Danzo's Helpless Fury

When the two Jonin, Uchiha Nobuhiko and Uchiha Kensuke, escorted the three captured Lurkers suspected of belonging to the Anbu or Root to the Konoha Military Police Force, Uchiha Tokimitsu's Father, Uchiha Nakagen, happened to be on duty at the police headquarters. After explaining the circumstances to Uchiha Nakagen, the two returned to the Training Ground to continue the tactical exercises.

After asking about the escort, Uchiha Tokimitsu learned that the prisoners had been taken into custody by his father, and put his mind at ease. He gave it no further thought and continued directing the Uchiha Ninja Army's tactical drills.

By the time Uchiha Tokimitsu had put every contingency plan in his head through the exercises, evening had arrived. The sun was setting, and the Uchiha ninja participating in the drill were showing a little fatigue.

Thus, Uchiha Tokimitsu discussed ending the day's exercises with Uchiha Kamon, the nominal commander-in-chief. Uchiha Kamon naturally went along with it. His role had always been a temporary one, meant to lend Uchiha Tokimitsu authority, so he would not oppose him over such trivial matters.

After gathering everyone, they delivered closing remarks on the day's intensive training exercise. Uchiha Kamon was responsible for reining in these proud and battle-hardened clan ninja, while Uchiha Tokimitsu encouraged and praised them, winning over their hearts. One cracked the whip while the other offered the carrot, and together they brought the Uchiha ninja into line. No one dared underestimate the young Uchiha Tokimitsu again.

After getting his fill of playing commander, Uchiha Tokimitsu organized the Uchiha Ninja Army into twenty-two straight ranks, marching back into Konoha in groups of three.

Discipline was a very strange thing.

As the saying went, "Without rules, there can be no order." Yet ninja, as combatants whose skills largely leaned toward assassination, usually operated in relatively scattered combat squads whether marching or fighting. An army marching in concentrated ranks like the Uchiha Ninja Army was truly rare, apart from Iwagakure of the Land of Earth, which prized unity.

Especially when the Uchiha Clan—broad-shouldered, handsome, and practically all model-level good-looking men—marched together, they made for an imposing and pleasing sight.

At the front of the formation, Uchiha Tokimitsu held his head high and chest out. His left hand rested on the longsword at his waist, while his right arm swung naturally. Every step seemed precisely measured, neither more nor less than fifty centimeters. The Uchiha clan members in the ranks unconsciously imitated Tokimitsu, composing their expressions and sharpening their gazes as they marched forward in rhythm with his steps.

Even Uchiha Kamon, who had originally strolled along lazily with his hands behind his back, now raised his head and chest and marched with a stern expression.

The formation and its steps grew ever more uniform.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

The orderly footfalls gradually approached Konoha's gates, stirring up a commotion among the civilians, merchant caravans, and ninja waiting to enter the village.

Even the Konoha Military Police Force ninja on watch atop the walls were left gaping in astonishment.

The returning Uchiha Ninja Army kept their eyes straight ahead and marched forward in perfect order. Their left hands pressed against their ninja blades in a symbolic stance of vigilance, while their right arms swung naturally with each step, carrying the relaxed air of a leisurely stroll.

The people originally blocking the gate hurriedly moved aside. The Uchiha Ninja Army filed in, treating everyone else as though they were invisible.

"As expected of the Number one clan in the Ninja World..."

A Great Merchant who had come to Konoha on business was deeply shaken by the sight and could not help muttering to himself. He made up his mind that, on his return journey, he would definitely hire Uchiha ninja as guards. Their bearing, their presence—looks were justice, and discipline was combat power. Taking them out would be incredibly prestigious! If he could hire eight or ten Uchiha to guard him, even a lord might not have such an impressive escort!

The other ninja nearby all had keen ears and sharp eyes, so naturally they heard the Great Merchant's words. Whether they came from ninja clans or civilian backgrounds, their expressions were complicated. They were deeply envious of such might, yet did not know what to say. Besides, Uchiha ninja were standing guard on the walls; carelessly speaking out might get them arrested on the spot and thrown in jail.

Once the Uchiha Ninja Army had all entered the village, several figures darted out from the forest outside and raced toward the Hokage's Office Building. The Uchiha ninja maintaining watch on the walls could not be bothered to interfere. They were Anbu directly under the Hokage anyway. As long as the alert barrier did not react, the police force had no authority to act. Besides, it was obvious that they had revealed themselves so hurriedly in front of everyone to report the commotion the Uchiha had just caused to the Hokage's Office Building.

With grand and dignified bearing, the ostentatious Uchiha Ninja Army returned to the Konoha it was still temporarily loyal to.

At this time, the Third Hokage was in his office discussing the assembly and logistical supplies for the ninja army supporting the Land of Rain with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu when an Anbu rushed back in.

"Lord Hokage..."

"What has you so flustered?"

The Third Hokage frowned and asked with a hint of reproach.

His directly subordinate Anbu was acting so panicked. It really made him, as Hokage, lose a little face—especially with the Two Advisors watching.

"Keeping one's color unchanged even with a mountain collapsing before one's eyes... that is a quality every ninja must possess, let alone an Anbu like you..." The Third Hokage scolded him sternly, alternating between criticism and warning.

"...Hiruzen, perhaps you should first ask what urgent matter it is."

Seeing Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen becoming more animated the longer he spoke, Mitokado Homura feared he would get carried away and delay important business, so he hurriedly interrupted.

"Mm... true."

