Ninja Clans Support the Uchiha

Konoha Year 53, summer.

Hyuga Main House.

Today was the full-month celebration for the second daughter of Hyuga Hiashi, head of the main family.

Originally, it was meant to be a small banquet, but because it was the Hyuga main family, it was held with great fanfare. The Hyuga also invited the Third Hokage and Konoha's major ninja clans.

Most importantly, the Hyuga had also invited the Uchiha Clan, another of Konoha's great clans.

In the past, unwilling to get involved in Konoha's politics, the Hyuga had rarely associated with the Uchiha. But this time, they had invited them.

The Uchiha Clan also showed them due respect. Uchiha Fugaku had brought his entire family.

Naturally, the Nine-Tailed Demoness and Naruto were among the invited guests as well.

The guests and hosts all enjoyed the banquet, but Sarutobi Hiruzen was not particularly pleased.

After all, seeing the neutral faction he had originally courted side with his enemies left Sarutobi Hiruzen unable to feel happy.

The Uchiha Clan had always been strong toward outsiders, and they had made considerable contributions in this war against Kumogakure. The main family had also been helpless regarding Hizashi's death.

But now that the war had been won, Kushina and Shisui had stood out the most. Naturally, the main family viewed the Uchiha's actions as helping the Hyuga regain their dignity.

It was also a warning to the Third Hokage: if he continued to neglect the Hyuga Clan, the Hyuga would side with the Uchiha.

After all, if the Hyuga had truly sided with the Uchiha, they would not have invited the Third Hokage to this full-month celebration.

Sarutobi Hiruzen could also sense the Hyuga's dissatisfaction with him.

But there was nothing he could do now.

The Uchiha were pressing forward step by step. More and more small clans had allied with them, and quite a few civilian ninja had also sided with the Uchiha Clan under their financial offensive.

The Hokage indeed held great power, but without the people's support, what could the Hokage still represent?

After returning to the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage convened another meeting.

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

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and reported on the arrangements they had made long ago.

Shimura Danzō said unhappily, "Many of Konoha's major ninja clans have stated that they do not support the Uchiha, nor do they wish to participate in Konoha's internal struggle. They are clearly just stringing us along!"

"That is enough, Danzō. We cannot demand that these ninja clans disregard their own interests to support us."

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

"Nothing." Shimura Danzō frowned. "The Masked Man clearly saved Kushina, but we have not found any trace of him near her since then."

"The Konoha Barrier has not detected any chakra fluctuations from Space-Time Ninjutsu either," Utatane Koharu added.

Because the Masked Man was connected to Kushina, the Hokage faction had paid a great price to add a Perception Barrier capable of detecting Space-Time Ninjutsu to the barrier.

After all, it concerned their safety, so precautions had to be taken.

But the barrier had not detected any Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Then Utatane Koharu's expression changed. "Third Hokage! The Konoha Barrier has detected fluctuations from Space-Time Ninjutsu!"

"Where?"

"The cemetery!"

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

At that moment, in Konoha Cemetery.

A person wearing a red cloud black background robe and a Whirlpool Mask stood calmly before a gravestone.

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

The four people in the Hokage Office all sucked in a cold breath at the sight.

"Damn it! This Masked Man really is from Konoha! Hiruzen, you must find him! Start with this new lead!" Shimura Danzō said excitedly.

Once they captured the Masked Man, they could deal with Kushina without worry.

"Wait! I feel like I have heard of the clothes that Masked Man is wearing somewhere before." Mitokado Homura spoke up then.

"Who cares? Capturing him is what matters!"

"Danzō, we currently have no suitable means to capture a Masked Man capable of using Flying Thunder God. We need to send the Sealing Team in advance."

At that moment, the Masked Man in the Crystal Ball raised his head and looked in a certain direction.

Clearly, he had sensed something unusual as well.

"What is spying on me?"

The Masked Man said nothing else. His entire body twisted inward as he entered the Kamui Dimension.

Seeing this, the four members of the Hokage faction stared at one another.

This? Was this Flying Thunder God?

"What is 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 puzzled.

"I remember now!"

Mitokado Homura suddenly shouted, "The clothes on that Masked Man are the clothes worn by the Akatsuki that Iwagakure once hired."

Shimura Danzō's face was blank. "I know. So what?"

Mitokado Homura choked on Danzō's response and said angrily, "We can hire the Akatsuki to attack Kushina. That way..."

"Bullshit. I contacted that Akatsuki long ago. They were even wiped out by the Demigod Ibuse."

"Enough arguing. We will do both. Homura, go contact the Akatsuki. Danzō, prepare the manpower."

"Hiruzen, do you want to try again?"

"No. We have other S-Rank missions that Kushina needs to complete."

After Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, Danzō nodded as well. "Hiruzen, Root needs funding."

"Once this succeeds, you will have it."

"Stop fobbing me off with empty promises. You never even gave me the funding from last time!"

"You failed, didn't you?"

"So I do not even get compensation for my trouble?"

"Yes, yes, you will. But you know Konoha's finances are still tight, so could we delay it and settle it together next time?"

Danzō's eyes turned red. "Settle it next time? If I cannot get it now, I resign right now!"

Danzō: If I let you drag this out, who knows when I will ever receive the remaining funds.

Third Hokage: Sigh, Danzō is too stingy.

The two elder advisors: ...

Uchiha Clan Residence.

Uchiha Fugaku said excitedly, "Lady Kushina, now even the Hyuga have begun supporting us. It seems your ascension to the position of Hokage is just around the corner."

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

"This is the beginning of prosperity for the Uchiha Clan. You..."

Before Uchiha Fugaku could continue, Kushina raised a hand to stop him.

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

Kushina looked at Fugaku. "Do not let the Third Hokage lead you around by the nose, or problems will arise sooner or later.

Who told you that the Hyuga have begun supporting the Uchiha Clan?"

"Uh, no one told me that."

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

"The head of a small ninja clan privately told me that he supported our Uchiha Clan."

"Keep an eye on him immediately. He may 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."