Chapter 10: The World Remains the Same

Uchiha Touhuan left the Root headquarters without looking back.

As for Kakashi, hearing the name mentioned by Uchiha Touhuan sent a jolt through his heart.

*Obito’s grandmother? Of course. All these years, weighed down by guilt, I never once went to visit her...*

*I really am a failure.*

"Captain..." Seeing Kakashi frozen in place, an Anbu ninja stepped forward to prompt him.

"I’m fine," Kakashi said, shaking off his thoughts. "Clear this place out, then head back to report to the Hokage."

...

After returning to the Police Force headquarters located within the Uchiha clan district, Uchiha Touhuan headed straight for the interrogation room.

The Wood Release user brought in yesterday had already been interrogated for a full day, and Yamanaka Fu, brought in just today, had regained consciousness shortly after being tossed into the room. Both men were now firmly bound, their chakra sealed.

The interrogation was not progressing smoothly. They were ninjas—and ones from the Root, at that. The interrogation room, usually reserved for petty village criminals, was clearly ill-equipped for this.

"Clan Leader." As Uchiha Touhuan entered, the clansmen in charge of the interrogation paused their work to salute him.

"How is it going?" Uchiha Touhuan asked.

"They are tight-lipped, especially the one from yesterday. We worked him over all night, but he still won't confess anything. We were just about to request a three-tomoe Jonin from the clan who specializes in genjutsu to assist us." The person in charge was merely an ordinary Uchiha Chunin with a single-tomoe Sharingan. While more than enough for dealing with village hoodlums, it was insufficient against two formidable ninjas.

"No need for such trouble. I'll handle it personally," Uchiha Touhuan said, stepping into the room and standing before Yamanaka Fu.

Yamanaka Fu, strapped to a chair, had clearly endured several beatings. Seeing Uchiha Touhuan, his face twisted with hatred, his eyes burning as if he wanted to tear the man apart.

Uchiha Touhuan smiled faintly, watching the poor soul who had been thoroughly brainwashed by Danzo. He waved a hand, and the interrogators behind him stepped forward, raining down another series of punches and kicks.

Even Uchiha Touhuan couldn't help but shake his head at the sight. There was clearly some personal vendetta involved; after all, the Root had frequently clashed with the Uchiha clan, and now that they had someone in their hands, they were taking the opportunity to settle scores.

Seeing that the beating had reached a sufficient point, Uchiha Touhuan rose slowly and approached Yamanaka Fu.

"I... won't... say anything," Yamanaka Fu wheezed, breathing hard after the latest thrashing, yet still staring at Uchiha Touhuan with defiant eyes.

The noon sun spilled through the window, blinding him, and the face of Uchiha Touhuan before him appeared blurred.

"I toured your Root base. It’s quite terrifying," Uchiha Touhuan said softly.

"Does the Root want to help Danzo become Hokage? Do you want to eliminate the Uchiha?" Uchiha Touhuan reached out to wipe the blood from the corner of Yamanaka Fu’s mouth.

"Look outside. Nothing has changed. The village is exactly the same as it was." Uchiha Touhuan’s face became clearer as Yamanaka Fu’s eyes adjusted to the light, but his words sent a chill down the captive's spine.

"Actually, whether you confess or not is irrelevant. I never intended to get any information from you in the first place." With that, Uchiha Touhuan turned to the clansmen in charge. "Keep a close watch on him. Just make sure he doesn't die."

"Inabi."

"Here!" Uchiha Inabi approached and saluted.

"Gather the Second Squad and come with me," Uchiha Touhuan ordered.

"Understood," Inabi nodded. "Clan Leader, where are we heading?"

"To the Shimura clan to arrest Danzo’s accomplices, of course," Uchiha Touhuan replied.

"Arresting them directly?" Inabi asked, unable to hide his disbelief, though a hint of excitement flickered in his eyes. The relationship between the Shimura clan and the Uchiha was notoriously poor.

"How can you call it just 'arresting'?" Uchiha Touhuan laughed. "Danzo attacking fellow village ninjas and desecrating the First Hokage’s remains is a proven fact. While at the Root base, I happened to find evidence of financial dealings between the Shimura clan and him."

As he spoke, Uchiha Touhuan pulled a ledger, mostly burned, from his storage scroll.

"So, we are merely inviting them to come back and assist with the investigation."

Uchiha Touhuan’s words made Yamanaka Fu’s eyes widen in horror. He distinctly remembered that all of the Root’s financial records had been destroyed.

Uchiha Touhuan glanced back at Yamanaka Fu at the perfect moment. Seeing the faint, mocking smile on the leader's lips, Yamanaka Fu finally understood why Uchiha Touhuan had said his confession didn't matter.

Yamanaka Fu began to struggle violently, but before he could shout, an Uchiha member punched him, effectively gagging him. He could only watch helplessly as Uchiha Touhuan led his men away.

Soon, the Second Squad of the Police Force, those off-duty at the moment, had assembled.

While they had initially grumbled about being called in during their break, the prospect of causing trouble for the Shimura clan had every Uchiha warrior eager for action.

"Reporting, Clan Leader! The Second Squad is assembled!" Uchiha Yanhu, the captain of the squad, reported at the gate of the headquarters.

Uchiha Touhuan nodded.

Uchiha Yanhu suddenly roared, "Salute the Clan Leader!"

The members of the Second Squad snapped into a sharp military salute: "Loyalty!"

Uchiha Touhuan watched the scene with a mix of amusement and frustration. Ever since he had impulsively saluted Hiruzen Sarutobi yesterday, the gesture had become a trend within the clan.

"Loyalty!" Uchiha Touhuan returned the salute and led his team toward the Shimura clan district.

Such a massive movement could not escape the eyes of the village. Sarutobi Hiruzen was currently nursing a headache in his office. He had planned to absorb the remnants of the Root, but news had reached him early that morning that the entire Root had been purged by Uchiha Touhuan.

At the same time, Uchiha Itachi, arriving for his shift at the Anbu, had reported everything that occurred at the clan meeting.

Upon learning that Uchiha Touhuan had become the new Uchiha Clan Leader, Hiruzen let out a long sigh.

"The only good news is that Touhuan has suppressed the Uchiha’s urge for a violent rebellion," Hiruzen consoled himself. "And recruiting civilian ninjas into the Police Force—whatever his motives, it is, on the whole, a good thing."