"You..." Danzo seethed, his face contorted with rage as he prepared to lash out.
"Danzo! That's enough." Hiruzen interjected sharply, silencing Danzo's outburst.
Homura, stroking his chin thoughtfully, conceded, "But Hiruzen, Danzo raises a valid point. The boy unleashed a fire that consumed the entire compound."
He leaned back, his eyes narrowing as he continued, "Who knows if there were any survivors left, awaiting rescue? Not to mention the sheer destruction of the Uchiha's infrastructure."
Akira scoffed, a sound that echoed through the tense room. All eyes turned to him.
"Something amusing, child?" Homura asked, his voice tinged with irritation.
"Forgive me, Elder," Akira began, his voice steady despite the tears streaking his face. "But your implication is as absurd as it is cruel. If there were any survivors, I would never have risked their lives. But there were none. No one left to save." He took a deep breath, his voice choking with emotion. "How dare you suggest that I would extinguish the very lives of my clansmen?"
His voice hardened as he continued, "The destruction was... regrettable. But I had no choice. My fire jutsu was the only defense I had against the enemy. I couldn't just stand there and let them slaughter me too."
Akira was putting all his effort into trying to make his act align somehow with what he said, as he never did stupid things like this...
Danzo's eyes narrowed, his voice cool as he interjected, "I don't buy it, kid. There's more to this than you're letting on." He turned to Hiruzen, his voice commanding. "Hiruzen, hand the boy over to me. I'll get the truth out of him. Perhaps he's in league with those who attacked the Uchiha. Perhaps that's why he torched the place."
Akira laughed. 'There it is, the darkness of Konoha trying to twist the narrative to suit its own ends as he wished.' he thought
But... he wouldn't get what he wanted to do. Sarutobi already knew that what Akira was saying aligned with what happened, though he was omitting his true involvement in the events, reasons, and his power.
"Enough, Danzo!" Hiruzen slammed his fist on the table, his voice echoing with finality. "Your accusations are baseless. I will not have Akira subjected to any more scrutiny or suspicion. He has suffered enough without being accused of crimes he did not commit."
*Coff* *Coff* Homura shifted uncomfortably, clearing his throat as he averted his gaze.
Hiruzen turned to Akira, his voice firm yet gentle. "Akira, you must be exhausted. An ANBU will escort you to Kushina's home, and then take Sasuke to the hospital. We will reconvene later, after you've had some rest."
Akira bowed deeply, his voice steady as he replied, "Hai, Hokage-sama. Thank you for your unwavering support to the Uchiha people in these dark times."
"Mhm." The Third Hokage nodded. "You can go."
As Akira left the room, Danzo's cane snapped in his grasp. "Hiruzen, you're making a grave mistake," he growled. "That boy is a threat. His power is something to be feared."
Hiruzen's voice was like thunder as he rebuked Danzo. "I am the Hokage, Danzo! My decisions are final. Akira is an asset to Konoha, not a threat. You would do well to remember that."
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances, their expressions inscrutable, but they held their tongues.
Danzo scoffed, his dissatisfaction evident, but he held his peace.
"You will regret it, Hiruzen!"
An ANBU suddenly appeared in the room, his voice devoid of emotion as he announced, "He has arrived."
This time, Hiruzen attitude was different than when dealing with Akira. He straightened and his demeanor shifted as he commanded, "Let him enter."
The ANBU vanished, and moments later, a man stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the assembled elders and the Hokage before kneeling without a word.
"First and foremost, allow me to express our gratitude. Your actions have pulled Konoha back from the brink of civil war." Third Hokage, Sarutobi, said solemnly. "You've safeguarded the village's peace."
"Hai," Itachi acknowledged, his voice steady without emotions.
"Nevertheless, I must admit that I regret that you found no other path that could have been taken," Sarutobi lamented, his voice heavy with sorrow.
"I apologize," Itachi offered, his tone devoid of emotion.
"No, Itachi. I am the one who should be sorry. You slaughtered your own clan and became a traitor in the eyes of the world. We will list you in the Bingo Book as an S-rank missing-nin. That is the official narrative that will be spun," Sarutobi admitted, bitterness lacing his words.
"I understand," Itachi replied, accepting his fate.
"What path will you take now?" Sarutobi asked, his voice a mix of concern and resignation.
"I will join an organization known as Akatsuki," Itachi declared.
"And so, I will stay close to that man, just as I promised," he vowed, his voice cold.
------------------------------------
Akira, meanwhile, happily left with the ANBU for Kushina's home.
*knock* *knock*
A moment later, hurried footsteps could be heard from inside the house and the door opened.
"Yo, I'm back," Akira smiled as he looked at all his family's women.
"Son!" Sayuri cheerfully threw herself against her man's body.
"Aniue!!!" Akane cried out in happiness as she too embraced her brother.
"Husband!!!" Satsuki and Izumi followed suit.
"Akira..." Mikoto also welcomed him but was more modest than the other women as she looked at him with worried and relieved eyes from the door.
"Girls..." Akira had a wry smile as he embraced all the women, but he was satisfied and proud as he looked at his wives.
*Cough* *Cough* The ANBU made herself noticed as she coughed.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm here by orders of the Hokage to have Sasuke Uchiha moved into the hospital to get treated. Where is he so we can go?" the ANBU said.
Akira looked at the ANBU, and it wasn't Kakashi, but guided by the voice, he realized she was a woman.
Mikoto, hearing that, quickly said, "He is inside, one moment I will get him and go with you."
Everyone but the ANBU went inside the house. When they got into the room where Sasuke was, Mikoto looked worriedly at Akira. "How is it, Akira? Will there be trouble if we get Sasuke into the hospital?"
"You can go without worry, aunt. I already took care of it; we will not have any more danger in Konoha. Have Sasuke get treated in the hospital," Akira reassured her.
"That's fine, then..." Mikoto said, relieved and sad. "Satsuki, you stay and rest, dear."
"Mom... Alright," Satsuki nodded obediently, even though she was worried about her brother.
Mikoto then took Sasuke and left with the ANBU.
Akira looked at all the women of his family and knew that the worst was about to come, even more difficult than dancing with Madara. The talk about everything that happened today and... our recently deceased clan and family...
'It would be a cold night,' Akira thought sadly.