Outside the courtyard of Setsuna Uchiha, a large crowd had gathered.
Uchiha Clan members, the heads and jounin of Konoha's major clans, the Third Hokage and his Anbu.
Restrained by a variety of factors, none of the three factions dared to make a move, merely standing in a silent standoff.
--
They were waiting!
Waiting for the outcome of the two distant battlefronts.
The victor of the battlefront where Danzo and Obito were located would determine the next attitude of all three parties.
If the Uchiha won in the distant battlefront, it would mean the arrival of the clan's true combatants for the Uchiha present, preventing further clan casualties. If the distant battlefront was defeated, the Uchiha here would feel an even deeper despair, and the power that erupted under extreme despair would be even greater.
It could be said that regardless of the battle's outcome, waiting would ultimately benefit the Uchiha.
The Third Hokage was waiting!
Without a doubt, wiping out the Uchiha's elderly, women, and children would be easiest right now, but...
Once he ordered the Anbu to attack, the third-party observer clans would inevitably stand with the Uchiha. Therefore, the Third Hokage could not strike; he could only wait for the distant outcome to be decided.
If Danzo won, the Third Hokage would directly tear off his hypocritical mask, merging his Root with the Anbu to launch a fatal assault on the clans and the Uchiha, initiating a hereditary dictatorship in Konoha from this day forward.
If Danzo was defeated... the clans would stand by his, Hiruzen Sarutobi's, side.
Sarutobi had securely held the position of Hokage for decades not by combat power, but by his political acumen. He knew the hidden agendas within the clans' hearts like the back of his hand.
The clans were likewise