courtyard returned to quiet, with only a faint smell of blood remaining in the room.

Jing turned around, looked down at Shuoge beside her, at the nephew she had taken care of since childhood, and at the cold undertones on his face after all pretense had been removed. She remained silent for a long time, without questioning, scolding, or reprimanding him.

"Go and rest."

In the end, he only said this one sentence, his tone complicated, before turning around and slowly walking into the inner room, his back view revealing deep exhaustion.

Shuoge stood there, looking in the direction where Danzo had disappeared, at the faint bloodstains left on the ground, then at his uncle's tired back, and looked down at his right hand.

The hand that had just clasped with Takuya still had tiny scraps of explosive tags on its palm, slightly cool.

Danzo.

He silently repeated the name in his heart, his eyes growing increasingly determined.

Today's debt is just interest.

He turned and went inside, letting the night wind carry away the smell of blood. As the night deepened, the Uchiha compound returned to tranquility, but an invisible battle had already begun.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.