A/N: Sorry for the delay, this chapter was challenging to write and my brainspace is taken up by this research paper I'm working on. But oh boy. There may be some controversial developments this chapter *eyes emoticon*

It took less than a day for the Uchiha ANBU to be released from the Intelligence Division, since both Inoichi and Ibiki had declared that there was no reason detain her any longer. Inoichi had conducted the interrogation himself, but not before informing Fugaku and allowing him to observe the entire process through the one-way mirror. It was a gesture of respect that Fugaku had obviously not expected after that fiasco of a meeting, and it successfully calmed him down quite a bit.

All things considered, it turned out to be a mild interrogation. Inoichi carried out his job thoroughly, taking a little more than three hours with his jutsu, with a few breaks in between to take down his observations. There was not much to see other than Inoichi sitting there with his hands the ANBU's temples, but the point was made— Fugaku did not have to worry about his clansmen suffering at their hands. The Uchiha ANBU left soon after, slightly dizzy from the jutsu but otherwise no worse for wear.

Danzou, however, was in a right snit when he visited the Jounin Commander to protest the Uchiha ANBU's release. But with both Heads of the Intelligence Division insisting that all measures have been taken, the Jounin Commander had given a "hmm" and taken no further action. Sakumo, who had been worried that the Jounin and ANBU Commanders were already in Danzou's back pocket, breathed a sigh of relief.

However, there was only so much that those sympathetic to the Uchiha could do. The Uchiha ANBU were immediately removed from their posts, and the Uchiha compound placed under twenty-four hour surveillance. Even though the Uchiha Police were allowed to carry on their duties as usual, to those in-the-know, this was nothing more than a farce. What use was a police force that was under surveillance itself?

Fugaku must have advised his clansmen well, however, as they seemed determined to not tarnish whatever good reputation they had left. For a clan known to be as explosive as their Katons, Sakumo was impressed by their restraint. The wiser of them kept their more hot-headed kin from acting out, even though the people were as wary of them as ever. No doubt Danzou would pin them down for police brutality if he had even the slightest opportunity.

The team that had been sent out by the Intelligence Division returned shortly— but with nothing to report. All traces of the attack had been removed, including the mokuton used, by a large blast. The team had been lucky to escape the blast radius courtesy of one of their sensor-nin, who had detected the chakra-laden charge moments before the hidden explosive tags ignited. The trail ended there, and there was not much anyone could do about it.

The Hokage was discharged from the hospital soon after as well, weary but otherwise fit enough to make a public appearance to assuage fears about his health. If Sakumo had any hopes that Hiruzen would set the current state of affairs to rights, there were soon dashed, however. Hiruzen's will to keep Danzou in check, if he had any, seemed to have been completely sapped. A brief meeting with the Jounin and ANBU Commanders was all he had before allowing the Uchiha investigations to continue. Essentially, he had endorsed Danzou's decisions, and the elder was striding about looking all too pleased about it.

To say that Sakumo was disappointed would be an understatement. Rin was absolutely appalled, as were the other ghosts and all those of the living who had worked so hard to keep the situation in check. Kagami, as always, kept quiet in that conflicted, hapless way of his. Hyaku spent her days hounding him until he hid in his own grave, mumbling that there was nothing to be done.

If things continued this way, Kagami might just become right.

"Are you sure he's coming?" Masae asks, setting down the steaming teapot on the dinner table as she takes a seat opposite Kakashi. Sakumo and Rin are there in the old Hatake estate too, grateful for the change in scenery from ROOT's bare cement walls. "It's been an hour."

"Mm," Kakashi hums noncommittally, his gaze flickering over the latest sealing research that Inoichi had passed to him during one of their therapy sessions. "I will wait until Pakkun manages to convince him."

"And if he doesn't?"

"I suppose I will have to trouble you again in a few weeks," Kakashi say, smiling apologetically behind his mask. Despite his nonchalance, Sakumo knows of the sleepless nights that Kakashi has spent pacing in his room, torn between worry for one missing wood-user and the brewing trouble in the Uchiha compound. It is because of the latter that Kakashi had arranged for this meeting with Masae, purportedly to discuss the progress of this year's new crops on the Hatake land. In actuality, it is an excuse to get away from ROOT's prying eyes and hopefully meet with one Fugaku Uchiha.

"Oh, it's fine," Masae laughs, far more casual with him now that they'd worked together for some time on the farming programme. She'd proven herself to be an excellent assistant. "Let me know if you need some tasty dishes to entice him over."

Kakashi's eye crinkles as he chuckles, a rare sound from him. "Thanks. I don't think I'll have the chance to take you up on that, though. He just crossed the wards."

Shooting up to her feet with a gasp, Masae grabs her sling bag and begins tugging her coat on. "Oh, wonderful! Good luck, Kakashi-kun."

"Thanks for coming."

"No problem," she calls, already slipping out of the front door with a wave. Rin kicks her feet, pouting now that her sister has left.

