41-45

Chapter 41: Danzo's Demands

The elder of the Hyuga's main family froze for a moment, furrowing his brows. "Patriarch, I belong to the main family. My purpose is to protect the Byakugan and uphold the family name."

"The branch family should be the ones fighting and protecting the main family. That is their duty."

"Oh, really?" Hiashi Hyuga replied casually. "Carrying such a heavy responsibility must be so taxing for you, Elder!"

"You... Hmph!" The elder huffed, swinging his sleeve angrily. "So, what are you planning to do about the Uchiha situation, Hiashi? Don't forget, you are the head of the Hyuga clan. Everything you do should prioritize the clan's interests."

Hiashi sipped his tea and replied calmly, "Don’t worry. I am fully aware of my position. That’s why, at this moment, the Hyuga clan must remain silent and avoid provoking the Uchiha."

The elder frowned deeply. "But what about the village leadership?"

Hiashi responded coldly, "The Uchiha alone are enough to keep them busy. They have no time to trouble the Hyuga clan. Besides, I’m more curious—why does Danzo suspect that I’m cooperating with the Uchiha?"

Hiashi’s brows furrowed as confusion overtook his expression. Among the village’s major clan leaders, he had the least respect for the Hokage and the others.

His brother, Hizashi Hyuga, was sacrificed for the so-called protection of the main family. But what about the Will of Fire they preach in the academy textbooks?

The elder cautiously asked, "So, are you truly cooperating with the Uchiha?"

Hiashi shot him a cold look.

The elder’s expression turned awkward, and he muttered in a low voice, "Patriarch, I think we should at least follow the village’s orders. Perhaps even cause some trouble for the Uchiha to show our stance to the village leadership. Otherwise..."

Compared to the Uchiha, he clearly feared the Hokage and his advisors more.

"Hmph!" Hiashi snorted. "Do you even know the Uchiha’s strength right now? Acting rashly... Do you think those red eyes are so easy to deal with?"

Easy to deal with? Nonsense!

If it were that simple, Danzo would have dealt with them long ago. The man behind the shadows doesn’t pull his punches.

Wait—Danzo already made a move, and he failed, suffering a counterattack in return. That’s likely why he’s come knocking on my door now.

For this reason, Hiashi treated the orders from the village’s leadership as mere noise.

Returning to the original question—why does Danzo think I’m cooperating with the Uchiha?

Hiashi instinctively felt there was something amiss.

Looking at the elder, who seemed like he had more to say, Hiashi sighed.

"Elder, let me be frank. Not only should the Hyuga clan avoid opposing the Uchiha, but in some ways, we should even support them."

"What?!" The elder was utterly stunned. "Are you trying to defy the village?"

Hiashi’s tone deepened. "Think about it. If the Uchiha fall, who do you think the village will target next?"

"The Hyuga!" the elder blurted out, immediately breaking into a cold sweat. "No... They wouldn’t target us, would they?"

Hiashi explained, "In the entire village, which clan has more than 30 Jonin? Only the Hyuga and the Uchiha. That fact alone is enough to keep them wary of us."

"Therefore, we must not make a move against the Uchiha. In fact, we should covertly assist them, letting them continue to stand at the forefront and face the Hokage and his advisors."

Seeing the elder fall silent, Hiashi added, "I know what you’re thinking—that the Hokage wouldn’t go that far. But as the Hyuga patriarch, I cannot gamble. Maintaining the status quo is our safest option."

"Fine," the elder relented, finally convinced.

Hiashi exhaled in relief, though inwardly he mocked the situation.

I can’t believe anyone would fall for this nonsense.

Ridiculous!

The Hyuga clan isn’t even in the same league as the Uchiha. On the surface, our Jonin numbers might be similar, but if they send out 15 elites, they could easily overwhelm our 30.

Especially when it comes to top-tier combat power.

The Hyuga have only me as an Elite Jonin. My late brother, Hizashi, was merely close to that level.

As for Kage-level strength? That’s ancient history for our clan.

Outside the main family’s self-absorbed bubble, who actually respects the Hyuga as anything more than scouts?

Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan boasts Fugaku and Shisui, both likely at Kage-level strength. During the last commotion, I managed to catch a brief glimpse of their chakra using my Byakugan. It was incredibly vibrant.

Then there’s Itachi and others—definitely Elite Jonin.

This is why the village leadership fears the Uchiha, not us.

