When Uchiha Yang was in the Land of Fire and received the news, his first reaction was to return to Konoha immediately. This was the perfect opportunity to expose Sarutobi Hiruzen's hypocrisy and shake the foundation of his authority.
Even if he couldn't fully achieve this, he needed to at least make others see how the village leadership treated its own heroes. It was time to tear off the Hokage faction's false veil of virtue. Along the way, he might as well deal with Mito Menyan too.
He immediately contacted Yasuo Hatake and informed him about the situation. Yang assured him that the Uchiha clan would stand firmly on the side of Sakumo Hatake. "I'll be back in the village soon," he said. "And I will do everything in my power to clear White Fang's name."
Then, he gathered the Twelve Guardian Ninja, explaining the crisis at hand. Many of them had served under Sakumo in the Second Great Ninja War, and those from sword-wielding clans had staked their future on his leadership.
After making the necessary arrangements, Yang temporarily handed over his responsibilities to Uchiha Hoshiya before heading to Konoha with Uchiha Yan and Uchiha Ree.
Return to Konoha
As they approached the village gates, Yang immediately sensed the shift in atmosphere. Normally, the entrance was bustling with chatter and movement, but today, it was eerily quiet. Villagers who usually greeted them now avoided eye contact. The weight of the situation pressed down on him—was he too late? It had only been three days.
He exchanged brief greetings with his clansmen at the gate before heading straight to the Uchiha Police Force headquarters. Upon entering Uchiha Nobunaga's office, Yang wasted no time.
"Uncle, is White Fang still alive?" he asked urgently.
"Yes, but… it's playing out exactly as you predicted," Nobunaga said, his expression grim. "What a shame…"
Yang clenched his fists. "Uncle, we've been arresting those who slandered him, but that alone isn't enough. I—"
"We've already done more than enough," Nobunaga interrupted. "Yesterday, the Third Hokage suspended Sakumo from his position as Anbu Commander. The other clans, who once voiced support, have now gone silent. If we push any further, we'll risk making an enemy of Konoha's leadership." He sighed.
Yang shook his head. "Uncle, we aren't just trying to help White Fang. This isn't just about justice for one man. This is about exposing the hypocrisy of Konoha's leadership to the entire village.
"Sakumo Hatake was a hero. He commanded forces in the Second Great Ninja War, led Anbu, and completed thousands of missions—hundreds of them A-rank, dozens of them S-rank.
"But instead of being honored, he's being vilified for choosing his comrades over the mission. We need to show the people of Konoha, especially the other noble clans, that this could happen to any of them.
"We need to break the Hokage faction's grip on the village. Even if we can't succeed now, there will be other opportunities.
"As for the village elders resenting us? That's nothing new. They've never liked us, and they never will. They tolerate us only because they think we're obedient. But we're not their dogs.
"We are Uchiha. The strongest ninja clan.
"We don't want a comfortable cage—they can keep their so-called 'peace.' What we want is our rightful place. What we want is the Hokage seat that should have belonged to us from the beginning.
"Uncle, becoming Hokage is our only way forward. If we don't break the system, they will never allow an Uchiha to take power."
Yang's voice was steady, but his eyes burned with conviction.
"For the sake of future generations, for an Uchiha who can walk freely in the sun without fear, I swear—Uchiha will take the Hokage seat!"
Uchiha Nobunaga, the head of the clan, had been listening in silence. But as Yang spoke, something awakened in him.
For years, the Uchiha had debated, compromised, and searched for ways to ease tensions with the village leadership. But they had always been shackled by the fear of being cast out.
Now, for the first time, Nobunaga saw a future beyond Konoha's control. It would be a difficult path—filled with opposition, struggle, and bloodshed.
But it was a path forward.
With renewed determination, he met his nephew's gaze.
"Tell me what to do."
Yang knew what this meant. From this moment on, Nobunaga was no longer just the leader of the Uchiha clan. He was now an ally in their revolution.
The Plan
"First," Yang began, "we need to intensify our efforts but be more discreet. Public discussions about Sakumo's case should be reduced, while we secretly investigate who first spread the slander against him.
"Second, we must demand that the Hokage call an emergency Jōnin council or, better yet, a full Konoha clan assembly. The matter should be discussed openly, forcing other clans to take a stand.
"Third, we need the sword-wielding clans to speak out. If they hesitate now, they will lose everything when the Hatake clan falls. They must understand that their survival depends on standing strong.
"Fourth, you, Uncle, must personally meet with Sakumo and his family to express Uchiha's support. This isn't just politics—this is about showing them they aren't alone.
"Finally," Yang's voice lowered, his tone colder, "we take action against Mito Menyan. We exploit the current turmoil within Anbu and Root. Some Anbu are already panicking about their futures, and we will use that fear to our advantage. We assassinate Mito Menyan.
"Once he's gone, Sarutobi Hiruzen will lose his left hand. And once White Fang falls, Danzo will be forced to cut off his own right hand to protect himself.
"A Hokage without hands can't wield a blade.
"When Konoha's leadership fractures, when they turn on each other, that's when we step in. Once Uchiha has enough influence and respect, people will come to us willingly.
"This is how we break free from the past. This is how we shape the future."
Nobunaga took a deep breath. "Understood. I'll call a clan meeting immediately. And the assassination?"
"Leave it to me," Yang said, a sharp smirk forming. "It's already prepared. When the time comes, this will be my gift to Lord Hokage."
Nobunaga chuckled, placing a firm hand on Yang's shoulder.
"Then do it. We old men may be nearing our time, but before we go, we'll make sure the future belongs to Uchiha.
"You have the mind and vision that our clan has always lacked. Lead the way, and we'll follow."
Yang nodded. The revolution had begun.