Multiple Plans

"The arrangements I just gave the other clan members were only a delaying tactic."

"If we want to coexist with Konoha, and eventually carry out a nonviolent coup, we can only rely on this."

Senyo pointed at his eyes and activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Fugaku's expression turned somewhat grave. "Senyo, I need to remind you—the Mangekyō Sharingan..."

"It gradually loses its light with use. I know." Senyo cut him off directly, leaving Fugaku's words unsaid.

Fugaku looked surprised. "You discovered that so early?"

"Heh, I know far more than you could imagine." Senyo put on an enigmatic air.

Though Fugaku, the Great Elder, and Itachi were all curious, they were ninjas.

If someone did not say something, it naturally meant they did not want to tell you.

Seeing that Senyo already knew this as well, Fugaku said no more and continued listening to Senyo's plan.

Senyo raised one finger. "Konoha currently has an unsolvable problem."

"That is, they cannot control the Nine-Tails."

"Although Naruto hasn't gone berserk all these years, if he does, no one in Konoha will be able to control him."

A sharp gleam flashed through the Great Elder's eyes. Of course, he understood what Senyo meant.

If the Nine-Tails went berserk, only their Mangekyō Sharingan could control it.

Senyo did not beat around the bush and said directly:

"Konoha relies on the effectiveness of the Four Symbols Seal. Under normal circumstances, the Nine-Tails will not go berserk."

"But Konoha no longer has anyone skilled enough in Fuinjutsu."

"That leaves plenty of room for maneuver."

"So we Uchiha need to maintain a strong stance and wait for Konoha to come begging us."

Sharp light flickered in Fugaku and the Great Elder's eyes. They were clearly tempted.

"Then for the first step, Itachi, defect from Konoha tomorrow."

The surprise in Itachi's eyes vanished in an instant. He did not ask further. "Yes, Senior Senyo."

Seeing Fugaku and the Great Elder waiting for an explanation, Senyo continued, "Itachi is defecting from the village, not the clan."

"The clan has had some grievances against Itachi lately. Keeping him in the village would just be a waste."

"We need to put on a show and make Konoha understand that we demand Danzō's death."

"How much is the bounty on your head in the black market, Fugaku?"

Fugaku was caught off guard by Senyo's leap in logic and did not know whether to laugh or cry, but he still answered, "One hundred million."

Senyo said to Itachi, "After you defect from Konoha, the first thing you'll do is place a bounty in the black market: five hundred million for Shimura Danzō's head."

"Payment will be held in escrow."

There were several ways to pay through the black market. One was escrow, where the money had already been handed over to the black market.

Once you completed the mission, the black market would give you the money, though it charged a hefty commission.

There was also payment upon completion, where the contractor would pay the issuer directly. In that case, the black market was merely a bulletin board.

The details of the transaction between both parties, whether the task succeeded, and whether the issuer refused to pay were none of the black market's concern.

Seeing all three of them staring at Senyo in astonishment, Fugaku even reminded him:

"Senyo, our clan doesn't have that much liquid capital."

Knowing Fugaku had never played this game before, Senyo explained, "Who said we need to pay?"

"The entry fee to accept the mission will be one million per person, and they'll be provided with information on Danzō."

"Only those who accept the mission and complete it will receive the five hundred million."

"The deadline is one and a half years. For every month that passes, the entry fee will be reduced by one hundred thousand, with the minimum being one hundred thousand per person."

"If it were you, would you go take a look at a bounty worth five hundred million?"

Fugaku and the Great Elder were both stunned. There was such a method!?

Everyone was willing to gamble small for big. Five hundred million—this was the combined bounty of the Kage from the Five Great Ninja Villages.

And registration was bundled with intelligence, forcing those people to buy it.

Intelligence had a shelf life. The longer things dragged on, the less useful it became.

That was why the registration fee would keep dropping.

But as black-market bounty hunters watched the entry fee get lower and lower, would they not take desperate risks?

With a lower threshold, even more people would come just to join the excitement.

A cold glint flashed in Senyo's eyes. "What we need to convey is that we want Danzō dead."

"But the Third will definitely protect Danzō."

"Danzo himself isn't important, but his position is."

"He's the one who does the Third Hokage's dirty work."

"If the Third Hokage abandons him, he won't be able to find anyone else to do his dirty work."

"And such a move—burning the bridge after crossing it—would directly tear apart his hypocritical mask."

"Besides, the Great Elder put him on the spot before the entire ninja world in the end. He wouldn't dare kill Danzo."

"On the other hand, the Third Hokage and Danzo also keep each other's power in check. If Danzo dies, the Third Hokage will become the sole dominant power."

"Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura are simply no match for the Third Hokage."

"The two Council Elders will protect Danzo as well. They won't let him die."

"After all these years of doing the Third Hokage's dirty work, Danzo naturally couldn't have failed to guard against the Third Hokage."

"He definitely has dirt that could force the Third Hokage to step down immediately."

"The Third Hokage simply wouldn't dare let Danzo die."

Fugaku and the Great Elder followed Senyo's train of thought and sorted it out.

"So we can put a retaliatory bounty on Danzo without spending a single coin, while Konoha has to spend enormous manpower and resources protecting him?"

"Exactly. And not only that," Senyo added.

"The large number of people who come to investigate Danzo will constantly tie down Konoha's strength."

"If the Third Hokage doesn't deploy his hidden forces, the other ninja villages will very likely launch probing attacks, perhaps even escalating into a full-scale war between ninja villages."

"If the Third Hokage deploys his hidden forces, then with a little more maneuvering from us, his ambitions will likewise be exposed. The other Ninja Clans won't let him remain Hokage."

"During that time, Konoha won't have the energy to deal with us Uchiha."

"This bounty will also let the other four ninja villages see the tense relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha."

"The other ninja villages would love nothing more than to see Konoha fight us."

"Right now, Konoha is the one begging us not to fight."

Fugaku and the Great Elder were filled with admiration.

Senyo's plan was a chain of schemes. No matter what Konoha chose, the Uchiha would not lose out.

In Danzo's situation, the Third Hokage couldn't allow him to die and would have to expend effort protecting him.

Nor was it advisable for the Third Hokage's side to kill Danzo for the bounty after receiving the intelligence.

Danzo had occupied the position of Hokage's Assistant for so many years. The power under his command was deeply entrenched and interconnected.

His brainwashing of Root was also first-rate. Shihu had already laid the groundwork beforehand.

Danzo's side would definitely be prepared. If Konoha went to great lengths to kill Danzo, Root would certainly riot.

They might even take the opportunity to reveal the Third Hokage's dirt.

That would still be an opportunity for the Uchiha!

If the external pressure was too great and Konoha lacked an absolute advantage, it would not fight either.

Just how had this brain been made?

How could the Uchiha produce such a brilliant mind!?

Itachi's expression was somewhat unsettled. After all, he still had a heart that longed for peace and did not want the ninja world's living beings to suffer.

Senyo turned to Itachi and instructed him, "Itachi, stay behind later. I need to speak with you alone."

Itachi steadied himself and calmed down. For now, Senior Senyo had already demonstrated his intelligence.

There should be other ways.