Uchiha Clan.
Uchiha Fugaku listened to his son's report, utterly shocked.
"What did you say?! He really left a pair of Byakugan for you?"
Itachi replied, "Yes, Father."
Itachi handed the wooden box Saint Mi had left behind to Fugaku.
Fugaku took it with a complex expression, opened it, and his face changed several times.
It was now early morning of the next day.
The aftermath of the Nine-Tails Rampage had not yet faded, and Konoha's major clans were still processing the sudden change.
Since returning safely last night, Itachi and Izumi, these two children, had been strictly controlled by the Uchiha Clan.
After Fugaku finished handling clan affairs, he eagerly questioned his son about his situation last night.
As the head of the Uchiha Clan, Fugaku's information was more well-informed than most ordinary people.
He already knew what had happened last night.
Hyuga Seimiya, an unknown Chunin in the Hyuga Clan, suddenly betrayed the Village and stole the sealing book.
Among them, two things shocked Fugaku the most.
First, Hyuga Seimiya defeated the Anbu squad Kakashi Hatake was in by himself, and it was a crushing victory.
The Ninja who could enter Anbu were all elites of the Village, and among them was a genius like Kakashi, who was already a Jonin at twelve years old.
However, according to Itachi's description, Hyuga Seimiya defeated them effortlessly.
Considering that Saint Mi was even younger than Kakashi, it was even more alarming.
Fugaku couldn't help but feel a chill down his spine at this thought.
Such a young top-tier expert, considering his potential, would undoubtedly become a major threat to Konoha.
Furthermore, he had also stolen the sealing book; if left unchecked, it was hard to imagine how much peace Konoha would have in the future.
The second thing was the pair of Byakugan Saint Mi left for Itachi.
Fugaku dared not think too deeply about where these eyes came from.
But as the head of the Uchiha, a prominent clan in Konoha, he naturally understood what this meant.
This was pure framing!
It was well known that only the Sharingan and the power of the Whirlpool Clan could effectively control the Nine-Tailed.
The Whirlpool Clan had long since declined.
The Nine-Tails Rampage last night had already put the Uchiha Clan on the spot.
Now, with this pair of Byakugan...
If the Uchiha Clan didn't handle this matter well, they might even bring about their own demise!
Hyuga Seimiya betrayed the Village, why did he only attack Anbu and not people from your Uchiha Clan?
What? You say he couldn't bear to kill children? Then explain what's going on with this pair of Byakugan?
Fugaku no longer dared to think further, and a decision had already vaguely formed in his mind.
This was a crisis for the Uchiha Clan, but at the same time, it was also an opportunity!
"Itachi... just pretend you didn't see anything about this matter. I will handle everything, understood?"
Itachi: "Yes."
Footsteps came from outside the door, along with a shout.
"Lord Fugaku! Lord Third Hokage has issued a summons. All clan heads, including yourself, are to immediately gather at the Hokage Building."
Fugaku took a deep breath: "I understand. Reply to the Third Hokage, I'll be there right away."
"Yes!"
The footsteps outside the door faded away.
Fugaku nodded to Itachi, then got up with a heavy heart and walked out.
Itachi respectfully watched his father leave, his etiquette flawless.
Just before reaching the door, Fugaku suddenly turned back and asked, "Oh, by the way, what was the name of the girl who was with you last night?"
Itachi: "Uchiha Izumi. Her mother had originally married out and changed her surname, and only recently moved back to the clan."
Fugaku asked, "You said she's the same age as you? Has she awakened her Sharingan?"
Itachi replied, "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."
Fugaku: "I see. If you have time, spend more time with her."
...
Inside the Hokage Building.
The conference room seemed a bit crowded.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the center, and next to him was Danzo Shimura, the powerful Elder of Konoha Village.
The two Hokage Advisors, Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado, were seated in order.
Fugaku was the last to arrive; before him, the heads of the major clans were already all present.
Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shibi Aburame...
And Hyuga Hiashi, whose face was the worst.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated at the head, spoke: "The casualty report from last night's Nine-Tails Rampage has been released, and it's before all of you.
"Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and his wife Uzumaki Kushina sacrificed their lives to forcibly seal the Nine-Tailed, dying to protect the Village.
"In light of this, I have decided to resume the position of Hokage. This decision has been reported to the Daimyo and has received his approval."
No one questioned this decision.
Before Minato, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had served as the Third Hokage, had already established sufficient prestige.
His retirement was merely to make way for Minato Namikaze.
At this time, apart from Hiruzen Sarutobi, there was indeed no one else to consider for the Hokage position.
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued: "News has come from the front that due to the Nine-Tails Rampage, Iwagakure and Kumogakure have resumed their movements.
"In this difficult time, Konoha needs everyone's strength; we must unite to overcome this challenge!
"The purpose of gathering you all today is to discuss the countermeasures.
"But before that, there is one more thing to announce, Hiashi, you tell them."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Hyuga Hiashi.
Hiashi said with a grim face: "Last night, Hyuga Zongqing, an Elder of the Hyuga Clan, was killed. It has been confirmed that the culprit is Hyuga Seimiya..."
Saint Mi's name was unfamiliar to the others in the conference room.
Before this, most people had never heard this name.
Danzo added: "This person took advantage of the chaos to steal the sealing book, defeated the Anbu squad Kakashi Hatake was in, and then betrayed the Village and left. His strength should not be underestimated.
"I have already ordered Root to track him."
Danzo's words caused a stir.
"What?! He defeated Kakashi?"
"The sealing book was actually stolen?"
"Why have we never heard his name before?"
Hiashi's face was ashen as he explained, "This is my oversight as clan head. Previously, Hyuga Seimiya had only shown Chunin-level strength, I never expected..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "This is not your fault, Hiashi. This person is cunning and ambitious, he must have been hiding for a long time."
Nara Shikaku asked, "He could actually defeat Kakashi...? How old is he this year?"
Hiashi: "Twelve years old."
The conference room immediately fell silent, and many people looked horrified.
Kakashi was a well-known prodigy in Konoha; at the age of twelve, he had already been promoted to Jonin, and as Minato's disciple, he had shone brightly in the recent Third Ninja World War.
However, he was now defeated by the unknown Hyuga Seimiya, who was even younger than him.
Who exactly was this person?!
Uchiha Fugaku suddenly stepped forward and presented a wooden box from his hand.
"Hokage-sama, last night Hyuga Seimiya raided the Uchiha Clan, and I fought fiercely with him, finally taking this from him."
Fugaku opened the wooden box, and inside, a white eyeball was clearly visible.