Kakashi leaves the door open behind him as he returns to clear the dining table, hesitating briefly before taking an extra teacup from the cupboard. He had not mentioned it, but a total of two chakra signatures had crossed the wards.

Fugaku doesn't quite slam the door when he comes in, but his heavy tread and downturned mouth quite clearly announces his desire to do so. Unexpectedly, Shisui is with him, running after his clan head's long stride with a sheepish expression. At Rin's questioning glance, Sakumo shrugs. He too would've expected Fugaku to bring a burlier bodyguard, but Shisui is just as competent as any other Uchiha out there, if not more.

"Quite the nerve you have to summon me all the way here," the older Uchiha snaps, stopping at the doorway with his arms crossed before his chest. Casting his narrowed gaze about the empty little kitchen, his grimace deepens. "What do you want?"

Before Kakashi can answer, Pakkun appears beside Fugaku's left foot and nods at Kakashi. "Boss."

Kakashi nods back, and the ninken disappears in a puff of smoke, his task accomplished. "Thank you for coming, Fugaku-san, Shisui-kun," Kakashi says with his best smile, "I really appreciate it—"

"Cut the crap. You're sounding like him."

There's an awkward pause. Shisui cringes and slinks past Fugaku to make himself small in a corner.

"He is probably the last person I want to become," Kakashi chuckles, scratching his head. "I asked you to come here because I needed to make sure we have the privacy to speak. Fugaku-san, I would like to apologise for my silence during the meeting last week—"

"If that's all that you have to say, you can stop there." He turns heel to go and Kakashi takes a step forward before he hastily stops himself.

"Fugaku-san, please."

The older man's eyes flash red as he turns back to glare. "I despise people play both sides of the game. Stand on either Danzou's side or the Uchiha's. Stay neutral if you have to. But it's clear that you've been allying with Danzou. Don't think that you can crawl back into the Uchihas' good graces with simply an apology."

"That's harsh, Fugaku-san," Kakashi says with a wince. "I don't really know how I can prove it to you that this isn't a game to me, but... there may be something I can do for you. If we work together, I may have a way to clear the Uchihas' name."

A flicker of surprise crosses the Uchiha's face but it quickly disappears beneath a mask of skepticism. "We have been cracking our heads over this ever since the Kyuubi incident, and now these investigations. Tell me. I'm curious what kind of genius solution you've come up with."

"I have evidence," Kakashi says, picking his words carefully so as to not trigger the seal. "During Minato-sensei's time, I was given orders. Ame was being manipulated, and I was given a mission to deal with the people behind it. There were... disturbing revelations. With what happened to the Sandaime recently, I'm afraid we are facing the same problems today in Konoha."

Frustration has Fugaku's brow ticking. "Don't speak in riddles—"

Kakashi pulls down his mask and shows him his tongue. "Unfortunately," he says dryly. "I am working with some restrictions."

"That's a silencing seal," Shisui points out, shooting a meaningful glance at his clan head.

"You're in his ROOT, I suppose," Fugaku grunts.

Kakashi winces, pulls up his mask, and does not deny it. "I see it is more of an open secret than I thought."

"While I am still not completely convinced that this is not an elaborate attempt to entrap me... I take it that you have discovered something damning about that old coot?" Fugaku narrowed eyes are still a bloody red. Despite the obvious threat posed by the doujutsu, Kakashi does not look away. Against an enemy, it would be questionable decision, but Kakashi is clearly determined to treat the Uchiha with all the trust that should exist between fellow Konoha-nin.

"The incidents I mentioned, together with my own testimony, will not be easy to disregard if I have support from you and the other clan heads. I have friends working on breaking the seal. As long as I can get it off, Inoichi-san will be able to confirm my testimony with his clan jutsu. I know this is asking much of you," Kakashi admits, "but I hope that you will be willing to work with me when the time eventually comes. The evidence I am collecting will be useless if the council is afraid to go against people in power."

"It will not be easy with the Hokage wilfully blind to Danzou's actions. Even now...!" Fugaku's chakra buzzes as he fumes.

"Exactly."

"Was Danzou-san involved in the Kyuubi incident?" Shisui asks hesitantly.

"I don't know," Kakashi sighs. "Unfortunately. But if the Uchiha can play a part in unearthing the terrible things that are happening and bringing those behind it to justice, it would help your clan immensely. If nothing else, people will have someone else to put on the chopping block."

Lowering his gaze, Shisui stares at the floor with troubled look. Fugaku is not so bothered. "That will depend on what you can produce, Kakashi. Opinion is as fickle as the weather and Danzou is a cunning man. We will need something irrefutable."

"I assure you I will try my best. There is not much I can give you now, but I wanted to inform you of my plans."

"Are you in much danger, Kakashi-san?" Shisui asks, looking genuinely worried.

"Maa... the usual amount," he says, still smiling. Sakumo shakes his head. The "usual amount", to Kakashi, is quite a bit.

