Ninja Clans Support the Uchiha

Konoha Year 53, Summer.

Hyuga Main House.

Today was the full moon celebration for the second daughter of the Main Family head, Hyuga Hiashi.

Originally, this was just a small banquet, but because it was the Hyuga Main Family, it was held very grandly. At the same time, the Hyuga also invited the Third Hokage and the major Ninja Clans of Konoha to participate.

Most importantly, the Hyuga also invited the Uchiha Clan, who were also a major family in Konoha, to participate.

In the past, because they didn't want to get involved in Konoha's politics, the Hyuga rarely interacted with the Uchiha. But this time, the Hyuga invited the Uchiha.

The Uchiha Clan also showed great respect, with Uchiha Fugaku bringing his entire family.

Of course, the Nine-Tailed Demoness and Naruto were also invited.

The banquet was enjoyable for both hosts and guests, but Sarutobi Hiruzen was not too happy.

After all, seeing the neutral faction he had originally tried to win over leaning towards his enemies made Sarutobi Hiruzen unable to be happy at all.

Because the Uchiha Clan was outwardly strong, they had made significant contributions in the war against Kumogakure this time. The Main Family was also very helpless about Hyuuga Hizashi's death.

But now that the war was won, the most prominent figures were Kushina and Shisui. So the Main Family naturally saw the Uchiha's actions as helping the Hyuga regain face.

It was also a warning to the Third Hokage: if you continue to neglect my Hyuga Clan, my Hyuga will lean towards the Uchiha.

After all, if the Hyuga had truly leaned towards the Uchiha, the Third Hokage would not have been invited to this full moon celebration.

Sarutobi Hiruzen also felt some dissatisfaction from the Hyuga towards him.

But now he was also very helpless.

Now the Uchiha were pressing step by step. The small families they had allied with were increasing, and many civilian ninja had also leaned towards the Uchiha under the Uchiha Clan's financial offensive.

The Hokage indeed had great power, but what could the Hokage represent without the support of the people?

After returning to the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage once again started a meeting.

"Third Hokage, we have successfully turned some civilian ninja. They will no longer support the Uchiha Clan."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and reported the matters that had been arranged long ago.

Danzo Shimura said unhappily, "Many of Konoha's major Ninja Clans have expressed that they do not support the Uchiha and do not want to participate in Konoha's struggles. It's clearly just perfunctory!"

"Alright, Danzo, that's enough. We cannot ask these Ninja Clans to support us regardless of their own interests."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his pipe. "How has Kushina been recently? Have you found anything unusual?"

"Nothing found." Danzo Shimura frowned. "The Masked Man clearly saved Kushina, but we haven't found any trace of the Masked Man around Kushina since then."

"The Konoha Barrier also hasn't detected any spatial-temporal ninjutsu fluctuations," Koharu Utatane also said.

Because the Masked Man was related to Kushina, the Hokage faction spent a great deal to add a sensory barrier to the Konoha Barrier that could detect spatial-temporal ninjutsu.

After all, it concerned their safety, so precautions were necessary.

But the barrier had not detected any spatial-temporal ninjutsu.

At this moment, Koharu Utatane's expression changed. "Third Hokage! The Konoha Barrier has detected spatial-temporal ninjutsu fluctuations!"

"Where?"

"The Cemetery!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen took out the Crystal Ball and performed the Telescope Technique.

At this moment, in the Konoha Cemetery.

A person wearing a red cloud and black background cloak, with a spiral mask on their face, was calmly looking at a tombstone in front of it.

"Rin, my plan will definitely succeed. You must wait for me."

Seeing this scene, the four people in the Hokage Office all gasped.

"Damn it! This Masked Man is indeed from our Konoha! Hiruzen! You must find him! Start with this new clue!" Danzo Shimura was also a little excited.

Once they captured the Masked Man, they could deal with Kushina with peace of mind.

"Wait! I think I've heard of the clothes this Masked Man is wearing somewhere." At this moment, Homura Mitokado also spoke.

"Who cares! Capturing him is what's important!"

"Danzo, we don't have the right means to capture the Masked Man who can use Flying Thunder God right now, so we need to send the Sealing Team in advance."

At this moment, the Masked Man in the Crystal Ball in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen also looked up in one direction.

Clearly, he also sensed the abnormality.

"What is spying on me?"

The Masked Man didn't say anything else, and his entire body rotated inward, entering the Kamui Dimension.

After seeing this scene, the four people from the Hokage faction looked at each other.

This? Is this Flying Thunder God?

"What's going on? Why do I feel like this Masked Man is different from the one I encountered in the Land of Iron."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was a little confused.

"I remember now!"

Homura Mitokado suddenly shouted, "The clothes this Masked Man is wearing are the clothes of the Akatsuki organization that Iwagakure hired."

Danzo Shimura looked indifferent, "I know, but so what?"

Homura Mitokado was choked by Danzo and said angrily, "We can hire the Akatsuki organization to attack Kushina, that way..."

"Nonsense, I've already had contact with this Akatsuki organization, and it was even wiped out by the Demigod Salamander."

"Alright, everyone, stop arguing. How about this, we'll do both. Homura, you go contact the Akatsuki organization, and Danzo, you go prepare the manpower."

"Hiruzen, you want to do it again?"

"No, we have other S-Rank missions that also require Kushina to complete."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, Danzo also nodded, "Hiruzen, Root needs funding."

"Once the matter is successful, you will have it."

"Don't try to fob me off with empty promises. I didn't even get the funds from last time!"

"Didn't you fail?"

"So you won't even give me compensation for my hard work?"

"Alright, alright, but you know Konoha's finances are still tight, so can we postpone it and settle it with the next payment?"

Danzo's eyes turned red. "Settle it next time? If I don't get it now, I'll resign right now!"

Danzo: If I really let you drag this out, who knows when I'll get the subsequent funds.

Third Hokage: Sigh, Danzo is too stingy.

The two old advisors: ...

Uchiha Clan Residence.

Uchiha Fugaku said excitedly, "Lady Kushina, now even the Hyuga are starting to support us. It seems your ascent to the Hokage position is just around the corner."

Kushina nodded. "Clan Head Fugaku, thank you for your efforts."

"This is the beginning of the prosperity of my Uchiha Clan, you..."

Before Uchiha Fugaku could continue, Kushina raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Clan Head Fugaku, becoming Hokage was also my childhood dream, not because of the Uchiha Clan."

Kushina looked at Fugaku. "Don't let the Third Hokage lead you by the nose, or problems will arise sooner or later.

Who told you that the Hyuga are starting to support the Uchiha Clan?"

"Uh, no one told me that."

"Then who said those small ninja clans support the Uchiha Clan?"

"A small ninja clan head privately told me he supports my Uchiha Clan."

"Pay attention to him immediately. He might be one of the Third Hokage's people. Remember, on the surface, the Uchiha also support the Hokage, but the Uchiha do not support the Third Hokage."

Fugaku nodded. "I understand."