Chapter 38: Sowing Discord, Obedient & Sensible
From a distance, Aburame Torune saw the raging fire and immediately activated the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. But there was no response.
"Is he dead already? That Fire Style technique… was it Uchiha Fugaku? Or perhaps… that old man…"
A familiar figure flashed through his mind. The next instant, Torune vanished without a trace.
Mission, failed.
The flames devoured the house almost as soon as they erupted, spreading fast in the biting wind. Inside, Uchiha Tonan calmly opened a cupboard, pulled out a bundle of money and a land deed, and threw them into the hidden basement. Then, under his arm, he tucked his diary and a worn copy of The Will of Fire, signed by Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.
Without urgency, he stepped left to avoid a falling beam and turned to leave.
Judging by the technique used and the attacker's appearance, it was clear the assailant was from the Aburame clan. He wasn't Anbu—he was Root.
"So… Danzo has his eyes on me now. Danzo… Orochimaru… I can't beat them in a straight fight."
Tonan wasn't one to hold grudges. If they were willing to cooperate, he would even be open to joining hands.
Outside, Fugaku and the Great Elder had just arrived in the courtyard.
"This fire…" Fugaku muttered, staring at the rising flames.
"We're too late," the Great Elder said, his expression grim. But suddenly, both men tensed.
Through the blaze came the clear, deliberate sound of footsteps.
Step. Step. Step.
Tonan walked out of the fire with calm composure. A second later, the structure behind him groaned and collapsed into rubble.
Boom. Boom.
The Great Elder stepped forward quickly. "Tonan, are you alright?"
More Uchiha jonin and shinobi had arrived. Tonan's figure, framed by the towering flames, looked small—but no one here underestimated him.
Tonan met the Great Elder's gaze briefly, adjusted his glasses, and bowed deeply toward the crowd.
"I apologize for the chaos. I didn't mean to disturb everyone's rest."
Fugaku stepped forward. "What happened? Was it an enemy spy?"
Tonan shook his head. "I can't answer that right now. This needs to be reported directly to Hokage-sama."
His refusal angered the Uchiha shinobi who had rushed over.
"Damn it! We came all this way for nothing!"
"Great Elder, Patriarch, let's go. There's no reason to waste time on someone who won't even speak to us."
"He's already betrayed the clan. Let him deal with his own problems."
The Great Elder narrowed his eyes but forced a calm tone. "Tonan, your clansmen are worried about you. Don't you trust your own people?"
Tonan didn't respond.
The flames were beginning to die down, reduced to smoking embers. The Great Elder looked between them and Tonan again, the spark of something deeper stirring in his eyes.
Strength. Intelligence. Control. This was no ordinary child. This was someone the Uchiha couldn't afford to lose.
The surrounding shinobi remained frustrated, but without Fugaku or the Great Elder's signal, they could only restrain themselves.
Feeling the shift, the Great Elder quickly put on a more gentle expression. "Tonan, the clan is just concerned. They might not show it well, but their intentions are sincere. Don't hold it against them."
At that moment, a squad of Anbu appeared nearby. Their formation parted, and Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward in plain clothes. His face was tense.
"Tonan, are you hurt?" he asked directly.
Tonan looked up, his expression softening. "Hokage-sama, I'm alright."
Hiruzen's eyes dropped briefly to the book Tonan was carrying. Then he looked back up and asked, "I came as soon as I heard. What happened? Who attacked you?"
Tonan looked hesitant, like he didn't want to say it in front of others.
"Tonan," the Great Elder pressed, "Hokage-sama is here. Surely you can speak now. Do we, your own clan, not even have the right to know?"
Tonan still didn't look at him. Instead, he spoke directly to Hiruzen.
"The attacker wore Anbu gear. He used insect-based ninjutsu. He said he was from Root, and that someone named Danzo wanted to meet me. I'd never heard of him, so I refused. That's when he attacked."
The Great Elder's eyes lit up for a brief moment.
He turned to Hiruzen, putting on a stern expression. "Hokage-sama, this is no small matter. A Root operative attacked our clan's genius in the middle of the night. What exactly does this mean?"
Hiruzen frowned. He hadn't ordered any such mission—but knowing Danzo, the odds were high that this wasn't a fabrication.
He had intended to send an Anbu to extinguish the flames and recover the body. But now, he hesitated.
"Danzo, what are you trying to pull…"
"I'll have the Anbu investigate. If it's true, then I'll follow proper village protocol."
He turned back to Tonan, his voice softer. "Your home is gone now. Have you thought about relocating?"
The Great Elder immediately cut in, his voice sharp with urgency. "Hokage-sama, Tonan is part of the Uchiha. His housing is our responsibility. We'll arrange for him to stay in the central district."
"Relax," Hiruzen replied calmly. "I was only asking."
Of course, he knew that getting Tonan out of the Uchiha compound was near impossible. But he had hoped to show his support.
Tonan had stepped subtly behind Hiruzen, looking up at him quietly.
Hiruzen met his gaze, then sighed.
"I was being thoughtless. Go with your elder, Tonan."
Tonan nodded silently.
The Great Elder stepped forward. "Let's go. I'll take you to your new residence."
"Hokage-sama," Tonan said, bowing slightly, "I'll take my leave."
"Go ahead," Hiruzen replied.
Tonan looked back once, then turned to follow the Great Elder into the heart of the Uchiha compound.
As his figure disappeared from view, Hiruzen stood quietly for a moment.
"So obedient… it almost hurts to see."