The Mysterious Organization Controlling Konohagakure from the Shadows

It was already noon. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat silently in the Hokage's Office, watching the program looping on the television:

Shimura Danzō's disgraceful appearance when facing "Shisui Uchiha," and the bloody corpses of the Uchiha Clan's dead;

His humiliation when "Shisui Uchiha" questioned him into speechlessness before countless ninja and civilians, leaving him unable to refute a word;

Kakashi's public defection and accusations, and the Wood Style Ninjutsu unleashed by the Wood Style ninja;

As well as countless detailed, brutally extreme scenes from Root's human experimentation base, the experiment logs recording how many innocent lives had been consumed as experimental materials day after day, year after year...

Everything had been thoroughly recorded on video, then made public and spread through television and online channels.

Every image now entering his sight was carving up his soul, over and over, without end.

It was practically about to turn him into "dumpling filling."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were also there. Frowning, they asked the personnel in charge, "Can't you find a way to stop it? Are we really supposed to let that Uchiha remnant slander us like this?"

Shikaku Nara gave a helpless bitter smile and explained, "This is the condition Shisui agreed to in exchange for not directly attacking Konohagakure, and there is no room for negotiation. If we want to stop these videos from being broadcast and spread, we must first defeat Shisui Uchiha."

The two fell silent. There truly was no way to handle that. Trading words was still better than having Konohagakure destroyed outright by a Perfect Susanoo.

"We're also urgently producing videos to refute the rumors. They can be released as early as this afternoon. The Third Hokage has led Konohagakure for decades. I believe everyone will still be more willing to trust the Third Hokage!"

Shikaku Nara then laid out Konohagakure's response. Relevant experts and professionals urgently gathered from across the Land of Fire had already begun work as well.

"Shisui Uchiha made such a huge commotion just for this? Impossible. He must have some other scheme!"

Utatane Koharu suddenly changed the subject and began speculating about what Shisui Uchiha truly intended. She solemnly proposed, "All active Jonin must undergo a strict review to prevent another incident like Kakashi Hatake's, especially those who were once close to Minato Namikaze!"

Shikaku Nara hurriedly tried to dissuade her. "Elder Koharu, this will push many people to the opposing side!"

"If we don't investigate them, does that mean they won't stand on the opposing side?"

Shikaku Nara had no answer to Utatane Koharu's retort and could only look toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hiruzen, you can't hesitate any longer!"

Mitokado Homura joined in urging him. Everyone present understood that this was not the most important matter. The most important thing was what Shisui had said:

"Those you once cast into hell will stand in the position of Hokage and publicly judge you Rogue Ninja before everyone in Konohagakure... Don't be too anxious. That day will come very soon."

Would they also be among those judged? And who was the person who would soon stand in the position of Hokage?

By ordinary reasoning, someone who wanted to become Hokage could not simply emerge out of nowhere. That person had to already hold a high position within Konohagakure. Who was he?

The two Council Elders cast seemingly casual glances at Shikaku Nara. This man was quite suspicious as well!

Cold sweat was already breaking out across Shikaku Nara's back...

In a safe house Daren Yi had prepared for himself, he casually tossed the Sasuke Uchiha he had picked up onto a bed in one of the rooms.

Daren Yi scratched his head in slight frustration. Maybe he should just leave Sasuke here alone. With "Shisui Uchiha" as a deterrent, no one would dare touch him easily anyway, so his safety was guaranteed.

As for daily life, Sasuke could take care of himself. Hadn't Naruto lived on his own all these years too?

Izumi Uchiha cheerfully turned on the television to admire her masterpiece. Sitting on a tall stool, she smugly swung her feet and asked Daren Yi, "At this rate, Hiruzen Sarutobi won't be able to remain Hokage for much longer, right? Once everyone knows his true face, if he can't be Hokage anymore, then... he'll only be able to become a Rogue Ninja?"

Daren Yi laughed speechlessly. How could it be that simple? This alone was not enough. He sat down beside the girl and explained, "No. Just because everyone knows the Third Hokage might be a conspirator, will they reject Hiruzen Sarutobi?

"No. They don't choose whoever is righteous. They choose whoever is Hokage! Or rather, they choose whoever is strong!

"That includes not only personal strength, but also influence and the size of the organizations one controls.

"Today, it might look like I convinced many people, but in truth, the evidence is seriously insufficient. Most people are merely half-convinced at best. Even if they are dissatisfied with the Third Hokage, they will not truly step forward to oppose him.

"Justice doesn't have that kind of power!

"Most people are willing to wave flags and shout for justice, but if they must give up everything they currently possess for justice, the overwhelming majority cannot do it.

"So, we need an organized force to confront the Third Hokage head-on, then completely crush his power as well, seize control of Konohagakure from top to bottom, and thoroughly settle accounts with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Only then will everyone accept branding Hiruzen Sarutobi a Rogue Ninja. Otherwise, if I forcibly kill him through martial strength, countless people will immediately begin missing and praising him.

"The organization that crushes Hiruzen Sarutobi must also come from within Konohagakure. It absolutely cannot be some mysterious force with no roots or an outsider, because that would provoke hostility and resistance from everyone in Konohagakure.

"This force would best have a certain line of succession with Konohagakure's current upper ranks, so they don't choose death over submission and fight to mutual destruction.

"It would be best if it also had undercover spies with considerable standing in every Ninja Clan.

"Those undercover spies would preferably be talented, prestigious ninja with the potential to rise and become Clan Heads.

"Not only must there be undercover spies among the upper ranks, the organization should also have many core members in every profession and field, both inside and outside Konohagakure. Naturally, it would need even more grassroots members as well.

"Members should ideally have a foothold in every corner of Konohagakure, even throughout the entire Land of Fire, using that to completely spread the organization's influence. Only then would such an organization be stable enough."

"...Are you dreaming?"

Izumi Uchiha rolled her beautiful eyes. She did not look like an Uchiha at all, but more like someone from the Hyuga House. "Where could an organization as exaggerated as the one you described possibly exist? How could Konohagakure have such a massive organized force?"

"It does exist! It was personally founded by me..."

Daren Yi's voice sank low, his aura as a hidden final boss fully unleashed. Taking the girl's hand, he led her to the computer in the house and solemnly opened a website. A mysterious page immediately appeared.

"The House of the 'Shamate' Tribe"

???

Izumi Uchiha had been so nervous that she held her breath, her face full of anticipation at witnessing a mysterious world.

But now, her head was filled with question marks.

Is something wrong with me, or is something wrong with you?