Nagato's Akatsuki was still in its infancy, and Kakuzu would never have left a fortune of 600 billion ryo for Konan. At present, Nagato and Konan's raw power was still a far cry from Obito's. Nagato's own physical condition was a major weakness; if Zetsu ever discovered it, he would be completely defenseless.
A thought struck Kawasaki. "Have Konan come see me. I have something for you both."
"I'll contact you with a paper crane when I arrive."
"Good."
His thoughts were interrupted. Kawasaki opened his eyes, finding himself still lying in bed. He stretched languidly. "Ah, this is exhausting. Being clan head is such a troublesome job."
After returning, Kawasaki learned that Fugaku had obtained the Time Sealing Formation from the priestess of the Land of Demons. So, something capable of countering space-time ninjutsu truly existed. It seemed keeping Fugaku alive was useful after all; otherwise, he would never have known about such a treasure. If not for the formation's inability to be used consecutively, Obito would likely already be dead.
Kawasaki immediately dispatched men to the Land of Demons once more. The situation there remained unclear. However, with the time-sealing artifact now in the clan's possession, the safety of his people was at last secured.
After Kawasaki agreed to become the clan head, Fugaku had announced the news to the clan. Now, all matters, large and small, had to be reported to Kawasaki. He never knew that being the head of a clan involved managing so many things. The profits from the food street, trade materials with the Sand Village, rewards for the births of clan members' children—all of it required his personal attention.
Though Kawasaki had previously manipulated the Uchiha from a grand, strategic level, pushing the clan to make significant progress, he had never handled the fine details himself. He had no excessive greed for power; with the looming threat of the Otsutsuki hanging over his head, avarice was pointless. Thus, for the past few days, Kawasaki had been selecting suitable individuals to delegate these various tasks to.
...
Konoha Village. Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage, Shimura Danzo, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu were all gathered. The Third Hokage had received a number of official communiques. These letters were from other ninja villages. Since the Uchiha were nominally part of Konoha, the guests invited to the clan head succession ceremony had all sent two replies. One was to inform Konoha for reception purposes, and the other was to avoid any misunderstandings. The second letter was a reply to the Uchiha themselves, confirming receipt of the invitation and stating whether or not they would attend.
"Take a look," the Third Hokage said, tossing the documents onto the table for Danzo to review.
Danzo and the two elders read through them in turn. The Stone, Cloud, and Sand Villages all indicated they would be sending representatives. There was no word from the Mist, so they likely wouldn't be coming.
"None of these people have pure intentions," Mitokado Homura said with a hint of worry.
The Third Hokage tapped another document with his pipe. It was also an official letter. "This one is from the newly established Sound Village. Their 'Otokage' will also be attending."
Danzo scoffed. "The leader of a minor village dares to call himself a Kage?" His disdain was not without reason. While there were many smaller nations and villages besides the five great ones, most were weak. Their strongest shinobi were typically elite jonin, and few at that. They couldn't amount to much. For someone to casually declare themselves a Kage without any real power to back it up was a surefire way to become a laughingstock outside their own village.
The Third Hokage shook his head. "This Otokage just held his inauguration ceremony. We don't know much about him. But Shisui and those hundred-odd Uchiha clansmen are indeed staying in the Sound Village."
"Hmph." For a moment, Danzo had forgotten that over a hundred capable Uchiha had left the village. "The Uchiha clan..." he muttered. "I suspect this Otokage is nothing more than a puppet propped up by the Uchiha."
The Third Hokage shook his head again. "This move by Uchiha Kawasaki is clearly meant to pressure us. Our relationship with the Uchiha was already strained. Now, he's bringing in this large group from other villages to blatantly probe our strength. If we don't take action soon, I fear Kawasaki will openly declare the Uchiha's secession from Konoha."
The Third Hokage's words were reasonable. After all, Kawasaki had previously demanded that Konoha publicly clarify the Uchiha clan's orders and actions during the Nine-Tails attack. But the Konoha leadership, concerned with their reputation, had been dragging their feet without giving a clear answer. Kawasaki was now using his inauguration as clan head to invite so many outsiders, clearly turning up the heat on Konoha.
Furthermore, in terms of strength, Itachi had already returned to the Uchiha clan. If Shisui returned as well, coupled with Kawasaki and Fugaku, the Uchiha would possess four Mangekyo Sharingan. Add to that the hundred-plus elite Uchiha returning and those who remained in the village, and the Uchiha now possessed the power to stage a revolution. Those hundred-plus elites were no pushovers; if they truly rebelled, they could turn the village upside down.
And yet, Konoha couldn't simply forbid them from returning. After all, it was the Third Hokage who had signed the documents declaring them as having run away from home. If they had simply run away, it was perfectly reasonable for them to return for a major event like the appointment of a new clan head. Kawasaki's maneuver had left the Third Hokage feeling a storm was about to break.
...
Inside the Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage tapped his fingers on the desk. "The rumors are already flying all over the village. There's no point in us delaying any longer."