Hiashi's gaze turned icy as he pondered.

"Still, if I let slip even a hint of wanting to collaborate with the Uchiha, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would you panic? This is your own doing. Who asked Shimura Danzo to stir up so much trouble in my clan?"

... *Elsewhere...*

"Bang!"

Yamanaka Inoichi slammed his fist onto the table, shattering it instantly. The tea and other items scattered to the floor in disarray.

Nara Shikaku sighed. "That was some fine tea I brought back from the Land of Tea."

Inoichi glared at him. "How can you think about tea at a time like this?"

Shikaku, sipping his tea leisurely, replied, "Isn’t this what we expected?"

As if on cue, a list had just been delivered from the Root division, summoning several individuals to report to Danzo’s faction immediately.

If the demands had been minor, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio wouldn’t have minded. After all, Root had suffered significant losses and needed reinforcements. Given the current situation, even the Hokage wouldn’t abandon Root.

But the list was excessive, causing Inoichi to lose his temper.

"This is absurd!" Inoichi growled. "He’s practically trying to absorb half of the Yamanaka clan. Why not just make me the head of Root while he’s at it? Or better yet, let Danzo become the Yamanaka clan leader!"

Shikaku smirked. "Danzo’s quite picky. Not just anyone meets his standards."

Choza Akimichi glanced at the list and shook his head. "This is too much. If we send all these people, the Yamanaka clan will be devastated for decades. Shikaku, we can’t let this happen."

"I know," Shikaku said calmly. "Reject it. And sign it as a joint decision from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans."

"In short, if Danzo wants people, he won’t get a single one. If he wants money, not a single coin."

"Agreed," the two nodded solemnly.

They were well aware of the implications.

The trio’s defiance would further strain relations with the Hokage faction.

If a conflict with the Uchiha escalated and the Hokage won, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans would likely face retribution.

Inoichi and Choza exchanged worried glances.

Noticing their unease, Shikaku reassured them with a smile. "Don’t worry. This time, it’s not just us rejecting Danzo’s demands."

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 42: Akimichi Torifū*

*Who is Nara Shikaku?*

The most brilliant mind in Konoha!

A renowned strategist across the entire Shinobi world.

When he makes up his mind, you can bet he’ll turn a passive situation into an active one.

The combined strength of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans might not be enough to alarm the Hokage and the others—so he decided to rope in more allies.

The clans hurt by Danzo in Konoha? Too many to count. You could find them with your eyes closed.

In truth, even under Konoha's current tense situation, the combined power of the Ino–Shika–Chō is enough to give the Hokage a headache.

*The Aburame Clan!*

Nara Shikaku, along with Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi, made an open visit to the Aburame Clan, where they were warmly welcomed by Aburame Shibi.

Although you couldn’t tell from his expression, every single available jōnin of the Aburame Clan—except one who was on a mission—came out to greet them. That alone spoke volumes about the clan's seriousness.

“It seems the Aburame Clan has made its decision.”

Shikaku smiled faintly.

Initially, he planned to come alone, but Shibi insisted that the Ino–Shika–Chō trio walk through their gates openly and proudly.

This delighted Shikaku. He knew this was their way of responding.

Shibi, while remaining expressionless, handed Shikaku a list.

Upon seeing it, Shikaku’s brows twitched wildly, and his face couldn’t help but spasm.

*Unbelievable! Just unbelievable!*

They had also received a list of "recruitments" from Danzo.

From the Akimichi Clan, Danzo wanted a few specific people.

From the Nara Clan, he sought several prominent individuals.

From the Yamanaka Clan, Danzo basically targeted everyone from teenagers to young adults.

Danzo had a strong penchant for mind-manipulating ninja.

Shikaku thought this was already extreme—until he saw Shibi's list. Only then did he understand the meaning of "there's always worse."

*First name on the list: Aburame Shibi.*

*What the—?!*

He wanted the head of the clan himself!

The other names on the list? All the jōnin of the Aburame Clan.

Basically, Danzo wanted to "optimize" them by incorporating the entire clan into his Root division.

“Is Danzo out of his mind?”

Yamanaka Inoichi, speechless, finally understood there were others worse off than him.

What had he said before?

That if Danzo tried to take him, the clan head, Danzo might as well be the head himself?

Now, looking at the Aburame situation, that almost became a reality.

Instantly, Inoichi felt a sense of relief.

