Hokage's Summons

The Third Hokage's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Danzo's head, bringing him back to his senses.

As the Third Hokage's classmate and longtime friend, Danzo had always held himself above others and was renowned throughout the Ninja World for his ruthless, cold-blooded methods. Yet this time, the Uchiha Clan had taught him a solid lesson.

And the instigator was merely an eight-year-old Uchiha boy. That Uchiha boy's father had also thrown another obstacle in his way. What angered him most was that, as a powerful Konoha Advisor Elder, he actually had fewer jonin under his command than that Uchiha boy!

How could that not infuriate him?

"Are we really... just letting this go?" Danzo gritted his teeth, his eyes red with rage.

"No..."

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen continued puffing slowly on his pipe, carefully weighing matters in his mind.

"The Uchiha are, after all, the largest clan. A great tree catches the wind, and their roots run deep. We must proceed gradually and not act rashly... otherwise, it will only backfire..."

He exhaled a cloud of smoke and continued, "But fortunately, their clan has never been united. Their internal family lineages are numerous, and the Radical Faction and Conservative Faction are like fire and water. The best approach is to maintain their internal balance as much as possible. If we go with the flow and allow their internal conflicts to intensify, perhaps their clan will have another Naraku no Yomiyama Battle..."

During the Second Generation's administration, the Uchiha Clan had been confined within the Konoha Military Police Force, while their internal contradictions were fanned into flames. This triggered a large-scale Civil War within the Uchiha Clan known as the "Naraku no Yomiyama Battle," greatly weakening their strength. In the end, by taking Kagami Uchiha as his disciple, he gained an opportunity to intervene in the Uchiha Clan's affairs.

Yet even after their strength had been severely damaged by the Civil War, the Uchiha Clan remained the Number one clan in the Ninja World, unmatched by any ninja clan other than the Senju.

"I plan to summon Uchiha Tokimitsu." As he spoke, the Third Hokage suddenly dropped that sentence.

Danzo glanced at him without speaking.

A summons was just a summons. What was there to say?

"From what I have seen of his actions, he may possess Hokage potential..."

With his pipe between his lips, the Third Hokage picked up Uchiha Tokimitsu's file and started reading it again.

"Hiruzen! Do you even know what nonsense you're saying?!" Danzo was shocked and enraged upon hearing this.

"I also intend to take him as my disciple, just as Teacher did with Kagami..."

"Kagami was different! He was unlike the other Uchiha! But that brat named Tokimitsu is Old Man Setsuna's successor! He belongs to the most dangerous Radical Faction!"

Danzo was so furious that smoke seemed to rise from his head. How could the praise of Hokage potential be given to an Uchiha? How could the good thing of becoming a Hokage's disciple be given to an Uchiha? He was about to die of anger!

"My three disciples—Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya—are all Konoha's elites..." The Third Hokage's gaze was sharp as he held his pipe. "He's just a junior Uchiha. I refuse to believe I can't keep him in line!"

"Besides, even as an idle move for the future, it would be good to drive a wedge between that boy and the Uchiha Radical Faction."

The Third Hokage's calculations clicked away in his mind. "Trade the title of Hokage's disciple, along with an assessment of Hokage potential, for an opportunity to intervene in the Uchiha Clan. No loss there!"

"Hmph!"

Seeing the Third Hokage invoke the methods of their teacher, Senju Tobirama, Danzo had nothing more to say. He merely flicked his sleeve and rose.

Just as his hand reached the doorknob and he was about to leave, Danzo turned back and said to the Third Hokage, "Hiruzen... those skilled with water drown in water, and those who play with fire will eventually burn themselves... Take care of yourself!"

"Danzo, as Hokage, I have my own considerations!"

After Danzo left, the Hokage dispatched Anbu overnight to the Uchiha Clan Compound to summon Uchiha Tokimitsu.

Uchiha Tokimitsu and his father had already returned home. After learning of the incident at the Konoha Military Police Force, the Uchiha Clan Head, who was off duty that day, felt that treating the subordinate of a village Advisor Elder so forcefully was somewhat improper. However, he could find no fault with the procedure, so he let it pass. Upon hearing the report, Elder Setsuna beamed and told those around him, "The clan has successors."

The methods displayed by Uchiha Tokimitsu and his father that day drew praise from the Uchiha Radical Faction, while the Conservative Faction felt Extremely uneasy.

