Your Regret, My Shadow

"I'm the one who calls the shots here. I apologize to you, and I hope you can forgive this old man's behavior just now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's apology appeared very sincere, but Hoshiryu Uchiha was disdainful, which only disappointed Mito Uzumaki further.

Since he had already made a mistake, as someone in power, he could have simply stubbornly continued down the wrong path.

Someone who stubbornly insisted on his views regardless of right or wrong was a tyrant, but someone who wavered back and forth and could not make up his mind was undoubtedly a foolish ruler.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi could have supported Danzo's opinion and acted against Hoshiryu Uchiha under Mito Uzumaki's watchful gaze,

then although the Uchiha problem might have become impossible to resolve forever, it would at least have shown his decisiveness and barely qualified him as a leader.

But this behavior of lacking courage and changing his will the moment someone influenced him—

even made Mito Uzumaki feel regret, causing her to question whether her original decision had been right.

Though she snuffed out that thought in an instant, it was like a seed planted in Mito Uzumaki's heart, waiting for the day it would blossom and bear fruit.

In fact, Hoshiryu Uchiha had known from the moment Mito Uzumaki arrived at the Hokage Tower.

Otherwise, he would not have acted so aggressively. What if things got out of hand?

This time, he had not only met Hiruzen Sarutobi, but also Shimura Danzō.

And he had achieved his goal as well.

Though the sudden attack had been impossible for him to predict, he had used this opportunity to understand the Third Hokage's attitude toward the Uchiha Clan.

It was much the same as in later generations, carrying a certain prejudice.

And under Danzo's influence, he would certainly take the path of excluding the Uchiha Clan.

That made Hoshiryu Uchiha understand that the two sides could not coexist.

Mito Uzumaki could still keep him in check for now, but one day, he would become like he was in the future.

Rather than wait for Hiruzen Sarutobi to put a blade to his throat, it would be better to eliminate him directly.

Once he understood that, he began making his moves.

First, he would provoke Danzo and make him do something irrational.

Once a person was angry, they would do things without thinking them through.

And just as Hoshiryu Uchiha had expected, even after being reprimanded, Danzo still overstepped Hiruzen Sarutobi and passed judgment on his actions today.

And since he had to explain how he had driven back the attacker, there was no way to hide his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. He might as well give Danzo a warning.

After that, the reactions of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and Mito Uzumaki had all been within his expectations.

It was a very simple scheme to sow discord. Hiruzen Sarutobi had cooperated so well that Hoshiryu Uchiha almost wanted to give him an award.

Now that all of Hoshiryu Uchiha's goals had been achieved, he could proceed with the final matter.

"It's all right. But I actually asked Sister Mito to come here for something else."

Hoshiryu Uchiha first responded to Hiruzen Sarutobi, then ran over to Mito Uzumaki after speaking.

"Sister Mito, my house was destroyed today, so can I go stay with you starting today?"

Hoshiryu Uchiha's form of address made everyone present want to laugh, and the solemn atmosphere from moments ago vanished with his two casual sentences.

Sister Mito...?

The Third Hokage and Danzo thought about it. Mito Uzumaki really was the sort of person who would make a child call her big sister.

But someone old enough to be Hoshiryu Uchiha's grandmother asking to be called big sister—just imagining that scene made them want to laugh.

Even someone like Mito Uzumaki felt a little embarrassed in front of so many people.

She stepped forward and hurriedly changed the subject.

"Since Little Xingliu has nowhere to stay, and everyone is here today, let's handle tomorrow's matter ahead of schedule."

"From now on, I will adopt this child. There is no need to change his name. He can keep Tsunade company from now on."

Mito Uzumaki's two casual sentences weighed as heavily as mountains in the ears of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo.

As two old foxes, both could naturally see what Mito Uzumaki's adoption of Hoshiryu Uchiha represented.

In their eyes, this was her sending a political signal, demanding that they change their policies.

They had always openly and covertly targeted the Uchiha Clan, yet now they were expected to completely change their usual approach. That would be a severe blow to their prestige.

But Mito Uzumaki was the one who had made this decision, so they could only swallow the bitter outcome.

Seeing that neither of them spoke, Mito Uzumaki did not care.

Since she had made a decision, she would see it through to the end.

In her view, adopting Hoshiryu Uchiha could effectively resolve the Uchiha Clan problem and prevent the internal strife that might arise in the future.

Just as Hashirama Senju could act against his close friend Madara Uchiha.

No matter who threatened the village, Mito Uzumaki could deal with him without hesitation.

If Sarutobi and the others stopped her yet could not offer a more effective solution, then they could simply replace the Hokage.

The incompetent could only drag the village down.

"Since no one objects, then it is decided."

After saying that, Mito Uzumaki did not wait for anyone else to react. She took Hoshiryu Uchiha's hand and left.

A good while after she had gone, the sound of someone smashing a table suddenly rang out inside the office.

"Hiruzen, you saw it too!"

"That brat will definitely become a menace someday. Hand him over to me, and I'll make sure to get rid of him!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi held his smoking pipe without taking a puff, merely quietly considering Danzo's words.

"No. He has already been adopted by Lady Mito. He has now become a bridge between the village and the Uchiha Clan. Whoever touches him will become Lady Mito's enemy."

"And not all Uchiha are bad. Kagami is an Uchiha too, and he possesses the Will of Fire."

In truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that Hoshiryu Uchiha could no longer be touched.

He had become the bridge connecting the village and the Uchiha Clan. Whoever dared to reach out and destroy that bridge, Mito Uzumaki could make him die.

But Danzo did not care about any of that. All he heard was Hiruzen Sarutobi's rejection, and he could not help roaring:

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi merely said lightly in response:

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

Danzo slammed the door as he left in fury, while Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe again and began puffing out smoke.

For a time, the smoke obscured Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, making it impossible to see what he was truly thinking.

Let time return to more than ten minutes earlier, at the Uchiha Clan Compound, the residence of Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna.

The disheveled En Uchiha anxiously knocked on the door to the room.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, En Uchiha. I have an urgent matter and request an audience with the Great Elder!"

Upon hearing this, the door was opened at once, and someone dressed like a butler emerged from within.

"In that case, I'll take you there."

With that, the butler set off, leading En Uchiha to where Uchiha Setsuna was.

At that moment, Uchiha Setsuna was drinking tea. Seeing the untidy En Uchiha, he frowned in displeasure.

"What is it?"

En Uchiha dropped to one knee and said solemnly:

"Lord Setsuna, I discovered a genius—a genius unlike any other!"

Uchiha Setsuna had thought something major had happened for En Uchiha to come directly to his door without regard for etiquette. He had not expected it to be such a trivial matter.

Geniuses? The Uchiha Clan lacked nothing more than geniuses.

But seeing his unconcerned expression, En Uchiha stopped caring about etiquette as well. He rose to his feet, strode up to Uchiha Setsuna, and continued:

"That brat looks only six or seven years old, but he has already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

Uchiha Setsuna shot to his feet, ignoring the overturned teacup as he grabbed En Uchiha.

"What did you say?"