No wonder the Aburame Clan wanted the Ino–Shika–Chō trio to make such an overt entrance—anyone would feel the same pressure.

These clans exist in Konoha for a reason:

To ensure their families can thrive and grow in a peaceful environment.

And now Danzo wanted to treat them as tools?

Shibi’s calm voice broke the tension: “Whether he’s insane or not, I don’t know. But I was about to lose my mind.”

*“Cough, cough!”*

Even Akimichi Chōza couldn’t help but cough repeatedly.

For Danzo to push the "perfect shinobi" Aburame Shibi to this point—truly remarkable.

Shibi was different from others.

He excelled in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, with a clear mind and calm demeanor. Virtually without flaws, he was often called the “perfect shinobi” and held a high status in Konoha. The number of S-rank missions he’d completed exceeded those of Shikaku, Chōza, and Inoichi combined.

If not for his personality, he might even have been more famous than Kakashi.

Shikaku took a deep breath and said, “Looking at this, our choice wasn’t wrong—Danzo’s truly lost it!”

Shibi nodded slowly. “With the Aburame Clan joining Ino–Shika–Chō, the combined strength of four clans should deter Danzo from acting recklessly.”

“It’s not four clans—it’s five,” Shikaku said with a faint smile. “The Inuzuka Clan has also agreed to join our alliance. What do you think, Shibi?”

Shibi’s fingers trembled slightly. Despite his sunglasses, Shikaku could feel the sharp gaze behind them.

Like the unity of the Ino–Shika–Chō, the Aburame and Inuzuka Clans also shared a strong bond.

Though Shibi had agreed to join the alliance, he had secretly worked with the Inuzuka Clan as a hidden safeguard—a mutual protection measure.

Now, Shikaku had laid it all out.

Although it was unclear how Shikaku convinced Inuzuka Tsume, breaking her agreement with Shibi, it was evident that special methods had been employed.

“…Fair enough.”

After a brief silence, Shibi calmly said, “The strength of five top clans is enough to pressure the Hokage. But, Shikaku, tell me your true goal.”

“If you’re just trying to protect yourself, I won’t believe it.”

Shikaku joked, “If I said I wanted to become Hokage, would you believe me?”

“I would,” Shibi replied flatly, “but you won’t succeed.”

Shikaku’s smile froze for a moment before he laughed. “Fine. I’ll be direct—I want to propose a candidate for the Fifth Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi is getting old.”

“The Fifth Hokage?”

Shibi nodded slightly. “Who’s your candidate?”

Chōza and Inoichi also looked on curiously.

They knew Shikaku intended to push for a new Hokage but weren’t sure who it would be.

Shikaku smiled faintly and turned his gaze to a towering figure.

“Me?”

Chōza pointed to himself, stunned. “You want me to be Hokage?”

“In your dreams!” Shikaku rolled his eyes. “I’m talking about Lord Torifū!”

*Torifū?*

Everyone froze.

Akimichi Torifū?

That was an unexpected name.

They’d thought Shikaku might choose Jiraiya or Tsunade.

“What’s wrong?”

Shikaku chuckled. “Don’t you think Torifū-senpai is qualified?”

Chōza and Inoichi fell silent.

Of course, they’d love that outcome.

It would mean the Ino–Shika–Chō would have someone become Hokage, bringing undeniable benefits to the three clans.

The Sarutobi family’s monopoly on the Hokage position would seem maintained but, in reality, would be broken.

However, would Shibi agree?

The Aburame and Inuzuka Clans shared a close relationship, with Shibi as their implicit leader.

If he approved, the five clans combined could make this a reality.

After all, Torifū was one of the Second Hokage’s disciples, a peer of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo.

Though slightly younger than Hiruzen, his secret techniques allowed him to remain at his peak strength. While not the strongest, he was easily among Konoha’s top ten.

Unlike the Cloud Village, Konoha didn’t require the Hokage to be its strongest.

In terms of reputation, Torifū barely met the mark.

“Impossible!”

After some thought, Shibi rejected the idea without hesitation. “Torifū-senpai is certainly qualified, but he’s too old.”

A ninja’s prime typically lasted from ages 40 to 45, after which they began to decline.

Torifū, thanks to his clan’s secret techniques, had extended this period but was now nearing 60. His strength must be waning.

Even if he became Hokage, how long could he serve?

In three to five years, Konoha would face another transition, further destabilizing the village.

