Prologue

"We need to be launching our own investigation," one voice cried. "If they're going to blame us then we should at least have an answer for them."

"No one has officially accused us of anything," Fugaku said in the most soothing voice he could. Despite the length of the meeting, he had to be the voice of reason. His patience was wearing thin but he would endure. "It's been years, what do you suggest we do that we haven't done already? All of our clan was accounted for that night. They have no proof that an Uchiha summoned the Nine-Tails."

"They can't officially accuse us without proof," another voice chimed in. "But that doesn't stop them from holding my son back from advancing his career outside the Police Force."

Several voices mumbled in agreement. Fugaku frowned at the assembly. It was becoming difficult to keep his clan content in these trying times. He was afraid that drastic action would soon be the only thing to satisfy them. A small voice interrupted the clan head's thoughts.

"Father," Itachi said quietly from the corner. The young ANBU never missed a clan meeting, but today he'd been late and had only now slipped in. The boy's face was ashen which gave Fugaku pause. Itachi would never have interrupted, especially after coming in late, if it wasn't important.

Fugaku turned fully to face Itachi. The rest of the clan quieted to hear what the tardy young man had to say.

"I think we need to consider the Sharingan that are outside of the clan," Itachi said slowly. His face was still pale.

"The Hatake?" Cried a voice in the back, "there's no way that thief has mastered the eye to such an extent."

Fugaku half glanced back, silencing the man. Some color returned to Itachi's face at this comment, an angry blushing of his cheeks. He opened his mouth but Fugaku was already speaking. "Hatake Kakashi would never endanger this village or Uzumaki Kushina. He knew better than most the stakes surrounding the woman's pregnancy."

Any mumbling about Kakashi was silenced at his words. As much as the Uchiha disliked Obito's Sharingan being outside of clan control, they couldn't deny the Hatake's loyalty to the village and the late Fourth Hokage.

Fugaku turned back to his son. Itachi's dark eyes still flashed with anger, the news he carried nearly burst out of him right then.

"What is it Itachi? Whom do you mean?"

Since Itachi had joined ANBU, he'd had the privilege to see many top-secret documents previously barred from his sight. In an attempt to learn more about his ANBU Captain, he'd accessed what he could of Hatake Kakashi's file. Satisfied with his reading that night, and aware of the imminent clan meeting, Itachi had been putting the file away, when one spare document caught his eye. It was an incident report from a year ago, regarding the transfer of "Kinoe/Tenzo" to Kakashi's ANBU team. Itachi knew Tenzo as one of his new teammates and was curious about the duel name. The document wasn't long so he read further. As short as the incident report was, it had made Itachi lose track of time and miss most of the clan meeting.

Itachi swallowed, looking out at his clanmates. He straightening his back to appear more confident than he felt. He had to word this carefully. "About one year ago, Lord Danzo attempted to steal Obito's eye from Hatake Kakashi." Stunned silence met the news. Itachi continued. "No reason was given for why Lord Danzo wanted the eye." He licked his lips, sharing what he'd put together, "and shortly after the incident he 'stepped down' from his position as elder." Itachi said the words "stepped down" in a dubious voice, for he no longer believed that it was the man's choice. The timing suggested it was a form of reprimand.

Fugaku stared at his son, his mind whirling. He knew Itachi knew what kind of danger could befall the Uchiha if they made such an accusation. And yet Itachi had announced this news in front of the main body of the clan. Fugaku nodded at Itachi, acknowledging his son's bravery. A strategy for how to deal with this new information was already forming in his mind. He turned back to the group.

"This will be done quietly," Fugaku stressed. If they were caught asking the wrong questions or making accusations without proof, it could mean a treason sentence. "I want an investigation on this to be opened immediately. No one or even two clan members are to be alone with Lord Danzo until we know what he wanted with that eye. You are all dismissed."

The assembly broke up, leaving the meeting place in twos and threes. Fugaku caught the eye of one Uchiha elder in particular. The older man hung back and, when the room was relatively clear, Fugaku whispered. "Get me a list of every eye we haven't been able to account for since the war, and during the war if you can manage it. Include any known abilities or special traits."

The man nodded slowly. "Do you think it's that bad?" The elder glanced back at Itachi, as if unsure what he should say in front of the youth.

Fugaku did not follow his gaze. "I think we have too many unanswered questions. Hatake is isolated and unprotected compared to our clansmen, and Danzo may have seen him as an easy target. I want to know who else he may have seen as an easy target, at the end. I would rather be overcautious than unprepared."

Author's Note: the next chapter will take place after a time skip.