The More You Do, the More Mistakes You Make; Do Nothing, Make No Mistakes

While laughter and cheer filled Hoshiryu Uchiha's side, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had just returned to the Hokage Tower, was plagued by a splitting headache.

At the Ninja Academy, the sudden inspiration sparked by the Will of Fire had given him great insight.

He had been planning to organize it into lesson plans for the Ninja Academy.

But to his surprise, the moment he entered his office, he found Danzo waiting for him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had practically worried himself sick over this old friend.

Danzo's political ability could not be called nonexistent. It could only be called utterly talentless.

The large and small clans of Konoha all disliked him. Some even loathed and hated him.

Danzo was not particularly strong either. Even at his peak, he had merely been a somewhat weak Kage Level shinobi.

Yet he loved provoking people everywhere. The Ninja World's King of Taking the Blame had not earned that title for nothing.

If not for Hiruzen Sarutobi's protection and indulgence, Danzo would have long since committed suicide with a kunai in his back.

At this moment, the Darkness of the Shinobi had been waiting for Hiruzen Sarutobi for quite some time. His eyes lit up when he saw him enter.

"Hiruzen, the winds in the village have changed. We can't just keep waiting like this."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze sharpened as he expertly picked up his pipe and began puffing out clouds of smoke.

Of course, he knew what Danzo was talking about.

Mito Uzumaki's warning that day was still vivid in his mind.

He had originally been hesitating over whether to change his mind and ease the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village.

But he had never expected that in just three days—only three days—

After Mito Uzumaki announced that she had adopted Hoshiryu Uchiha and revealed Hoshiryu's accomplishments,

Konoha had undergone enormous changes.

People did not trust the Uchiha Clan, but they trusted Mito Uzumaki's abilities.

They believed that Mito Uzumaki could guide Hoshiryu Uchiha onto the right path.

And since they had chosen to believe, many people in Konoha had changed their attitudes.

The clearest change was the village's attitude toward the Uchiha Clan.

The Uchiha had once been despised by everyone, but now they had become highly sought after.

This also caused the Dove Faction within the Uchiha Clan to grow dramatically stronger, and their voice became even more influential.

For a time, harmonious coexistence became the theme between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan.

Yet Hiruzen Sarutobi's former policies were still being carried out as usual, creating a conflict.

The facts proved that Hiruzen Sarutobi did not possess such great prestige.

His policies were simply ignored.

Since Hiruzen Sarutobi did not dare openly say he wanted to Deal With the Uchiha Clan, those below him treated the policy as if it did not exist.

His ascent to the position of Hokage had depended on the support of the Senju Clan, led by Mito Uzumaki.

But now that Mito Uzumaki showed signs of supporting someone else, Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige had fallen considerably.

He had not been Hokage for long, and his control over the village was far inferior to what it had been during Naruto's era.

Thus, everything that had happened over these three days had greatly affected his position as Hokage.

So, upon hearing Danzo's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into hesitation as well.

Danzo might have been incompetent in other matters, but he understood Hiruzen Sarutobi exceptionally well.

The moment he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitate, he knew that half his goal had already been achieved.

"Hiruzen, I know Hoshiryu Uchiha can't be touched right now. But just because he can't be touched doesn't mean others can't."

"The shinobi clans in the village are all fence-sitters. When you are strong, they obey your every word. Once you weaken, they will kick you while you're down."

"My Root happens to be short on Manpower. Give me an authorization order, and I'll take people from the small and medium-sized shinobi clans and teach them a lesson."

"This will let everyone know that you are the true Hokage, while also increasing our strength. What do you think?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had thought Danzo would have some grand argument to make. He had not expected the same old routine, except this time Danzo even wanted to extend his hand into the shinobi clans.

Yet Danzo's final words moved him.

That's right. I am the Hokage!

With that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi made his decision. He took out a Hokage transfer order and signed his name.

Then he tossed it to the eagerly waiting Danzo.

"Just this once. There won't be a next time."

Danzo had achieved his goal, but upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi say that, he instinctively retorted.

"Hiruzen, you're too soft. A proper warning is necessary to preserve the Hokage's authority."

The instant the words left his mouth, he knew he had gotten carried away.

Sure enough, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened. Danzo had clearly angered him.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Danzo knew better than to act self-righteous while asking someone for a favor.

(Ming Lou, get on your knees. Big Sis needs you to do something for her.)

Afraid that Hiruzen Sarutobi might change his mind, he pretended nothing had happened and turned to leave.

Once Danzo was gone, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression returned to normal.

After knowing each other for so long, just as Danzo understood him, he also understood Danzo's personality.

He had not been angry at all over what Danzo had just said.

But as Danzo himself had said, some people truly needed a proper warning—such as Danzo, who had said those very words.

So Hiruzen Sarutobi had put on a dark expression and acted angry, letting Danzo know that some things could not be said carelessly.

It was not as if Hiruzen Sarutobi did not know that Danzo's actions would damage his reputation.

But he truly had no other choice.

When all was said and done, the only ones Hiruzen Sarutobi could be certain stood with him were his Sarutobi Clan and Danzo's Shimura Clan.

Even the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio might not stand in the same camp as him.

With Mito Uzumaki still around and the Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan not yet gone, Hiruzen Sarutobi was constrained at every turn within the village. So now, he wanted to display the Hokage's authority and strengthen his own voice.

And since he wanted to display his authority, using shinobi clans outside his faction to make an example out of them was an excellent method.

What Hiruzen Sarutobi was doing was, in truth, somewhat of a repeat of the White Fang incident.

It was the same tactic of killing a chicken to scare the monkeys, making the village understand that he was the Hokage.

Only, the chicken in the future would be the White Fang, while the chickens now were merely shinobi clans.

But just as the White Fang would later resist him through suicide, if he wanted to slaughter a chicken, he could not fear getting blood all over himself.

What was more, it was uncertain whether Hiruzen Sarutobi could even withstand the backlash now.

Sometimes, the more you did, the more mistakes you made.

If you did nothing, you would make no mistakes instead.

A day passed in the blink of an eye, and the Ninja Academy had reached dismissal time.

After Hoshiryu Uchiha led Tsunade and the others in saying goodbye, he leisurely returned home.

What had happened that day was too dreamlike, making him feel as though he were dreaming.

It was one thing for someone as carefree as Jiraiya, but even someone with Orochimaru's personality had actually taken the initiative to befriend him.

What delighted him even more were the unexpected gains: Yakushi Nonō, the Wandering Miko, and Uchiha Chiri, who possessed the Mangekyo.

If these people were trained properly, even if they could not sweep across the Four Nations, they would still be capable of contending with them.

It could be said that his goal at the Ninja Academy had been completed by ninety percent in one stroke. All that remained was Might Duy.

Thinking of Might Duy, Hoshiryu Uchiha shook his head and decided not to disturb the man.

Might Duy's talent was exceptionally poor. Even after opening the Eight Gates, he was far inferior to Might Guy.

His success came from decades of unwavering persistence.

If Hoshiryu Uchiha rashly disturbed him, perhaps he would never see the Red Beast of Konoha.

Just then, Hoshiryu Uchiha sensed someone following him.

Without showing any reaction, he checked and discovered that it was Orochimaru.