Shibi looked curiously at Shikaku.

He could think of these issues—couldn’t Konoha’s “brain” foresee them?

“Hmm, you make a good point!” Shikaku smiled. “That’s why I’ve revised my plan: we’ll nominate Jiraiya or Tsunade. But first, Torifū-senpai will serve as an interim Hokage. How about that?”

(Chapter End)  

*Chapter 43: The Furious Hiruzen Sarutobi*

*Acting Hokage?*

Hearing this, everyone present was stunned.

Shibi Aburame calmly asked, "Shikaku, was this your real goal all along?"

Shikaku Nara smiled faintly and replied evenly, "When Elder Torifu acts as the interim Hokage, we can send someone to locate Tsunade or Jiraiya and have them return to officially assume the position of the Fifth Hokage."

"Agreed!"

After a brief moment of consideration, Shibi decisively nodded in agreement.

Shikaku, unsurprised, smiled. "Pleasure working with you."

"Pleasure working with you."

It was impossible for someone like Torifu Akimichi to directly become the Hokage, given his age and the foundation of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

Unless Torifu were twenty years younger!

So, having him serve as interim Hokage would make it easier for the other clans of Konoha to accept the transition.

As for Tsunade and Jiraiya, whether they returned to take on the Hokage role—and when they did—would be up to them.

In the meantime, Torifu would manage Konoha temporarily. During this period, Shikaku would have ample opportunities to carry out his plans.

At the very least, the eventual Fifth Hokage would find Shikaku's influence ever-present by their side.

That was his true objective.

For the Aburame and Inuzuka clans, their demands weren’t significant. Shikaku, with his current status, could help fulfill their needs without relying on the Fifth Hokage.

---

"What did you just say?"

The Third Hokage stared in shock at Uchiha Itsuki. "You accepted a mission to leave the village?"

Wow, that expression. I'd give it a solid 99 out of 100!

It was so convincing, Itsuki almost started doubting Itachi's loyalty himself.

No wonder you managed to manipulate Itachi into a broken state.

No wonder you got Danzo to work under you for decades.

No wonder...

This man is a master of deception, Itsuki mused internally.

I’m still too inexperienced. My expressions lack this level of nuance. My roleplaying is way too over-the-top.

Hiruzen Sarutobi—this is the guy to learn from!

He fully embodied the definition of "hypocrisy."

The epitome of shamelessness!

I still have a long way to go.

"Though I’m the deputy head of the Uchiha clan and the captain of the Konoha Police Force, I am still a Konoha shinobi. Fulfilling missions is a responsibility I can’t shirk. Every shinobi must serve the village. No exceptions."

Itsuki began weaving his verbal magic.

How about that?

Impressive, huh?

Doesn't it sound better than a melody?

"That’s why, Lord Hokage, I’ll take this mission seriously and ensure I don’t embarrass Konoha."

Hiruzen glanced at the overly earnest Itsuki, then at the D-rank mission he’d accepted.

The Third Hokage was tempted to ask, "Does this even cover your travel expenses?"

Even though their rivalry was already out in the open, this was still a bit much.

After a pause, Hiruzen said, "Itsuki, having a shinobi like you in Konoha is a blessing for the village. I’m proud of you."

Seriously? You’re incredible for keeping this act going.  

I feel secondhand embarrassment so intense I could dig a three-bedroom house with just my toes.

Fine. Let’s see who breaks character first!

Itsuki snapped to attention and shouted with gusto, "For the villagers!"

Hiruzen gritted his teeth, refusing to admit defeat. He seemed on the verge of saying more when—

Bang!

A ninja burst through the door.

"What’s going on?"

Hiruzen's brows furrowed instantly.

For an ANBU member to act so hastily—was it a Uchiha rebellion?

He glanced at Itsuki discreetly, his chakra already circulating, ready to unleash a powerful jutsu.

But Itsuki looked equally surprised and on guard. "What’s happening? Lord Hokage is here—could it be Danzo is dea—cough, I mean, are we under attack from another village?"

You wish! I know you dream of me and Danzo kicking the bucket.

The Third Hokage maintained a blank expression and asked the ANBU, "What is it?"

The ANBU leaned in and whispered something into Hiruzen's ear.

Instantly, the Third Hokage’s body stiffened.

What now? Itsuki wondered, puzzled.

The Hokage looked enraged!

Had something upset him?

