At the entrance of the Uchiha district, three armored elders stood beneath the cold moonlight, having waited for quite some time.
Uchiha Setsuna rolled his stiff shoulders first, the plates of his armor clinking softly. He glanced toward the Police Headquarters, where faint cheers could be heard, and clicked his tongue in disappointment.
"Tch. What a waste. Looks like there won't be any fighting tonight."
Beside him, Uchiha Hokori shot him an annoyed look.
"Put away that battle-hungry mindset."
"At the end of the day, we're all comrades of Konoha. If this can be resolved at the negotiation table, that's better than bloodshed."
"Comrades?"
Setsuna let out a cold laugh, his Sharingan flashing faintly in the dark.
"They only dared push this far because we've held back all these years."
"If you ask me, we should've fought like we did against the Senju—settle it once and for all and decide who truly deserves to be Hokage!"
"Decide your head."
Hokori snapped back without hesitation.
"Are our clan members' lives meaningless to you?"
"Are the Uchiha afraid of death?"
Setsuna shot him a sideways glance.
Hokori snorted.
"You saying I'm afraid?"
"Enough."
The old clan head finally spoke, cutting through the argument.
"With enemies at our borders, if we fight among ourselves, we're just handing victory to outsiders."
"This outcome… is something Ren and the clan are willing to accept."
Setsuna waved a hand, signaling the Uchiha behind them to disperse.
Then he looked at the clan head, eyes sharp beneath the moonlight.
"A bird can't fly without a head. A beast can't move without a leader."
"Everyone saw Ren's performance today."
"The arrangement decided at the clan meeting…"
"Shouldn't it be reconsidered?"
The clan head fell silent.
Before things could turn awkward, Hokori stepped in.
"Changing decisions too quickly isn't good for stability."
"The road ahead is long. Let's… observe a little longer."
He glanced at Setsuna.
"When the people's will aligns, the title will come naturally. No need to rush."
The night wind stirred their graying hair.
Their armored figures stood tall—like ancient pines rooted deep in the earth.
Setsuna didn't press further.
He simply looked toward the brightly lit Police Headquarters in the distance, a mix of pride and exasperation in his eyes.
"That brat Ren makes such a mess in there and doesn't even send someone to report back."
"Left three old men standing in the cold all night."
The clan head exhaled quietly, a complicated feeling rising in his chest.
The time he could buy for Uchiha Fugaku…
Was running out.
'From here on… he either proves himself or he doesn't.'
'No more room for hesitation.'
He let the thought go and smiled faintly.
"That boy Fugaku is the same."
"If we're being honest, among the three of us… Mikoto is still the most thoughtful."
"Thoughtful? She didn't send anyone either."
Hokori laughed, shaking his head.
"That girl—when she gets stubborn, even I can't handle her!"
He stepped forward, grabbing both of them by the arms.
"Come on! No point freezing out here!"
"Let's go heat up some sake. Tonight—we drink!"
—
Deep beneath Konoha.
Inside the Root base.
The vast underground chamber was carved with cold precision. Flickering torchlight stretched shadows along the stone walls, twisting them like restless ghosts.
The air was thick—
With the scent of old blood and chemicals.
Danzo Shimura stood atop a raised platform.
The rage he had shown earlier in the Hokage's office was gone.
What remained—
Was cold calculation.
"…Danzo-sama. The Third Hokage's negotiation at the Uchiha Police Headquarters—this concludes the report."
A Root shinobi knelt, voice devoid of emotion.
"I see."
Danzo's tone was indifferent, as if the turmoil shaking Konoha had nothing to do with him.
He turned slightly.
"And the army?"
Another figure emerged from the shadows.
"The Hokage's ANBU, along with reinforcements from various clans, have assembled at the northeastern gate."
"They await your arrival to depart for the front."
"Good."
Danzo's fingers traced the head of his cane.
Calm.
Measured.
He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi too well.
That old friend—
Always trying to maintain balance between factions.
And the clans?
United on the surface—
Self-serving underneath.
Today, he had raged.
Lost face.
Been ordered to the front.
But had he lost anything?
Eight expendable operatives.
That was all.
Their deaths didn't matter—
Only that they died at Uchiha hands.
Still—
With the Cursed Tongue Seal and the involvement of the Yamanaka clan—
There was no risk of information leaking.
He had played the fool.
Thrown a tantrum.
Paid a small price.
And in return—
He secured what truly mattered.
Clan support.
Command of the border forces.
A chance to recruit new Root members.
Real power.
All of it—
Firmly in his grasp.
When Hiruzen wanted it back?
He would pay dearly.
Danzo's lips curled faintly.
A perfect outcome.
'What a pity…'
'If only I could take the Nine-Tails to the battlefield.'
'The Cloud would be nothing.'
The thought stirred both desire—
And caution.
Memories surfaced.
Of Uchiha Madara at the Valley of the End.
A god of destruction.
Danzo had seen it once, from afar—
Guided by Tobirama Senju.
Fear.
Obsession.
Reverence.
All tangled together.
His hand brushed the bandaged arm at his side.
If he could unite—
The power of the Uchiha…
And Wood Release…
Then even Hiruzen would fall.
He would become—
The true Hokage.
"Send Team Shin."
"Monitor the Nine-Tails jinchūriki."
"If any Uchiha make contact—report immediately."
His voice was cold.
Final.
Then he turned.
"Let's go."
"Time to meet the Cloud."
Danzo stepped forward—
Ambition burning quietly within him.
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