There is an old saying among shinobi: "If I make a big enough mess, nobody can sneak up on me later."
In this case, Mamoi's risky plan worked almost too well.
The Uchiha patrol team stationed near Uchiha Souji's compound slowly regained consciousness. The moment they opened their eyes and remembered what happened, their emotions exploded like wildfire. Someone dared to attack the Uchiha clan inside Konoha—openly—and even kidnapped one of their brightest young talents! The humiliation was unbearable.
Inside his home, Uchiha Fugaku, who had already fallen asleep, was jolted awake by the news. The moment he heard, his eyes filled with killing intent so sharp it could cut steel.
Who would dare?
Who had the nerve to touch his adopted son—no, the future hope of the Uchiha clan?
His mind ran through every possible enemy.
Was it the Root? Anbu? The Hyuga? A foreign spy?
But no matter how many suspects appeared in Fugaku's thoughts, he could not act recklessly. If the enemy felt cornered, Souji's life might be in danger. And Fugaku knew—there was no second Souji waiting to appear in the future.
The thought alone made his heart heavy.
He looked at a nearby Uchiha with a dark expression.
"Seal off all of Konoha! Call every member of the Konoha Police Force. Begin a full investigation!
I don't care who it is—even if they're rats hiding under the soil of the ninja world—I will drag them out and burn them to ashes!"
His final shout shook the entire settlement.
The Uchiha clan had endured decades of suspicion and marginalization. But now, with Souji rising as a prodigy, future possibilities had finally become real. Kakashi and even the Third Hokage hadn't yet said it aloud, but Souji's potential was undeniable.
If Souji rose to the top, the Uchiha clan could finally merge with Konoha instead of drifting into conflict.
But the situation was already dangerously fragile.
Three possible outcomes hung over the entire clan:
1. The Uchiha revolt.
2. Konoha eliminates the Uchiha.
3. The Uchiha flee the village.
None of these were acceptable. The shinobi world had changed—clans alone could not survive anymore. The fall of the Uzumaki clan proved that even powerful families could be erased overnight.
This was the last chance the Uchiha had since the eras of Uchiha Kagami and Uchiha Obito.
And Souji… Souji was their biggest hope.
In Fugaku's eyes, Souji was a prodigy rivaling Uchiha Madara. Even if Souji made foolish decisions, Fugaku was prepared to support him, guide him, and eventually push him toward the title of Hokage.
Across the Uchiha district, lights flicked on one after another. Police Force officers rushed toward the inner settlement, ready for orders. The clan had never been so tense, so unified, so desperate.
Meanwhile, Mizuki, still recovering in the Uchiha hospital, noticed the unusual activity outside. His instincts screamed that something was wrong. He grabbed a crutch and limped out of the room, stopping a passing Uchiha officer.
"What's going on?!"
The officer recognized him—not only was Mizuki living under the Uchiha's care, but he was also close to Souji. Without hesitation, the officer explained everything.
Mizuki froze.
Then he shouted:
"Impossible!!!"
He bolted down the street, supporting himself with one crutch. He refused to believe that Souji—the same Souji who could fight Orochimaru head-on—could be kidnapped without any resistance. Even the Third Hokage wouldn't be able to subdue Souji silently.
There was only one way to know the truth—he had to inspect the scene himself.
---
Mizuki's Arrival at the Scene
By the time Mizuki reached Souji's residence, the area had already been sealed off. He tried to enter, but the guards blocked him. Their argument drew the attention of Fugaku, who was personally investigating the scene.
"Let him through," Fugaku ordered.
Mizuki limped forward, breathing hard. Fugaku gave him a sharp look.
"Wear a mask next time," Fugaku muttered. "You're still injured."
Mizuki nodded but didn't waste a second. He began scanning the area, his eyes sharp with instinct. Fugaku sighed softly—honestly, he didn't expect much. The intruder had left no traces behind. Not a footprint, not a scrap of chakra residue. Tracking them would be nearly impossible.
But after only a few seconds, Mizuki suddenly spoke:
"No trace is a trace, Lord Fugaku."
Fugaku paused, surprised.
Mizuki hobbled over to the front door, examining the lock closely.
"Look at this," he said. "The door is locked from the outside."
Fugaku blinked. Mizuki continued:
"That means someone left—and Souji didn't try to chase them or escape. If someone kidnapped him, they wouldn't lock the door behind them."
He pointed at the walls.
"There are no signs of climbing. No scuff marks. No impact damage. Nothing."
He turned toward Fugaku.
"The guard only fainted for a few minutes. That's not enough time to erase every trace of a battle—not when Master Souji could force even Orochimaru to fight seriously."
Mizuki's voice grew firm.
"If the Hokage himself came to fight Souji, Souji would cause enough noise to wake the entire district. But here? No movement. No damage. The door locked. This only means one thing—"
He inhaled.
"Souji left voluntarily."
Fugaku's eyes widened. Then slowly, admiration filled them.
Souji truly knew how to choose his people. Mizuki, once dismissed as useless, was proving himself brilliant.
"Then why," Fugaku asked, "would Souji leave on his own?"
Mizuki touched his chin, thinking hard.
"A threat? No—Souji isn't the type to bow to intimidation. A search for truth? Possible… but unlikely."
He rejected each theory almost the moment he raised it.
Then his eyes sharpened.
"There's only one reason Souji would leave without fighting."
Fugaku leaned closer.
"The Guardian."
Mizuki continued:
"Souji-sama once told me he doesn't fear death for himself—but he won't allow others to suffer because of him. The only reason he would surrender without battle is to protect someone else. A hostage. A companion. Someone we don't know about."
Mizuki looked around the scene once more.
"If Souji left to protect someone, then he should have left us a message…"
He knelt, examining every inch of the ground, the walls, the window frames.
"He must have left a clue.
We just haven't found it yet."
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