Hurry up and share the bad news so I can enjoy it.

"Ahem," Hiruzen coughed twice, then looked at Itsuki. "Itsuki, if you have business to attend to, go take care of it first."

"I’m not in a rush, Lord Hokage. I’ll wait for you."

Get out! 

Hiruzen took a deep breath and stared icily at Itsuki. "Hurry back. With excellent shinobi like you, Konoha is lucky to have your protection. The outside world is dangerous nowadays."

"Alright."

Itsuki reluctantly glanced at the ANBU, his gaze making the poor agent shiver.

Hiruzen frowned but said nothing.

The information the ANBU had brought wouldn’t remain secret for long, but he didn’t want Itsuki to hear it now.

This is humiliating enough as it is!

If Itsuki found out, it would only stir up more trouble.

Damn it! Why didn’t he leave sooner?

"Danzo!"

Once Itsuki was fully gone, the Third Hokage gritted his teeth and spat the name.

There was no need to guess—it had to be Danzo’s doing.

Otherwise, there was no way the Hyuga clan, Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans would have reacted so strongly.

That damned man. What has he done now?  

"Summon Danzo immediately!" Hiruzen bellowed.

The ANBU flinched and vanished with a body flicker.

Meanwhile, Danzo had just received rejection letters from the Ino-Shika-Cho and Aburame clans, as well as the Inuzuka clan.

The letters were firm in tone, with the signatures of all five major clans attached.

The implied threat was unmistakable.

Danzo ripped the letters apart in fury.

His gaze turned savage as he growled, "Selfish fools! They don’t deserve to be called shinobi. They lack the spirit of sacrifice! Konoha will crumble if left to them!"

Looking at the shinobi gathered before him, Danzo saw he had only 40 subordinates, with just three jonin among them. The rest were chunin.

This was the entirety of Root’s current manpower.

"Too few!" Danzo said, agitated.

Hiruzen had always curbed Root’s growth. Danzo had spent years covertly building his forces, amassing close to twenty jonin, but Itsuki had wiped them out in one fell swoop.

"Uchiha Itsuki!"

Danzo gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear Itsuki apart.

Now that the major clans had refused to lend him personnel, his plans to replenish Root’s ranks had hit a wall. His frustration only grew.

Whoosh!

An ANBU appeared before Danzo.

"Lord Danzo, the Hokage requests your presence in his office."

"The Hokage?" Danzo’s thoughts shifted.

Perfect. If the major clans won’t cooperate, I’ll have to wring some concessions out of Hiruzen! 

Tapping his cane, Danzo made his way to the Hokage’s office.

"What have you done?"

Danzo was met with a furious roar as soon as he entered, startling him so much that he almost dropped his cane.

"Hiruzen, what’s wrong with you?" Danzo said, annoyed.

"What’s wrong with me? I should be asking you that!" The Third Hokage jabbed a finger at Danzo. "What did you do to the Hyuga clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho that made them so defiant?"

"What could I have done?" Danzo sneered. "I merely requested some personnel. Didn’t I share the list with you?"

"Is that all?" Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What else could it be?" Danzo replied coldly. "Hiruzen, if you ask me, we need to use a show of force against these rebellious clans. They need to understand the consequences of defiance!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 44: I Thank You on Behalf of Konoha*

"Nonsense!"

The Third Hokage firmly rejected Danzo's proposal.

Dealing with the Uchiha, a clan that inspires resentment and hatred, had already caused unrest in the village, and now Danzo wanted to target the Ino-Shika-Cho trio? He was thinking too far ahead.

Those clans were highly regarded in the village.

The Hokage grew increasingly anxious as he thought about it. The Ino-Shika-Cho were not like other clans—they were strong and loyal supporters of the Hokage.

At this critical time, there was no way they would turn against him.

Other clans would start wondering, Hey, what happened to the Hokage? Why did even the Ino-Shika-Cho betray him? This would cast doubt on the Hokage's leadership.

Such a blow would be devastating.

Previously, the Hokage had used the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to maintain his rule and had benefited greatly from it. Now, however, the backlash was coming.

He paced back and forth in his office.

The Uchiha were probably rejoicing; it was no surprise, as the Ino-Shika-Cho being in trouble was practically the prelude to the collapse of the Hokage's stronghold.

Now, they weren’t even thinking about dealing with the Uchiha—they were more concerned with stabilizing themselves.

