"Obito, don't be reckless!" Minato quickly cut in.
"Trust Kai—he'll handle this."
"Our position is awkward. If we go, no matter who we help, it'll look bad.
More importantly—trust Kai!
You know his ability better than anyone.
I don't think this will trouble him."
Minato's expression grew grave.
"And besides—don't worry.
I'll be watching in secret. If things really go wrong, I'll step in.
But your Mangekyo… it must not be revealed.
If it leaks out, the trouble will be enormous!"
He spoke with the weight of conviction.
Having spoken with Uchiha Kai before, then observing him quietly afterward, Minato had developed a clearer sense of the man.
And he understood—
their own position was far too sensitive to get directly involved.
The others quickly joined in.
"Obito, trust sensei." Kakashi patted his shoulder.
"Don't act rashly," Rin urged.
Even Kushina spoke calmly, her eyes sharp.
"Don't worry about the Uchiha.
At times like this, we should be more cautious about ourselves.
That bastard Danzo loves exploiting chaos.
If anyone leaves the house now, we'll be walking right into his schemes!"
Everyone froze—
but after thinking it through, they realized how likely that really was.
Even Obito cooled down.
He might ignore others—
but he couldn't brush off Rin or Kushina.
And their reasoning made sense.
"…Fine. I won't go."
"But sensei—you'd better keep your word!" Obito muttered reluctantly.
Minato just smiled and nodded, ruffling his hair.
"I won't allow the village to cross the line.
Once I leave, Kushina, the house is in your hands."
She nodded firmly.
"Be careful, Minato.
We'll wait here for you."
He smiled again.
Then—
with a flash of Flying Thunder God, he was gone.
At the Uchiha compound.
Anbu masked operatives swarmed the outskirts.
They set up defensive barriers and sealing formations, with the Interrogation Squad and elite Jounin assisting.
Whatever was happening inside the compound wasn't their concern.
Their orders were simple:
contain the chaos.
And then—Hiruzen Sarutobi himself arrived.
Clad in full battle gear, flanked by the two elders, clan heads, and Konoha's elite Jounin, he strode straight into the Uchiha compound.
With Hyuga Hiashi's Byakugan leading the way, they reached the battlefield without delay.
Outside Setsuna's manor—
"Enough! Everyone, stop at once!"
Hiruzen's voice rang like a whip.
With a flicker, he appeared between Kai and Shisui, his eyes cold.
"What exactly are you Uchiha planning here?"
"Hokage-sama," Kai replied lightly, "isn't this overstepping?"
"This is an internal Uchiha affair.
By the village's founding covenant, Konoha does not interfere in clan matters.
Or… is Shisui telling the truth?
That his so-called rebellion—was secretly backed by you?"
Kai struck first.
He didn't care what Hiruzen thought.
Given the chance, he'd always smear him without hesitation.
It had become second nature.
Throw mud—again and again.
If it didn't stick the first time, it might the tenth.
One day, persistence would pay off.
"…"
Hiruzen's mind blanked, face darkening.
He hadn't even spoken yet—
and Kai had already slammed a pot on his head.
If he had backed Shisui, fine.
But he hadn't!
Yes, Shisui had approached him… but he hadn't agreed to anything improper.
Before he could compose a rebuttal, however—
Shisui's followers spoke up from behind him:
"Uchiha Kai, are you scared?"
"With the Hokage behind us, we'll crush tyrants like you!"
"Heh, give it up already."
"With Lord Hokage here, you're finished!"
"The Hokage himself has come—our victory is certain!"
Their voices rose, brimming with confidence.
Moments ago they had been utterly hopeless.
Now, with Hiruzen's arrival, they brimmed with renewed faith.
Yes!
With the Hokage here, how could they lose?
They didn't understand the game.
Not at all.
And their words nearly made Hiruzen cough blood.
Damn it!
Not only had Kai accused him—
but these idiots were now shouting it as if it were fact!
And the other clan heads?
At those words, they immediately stepped back several paces.
Their meaning was clear:
They had only come to observe.
Uchiha's internal struggles—they would not touch.
Even conflict between Uchiha and the Hokage's faction—they wanted no part.
That was exactly why Hiruzen was panicking.
If this rumor was cemented, it would look as though he had torn up the founding covenant by meddling in clan affairs.
He couldn't admit that.
But he couldn't deny it either.
If he denied it—he'd look cowardly.
After all, anyone with half a brain could guess why Shisui's faction dared rebel.
Would they challenge Kai's rule without Hiruzen's backing? Impossible.
So if he now denied it, he'd look like a man who abandoned his own allies when things turned ugly.
Who would ever side with him again?
And beyond that—
there was Shisui himself.
The Mangekyo's Susanoo was too powerful.
If Hiruzen publicly denied him now, he'd not only ruin his own credibility with the clans, but also risk pushing Shisui away for good.
And the truth was—
he wanted Shisui on his side.
That kind of power… was too valuable to discard.
So what to do?
Right now, Hiruzen truly didn't know.
To read 250+ Advance chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554