Coldness and Hypocrisy

Upon hearing this, Fugaku looked at Kazuna and sneered. "Didn't you say your Dojutsu was a form of Mental Suggestion? Why not go suggest something to the Hokage and the others? Turn them into our people, and everything would be solved."

Kazuna gave a cold laugh and said proudly, "You think I haven't tried? It didn't work."

"I wanted to try a few more times, but I was afraid of being discovered. If I got caught doing something like that, I'd definitely get beaten up!"

Fugaku took a deep breath.

Then why the hell did you say it so self-righteously?

Why did you look like some great hero?

Beaten up?

Dream on!

They'd chop you into pieces and arrange them by standard size. Oh, and tie you down with ropes too, so you wouldn't fly off into the sky!

After glaring at Kazuna, Fugaku turned and left.

The Uchiha were no longer under his sole control. Kazuna held too much power.

Nearly all of the younger generation were his people, and almost half of the middle-aged and younger forces obeyed him.

His grandfather represented the Hawk Faction. There was no need to wonder whom he would support.

Zongyi of the Dove Faction had been dealt a severe blow by the news Itachi brought back. He was completely dazed now, and in just a few hours, he had visibly aged.

Although he controlled quite a bit of influence himself, he had no desire to contend with Kazuna.

He also wanted to see just how far Kazuna could go.

After all, when Itachi revealed that some of Konohagakure's high command had devised a Clan Annihilation Plan against the Uchiha, he, Fugaku Uchiha, had already become a failure.

No amount of excuses could change the fact that the clan had nearly been destroyed by his own hands.

Still, he could not put his mind at ease.

Kazuna was sometimes too violent in his actions. He never considered the consequences. Once he made a decision, he would carry it through to the extreme.

That kind of resolve could only be called worthy of an Uchiha!

However...

"Mental Suggestion?"

Fugaku murmured to himself.

The power dwelling within his eyes was magnificent and difficult to control.

Compared to it, Kazuna's Dojutsu seemed easier to wield.

But who could guarantee that was Kazuna's true power?

No, it definitely was not his true power!

That brat was far too cunning.

Clatter!

The Third Hokage's smoking pipe fell to the floor again.

Just like last time, he did not pick it up. Instead, he stared blankly at the person before him.

Kato Fuko.

"What did you say? Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Kazuna met secretly inside a tea house belonging to the Hyuga Clan?"

"Yes!" Kato Fuko said gravely. "I discovered it entirely by chance."

The Third Hokage took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He said in a low voice, "Go, quickly. Bring Utatane Koharu and the others here, along with Danzo. Especially Danzo. Bring them all."

"Yes!"

A voice came from the empty air as an Anbu swiftly departed.

"You, Kato Fuko, repeat what you just said!"

The Third Hokage stared fixedly at Kato Fuko. At this moment, he desperately wished Kato Fuko had been lying.

Kato Fuko repeated how he had discovered Uchiha Kazuna and Hyuga Hiashi.

The Hokage fell silent.

Before long, the Konoha F4 gathered in the Hokage's office once again.

It was already late at night. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had been preparing to rest, but hurriedly dressed and rushed over.

Only Danzo was still contemplating Konohagakure's greater future.

Konohagakure was destined to belong to him. He would lead Konohagakure to become the pinnacle of the Shinobi World.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had merely stolen his position. He was nothing but a thief!

"What did you say?"

After Kato Fuko repeated the news, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura could no longer remain seated.

The Uchiha had actually joined forces with the Hyuga?

"Impossible!" Mitokado Homura declared. "How could Hyuga Hiashi possibly cooperate with the Uchiha? He belongs to the Hyuga Clan. For all these years, the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha have been enemies. Their relationship cannot possibly ease."

The Hyuga were the opponents they had chosen for the Uchiha.

With power in their hands, it was far too easy for them to stir conflict between the two clans.

They only needed to slip in a tiny, insignificant benefit, then slowly let it ferment and expand its influence. The two clans would naturally come to hate each other.

Especially since both clans possessed Dojutsu Kekkei Genkai!

During that process, they merely needed to guide things little by little.

It was discreet and safe, while also accomplishing their goal.

"That's right!" Utatane Koharu said solemnly. "Those two clans can never join forces. Even if the Hyuga Clan does not become enemies with the Uchiha, given their nature, they would never cooperate with them."

What was the Hyuga Clan's nature?

As long as you did not touch their interests, they would not come looking for trouble with you.

Cooperate with the Uchiha?

What would they gain from that?

They preferred to stay tucked away within their own little territory.

"No!" Danzo's sinister voice rang out. He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a cold smile and said, "You are wrong. If it is Hyuga Hiashi, then cooperation with the Uchiha is possible. Do not forget that Hyuga Hiashi harbors deep resentment in his heart."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's hearts skipped a beat as they immediately thought of someone: Hizashi Hyuga!

Hyuga Hiashi's younger brother, the man the Hokage had sacrificed not long ago to prevent a conflict with Kumogakure.

That had been Hyuga Hiashi's own younger brother.

Because of Hizashi Hyuga, Hyuga Hiashi, who had always been composed, lost control for the first time and erupted on the spot.

Had Hizashi Hyuga not acted so decisively, the situation might very well have spiraled out of control.

In the end, under pressure from the Hokage and the Hyuga Main Family, and faced with the established facts, Hyuga Hiashi had fallen silent.

"No, I don't believe it!" Mitokado Homura said in a deep voice. "Hyuga Hiashi is the Clan Leader of the Hyuga Clan. He cannot do something so irrational. He should be considering the entire clan. He should be thinking from the standpoint of all Konohagakure."

An alliance between the Uchiha and the Hyuga involved too much. The two elders refused to believe it no matter what.

Danzo sneered, too lazy to pay attention to the two elders. Instead, he stared at Kato Fuko, who was kneeling on one knee, and said coldly, "Is everything you just said true?"

"Yes!"

Kato Fuko's answer was exceptionally firm.

"I don't believe you!"

Danzo's voice was icy. "This matter involves too much, so I must personally 'see' it."

Whoosh!

Two Anbu wearing strange masks appeared.

Root!

They instantly subdued Kato Fuko. Then, one of them placed his hand on Kato Fuko's head.

"Urgh!"

Kato Fuko's eyes widened instantly, bloodshot veins filling them. His body trembled and twisted as though he were enduring endless agony.

"Danzo!!!"

The Third Hokage's furious voice rang out.

"Enough, Hiruzen. Put away your naivety!" Danzo said coldly. "We need to determine whether what this ninja saw was real and whether he was caught in Genjutsu."

"Hiruzen!"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura also urged the Third Hokage.

"This matter is of great importance! We must confirm it!"

"Ninja must always be prepared to make sacrifices!"

The Third Hokage's face darkened, but he said nothing.

Danzo responded with a mocking smile.

How hypocritical!

This was the Hokage's office. If Hiruzen truly wanted to stop him, how could he possibly have succeeded?

It could only mean that Hiruzen was hesitating as well.

Or perhaps he had been waiting for Danzo to act. Otherwise, why had the Anbu hidden in the shadows left after they entered the office?

Kato Fuko's fate had long since been decided.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, you had grown old!

Your heart was filled with hesitation and uncertainty.

You wanted to protect your image. You wanted to preserve your glory. Yet in truth, you were the rotten Root of Konoha.