However, Fugaku didn't care about Danzō at all; he only felt incredibly refreshed. After enduring for so many years, he finally got a small measure of revenge on Danzō.
As for Danzō falling for the Genjutsu, that was only natural. After all, what Fugaku possessed was the Mangekyō Sharingan, just like Uchiha Madara's.
Dealing with an elderly Danzō was a trivial matter. Still, the old fox was cunning, so Fugaku had to be wary of possible retaliation later.
Keeping his delight hidden while showing nothing on his face, Fugaku turned to Hiruzen and spoke in a sincere tone.
"Sandaime-sama, my actions against Advisor Danzō were rash of me. Although it was only a harmless Genjutsu, it was still against the rules. If there must be accountability, I will bear full responsibility."
Hiruzen looked at Fugaku and suddenly felt he couldn't quite read him.
The Fugaku of the past had never been so aggressive. Could this be a side effect of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan?
Hiruzen didn't know that Fugaku had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan long ago. But as the Hokage and a disciple of Tobirama, he knew well that awakening the Sharingan required intense emotional stimulation.
He assumed that the Sky Screen's revelation of the Uchiha clan's future annihilation had provided the shock that awakened Fugaku's eyes.
Still, Danzō was the Hokage Advisor and a village Elder. Using Genjutsu on him was roughly equivalent to slapping Hiruzen's own face.
So, Hiruzen feigned anger and raised his voice.
"Regardless of the reason, attacking a fellow villager is inexcusable. If everyone who was dissatisfied lashed out at others, where would we end up?"
"Fugaku, you must apologize to Advisor Danzō!"
Fugaku immediately understood, and in a lukewarm tone, he said to Danzō.
"My apologies, Advisor Danzō. I only meant to play a little joke on you. I didn't expect you to fall for it so easily."
Hearing that, Danzō—who had just begun to calm down—exploded with rage once more. He pointed at Fugaku, but for a long moment, no words came out.
Hiruzen seized the opportunity to interject.
"All right, let this matter end here."
"But, Fugaku… you said 'the Uchiha in the village' just now? Does that mean there are Uchiha outside the village as well?"
"Yes, Sandaime-sama. Just as the Hyūga have the branch family, it's only natural for the thousand-year-old Uchiha clan to have wandering bloodlines out there. As for who owned the eyes that controlled the Nine-Tails—we don't have the answer. But there is one thing the Uchiha can prove."
Fugaku suddenly became impassioned, raising his voice to its highest pitch.
"On the night of the Nine-Tails incident, every single Uchiha clan member who had awakened the Sharingan—myself included—was inside the clan compound, under the surveillance of the Root."
"If you require proof, these people are still alive to this day. They can undergo mind-reading inspections by the Yamanaka clan or any form of interrogation. The Uchiha are willing to use any means to prove—"
"That the eyes controlling the Nine-Tails did not belong to any Uchiha clansman in the village."
"Sandaime-sama."
Shisui suddenly spoke up, his voice carrying his characteristic earnestness.
"What Fugaku-sama has said tonight, Shisui is willing to guarantee with his life."
Hiruzen closed his eyes.
On that night three years ago, the Nine-Tails' roars had shook the sky. Konoha had suffered countless deaths, and the villagers had since been filled with hatred for the Nine-Tails.
Even if the Uchiha within the village could clear their names, could the rift between them and the village truly be mended?
But his teacher had entrusted him to protect those who trusted in the village. Logically, the Uchiha clan should be included in that. And, truly, he himself had no intention of annihilating the Uchiha.
But could the Uchiha's behavior of forcing a confrontation like today be forgiven?
Or rather, if he did forgive it, what if other Shinobi Clans followed suit?
After a long silence, Hiruzen opened his eyes under the gaze of all present.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"However, let this be the last time. Today's behavior still crossed the line. As punishment, the Uchiha will no longer solely command the Police Force."
"Conveniently, Clan Head Hiashi, you are here as well. The Byakugan's sensory abilities are well-suited for village security patrols, so your clan will join as well."
Hyūga Hiashi, standing at a distance, hadn't expected his clan to be brought into this. Though he knew the Third Hokage was trying to create a balance of power, he was still overjoyed.
This was great; the Hyūga clan's influence had just grown. As for competing with the Uchiha—so be it. The two clans had never gotten along well to begin with.
Operating on the principle of giving a slap with one hand and a sweet treat with the other, Hiruzen continued.
"Of course, the Uchiha have always been a part of Konoha. I have never had any other thoughts, and I will never allow the future spoken of by the Sky Screen to happen!"
"Regarding what Clan Head Fugaku just said, I ask the Yamanaka Clan to verify it. Once verified, I will personally investigate and eliminate the unreasonable treatment of the Uchiha that he described, one by one."
"Furthermore… the Uchiha Clan is permitted to move back to their original clan grounds, provided this respects your current wishes."
Fugaku looked at Hiruzen and finally nodded slowly.
"Sandaime-sama, we came tonight not to assign blame, nor to settle accounts."
"We came only to make you know—and to make Konoha know!"
Fugaku turned to face the silent Shinobi Clans gathered in the square, facing the countless eyes peering through window cracks.
"The Uchiha have never done anything to betray Konoha. The blood we have shed is no less than anyone else's."
"If the village still does not trust us, still sees us as potential traitors, and plans to raise its blade against us someday in the future—"
"Then at least, at this very moment, remember the sincerity the Uchiha have offered."
"This is the Uchiha's purpose tonight—to show our sincerity."
Hiruzen breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He had thought Fugaku might make some demands, but he didn't expect it to be this simple.
"Fugaku."
"Then… you should all go back."
"The sealed archives of the Nine-Tails incident, the Uchiha's mission records, casualty lists, budget changes… I will have them all pulled and reviewed, one by one."
He paused, his voice dropping.
"Give me a little time."
Fugaku neither said yes nor no. He simply turned and walked toward his silent clansmen.
Clearly, in the end, he had chosen to trust Hiruzen.
Shisui gave a deep bow to Hiruzen, then turned and followed his clan head.
Fugaku reached the front of the clan's formation and stopped. With his back to the Hokage Building, no one could see his expression.
"Return to the clan grounds."
Yashiro stepped forward, his lips quivering.
He didn't understand what Fugaku had truly aimed to achieve by bringing hundreds of clansmen to the Hokage Building.
If you call it a success—the Uchiha had ceded control of the Police Force, which they had held exclusively for decades.
If you call it a failure—the Third Hokage had promised to ease the restrictions that had been placed on the Uchiha.
Fugaku raised a hand, stopping him.
"Sandaime-sama will look into things."
"Give the village a little time."
"It's been decades… a few more days won't matter."
Soon, the tide of Uchiha slowly receded along the same path they had come.
In front of the Hokage Building, the silent Shinobi Clans also began to disperse.
The Uchiha didn't actually know how many days they would have to wait.
But they hoped that after tonight, the ice between the Uchiha and Konoha would finally begin to crack.