Konoha: Reforge the glory of Uchiha!

"Are you here to punish me? Why am I here?"

Uchiha Kagami felt the sharp gazes of his former teammates, their eyes filled with disappointment. Just moments ago, the six of them had huddled together for support, resisting the immense pressure brought upon them by Uzumaki Mito, but now they seemed to be falling apart.

Shimura Danzo, Koharu, Mito Kaden, and Akimichi Kaifeng seemed to instinctively distance themselves from Uchiha Kagami. Only Sarutobi Hiruzen remained, looking at Kagami with complicated eyes.

Uzumaki Mito's hair floated slightly, a sign to those familiar with her that she was on the verge of rage.

The immense chakra within Mito was unleashed, visible masses of chakra surrounding her. Small cracks appeared on the floor beneath her feet, ready to shatter with just a bit more force.

Say something! You must say something!

Uchiha Kagami felt the pressure of Uzumaki Mito, like a small boat adrift on an endless sea. Dark clouds loomed overhead, lightning flashed, and towering waves threatened to engulf him. A deep sense of powerlessness filled him.

Killing intent mixed with various negative chakras enveloped Kagami, rendering him unable to muster any strength.

Weakness.

Uchiha Kagami had never felt so weak. He remembered the old woman before him as kind and gentle, always with a smile. Yet, he had never underestimated her. Her prowess was well-known among the Uchiha, often praised by the clan elders.

"That old woman Mito is not easy to deal with," an old Uchiha once said. "Even I can only be evenly matched with her."

Now, Kagami realized the old Uchiha had been more right than he'd imagined. He had thought he might at least put up a fight against Mito, but it seemed he had overestimated himself.

"It's not me. I would never leak information, let alone swear on the name of Uchiha!"

Kagami invoked the Uchiha clan's honor, unwilling to swear a deadly oath against them.

But his defense seemed weak. The six of them had returned to the village, gone straight to the Senju clan to report, and hadn't seen anyone else. They hadn't left the Senju clan after arriving.

Yet, by afternoon, news of Senju Tobirama's death had spread throughout Konoha, with the source traced back to the Uchiha. Among the seven who knew of Tobirama's death, including Uzumaki Mito, Kagami was the only Uchiha.

Uzumaki Mito couldn't be convinced by Kagami's defense. Someone needed to take responsibility, and it didn't matter if Kagami was truly guilty or not. As an Uchiha, he was already implicated.

Mito stood, her eyes filled with murderous intent. She couldn't kill the young Uchiha before her, but she could certainly incapacitate him for months.

"Mito-sama!"

"I believe in Uchiha Kagami!" Sarutobi Hiruzen declared, stepping in front of Kagami to shield him from Mito's wrath.

Everyone present was surprised that Sarutobi Hiruzen dared to stand up for Kagami at such a critical moment.

A fleeting look of astonishment crossed Mito's face before she focused on Sarutobi Hiruzen, her voice dripping with sarcasm:

"Baby monkey, do you know what you're saying?"

"Are you trying to play hero here?"

"Such antics won't sway me." Uzumaki Mito shifted her intense gaze from Kagami to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Kagami looked at Hiruzen with gratitude and began to breathe more easily. The oppressive feeling of drowning vanished.

Cold sweat had drenched Kagami's clothes, sticking uncomfortably to his skin, but he had no time to worry about that now.

"Hiruzen, don't be reckless. Uchiha Kagami is still an Uchiha."

Shimura Danzo watched his friend shoulder the burden alone, protecting an Uchiha accused of leaking the news.

In Danzo's mind, the leaker was definitely Uchiha Kagami. Teacher Tobirama had always been wary of the Uchiha, and Kagami was part of that clan. It wasn't inconceivable that he'd leak information to the Uchiha.

"Shut up!"

"Did I give you permission to speak?" Uzumaki Mito shot Danzo a withering look, silencing him immediately.

"Mito-sama, I'm not playing games."

"I believe Uchiha Kagami would never do such a thing," Sarutobi Hiruzen said firmly.

"Explain your reasoning," Mito demanded.

"Uchiha Kagami is special. He doesn't have the arrogance typical of the Uchiha. He's gentle and kind."

"He's always considerate of his comrades. On the battlefield, he's a reliable ally. I trust him with my life."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke slowly, recounting Kagami's virtues, from daily interactions to life-and-death situations on the battlefield.

In his experience, most Uchiha were arrogant, especially those with activated Sharingan. But Kagami was different, as was Uchiha Nan.

Both were powerful yet humble, approachable by ordinary ninjas. Even when offended, they never took it to heart, seeing it as a simple mistake and forgiving it with a smile.

Because of these traits, Senju Tobirama had recruited Kagami and Nan as disciples. Kagami accepted, but Nan declined.

Hiruzen's words moved everyone present. Even Shimura Danzo began to question his earlier judgment of Kagami.