Suddenly, the Hokage stopped and cast a cold look at Danzo, saying, "Danzo, is the list of people you wanted from the Ino-Shika-Cho the one you showed me?"

Danzo replied firmly, "Yes!"

"You bastard!" the Hokage roared, pointing at Danzo. "I know you too well. You’re lying—bring me the real list."

"Hiruzen…"

"As Hokage, I order you to hand it over immediately."

After a moment of hesitation, under the Hokage’s cold gaze, Danzo reluctantly handed over the true list.

Unsurprisingly, the Hokage was overwhelmed after reading it and nearly fainted.

The original list had only a few Ino-Shika-Cho members—less than ten from the three clans combined.

The Hokage had calculated that, as a loyal supporter, Shikaku Nara would likely agree to lend a hand, so he had approved the list after removing a few sensitive names.

But Danzo’s actual list? It included over fifty people from the Ino-Shika-Cho, with the weakest among them being Chunin.

The Hokage was heartbroken just looking at it.

The Ino-Shika-Cho hardly had any Jōnin or Chunin left—you had almost taken their entire core group.

Danzo, why don’t you just take over as Hokage? And you even included the Aburame clan leader.

Danzo, you’re ruthless!

The Hokage looked at Danzo with trembling lips and asked, "What were you thinking? Are you out to get me?"

For real, Danzo, just admit it—when did you switch to the Uchiha’s side?

Don’t tell me the Ino-Shika-Cho didn’t side against me because of you!

Shikaku Nara is too mild-mannered; if it were me, I would’ve slapped you across your single eye by now.

Danzo’s voice was low but resolute. "Hiruzen, everything I do is for Konoha!"

The Hokage slumped back in his chair, his expression blank.

For Konoha. Again.

I thank you on behalf of Konoha! I thank your ancestors for eight generations!

Shimura Danzo, why are you so exceptional? Even as Hokage, I feel ashamed next to you.

After a long pause, he spoke in a hoarse voice. "You’re dismissed from all your duties, Danzo. From today, you are to remain at home and reflect."

"Hiruzen!"

Danzo protested angrily, "You can’t do this to me! And what about the Root? What will happen to it?"

Root was technically under the Anbu but was entirely independent and had grown into a powerhouse that no one could ignore.

Now Root was reorganizing and recruiting. What would happen to it without Danzo?

The Hokage replied calmly, "I’ll assign Koharu and Homura to Root."

"Those two?" Danzo scoffed angrily. "Hiruzen, are you insane? They’ll ruin Root."

Danzo didn’t just look down on those two fence-sitters; he outright dismissed them.

"It’s better than you destroying Konoha!"

Danzo’s eyes widened. "What did you say?"

The Hokage replied coldly, "Danzo, because of your recklessness, Root has lost a number of excellent ninjas. Moreover, you’ve created rifts between the Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho, Aburame, Inuzuka, and the Hokage’s office. Isn’t everything you’ve done tearing Konoha apart?"

"Haha!" Danzo laughed bitterly. "So now, all the blame is on me, right?"

"Isn’t it?"

"Yes, you’re absolutely right, Hiruzen!"

Danzo nodded slowly, giving the Third Hokage a deep look. "The Hokage is always right."

Does Sarutobi Hiruzen not know what Danzo had been doing?

Of course, he knew! He’d even helped, including with assassinating Fuunan.

Now that things were out of control, suddenly everything became Danzo’s responsibility.

Because he wasn’t Hokage.

If he were Hokage…

Danzo turned and left the Hokage’s office, pausing briefly when he saw someone approaching. A strange smile appeared on his face.

"Lord Danzo!"

The person greeted Danzo with a quick bow.

Danzo was about to speak when the Hokage's voice called from his office.

"Shisui? Come in."

"Yes!"

Uchiha Shisui quickly entered the office.

Danzo watched Shisui’s back thoughtfully before turning to leave.

"Lord Hokage!"

Uchiha Shisui knelt on one knee before the Hokage, looking up at him with respect.

Suddenly, Shisui’s expression shifted. "Lord Hokage, you…"

To Shisui, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked tired and pale, with deeper wrinkles than before.

It had only been a week since their last meeting, but Hiruzen seemed to have aged ten years.

"What is it?" The Third Hokage smiled faintly. "Don’t recognize me?"

"No, it’s just…" Shisui lowered his head, his voice quiet and sad.

