"What happened? Who are you?"
"What the hell is going on?"
The sudden explosion had drawn a crowd of Uchiha clan members who now surrounded Uzumaki Raiden, their eyes filled with suspicion and alarm. Raiden, in turn, dispelled the barrier that had contained the blast.
A thick, metallic scent of blood filled the air as smoke and dust slowly settled. Some of the civilians present turned pale, gagging at the overwhelming stench, while the more experienced Uchiha shinobi cautiously approached the edge of the crater to investigate.
As the smoke thinned, the gruesome aftermath was revealed. The soil at the bottom of the pit had an unnatural reddish hue, and fragments of what once were human bodies lay scattered. Experienced Uchiha ninjas immediately realized the grisly truth.
"This... this is ruthless."
"Was this your doing?"
A young Uchiha in his twenties, Uchiha Inahura, stepped forward. After a brief inspection of the destruction, he turned to Raiden, his eyes filled with suspicion and a trace of hostility.
"No."
Raiden calmly stepped out of the crowd and walked toward the crater. Despite the Uchiha surrounding him, they made no move to stop him. After all, within their own compound, they felt no fear of a single outsider—no matter how formidable he might be.
"No?"
Inahura's brows furrowed, his voice cold but measured. He wasn't one to jump to conclusions; an investigation was necessary.
The explosion had been powerful, deadly even, but the contained blast radius suggested deliberate control. The barrier Raiden had erected seemed to have minimized collateral damage. If he wasn't the culprit, then he clearly had some idea of what had transpired.
Unfazed by the questioning stares, Raiden closed his eyes briefly, sensing the residual chakra lingering in the air.
"An unfamiliar chakra... something I've never encountered before."
"It seems the world's course has deviated from what I once knew. Could this be connected to Black Zetsu or Madara?"
"Before the explosion, I sensed a spatial distortion... someone has been keeping an eye on the Uchiha clan."
Raiden's thoughts raced, but outwardly, he remained composed.
Inahura observed him closely. Despite his distrust, he couldn't help but be intrigued by Raiden's seemingly calm and calculating demeanor.
After a moment, Raiden opened his eyes.
"Find anything?" Inahura asked immediately.
"I wasn't responsible for this explosion," Raiden replied firmly. "I'll report the details directly to Fugaku."
Turning his gaze to Inahura's wrist, which lacked the telltale black tattoo he'd been tracking, Raiden added, "You're a shinobi—have your men secure the perimeter. Ensure no one tampers with the evidence and inform the forensic team at the Police Department."
Without waiting for a response, Raiden disappeared in a blur, heading toward the entrance of the Uchiha compound—toward another individual who bore the mysterious black tattoo.
At the Uchiha Clan Hall
Inside the grand hall of the Uchiha compound, Fugaku sat at the head of the gathering, listening quietly to the animated discussions of his clansmen. A faint, unreadable smile lingered on his lips as he observed them.
Kneeling beside him was Uchiha Mikoto, her head bowed respectfully, appearing indifferent to the ongoing arguments around her.
Earlier, Mikoto had privately informed Fugaku of Uzumaki Raiden's return. Upon hearing the news, Fugaku felt an immense sense of relief—something he hadn't experienced in years. Watching the opposition faction led by the Second Elder argue tirelessly, he viewed them as nothing more than a group of squabbling clowns.
"Patriarch, the village elders no longer trust us!"
"My son, who once led missions as a jōnin, was suddenly stripped of his rank and sent back to the clan without explanation! This is blatant discrimination against our Uchiha clan!"
An elderly man, the Third Elder, spoke passionately, his voice filled with righteous indignation.
In the past, Fugaku would have remained silent, carefully walking the tightrope between the village and his clan. But today was different. Knowing that Raiden was back, he felt emboldened.
"Third Elder, your perspective is skewed."
"The Hokage consulted with me personally before your son was demoted, and I approved it."
"You seem to only care about the demotion but ignore the reasons behind it."
"Your son's negligence on a mission resulted in the deaths of three comrades and the mission's failure. Given that, Hokage-sama deemed him unfit for leadership."
"Did you not know, or do you simply not care?"
Fugaku's sharp gaze locked onto the Third Elder, his words cutting through the room.
This uncharacteristic bluntness shocked the elder, who had expected Fugaku to maintain his usual neutrality. The unexpected resistance, however, only fueled his agenda.
"Of course, I know!" the Third Elder snapped back. "But missions are missions! Sacrifices must be made for success!"
"A true shinobi must be prepared to give their life to achieve the objective!"
"Tell me, was my son truly wrong?"
"You, Fugaku, are our clan's patriarch! Are you siding with outsiders over your own kin?"
His accusatory tone was designed to turn the gathered Uchiha against Fugaku, and murmurs spread through the hall.
"Third Elder, watch your words!"
"Your son didn't sacrifice his subordinates for the mission—he used them as bait to escape himself!"
Fugaku slammed his fist against the wooden floor, his voice thundering through the hall.
"A person like that doesn't deserve to be a jōnin of Konoha, let alone call himself a proud Uchiha!"
A stunned silence followed his words. For the first time, Fugaku had openly displayed his authority, shocking both his supporters and opponents alike.
"You... you dare speak to me like this?" The Third Elder stammered, clearly unprepared for Fugaku's forceful rebuttal.
Just then, a young man hurried into the hall, whispering something into the ear of an old man sitting beside the Third Elder. The elder's expression darkened slightly before he stood up.
Had Raiden been present, he would have recognized the young messenger as the very man who had supposedly died in the earlier explosion alongside Uchiha Ayako and Shi.
The elder, the First Elder of the Uchiha clan, slowly rose, his crimson Sharingan glowing ominously. He was a powerful figure of the previous generation and the Third Elder's elder brother.
"Fugaku, I have only one question for you."
His voice carried a chilling authority.
"Are you the patriarch of the Uchiha clan... or a jōnin of Konoha?"
"There is no third option."
The tension in the hall thickened, and all eyes were fixed on Fugaku, waiting for his response.
(End of this chapter)