Meeting

Inside the Hokage's office in the Hokage Building.

"Hiruzen, are you really going to keep waiting? If the day comes when the Uchiha launch their coup, Konoha will definitely suffer tremendous losses. Other ninja villages may even seize the opportunity to wage war on Konoha again!"

Utatane Koharu could no longer sit still. After slacking off for so many years, she had never been this proactive.

"Trust Itachi. I saw hope in his eyes." Sarutobi Hiruzen was in no hurry.

Utatane Koharu looked toward Danzo, who was usually the most restless of them all, only to find him hunched over with his eyes closed, completely motionless.

Now, not only was Utatane Koharu stunned, but even Mitokado Homura was at a loss. With news this serious, the two people who were usually the most anxious were not anxious at all.

"If there is nothing else, then this old man will take his leave."

Shimura Danzō glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was quietly smoking. Their gazes met in the air by chance, then shifted apart.

They already understood each other's intentions, yet neither said much.

"This..."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes. These two had taken the wrong medicine today.

But there was nothing the two of them could do even if they were worried. Though Konoha had three advisors, it was ultimately the Hokage's word that mattered. If the Hokage refused to listen, no amount of advice from the advisors would help. Only Shimura Danzō could use Root to do things that looked like acting first and reporting afterward.

And this time, the two people who usually led the meetings had both remained silent, so Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura could only continue slacking off as usual.

"Since there is nothing else, this old man will be leaving."

Seeing that none of the three intended to speak, Danzo rose directly and shuffled toward the exit.

Hiruzen, since this is inconvenient for you, leave it to me. Root exists for this very reason.

Besides, I happen to be short on Sharingan.

Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly, while Sarutobi Hiruzen behind him happened to open his eyes.

When Itachi left the Hokage Building, a Root ninja likewise blocked his path.

Inside the prison of the Uchiha Military Police Force, another conversation of a completely different sort was taking place.

"Setsuna, you insisted on seeing me. What exactly is it?"

Uchiha Fugaku looked at the thin, gaunt old man before him, his brows tightly furrowed. If the man had not repeatedly sent Inabi and Tekka to find him, he would not have come at all.

Uchiha Setsuna had been a member of Konoha's police force during the Second Hokage's administration. He was a sinister, cunning man, one who had inherited Madara Uchiha's will, and also the one who had dragged the Uchiha into the abyss a second time.

He had once incited the Uchiha clan members to rebel and cause trouble, but the Second Hokage discovered it beforehand. In the end, he was captured by Anbu members sent by the Second Hokage and imprisoned here.

"Fugaku, have your eyes truly seen the Uchiha's future?"

In the dark cell, that voice rasped like a broken bellows, painfully grating. Yet at that moment, a terrifyingly fierce light burst from those clouded eyes.

That gaze made Uchiha Fugaku's heart tighten, though his face remained stern.

"What do you mean by that? Setsuna, I am the Uchiha clan head!"

"Hehe, you want Uchiha Itachi to help you rebel, but that boy has long since gotten into bed with Sarutobi Hiruzen. Don't you know that?"

Uchiha Setsuna had been mild-mannered at first, but as he spoke, he suddenly stood up and stared straight at Uchiha Fugaku.

"You..."

"You placed the clan's hopes on a traitor. What exactly are your intentions?"

Uchiha Setsuna's furious shout cut off Uchiha Fugaku once more.

Uchiha Fugaku fell silent. As things stood, a coup would bring no benefit to the Uchiha. Even if it succeeded, the sacrifices required would be unimaginable. He merely hoped to use it to put some pressure on Konoha and gradually ease its oppression of the Uchiha.

"How did you know?"

"Of course, I told him."

The voice that suddenly came from behind made Uchiha Fugaku freeze. Then he instantly drew a kunai, turned, and stabbed backward.

But his attack struck nothing but empty air.

"The Fugaku Clan Head sure has quite the temper."

The teasing voice came from behind him again. Uchiha Fugaku turned his head blankly and saw a Cat-faced Masked Man standing beside Uchiha Setsuna.

"It's you!"

Fugaku recognized the person before him—or rather, he recognized that mask. Shimura Danzō had personally made it to resemble that person.

His expression darkened as well. He had not expected this Masked Man to truly be connected to the Uchiha.

"Uchiha Setsuna, are you really going to drag the Uchiha into the abyss again?"

"The one dragging the Uchiha into the abyss is you! Uchiha Itachi, your own son, is the blade aimed at the Uchiha, and you are the one truly pushing that blade forward!"

Uchiha Setsuna confronted Uchiha Fugaku as well. Though he was already in his fifties or sixties, the aura he unleashed was not inferior to Uchiha Fugaku's in the slightest. As expected of someone who had inherited Madara's will.

Though Setsuna was old, his arrows were still sharp.

"You..."

Uchiha Fugaku was rendered speechless by the rebuke. His Sharingan could see the future, but not very far ahead. He could not foresee where the final outcome would lead.

"It seems the Fugaku Clan Head has finished losing his temper. Then we can talk now, right?"

Seeing that Fugaku had no reply, Naruto, who had been watching the show for quite some time, finally spoke.

"What do you want to talk about?"

Uchiha Fugaku stared at Naruto. He did not know whether the other man had used the Body Flicker Technique or genjutsu just now, but at the very least, he might not be able to defeat him.

"Me? I came to give your Uchiha a tiny, insignificant bit of hope."

These three chapters are just setting things up. In the next few chapters, we'll start delivering local specialties. Much appreciated.