The Third Hokage slowly took out his pipe and rubbed a flame into existence with his fingers to light it.

The Anbu below did not dare delay and quickly recounted, in full detail, the commotion caused by the Uchiha Ninja Army when it returned to the village.

"That's it?"

The Third Hokage found it rather uninteresting. The Uchiha had merely arranged themselves into formation and made a fuss for a short while—was that really worth making a special trip to report?

Still, he could not say much, so he waved the Anbu away.

"This generation of Uchiha clan members has certainly come up with quite a few tricks."

After the Anbu left, the Third Hokage spoke to the Two Advisors in a somewhat lighthearted tone.

"The Uchiha act with such reckless disregard. They will inevitably provoke the villagers' resentment."

"Exactly! Ever since Kagami passed away, every one of the Uchiha's actions has been nothing but digging their own graves."

The Two Advisors held no small prejudice against the Uchiha, and naturally there was no kindness in their words.

The Third Hokage knew his old friends' temperaments well and did not take it to heart. He merely laughed it off and continued discussing the assembly of the ninja army.

Yet inwardly, he was secretly alarmed by the Uchiha Clan's strength. According to the Anbu's report, the number of Jonin in this force was likely not far off from the number of Jonin in the newly assembled army formed from clan ninja of the other ninja clans being mobilized this time. And if its Chunin were included, it could probably rival the Anbu. But this was only part of the Uchiha's strength.

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's wariness toward the Uchiha Clan deepened further, and his previous intention to have the police force remain behind wavered somewhat.

But for the moment, he could not say anything. He merely continued discussing the assembly of clan ninja and independent ninja.

"Hiruzen!"

As the three in the Hokage's Office were deep in discussion, Danzo angrily shoved open the door and barged in, shouting.

"Those Uchiha are acting so lawlessly, and you still won't do anything about them? How exactly are you serving as Hokage?"

The three frowned and stared silently at the furious, utterly ungraceful Danzo. They, too, felt deeply disgusted. Though he was an old friend, did he really think that tone and those words were something a subordinate should say in public?

"...Although the Uchiha caused quite a commotion today, it was merely a blundering move made in their confusion, one that cost them public support. It will be enough to condemn them afterward. Why make such a big issue out of it?"

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the enraged Danzo, took a deep draw from his pipe, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

Calm down. He was his old friend, his partner, someone he had chosen.

The Third Hokage took another draw from his pipe, forcing himself to calm down.

"You call something this serious a commotion??? Hiruzen??? Have you fallen under the Uchiha's genjutsu?!"

Danzo was greatly shocked!

"The Uchiha have no regard for the village! They act recklessly! This is practically rebellion! And you're just letting it go?!"

"Didn't they merely disturb some residents when they entered the village? What else did they do today?"

The Third Hokage felt that something was off. It seemed he and Danzo had not gotten on the same page today, as though they were talking about entirely different matters.

"They captured Anbu!"

"What!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu were all stunned before being greatly shocked.

Though the Uchiha had been somewhat presumptuous in the past, they would not usually be this utterly lawless. Besides, there had been no report from the directly subordinate Anbu!

"Which Anbu unit? Where was it deployed?"

Mitokado Homura hurriedly asked.

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his pipe tightly in his left hand and stared at Danzo.

For a moment, the atmosphere froze.

"...It was my Root."

Danzo hesitated for a moment, lowering his voice slightly.

"Today, the Uchiha suddenly gathered outside the village without authorization. I feared that they had ill intentions, so I sent people to observe them. In the end, the Uchiha indiscriminately captured them, framed them as spies, and took them to the Konoha Military Police Force..."

"The Anbu Training Department..."

The Third Hokage naturally knew all about this so-called "Root" led by Danzo, which had named itself after the Anbu Training Department.

"They were training in secret. They had no Ninja registration numbers... nor did they have village residency records..."

Danzo said, somewhat lacking in confidence.

The Third Hokage sighed. Letting the Uchiha catch such an obvious weakness—there was really no one else to blame.

"Send someone to reprimand them, and have the Konoha Military Police Force punish the Uchiha who harmed their Village Comrades as they see fit."

The Third Hokage did not wish to blow the matter up. Danzo was, after all, his old friend, so he naturally leaned somewhat toward helping his own rather than upholding reason. But the punishment could not be too severe either, lest it provoke the Uchiha's rebellious sentiments. Leaving it to the Konoha Military Police Force was appropriate. Besides, if the Konoha Military Police Force handled it unfairly, they might even be able to steer public opinion toward criticizing the Uchiha for treating authority like a child's toy, further weakening the clan's reputation.

"Harming Village Comrades has always been forbidden... but sending Anbu to follow Village Comrades is also a grave taboo. Let us leave it at that."

Upon hearing the Hokage's words, Mitokado Homura understood his intent and spoke up, hoping to dispel Danzo's resentment.

"You..."

Danzo could not help but fly into a rage.

"Such cowardice! Have you forgotten Teacher's teachings? That clan of lunatics should never be shown such tolerance!"

Danzo, beside himself with anger, began shouting wildly.

"Enough!"

The Third Hokage's expression darkened as he shouted angrily.

"As an advisor, how can you win the people's trust with such narrow-mindedness?!"

"Especially when they are unregistered personnel without Ninja registration numbers," Mitokado Homura added.

"You..."

"Hiruzen! You will regret this!"

Danzo angrily flicked his sleeve and strode away.

"Danzo! I am the Hokage!"

The equally furious Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen roared.