"You’re a good kid, Shisui."

The Third Hokage rubbed his temples and sighed. "So much has happened recently."

Shisui clenched his fists and said, "Everything that’s happened is because of the Uchiha—it’s our fault."

"Yes," the Hokage replied directly. "Everything that’s happened is because of the Uchiha. But can we really blame the Uchiha? Blame Danzo. Blame me!"

"How can we blame you?"

"Because I’m Hokage. This is the Hokage’s responsibility!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen’s voice was resolute.

Looking at Hiruzen, Shisui closed his eyes and murmured, "It’s not your fault. Uchiha Itsuki—he’s the true source of all this."

"Lord Hokage, I will kill him myself!"

…

"Oh, is that so?"

Itsuki laughed as he looked at the people before him. "The Ino-Shika-Cho is causing trouble at a time like this? And they brought in the Aburame and Inuzuka clans too?"

Inahata spoke in a serious tone. "This is a good opportunity. Should we do something?"

"No, we do nothing," Itsuki replied without hesitation. "Stick to the original plan and ignore them."

The woman next to Itsuki, Uchiha Shiroha, furrowed her beautiful brow. "What about the Ino-Shika-Cho? We just leave them be?"

"Why should we care?" Itsuki replied indifferently. "We’ve already positioned them as enemies. If they choose a different path, they might even stand with us, which would benefit us. At worst, they’d return to where they started."

Shiroha’s tone was displeased. "You still plan to leave at a time like this?"

"Yes."

Itsuki gently lifted Shiroha’s smooth chin, smiling. "I told you—the original plan remains. No objections."

Inahata and the others exchanged glances and nodded. "Understood."

Hachidai sighed. "This is indeed an opportunity. If we could seize it…"

"There will be plenty of opportunities!" Itsuki interrupted. "We’re taking this step by step. The Uchiha can’t afford any mistakes now, and we can’t be sure if the Ino-Shika-Cho incident is a trap."

"Understood."

"Did you gather the information I asked for?"

"Here it is." Hachidai handed over a scroll, curious. "Sir, the Jashin Cult is just a small, malevolent group. Why are you interested in them?"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 45: Fugaku's Shock*

"You don't understand!"

Itsuki glanced at the scroll, chuckled softly, and said, "Within this might lie the opportunity for me to grow stronger."

The Cult of the Evil God, the undying body!

If he consumed them, would his divine tree undergo some sort of transformation?

Hidan from the original work—was his vitality merely robust, or was it a secret art of immortality?

And, he should take a trip to the Land of Grass. There was a member of the Uzumaki Clan there whose life force would surely satisfy the divine tree.

Her vitality alone was worth at least ten elite jonin, possibly bringing unexpected surprises.

"My lord, do you need us to accompany you?"

Tetsuka said gravely, "If you leave this time, Danzo and the others..."

"Isn't that the point?" Itsuki smiled. "I hope they send people to hunt me down—the more, the better!"

Itsuki shifted his gaze to the Hokage Rock.

His opponents were not out of time yet.

Although the Ino-Shika-Cho trio had begun opposing the Hokage and others, it didn’t mean Konoha would tolerate the Uchiha growing too powerful.

If it were just a direct confrontation between the Uchiha and the Hokage, Itsuki didn’t regard the clans aligned with Konoha's F4 as a threat.

Even if they had 3,000 Sarutobi Clan soldiers.

Four Susano'o leading a large force of Uchiha ninja could crush anything in their path!

Especially given his Mangekyo Sharingan ability, which was perfectly suited for group combat.

Itsuki covered one of his eyes.

But Konoha wasn’t limited to just 10,000 ninjas.

Since Itsuki wasn’t part of the village’s upper echelon, he couldn’t be certain of the exact number of ninjas Konoha could muster—at least 20,000, and 30,000 was very possible.

After all, this was the village that had faced off against the other four major villages multiple times and had recovered for several years since.

It deserved its title as the strongest ninja village!

Among them were many elite ninjas—like the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and Aburame Shibi—who could still give even Itsuki a headache.

It needed to be approached step by step!

"Bang!"

At that moment, the office door swung open, and Fugaku walked in, holding some paperwork.

"Itsuki, this expenditure on resources—huh!"

Fugaku froze, staring dumbfounded at the eight people in the office.

Tetsuka and Inoka being here didn’t surprise him. The issue was...

