Coup in Three Days, Sarutobi's Hesitation

"Clan Head! The village held emergency discussions all night. I heard all the major clans were there. Do you know what happened?"

Emergency discussions all night?

All the major clans had gone?

Early in the morning, Fugaku looked at the speaker, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

He was one of the younger generation, serving in the Security Force.

But he was very close to the Konoha Hokage faction.

He was one of the few members of the Uchiha Clan's Dove Faction.

But why would someone from the Dove Faction relay such information to him?

Could it have been deliberately leaked by the Hokage—or perhaps Danzo?

But wouldn't that only deepen the conflict...?

Or were they deliberately escalating the conflict, intending to make the Uchiha Clan unable to endure any longer?

In an instant, Fugaku's face darkened.

He finally realized something was wrong. Turning around, he coldly ordered, "Notify all the elders. Council Hall, now!"

As for Sasuke on the treetop, Fugaku took one look and decisively gave up.

A mischievous child?

×!

The second kid was useless!

√!

Before long, the Uchiha Council Hall was packed with elders.

Some had yet to fully wake up, but most wore fierce, expectant expressions.

The Third Elder, the most aggressive and battle-hungry among them, could not wait to ask when he saw Fugaku, "Clan Head, did you gather us so early because we're launching the coup?"

"A coup? It's finally starting! Thirty-two Three Tomoe, one hundred and sixty-eight Two Tomoe, and three hundred and ninety-eight One Tomoe clan members are standing by!"

"Clan Head, let's do it! Konoha is no longer the Konoha we once fought for!"

"That's right, Clan Head. If the Sarutobi Clan can sit in the Hokage's seat, then our Uchiha Clan can sit there too!"

Whoosh!

That single sentence instantly ignited everyone's fury.

The elders all began shouting over one another, slamming the tables and yelling fiercely.

It seemed as though they could storm Konoha Headquarters the very next second!

"Cough, cough... I think we should first hear what the Clan Head has to say."

Seeing this, one of the few Dove Faction elders coughed twice and turned his gaze toward Fugaku.

Whoosh!

In an instant, more than twenty pairs of eyes fixed directly on Fugaku's face.

They were filled with anticipation.

The pressure fell on Fugaku, leaving him somewhat stunned.

Hadn't he called this meeting to discuss countermeasures?

How had it suddenly turned into a discussion of how to take Konoha, and which direction to attack the village from?

This... wasn't quite right...

But it also showed that the emotions in the Uchiha Clan's hearts had long since risen to the surface.

All they needed was an opportunity to ignite completely!

And now, perhaps that opportunity had arrived?

"No..."

After hesitating for a long time, Fugaku still shook his head.

"Shisui is injured now, and Itachi is tied up with missions. The strength of our Uchiha Clan is still too weak."

Unexpectedly, the Third Elder immediately shot back:

"Weak?"

"Clan Head, surely you know what allowed the Sarutobi Clan to grow from a small Konoha clan into the great clan it is in the Shinobi World today?"

That one sentence left Fugaku silent again.

What did they rely on?

Of course, they relied on sucking the blood of great clans like theirs!

"Alas..."

At last, Fugaku closed his eyes and let out a slow sigh. When he opened them again, there was not the slightest hesitation left in his gaze.

Only resolve remained!

He tapped the table and looked at the many elders. "In that case, three nights from now!"

"During this time, recall every clansman currently out on missions!"

"All clansmen are to abandon their missions and return at once!"

"Yes!"

That shout sent the entire Uchiha District into a complete uproar.

It also made the many clans of Leaf realize that something was wrong.

"What's going on? Have you noticed that there seem to be more Uchiha clansmen on the streets...?"

"More than that—you haven't heard it? You can hear maniacal laughter even in the middle of the night! What a bunch of lunatics."

"They haven't all gone insane, have they?"

"Probably not, but there also seem to be more Anbu patrols in the village lately..."

Naturally, the discussions reached Leaf's upper ranks as well.

Bang!

Bang, bang, bang!

Hokage's Office.

Danzo struck the floor repeatedly with the cane in his hand, producing a series of loud bangs.

The small office seemed packed with people at the moment.

Torifu Akimichi, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Hyuga Hiashi, and the heads of Leaf's clans were almost all present.

Aside from a very few who were rather agitated, most of the clan heads merely turned their eyes toward the Third Hokage.

Their expressions did not change much.

Hyuga Hiashi in particular.

As the head of one of the village's major clans, he vaguely sensed that something was about to happen, but he had no desire to get involved.

What did this have to do with the Hyuga Clan?

No matter who came out on top, they would eventually need the Byakugan.

Several heads of smaller clans thought the same way.

In any case, they could not influence the overall situation. All they needed to do was cheer from the sidelines.

Bang!

Seeing that the Third Hokage was still silent, Danzo directly smashed a hole into the floor before him with his cane. He angrily flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Only when he reached the doorway did he pause, speaking with his back turned.

"There are some things you are not in a position to do, but—I can!"

"As the Hokage's advisor, it is necessary for me to eliminate threats on your behalf!"

With that, he strode away.

Behind him, the Third Hokage watched his departing back. For once, he made no move to stop him.

He merely waited in silence for a moment before suddenly lifting his eyes.

Then, without betraying any emotion, he drew out his pipe and tapped it lightly. "Everyone, return for now. Help keep an eye on the village in the coming days."

"The Uchiha Clan is part of our Leaf. I will neither give up on them nor abandon them!"

"Wherever the leaves of Leaf dance, the fire shall burn on forever!"

The words moved the heads of the smaller clans greatly, and only then did they depart.

A moment later.

Only Sarutobi Hiruzen and—the Crow by the window remained in the Hokage's Office.

"Itachi, have you made up your mind?"

"Yes. They have chosen to launch the coup at dusk three days from now."

"Alas... I'm sorry. I still failed to satisfy them."

"No, this is not the Third Hokage's fault. It is the inherent vice rooted deep within Uchiha blood."

The Crow suddenly turned its head and said heavily, "I will—destroy those inherent vices. But, Third Hokage..."

"Hmm? Go on."

"Could you spare Sasuke and Jin? They... are still only children, after all."

At those words, the entire Hokage's Office fell completely silent.

From the pipe, white smoke billowed out in puff after puff.

Until it grew so thick that no one could see clearly.

Only then did Sarutobi Hiruzen nod. "Sasuke is acceptable. As for Jin... I'll need to observe that child a while longer."

With that, he stepped out of the Hokage Building.

The moment he looked up, he saw Jin not far away, forcibly dragging an Anbu into conversation.

"That child Jin... he's still as talkative as ever." The Corner of the Mouth twitched.

Just as he turned to leave, Jin's beady eyes suddenly lit up behind him.

"Oh, old man... uh, Third Hokage, don't go! How about a ten-minute chat?"