Thus, when the Hokage's Anbu arrived at the Uchiha Clan Compound and stated his purpose, the eyes of the entire Uchiha Clan immediately turned toward Uchiha Tokimitsu.

Thus, when Uchiha Kamon brought the Messenger Anbu bearing the Hokage's order to Uchiha Tokimitsu's home, the Uchiha clan members who had already gotten off work rose one after another, showing great interest in how matters would develop.

"The Hokage is summoning me?"

Uchiha Tokimitsu asked with a frown. Uchiha Nakagen and his wife said nothing, leaving Uchiha Tokimitsu to handle it.

"Yes, Tokimitsu-kun. Do not keep Lord Hokage waiting. Come with me at once."

The Messenger Anbu urged him.

"To the Hokage's Office Building?"

Uchiha Tokimitsu continued asking. After all, in the Fan Fiction he had read in his previous life, there had been no shortage of scenes where Danzo forged Hokage orders to harm the protagonist.

"Yes. Hurry and come with me."

The Anbu restrained his irritation as well. As an Anbu directly under the Hokage, his status in the village was lofty, and he had never encountered anyone who could be so lackadaisical even after receiving a summons from the Hokage.

"Oh."

Uchiha Tokimitsu answered, then said to Uchiha Kamon, "Captain Kamon, please help gather the members of the Guard Squad assigned for patrol today."

Uchiha Kamon was stunned for a moment, then a hint of a smile appeared on his face.

"Very well, Young Lord Tokimitsu. Please wait." With that, he vanished in a Body Flicker.

Uchiha Nakagen still wore a stern expression, but his body visibly relaxed a little. Uchiha Emiko covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

The Anbu was full of pent-up anger with nowhere to vent it.

He had heard that the Uchiha were overbearing, but he had not known their arrogance could be this outrageous.

Before long, Uchiha Kamon returned with Uchiha Nobuhiko, Uchiha Kensuke, and the six ninja from their two squads.

"Uncle Nobuhiko, Uncle Kensuke, sorry to trouble you so late at night."

Uchiha Tokimitsu politely greeted the two jonin and their subordinates.

"Young Lord, you're too polite. This is our duty."

"Then let us head to the Hokage's Office Building," Uchiha Tokimitsu said to the Messenger Anbu.

"Fine..."

Uchiha Tokimitsu's act of gathering the Guard Squad before heading to the Hokage's Office Building was like a signal. The Radical Faction Uchiha were delighted, while the Conservative Faction's brows furrowed even more tightly.

After arriving at the Hokage's Office Building, the Messenger Anbu had Uchiha Tokimitsu's group wait while he entered to report. Only after a while was Uchiha Tokimitsu summoned inside for an audience.

Perhaps the Anbu had described what he saw at the Uchiha Clan Compound, allowing the Hokage to learn of Uchiha Tokimitsu's attitude. The entire meeting proceeded without incident, and outwardly, both host and guest seemed pleased.

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen highly praised Uchiha Tokimitsu's outstanding results from diligent training. He greatly admired how someone so young could possess such strength and hoped that Tokimitsu would contribute more to the village in the future, working together to build upon the Will of Fire.

Uchiha Tokimitsu humbly claimed that he was merely an ignorant Uchiha child, that everything was due to the clan's fine cultivation, and that he himself was only an ordinary junior with nothing to rely on but hard work. In the future, he would still need to grow quickly under the clan's care.

The Hokage once again acknowledged Uchiha Tokimitsu's achievements, saying that he possessed the bearing of a Hokage at such a young age and that his future was immeasurable. He asked whether Tokimitsu had any intention of becoming his disciple and competing for the next position of Hokage.

Uchiha Tokimitsu replied that the clan's kindness was as heavy as a mountain and that even dying a hundred times would not repay it. Becoming a Hokage's disciple was a matter of great importance, so he would need to report it to the clan elders and did not dare make the decision himself. As for possessing the bearing of a Hokage, that was purely excessive praise, and he did not deserve it...

After exchanging a set of official platitudes, the old and young foxes both understood the other's intentions. This highly constructive meeting thus came to an end in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere.

"...This child must not be underestimated."

After Uchiha Tokimitsu departed, the Third Hokage continued smoking his pipe, his gaze distant.

"Unfortunately, he is an Uchiha..."