Fugaku finally lets his Sharingan fade to black, relaxing his stiff posture slightly as well. Now that the doujutsu is not a lingering threat, Fugaku seems more weary than angry. "I will wait. But is not easy to keep the peace. These accusations are spit in our faces. There is only so much I can ask my clansmen to grit their teeth and bear. The Will of Fire is nothing but empty words when every day we are ostracised and looked upon with suspicion."

"I understand perhaps a bit too well, Fugaku-san. The Hatakes were not very well looked upon either."

Fugaku's expression softens a fraction. "I remember."

"And," Kakashi says, refusing to dwell on the matter now that his point has been made, "I've always believed that if Minato-sensei were still alive, the tensions we are facing with the Uchiha clan today would not be so dire."

"There is," Fugaku says slowly, his tone heavy with implications, "a solution. But there is no way that Konoha will accept it."

'An Uchiha as Hokage,' Sakumo realises immediately, suddenly alert.

At Kakashi's silence, Fugaku gives a humourless chuckle and Shisui twisted his hands nervously. "Is such an idea so repulsive?"

"No. You are right. The Sandaime is as good as a puppet when it comes to Danzou," Kakashi admits, sounding perturbed. "He will almost certainly be implicated by Danzou's misdeeds. And when you look at our history... there is a disturbing pattern. Even Minato-sensei comes from a line of privilege that has passed from teacher to student, again and again. The Hat has never gone to anyone else. Now, however, both Jiraiya and Tsunade are gone," Kakashi muses. "Orochimaru was slighted by the Sandaime and has since not appeared in the public eye. As for myself..." he laughs hollowly. "I have no intention of becoming Godaime. If only Obito had not died. He always wanted to be Hokage. But this line of succession is at an end— and I do not think it is a terrible thing. Even if the Hat is merely a symbol, it is an important one. The Uchiha deserve to have it, at least once."

Fugaku nods, the lines bracketing his mouth easing some. "An Uchiha Hokage would be a great comfort to my clansmen."

"You're not as heartless as lot of people say you are," Kakashi says, returning that faint smile. "I do not think there are many people who would have been willing to give away a doujutsu simply because it was the dying wish of a boy. I've always been indebted to you for that. I hope you still believe in Konoha as much as you did then."

"It is not a matter of belief. From the moment the Uchiha clan founded Konoha with the Senju, our destinies were forever entwined." Fugaku scratches his chin. "When Danzou is finally exposed, per your evidence, as you say, we will use this opportunity to recover the Uchiha's reputation. Then... we will see about gaining the jounin majority's approval for an Uchiha Hokage. Perhaps then, it would be possible."

Kakashi nods. "Perhaps."

"Your Mangekyou," Fugaku murmurs, catching Shisui's attention as they head out of the Hatake estate. Sakumo had followed him into the night; things said after the event are just as interesting as those said during, after all. "Did you use it?"

Shisui shakes his head, whispering back. "They were all his own words."

A series of undecipherable emotions flash across his face, ending in a brief, guilty frown that he quickly smooths away. "Good," is all he says.

Sakumo lets them leave, his feet rooted to the spot and his mind racing.

Just after the Third War, a rumour had come to life. A rumour about a young Uchiha gaining a Mangekyou. Apparently, after the Uchiha had been recovered, a subsequent cleanup team had discovered an entire platoon of enemy-nin, dead. The corpses were in a locked underground bunker, their throats all slit in the same way. The rumour mill churned out nightmare scenarios with relish— surely it had been a genjutsu so horrifying that it caused them to commit suicide just to escape it?

But now that Sakumo thinks of what Fugaku had said, and Shisui's ancestry...

Kagami was quite famous during his lifetime for his genjutsu. It was said to have such a subtle, insidious effect that it could make a person kiss their worst enemy's feet, without realising even for a moment that something was wrong.

Suddenly, Sakumo feels cold sweat prickle along his spine.

A/N: If you don't want an Uchiha Hokage, don't worry, because it is not going to be a big part of the plot. But let me explain my thought process a bit.

The thing about Fugaku is that we don't really know much about him other than that he's a bad father, haha. I've taken the liberty of painting him in a more favourable light, and hopefully between Obito's sharingan and his handling of his clan, he is at least a not-so-terrible Hokage candidate. (Better than my Hiruzen, anyway, and certainly better than Danzou.) But of course, he's not a big softie here either. Shisui is here for a reason: his Kotoamatsukami. If Kakashi had not agreed to support Fugaku's bid to become Hokage, Shisui would have mangekyou-ed him and used him as a spy against Danzou. If Kakashi had intended to entrap him per Danzou's orders, which was what Fugaku suspected, he would have had Shisui use Kotoamatsukami on him without hesitation as well. Shisui is a good boy but he has his orders.

As for Hokage candidacy, why not the other clan heads? Honestly I can't think of any other way to solve the Uchiha tensions other than to give the Uchiha the recognition they need. Of course, to become Hokage in the first place, they need a boost in reputation, which is where Danzou's downfall comes in...

We will have a timeskip next chapter. Onwards! ;)