*Why are you here, Uchiha Nobusuke?!*

Previously, during a clan meeting, Nobusuke—a pacifist elder who openly challenged Itsuki—was dealt with harshly.

Later, he was appointed as a squad leader in Konoha's Police Force.

However, the duties of the Police Force conflicted with pacifist ideals. Even though Itsuki had ordered the Uchiha to meddle less, they couldn’t stay out of everything.

If they did intervene, the villagers—under Danzo’s long-term manipulation—would grow resentful.

Many believed that once Nobusuke joined the Police Force, Itsuki would quickly put him in his place.

Yet here he was...

With a playful smile, Fugaku asked, "Elder Nobusuke, what are you doing here?"

Nobusuke, unbothered, replied calmly, "I am the squad leader of Konoha's Police Force. Reporting tasks to the captain—what’s strange about that?"

Fugaku snorted lightly and looked directly at Itsuki.

*So, Nobusuke was already one of Itsuki’s people.*

*Reporting tasks? What nonsense!*

Looking around the office, Fugaku noticed everyone present.

Tetsuka, Inoka...

All core members of Itsuki's faction.

Gazing at the smiling Itsuki, Fugaku thought to himself, *Just how much strength is this kid hiding? And it’s even deeper than I imagined!*

"Clan leader, do you need something?"

Itsuki smiled faintly. Konoha’s situation was becoming clearer and tenser. He needed to reveal more of his strength to solidify his dominance over the Uchiha, preventing anyone from harboring improper thoughts.

With his abilities, although he noticed Fugaku approaching, he intentionally didn’t react.

*I want you to see.*

Fugaku composed himself and stepped forward calmly. "This resource expenditure—it has your signature? Isn’t the quantity too large?"

Though Uchiha Itsuki was the deputy clan leader and captain of the Police Force, Fugaku was still the clan leader and wielded significant power. Many decisions required his input.

Itsuki didn’t intend to circumvent him, either.

At forty years old, Fugaku was at his peak as a ninja. Even without using his Mangekyo Sharingan, he had Kage-level strength. With it, he could easily overpower the current Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Such an important force—Itsuki naturally wanted him on his side.

Covering his left eye, Itsuki was confident he could win him over.

"Yes," Itsuki replied, glancing at the report Fugaku had tossed over. "That’s my signature."

Fugaku frowned. "Itsuki, I understand your desire to improve the Uchiha’s quality of life and strengthen our ninjas. But such a large-scale resource allocation, while effective in the short term, what about the long term?"

"Ha! The clan leader thinking long-term—that’s rich!"

A mocking voice interrupted. "Do you ever stop to wonder, how did the Uchiha fall to this state in the first place? Who’s to blame?"

Fugaku’s expression darkened as he turned to glare at the speaker.

*Uchiha Shin’ya!*

A well-known jonin of the Uchiha and one of Itsuki’s staunchest supporters, Shin’ya had been one of the first to side with him.

Meeting Fugaku's gaze, Shin’ya didn’t back down. His own glare was even colder.

"And now you’re worried? Where were you before?" Shin’ya sneered. "If not for the relocation of the clan, would the Uchiha have fallen to such a state?"

After the Nine-Tails' attack, the Uchiha were forced to move out of their original territory, abandoning vast properties.

Once one of the wealthiest clans alongside the Senju, the Uchiha’s assets were devastated, leaving them barely able to sustain themselves.

And where did those assets go?

They were divided among the Hokage faction.

Whenever Shin’ya thought of this, his hatred boiled over.

At the time, he had called for war with the village, even if it meant the Uchiha's annihilation. However, Fugaku ordered his arrest.

Unaware that without Itsuki’s intervention, the Uchiha would have been completely wiped out, with their treasured jutsu absorbed into the Sarutobi Clan.

"Itsuki, your subordinate lacks discipline," Fugaku said coldly. "Need me to teach him a lesson?"

"Ha!" Shin’ya sneered, his disdain palpable. "Teach me? With what?"

Fugaku’s chakra flared, clashing with Shin’ya’s in a violent wave.

"Bang!"

Fugaku stumbled back a step.

"You... an elite jonin?"

Fugaku blurted out in shock, his gaze sweeping over the others. They all remained unfazed.

An impossible thought crossed Fugaku’s mind.

*Could all seven of them be elite jonin?*

The notion left Fugaku dizzy.

*What the hell—are you kidding me?!*