A/N: The tide in Konoha begins to turn.
Small content warning: contains brief descriptions of a corpse and protesting.
Screaming rang out in the town square. Dozens of marching civilians, poor and outcast from the richer factions of the city, made their way down the main road, holding handmade signs and yelling as fireworks went off before them.
"THEY'RE KILLING US!" They roared. "WE DEMAND JUSTICE!"
Behind the first wave of people, the second group was wailing, carrying the broken body of a person, their hollow blue eyes staring into the sky lifelessly as their head bobbed limply from their broken neck.
The citizens not in the mob stared in horror from their windows and balconies, some jeering at the crowd, others remaining silent as they watched the procession go by.
The Uchiha soldiers were gathered in lines before the advancing mob, hands at their weapons, barking orders to disperse. But the mob kept going, shouting obscenities at them, and slowly but surely the line was forced back further and further. Fire lit up the sky in plumes of dark smoke as they tried to quell the mob, but the people, burnt and wounded, yet no less angry, continued on, their anger spurred further.
A certain family stared from their front door, Arata's hands clenched tightly in his mother's skirts as he hid behind her and his father.
"What are they doing?" He breathed in fear.
It took a moment for either of the adults to answer. His mother swallowed before answering quietly, "Another person was killed by the Uchiha guard. It seems the people have had enough."
His father placed a slightly-trembling hand on his shoulder and added, "Your older cousin, Eiko, shared the same fate when you were just a baby. She was killed in the town square over a perceived slight from a young soldier. We were nearly identified as family and killed as well, but luckily your mother was able to get your older sister away."
Mebuki gave him a meaningful look and tugged at his sleeve. "Let's get back inside. We don't need our son to see this so soon."
Kizashi opened his mouth to say something else, but after a second shut it and nodded.
Arata was herded inside, but not before he could make eye-contact with a young man with silver hair.
As soon as the little family was in the dining room, Mebuki sighed heavily and slouched against the wall with her face hidden by her hands.
"We can't keep doing this, 'Zashi," she said.
"I know," he responded in a small, tired voice.
"We can't keep living in fear like this."
"I know," he repeated.
There was a beat between them. Mebuki uncovered her eyes and stared him in the face.
"We should have taken Mrs. Yamanaka's offer."
"There's no time like the present."
"What about Ino-nee?" Arata questioned, the older girl's surname having caught his attention.
The two adults glanced his way before looking back at each other, his mother's lips tight and his father rubbing his eyes.
"Sweetie, I'm sorry we have to keep you out of the loop like this. But this whole situation is complicated enough as it is, and even we have no clue about what we should do." Mebuki replied, looking to her son and frowning. "A long time ago, when your cousin Eiko died, Ino-nee's mother offered to take our family under their wing in case we needed protection. We've been able to get along just fine without it for the most part, but things have been so turbulent that in the case that we need a more esteemed clan's protection, we've been thinking of taking it."
When the boy still looked confused, Kizashi squatted down to be around his level and said quietly, "Arata, son, what we're going to tell you, you have to promise never to tell a single person. Okay?"
When the boy nodded, eyes wider, he continued, "Your mother and I… have been rebel sympathizers for quite some time now. But if anyone knew, we could be hunted down and killed for going against the royal family. Since both of our clans are so insignificant that your mother doesn't even have a well-documented family tree and the rest of my family is in another country, the authorities won't care if we get attacked."
"So we'd have to live with Ino-nee?"
The adults exchanged glances again before Kizashi shrugged. "If things work out that way, I suppose we would. That chance is incredibly low, though, so don't get your hopes up for that."
"Another death, is it?" Hiashi sighed irritably as the council sat down together.
"A civilian hailing from outside the village," a middle-aged man replied with a dismissive sniff. "They should have known protesting so vocally would get them done away with."
"Still, this is technically a hate crime!" Another protested. "If we remain silent, the protestors could believe that we also condone this violence and may rally against us too."
"Which is precisely why we need to decry it," Hanabi spoke up. "As soon as possible, of course."
"The Uchiha would never allow us to do such a thing," an older elder snapped.
"But what could they do? We are the backbone of this village. If they declare us as enemies, then all of the clans that sympathize with ours would be forced to choose." Hanabi argued, her eyes shining with defiance. "And judging by how much we've contributed, as well as our reputation for remaining impartial in conflict, I guarantee more clans would choose us than you'd first believe."
Hiashi nodded contemplatively. "You do have a point. Ever since Konohagakure was founded, our clan has stayed out of most petty conflicts and only gets involved when necessary or beneficial. Our reputation is easily the best out of the Ancient Three in Fire, and considering that the Senju clan is thriving more readily in other countries and is virtually nonexistent here, the only powers the people have to rely on are either us… or the warmongering Uchiha."
"Surely you're being too critical, sir," another elder protested. "The Uchiha have not been in active war since the skirmishes with the Senju."
"And how long ago was that? More than a hundred years ago?" Hiashi challenged. "Not even a hundred years ago this country was still in active civil war between them. The Uchiha are known infamously for their curse and their hotblooded ideals, not the kind of reputation one considers lightly when it comes to protection in times of strife. The likelihood of them turning on their allies for perceived slights is too high to risk. Thus we are the only ones to fall back upon."
The chamber was silent for a few moments as the elders considered this point.
Then one hesitantly asked, "... So what shall we do, sir?"
"We will go ahead with an announcement," the clan head replied. "And if the Uchiha wish to fight, we will ally up and fight. But I believe that the king will let this issue go due to the considerable threat that slimy Snake still is to the village. They cannot afford to lose any allies while he's still active."
Murmurings of agreement rippled through the council chamber.
"In the meanwhile, we will go forward with our ties to Mimei." He glanced towards his daughter and nephew. "Have negotiations been settled yet?"
"Not quite," the girl replied. "We've met with a liaison."
"Keep at it as a backup plan in case things turn south with the Uchiha," he advised, glancing between them. "I know quite a few members are still reluctant, and I myself have my doubts. But I trust your judgement, Daughter."
"Thank you, Father."
A/N: Sorry if you're looking for a ton of action. The next several chapters (at least by my count at this point in time) will deal heavily with the Hyuuga side of affairs in Konoha. I promise we'll get back to the main characters in time.
Please tell me what you thought!
