Avoiding Battle

The Third Hokage stared at Danzo's departing back and let out a deep sigh.

"Danzo, you are merely the Root of Konoha. You do not need to consider so much. I am different. I am the Hokage. There are far too many aspects I must take into account."

Different positions meant different considerations.

There was a saying: one's seat determined one's thoughts!

He was the Hokage, so he had to consider matters from the Hokage's perspective.

Even though the Uchiha had a poor reputation within the village, they were still one of Konohagakure's oldest clans.

If the Hokage acted against a shinobi clan without any evidence, what would the other shinobi clans think?

Through the efforts of several generations of Hokage, Konohagakure's Civilian Ninja had gradually begun to emerge. Yet the ones truly supporting Konohagakure were still the various shinobi clans.

Acting against the clans meant digging up Konohagakure's roots.

Besides, were the Uchiha really so easy to bully?

As the Clan Leader, Fugaku Uchiha had certainly concealed some strength.

Although Shisui and Itachi had taken their side and opposed the clan, he could not be sure how far they would go for them.

Most importantly, more than three years had passed since the Third Shinobi World War. Every village had recovered some of its vitality.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure had once again begun eyeing Konohagakure hungrily.

Even Sunagakure had clashed with Konohagakure several times in small-scale conflicts along the Border, giving him a splitting headache.

If the village's civil war began at a time like this, then no matter what happened to the Uchiha, Konohagakure would lose.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, turned his gaze toward one side of the room, where there was a photograph of a blond young man.

The young man in the photograph looked dignified yet approachable, youthful and full of vitality.

The Fourth Hokage!

...Perhaps they really had been wrong back then!

The Third Hokage's face was gradually shrouded in smoke.

The entire village had become tense.

Because of the Uchiha!

They had suddenly sealed off their entire clan and cut off all contact with the outside world.

Many shinobi began imagining all sorts of things and fell into unease.

Especially the upper echelons of the various shinobi clans.

News that the Uchiha might rebel had long reached their ears through various channels. Now, with the Uchiha making such a huge move, it was something that had not happened in who knew how many years.

Were they about to act?

If civil war erupted in the village, what were they supposed to do?

The Anbu under the Hokage and the Root under Hokage Assistant Shimura Danzō had both begun sending additional personnel toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

This undoubtedly intensified the atmosphere even further.

"Kazuna, what are you trying to do?"

Fugaku stared at Kazuna with an unhappy expression.

The materials for the Barrier had already arrived, and the manpower was in place.

Yet Kazuna had ordered all information sealed off, cutting the clan's ties with the village.

If it had been him, he would have issued a statement long ago to prevent misunderstandings. Yet Kazuna was secretly adding fuel to the fire, making the entire village nervous and on edge.

Fugaku could not understand it.

Was he afraid the world was not chaotic enough?

And he still claimed he had not inherited Setsuna Uchiha's will?

Kazuna merely glanced at Fugaku and sighed. "Clan Leader, no wonder you can only be the Clan Leader and not the Vice Clan Leader. That is the difference between us."

Fugaku froze for a moment before reacting. "Sorry I cannot be the Vice Clan Leader!"

Setsuna and Sougi could neither laugh nor cry.

Why did that make being Vice Clan Leader sound more desirable?

Get this straight—you are his subordinate!

"Will they fight?"

"What?"

Kazuna asked again, "I am asking whether the village and the Uchiha will fight."

"No!" Sougi Uchiha said with certainty. "No matter how wary they are of the Uchiha, they cannot possibly make a move under these circumstances."

"Then that settles it. Letting them get nervous and sweat a little is not a bad thing!"

Kazuna looked lazy and utterly unconcerned.

The three frowned at first, then fell into thought.

Get nervous and sweat a little...

"Explain yourself clearly!" Setsuna Uchiha looked coldly at his grandson, his tone displeased.

Sometimes, he really wanted to beat this grandson!

"Fine!" Kazuna said helplessly. "What will they do once they realize it was a false alarm?"

"They will breathe a huge sigh of relief. At that point, they will understand just how much they do not want to become enemies with the Uchiha."

"I am not exaggerating our strength just because I am an Uchiha!"

"We all fought in the Shinobi World War side by side, so they understand the Uchiha's strength very well."

"Even if joining forces would allow them to wipe out the Uchiha, would they really be willing to make enemies of us?"

"I do not need to explain how great the benefits of that are, do I?"

The three suddenly understood and looked at Kazuna with complicated expressions.

It was a very simple matter, but none of the three of them would have done it.

Still, they had to admit that Kazuna's approach might be better!

It seemed as though he had made the entire village tense, but in reality, he was avoiding war.

"Of course, no one knows whether a certain Root of Konoha might take the chance to do something and ignite the flames of war. After all, no one can predict Lord Danzo's bottom line." Kazuna spread his hands. "That is why I had Itachi report to the Third Hokage."

"With Hokage-sama's temperament, he will certainly force Danzo not to act recklessly."

"Itachi?"

Kazuna looked at Fugaku with a half-smile. "Clan Leader, Itachi is a double agent. Do not tell me you did not know."

"A double agent?"

Setsuna and Sougi were startled, glaring coldly at Fugaku.

Fugaku frowned deeply.

Of course he knew, but he had confidence in his son. He believed his son would understand him.

Seeing Fugaku's expression, Kazuna seemed to understand what he was thinking and inwardly ranted wildly.

When Itachi eventually broke down and slaughtered the clan, Fugaku Uchiha would absolutely bear the greatest responsibility.

Damn it, wasn't that your son?

Couldn't you give him fewer tasks and responsibilities and more care?

You took him to the battlefield when he was four!

What a biological father you were!

Look at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

...Itachi could think like a Hokage at the age of seven.

Holy shit!

Listen to that—did that sound like something a human should say?

Anyone who received such affirmation would become dizzy, their eyes reddening as they developed the urge to die for someone who understood them!

Kazuna only wanted to ask one question: if he could think like a Hokage at seven, would he have a chance to become Hokage in the future?

Absolutely not!

Even if Itachi were not an Uchiha, it would be the same!

Itachi himself probably understood that too, but that did not stop him from being loyal to the Hokage!

So in this regard, Fugaku was nothing compared to Hiruzen.

"Fugaku, do you have anything to explain?"

Setsuna Uchiha's voice was icy.

"No!"

It was Kazuna who answered him.

Kazuna smiled. "Old man, why are you so nervous? A double agent is even better. Since Itachi is loyal to the clan, being in that position means he can pass along some of our information—information we want the Hokage Faction to know—at any time."

"For example, two pairs of Mangekyo!"