The others were all aware of the recent talk circulating in the village. The rumor was that on the night of the Nine-Tails attack, the Uchiha clan had been acting on orders from Konoha's high command to protect non-combatants. This was entirely different from not participating in the battle. Years ago, no one would have believed such a rumor. The Uchiha were in charge of the police force and made enemies daily; who would speak up for them?
But the Uchiha of today were different. They were hardly ever seen patrolling the village anymore. They no longer served as the police force, nor did they rely on Konoha for missions. They had built a thriving restaurant business on their own. Now that this rumor had surfaced, many people's imaginations were running wild. Was it because of this mistreatment that the Uchiha had become so estranged from the village?
"The Hyuga clan really knows which way the wind blows!" Danzo said angrily. After the last incident, the Hyuga should have completely broken with the Uchiha and stood firmly with Konoha. But after receiving the position of honorary elder, the Hyuga had avoided any direct conflict with the Uchiha. Now, they were clearly helping them. Danzo was extremely displeased. The ANBU had traced the source of the rumors, and it led right back to the Hyuga.
Unfortunately, there was little they could do about the Hyuga clan. Konoha's situation was already precarious enough; they didn't dare provoke them. They could only turn a blind eye to the matter. Of course, compared to the Hyuga, they were far more concerned that the Uchiha would use the succession ceremony to stir up trouble.
"Hiruzen, I suspect the Uchiha are planning to make a move this time!" Danzo suddenly declared.
This time, the Third Hokage didn't rebuke Danzo as he usually would. He harbored the same fear.
Utatane Koharu suggested, "Why don't we just release the deployment orders from back then?"
Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement. "Let's see if it can calm Kawasaki's anger."
The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe, unable to think of a better solution. At this point, it seemed like their only option. The three of them turned to look at Danzo. It had been Danzo who had vehemently opposed the Uchiha's involvement back then. He was also the one who had orchestrated the subsequent manipulation of public opinion. Now that the issue had resurfaced, it seemed only Danzo could take the fall.
Danzo noticed their gazes and his expression soured. "Hiruzen, do you really think that will solve anything? The Uchiha are ambitious wolves. Even if we admit what happened, they will still rebel!"
The Third Hokage mentally calculated his forces. If the Uchiha rebelled now, how many ANBU could he deploy? How much combat strength did Root have left? Danzo had always been secretive about Root's true power. If Danzo's forces stood by and did nothing while the Uchiha revolted, Konoha would suffer devastating losses. Knowing Danzo's character, it was highly likely he would watch from the sidelines, waiting for Konoha and the Uchiha to cripple each other before making his move to seize power. Unless a victory was certain, Danzo himself was a major liability.
It seemed his only option was to mobilize the other great clans. If the Uchiha really rebelled, how many would step up to help? The key problem was dealing with those Mangekyo Sharingan. The slightest misstep would lead to utter chaos. For a moment, a heavy silence fell over the room.
*Knock, knock, knock...*
A knock on the door broke the Third Hokage's train of thought. A knock at this hour likely meant an important report.
"Come in," the Third Hokage said.
An ANBU operative entered and reported, "Lord Third, Lord Jiraiya has returned."
The Third Hokage's spirits lifted. "Jiraiya's back? Where is he?" With Jiraiya here, he should be able to keep the situation under control. In his youth, Jiraiya's skills weren't exceptional; he was considered the least talented of the three Sannin. But after his unexpected return from Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya had found his path. His power grew by leaps and bounds. If he weren't so carefree, he would have been more than qualified to be Hokage.
The ANBU member felt a prickle on his scalp under the Third's intense gaze. "Lord Jiraiya is not far from Konoha. He should arrive in about ten minutes."
The Third Hokage nodded repeatedly. "Good, good. Have him come see me the moment he enters the village."
"Yes, sir!" The ANBU operative quickly departed.
The door closed, leaving the four of them alone once more. The Third Hokage seemed to have regained some confidence with Jiraiya's return. "With Jiraiya here, the Uchiha shouldn't dare to act recklessly."
Seeing Hiruzen's demeanor, Danzo knew he was planning to back down again. "Hiruzen! The Uchiha of today are not the same as before. Are you just going to count on Jiraiya staying in the village forever?"
The Third Hokage paced back and forth. "For now, let's just get past this immediate crisis."
Danzo's heart sank. The Uchiha's momentum was at its peak, and the Third Hokage had been distancing himself from him recently. This might be his last chance. "What if Itachi and Shisui decide not to leave?" Danzo pressed, annoyed.
"I'll have Jiraiya handle it." The Third Hokage's mind, however, was on a different track. *Hmph, if the village really goes to war with the Uchiha, do you think I'd count on you to fight with all your might?*
Just Jiraiya alone felt like something was missing.
Seeing that the Third Hokage's mind was made up, Danzo snorted coldly. He would have to find another opportunity.
"However, we can make arrangements for Kawasaki's earlier request. After all, the Uchiha clan is still a part of our big Konoha family," the Third Hokage added.
The words sent Danzo into a rage. "Sarutobi Hiruzen! Are you planning to use me as a shield?!" Danzo had just managed to claw his way back to the position of honorary elder. He never expected that the Third Hokage, once a close comrade, would not only grow wary of him but now try to push him out as a scapegoat. Danzo realized the Third was trying to suppress him. He was being set up to take the blame, but with the situation as it was, Danzo was furious but could not voice his full dissent.
The Third Hokage said, "Weren't you the one who advocated for that course of action back then?"
"You... all of you!" It was indeed Danzo's proposal, but it had been a unanimous decision among the four of them.
"I disagree!" Danzo's eyes burned with fury.
The Third Hokage's patience wore thin. "At a time like this, you're still worried about your reputation?!"
"You will regret this, Hiruzen!"
"Enough! I am the Hokage!" The Third Hokage slammed his palm on the desk.
"Hey now, why's the old man so fired up?" Just then, a figure vaulted through the window. It was Jiraiya.
Danzo shot Jiraiya a glare. *It's all your fault. You could have come back any other time, but you had to show up now.* He let out a heavy snort and stormed out of the office, his face a mask of rage.
"What's with him?" Jiraiya scratched his head. Did Danzo eat a lit paper bomb?
Seeing that their business was concluded, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura also took their leave. The Third Hokage had been angry, but the sight of Jiraiya immediately lifted his spirits. Jiraiya usually seemed unreliable and irresponsible, but at critical moments, the man was truly dependable.
The Third Hokage smiled. "You've returned at the perfect time. If it weren't for you, Konoha would be in grave danger."
Jiraiya's expression turned serious. "Is this about Uchiha Kawasaki inheriting the clan leadership?" Although he hadn't gathered much intelligence on his way back, the Uchiha's movements were so significant that even civilians knew about it. Jiraiya had clearly heard the news.
The Third Hokage nodded. "You don't know. The Sound Village..." He showed Jiraiya the communiques. It was one thing for the other great villages to send representatives, but the leader of the Sound Village himself was coming, and he was bringing over a hundred Uchiha clansmen with him. Shisui was among them. Combined with Itachi, who had secretly returned earlier, and Fugaku, Kawasaki now commanded four Mangekyo Sharingan.
Although Jiraiya had fought Kawasaki before, who knew what the man was planning now?
...
"The leader of the Sound Village? Where did the Sound Village get a leader? They didn't even have a Kage last time I was there," Jiraiya said with curiosity.
The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe. "He just had his inauguration ceremony recently. It's the first village outside the five great nations to publicly declare it has a Kage."
Jiraiya nodded, not finding it too surprising. "The last time I was there..." He recounted everything he had seen and heard about the Sound Village's prosperity to the Third Hokage. "The Sound Village is developing at a startling pace, having monopolized nearly all the missions from the surrounding smaller nations. With the Uchiha's restaurant industry backing them, the Sound is no longer a small village."
"I suspect the Sound Village is a puppet state propped up by the Uchiha," the Third Hokage surmised.
Jiraiya laughed heartily. "Old man, why bother with all this guesswork? Why not just ask Orochimaru directly?"
The Third Hokage's expression shifted. He looked at Jiraiya intently. "Jiraiya, I'm asking you seriously now. Do you want to be the Hokage? Answer me honestly."
For the Third, if Jiraiya were willing to take the seat, his own burden would be greatly eased. Jiraiya's loyalty to the village was unquestionable. He was his student, the master of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, and a shinobi of the highest caliber. His only flaw was his unreliability. While he couldn't guarantee Jiraiya could suppress the Uchiha, he could at least ensure Konoha's safety.
"Me?" Jiraiya was taken aback. Seeing the serious look on the Third's face, he knew it wasn't a joke. He slowly frowned and began to think. He paced a few times, his eyes sweeping over the mountain of documents on the desk. One moment, his mind flashed to images of drinking and enjoying his freedom. The next, he pictured himself sitting at that desk, buried in paperwork. Then, he saw the image of Minato sacrificing himself for the village.
Jiraiya sighed. "Sorry, old man."
Though he had expected it, hearing Jiraiya's direct refusal still stung the Third Hokage. The power of the Hokage was intoxicating. In his youth, he too had been ambitious, dreaming of making Konoha the strongest village. But in the end, he found he had made many mistakes. He finally understood that being Hokage was a truly exhausting burden.
If only he had known... The Third's mind flashed through many faces: Nawaki, Dan Kato, Sakumo Hatake, Tsunade, Orochimaru... Finally, the image settled on Orochimaru.
The Third Hokage hesitated no longer. He spoke directly. "I have prepared what Orochimaru wants. How can I get it to him? I want to meet with him."
Jiraiya seemed to guess the Third's intentions. "Old man, are you sure about this? Perhaps Tsunade would be a good choice too."
The Third Hokage shook his head. Jiraiya hadn't fully grasped his plan. While recalling Orochimaru was partly to consider him as a candidate for Fifth Hokage, the more pressing need was to gather as much strength as possible to counter the Uchiha. After all, no matter how powerful Jiraiya was, how much could one man handle alone?