The Uchiha Clan Is Also Konoha's Uchiha Clan

Knowing that Chiyue had become Tsunade's disciple meant that he had joined the Hokage's faction.

It meant that even with Uchiha blood, while he could not enter the center of power, he at least would not be targeted like the other Uchiha Clan members.

A perfectly good plan had been disrupted just like that.

Chiyue alone was enough. If Uchiha Mikoto were also pushed onto Tsunade, it might give the Uchiha Clan ideas they should not have.

That was something the Third Hokage could not accept.

Even if he made an exception, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura would never agree.

"I remember now."

Jiraiya slapped his hand.

"Tsunade said this kid's cooking is delicious. She's been thinking about it ever since."

"..."

The Third Hokage was speechless. So Tsunade favored him because his cooking was good?

Seeing the Third Hokage frowning, Jiraiya decided to make himself scarce.

"Old Man, take your time thinking it over. I'm leaving first. I'll go to the Shinobi tomorrow."

Rather than stay here and ramble with the old man, he might as well go out and scout around for places where he could gather material.

Tsunade had been in Konoha lately, so he did not even dare visit the bathhouses, afraid she would catch him and beat him half to death with one punch.

"Mm."

The Third Hokage nodded and waved, signaling that Jiraiya could leave.

Waving the documents in his hand, Jiraiya jumped out the window.

Not long after Jiraiya left, someone arrived exactly as the Third Hokage had expected.

Konoha's Root—Danzo.

Had Root's reach grown too long?

Nothing that happened in the Hokage's Office Building could be hidden from him. Danzo would arrive within ten minutes, guaranteed.

That made the Third Hokage, as Hokage, somewhat uncomfortable.

I gave you the authority of Root, but that does not mean you can have Root's people infiltrate those around me.

"Hiruzen, I told you long ago that the Uchiha Clan cannot be trusted."

"The news cannot be kept hidden. Once it spreads, where will that leave your and my reputations?"

Shaking his head, the Third Hokage did not want to discuss this with Danzo.

"How is the investigation into the Land of Rain going?"

Over the past year or two, ever since Hanzō, the leader of Amegakure in the Land of Rain who called himself a demigod, had risen to power, Amegakure's conduct had become extremely aggressive.

According to intelligence gathered by the Anbu, Amegakure seemed to be showing signs of launching a war beyond its borders.

Under Hanzō's leadership, the small Amegakure had continuously expanded its military strength. The number of shinobi and their overall strength were also increasing.

Along with the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, the shinobi world, peaceful for many years, had begun to stir beneath the surface.

Aside from the isolated Land of Water, small clashes between the other nations had been breaking out with increasing frequency.

"Hanzō has not acted rashly, but we must remain on guard. If the Land of Rain, under Hanzō's leadership, annexes the Land of Grass, it will become another powerful enemy of Konoha."

As Amegakure's strength continued to grow, Hanzō, the so-called demigod, would surely not be content to remain confined within the harsh environment and sparse population of the Land of Rain.

Launching wars abroad, seizing other nations' lands, and plundering their populations were the only way for the Land of Rain to grow stronger.

Amegakure's first target would be the Fire Country's ally—the fence-sitting Land of Grass.

No nation that was too powerful could emerge in the buffer zone between the great powers. That was the unspoken understanding of the Five Great Nations.

If the Land of Rain launched a war beyond its borders, it would be playing with fire.

"The Anbu and Root are watching the Land of Rain's movements at all times. At the first sign of anything unusual, the spies will send the intelligence back immediately."

Danzo was confident. He believed there was nothing wrong with his arrangements. Sooner or later, Hanzō would be unable to restrain himself.

"Let us hope Hanzō will not be blinded by war."

The Third Hokage sighed.

Danzo was a hawk, while the Third Hokage was a dove who advocated peace.

Even as a dove, if the Land of Rain launched a war to annex the Land of Grass or invade the Fire Country's territory, he would have no choice but to wage war against the Land of Rain. How had the topic drifted so far?

Danzo frowned in displeasure and said coldly, "Hiruzen, let us put the Land of Rain aside for now. But you cannot continue indulging the Uchiha Clan like this."

"Two brats actually want to refuse the village's arrangements! I knew the Uchiha Clan was evil by nature. Better yet—"

"Enough, Danzo!"

Seeing Danzo grow increasingly excessive, the Third Hokage could no longer tolerate it and snapped, "I will make arrangements for those two children. If they truly wish to form a two-person team, then I will approve it."

"We are all people of Konoha. The Uchiha Clan is also Konoha's Uchiha Clan."

"Go back. Keep a close eye on Amegakure's movements. Do not give them the chance to launch a war beyond their borders."

"But Root is short-handed—"

The Uchiha Clan and Amegakure were all nonsense. Danzo's ultimate goal was still Root, still his own power.

Although he had infiltrated the Anbu, only Root was power under his control. Only by expanding Root's ranks could his power continue to grow.

Expanding Root's ranks.

Danzo had brought it up many times, but he had never agreed.

The Third Hokage believed that in peacetime, with the Anbu and Root coordinating with one another, Root was nowhere near the point of needing expansion.

Yet now that the Land of Rain had begun to bare its sharp fangs, and a large number of Anbu shinobi had been sent out, manpower was becoming somewhat insufficient.

With Danzo bringing it up now, the Third Hokage could not refuse outright.

After considering it again and again, the Third Hokage said, "I will discuss this with Koharu and Homura. Go back first."

"I will await your news."

Having received the answer he wanted, Danzo left in satisfaction.

As for Chiyue and Mikoto, he had long since thrown them to the back of his mind. They were merely two Uchiha Clan brats, not worth his attention.

"Old Man, you wanted to see me?"

Tsunade had come straight from the hospital, still wearing her white coat.

"This is the application concerning Yagami Chiyue and Uchiha Mikoto."

The Third Hokage handed her the completed document.

"You called me here just for this?"