Naruto: The Fall of the Uchiha - Chapter 77
Anbu!
The Anbu is a special assassination and tactical squad directly commanded by the Hokage. To complete missions, they only follow the Hokage’s orders.
Thus, in any ninja village, Anbu members are effectively extensions of the Hokage, naturally endowed with high status and authority.
So Kakashi and his team had never imagined that one day, someone would point at their noses and deny their Anbu status on the grounds that the Hokage had been deposed.
Hmm…
Quick thinking, logical, self-consistent… No flaws… Yeah, right!
Kakashi now realized the biggest obstacle in communicating with Uchiha Jin. This guy was a thorough Hokage opponent.
Yet, Zane also possessed immense power, enough to suppress someone as strong as Danzo in front of everyone, backed by the prestigious Uchiha clan…
Too troublesome!
If he had acknowledged Zane’s theory, he would have lost the qualification to question him entirely!
But if he denied Zane’s claims, it would completely provoke him, directly contradicting the recent order from the Third Hokage to avoid provoking the Uchiha clan.
This frustrating dilemma left Kakashi at a loss for what to do next.
However, Asuma Sarutobi didn’t have such concerns. Hearing Zane insult Hiruzen Sarutobi once again, his prideful nature made him furious.
“My father is the Hokage! Your Uchiha clan has no say in this!”
“Asuma!”
Kakashi immediately sensed trouble as Asuma spoke up, quickly stepping back to shield his friend.
“Oh!”
Instead of the violent reaction, Kakashi expected, Zane remained calm, looking at Asuma with a meaningful gaze.
“In what capacity are you speaking to me now? As a Jonin of Konoha? As the heir of the Sarutobi clan? Or as a member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja you’re so proud of?”
Zane chuckled, his eyes filled with disdain.
“You…”
Asuma glared, about to retort.
But Zane didn’t wait for him, continuing calmly.
“If you’re speaking as a Jonin of Konoha, then you have no right to talk to me. Since when can a mere Jonin interfere with the Police Force’s affairs?”
Asuma, enraged, retorted angrily.
“You’re just an elder of the Uchiha clan…”
“Oh, I was just appointed the head of the Police Force. Didn’t you know?”
Zane’s eyes were filled with amusement.
“Impossible! The head of the Police Force is Uchiha Fugaku!”
Asuma couldn’t believe that Zane had overthrown his own clan leader in less than a day.
Zane’s amusement grew like a cat toying with a mouse.
“Yes, the Police Force just decided to implement a dual-chief system. If you don’t believe me, I can have Fugaku confirm it right now. Do you have any objections?”
“You!”
Asuma finally realized that Zane was mocking him, his anger boiling. But before it could erupt, Zane’s next words hit him like a bucket of cold water.
“If you’re speaking as the heir of the Sarutobi clan, then it means your clan is ignoring the warnings of the Uchiha clan and the Police Force, attempting to seize Konoha founded by Uchiha and Senju through dirty means!”
Zane’s tone turned icy, the previously relaxed atmosphere becoming tense.
“In that case, the Uchiha clan will stop at nothing to annihilate the Sarutobi clan!”
As Zane spoke, he stepped forward slowly. Though he didn’t assume an offensive stance, it was enough to make Asuma and the surrounding Anbu retreat.
“What? Are you the heir of the Sarutobi clan?”
This is what it means to use power to intimidate.
With the formidable influence of the Uchiha clan, ordinary ninjas, villagers, and even other clans couldn’t stand against them.
Asuma had never experienced such oppression before, nor had he seen anyone treat their comrades like Zane did. At this moment, he suddenly realized how much privilege his status as the Hokage’s son had afforded him in the past.
“Oh, right!”
Zane seemed to remember something, continuing leisurely.
“Weren’t you once a member of the ‘Twelve Guardian Ninja,’ who sacrificed many comrades to complete missions? Surely, you wouldn’t use that title to try and pressure me!”
Zane glanced at Kakashi, his gaze turning cold.
“No wonder you and Kakashi get along so well. You’re both those ‘excellent’ ninjas who sacrifice comrades for missions, unlike those failures Hiruzen Sarutobi and Sakumo Hatake who abandoned missions!”
Crack!
Kakashi, who had been trying to de-escalate the situation, now looked extremely grim. His clenched fist around his kunai trembled with visible veins.
Sakumo Hatake’s death was already a deep wound in Kakashi’s heart. He had once comforted himself with the belief that ‘a ninja must complete their mission.’
But Zane’s mocking words pointed out the painful truth: the man who had pulled him from darkness, the Third Hokage, had also abandoned a mission.
Yet one became Hokage, and the other committed suicide under the village’s pressure.
Kakashi tried to avoid thinking about it, forcing himself to believe in the Will of Fire proclaimed by the Third Hokage.
Abandoning a mission doesn’t make a good ninja, but abandoning comrades makes one worse than trash!
But why…
Kakashi’s eyes grew colder, but Zane didn’t stop. His mocking tone intensified.
“If it weren’t for your status as the Hokage’s son, you would have been declared a missing-nin the moment you left Konoha, let alone sacrificing comrades to protect that worthless daimyo!”
“And you dare to wear the ‘Fire’ symbol on your waist publicly? Do you think you deserve it after causing the deaths of those Konoha ninjas? What’s that saying?”
“Those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash!”
Zane’s mastery of Yin-Yang Release allowed him to completely break Asuma and Kakashi’s defenses.
Their beliefs shattered, and both forgot their reservations, wanting only to vent their anger through violence.
Zane’s face showed a hint of approval when facing the charging Asuma and Kakashi.
“That’s more like it! Let’s see what you’re made of!”
…
“Made it just in time…”
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