Konoha and the Third Hokage: Strong on the Outside, Weak Within

With the clan's internal issues resolved, Minagawa Uchiha and the others discussed several attack plans. As the one who had proposed the plan, Minagawa Uchiha naturally laid out his own strategy.

"We can't openly break with the Third Hokage just yet, so we can't touch the Anbu for now. My suggestion is to subdue the Anbu directly under the Hokage outside the clan grounds with genjutsu."

"As for Root, it has now completely become Shimura Danzō's private army. They won't even obey the Hokage's orders. Leaving them alone will only cause us trouble, so I suggest we wipe them out completely."

Minagawa Uchiha's suggestion made Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi frown. But recalling how those Root ninja operated, neither voiced any objection. They quietly continued listening to Minagawa Uchiha's plans.

"Next, we'll go straight to the Root Base and find Danzo. The Third Hokage and the two Advisors are in the Hokage's Office, along with ninja from the major clans. They may be discussing last night's attack on the Hokage Building."

"Shimura Danzō isn't at the Root Base, though. He's probably worried that I'll attack it again, which is why he didn't go to the Hokage Building. