Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk.
Before him stood the heads of Konoha's major clans, summoned early in the morning by ANBU.
"The Byakugan of the Hyuga clan has always provided unmatched battlefield insight," Hiruzen said with a warm smile. "And the coordination of the Ino–Shika–Cho has long been the backbone of this village. Konoha's stability today would not exist without your support."
"You overpraise us, Lord Hokage," the Hyuga clan head replied steadily. "Protecting the village is simply our duty."
"Under your leadership, we have only fulfilled our roles," the Nara clan head added respectfully.
The others nodded in agreement.
Hiruzen gave a satisfied nod. Then his tone shifted, growing heavier.
"But the current situation is difficult. The other villages are stirring, and our strength is stretched thin. Danzo's earlier request for reinforcements… was made out of necessity."
The clan heads remained composed.
They had expected this.
Refusing Shimura Danzo was one thing.
Refusing Hiruzen—
Was another.
They were not the Uchiha.
They could not afford such defiance.
The Nara clan head was just about to respond—
When the office door was suddenly slammed open.
An ANBU captain rushed in, dropping to one knee without waiting for permission.
"Lord Hokage! Urgent report!"
"Hurry."
"The Uchiha Police Force… has detained eight ANBU operatives near their compound, under the pretext of capturing spies."
"Several are seriously injured!"
"…What?!"
Hiruzen shot to his feet.
The warmth vanished from his face, replaced by shock—and rising fury.
Veins bulged at his temple.
But then—
A thought struck him.
He had never ordered ANBU to monitor the Uchiha.
'Wait… Danzo again?'
'At a time like this, provoking the Uchiha?!'
'And the Uchiha… they've gone too far.'
His thoughts raced.
Root operatives or not—
They were still under the ANBU banner.
If the Uchiha dared attack them today—
Would they storm the Hokage Tower tomorrow?
Slowly, Hiruzen sat back down.
His expression darkened.
This was no longer just anger toward Danzo—
But caution toward the increasingly defiant Uchiha.
'Their demands are still unresolved…'
'Is this pressure? Or something else?'
Silence filled the room.
The Hyuga clan head lowered his gaze slightly.
The Nara clan head let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his brow as he exchanged a glance with his allies.
Their prepared responses—
Were now meaningless.
The Uchiha, who should have endured quietly—
Had struck first.
Which meant only one thing.
They had been pushed too far.
So—
What had happened?
And more importantly—
Where should they stand?
Before anyone could speak—
Bang!
The door was thrown open again, slamming violently into the wall.
Everyone frowned.
They knew that entrance.
Shimura Danzo strode in, his face ashen, one eye burning with fury.
He ignored everyone else and marched straight to the desk, striking the floor hard with his cane.
"Hiruzen! You heard it, didn't you?! The Uchiha!"
"They dared to attack and detain my subordinates! This is rebellion—open rebellion!"
His voice was twisted with rage.
He turned sharply, his gaze sweeping across the clan heads like a venomous serpent.
"Sensei Tobirama Senju warned us long ago—the Uchiha are a disease. Born evil. Never to be trusted!"
"We should have—"
"Enough, Danzo."
Hiruzen cut him off sharply.
His mood had worsened beyond even the report itself.
Some things—
Could be said in private.
But here?
Now?
Trying to push the Uchiha into rebellion—and drag the entire village into it?
No one would accept that.
The clan heads' expressions cooled.
The Hyuga were the first.
No one here was foolish enough to rush into war with the Uchiha over a few words.
Those red-eyed warriors—
Since the fall of the Senju—
Had no equal among the clans.
Even if the Uchiha rebelled—
It wasn't their problem to solve.
"Not conducive to unity?" Danzo sneered. "The Uchiha are the ones destroying unity!"
He turned back to Hiruzen, his voice rising into a furious roar.
"They've already rebelled! We must mobilize all available forces and eliminate them before it's too late!"
The word "eliminate" cut through the room like a blade.
The clan heads' expressions shifted subtly.
He had crossed a line.
"Enough, Danzo!"
Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk and stood.
His voice was thunderous.
"Look at yourself! Calling for blood without evidence—against your own people!"
"Is this the conduct expected of Konoha's leadership?!"
"Eliminate? Rebellion? What exactly are you trying to turn this village into?!"
He pointed directly at Danzo.
"The greatest threat we face right now is at our borders—not the Uchiha you chose to provoke!"
"You should be preparing for war—not tearing the village apart from within!"
Danzo froze, momentarily speechless.
But Hiruzen did not give him a chance to respond.
"I am issuing a direct order as Hokage."
His voice was absolute.
"Gather your forces immediately and proceed to the northeastern front."
"Take command of the border troops and prepare for Kumogakure's advance."
"Without my permission—you will not leave your post."
He locked eyes with Danzo, every word deliberate.
"Your battlefield is at the border—not here."
"Move. Now."
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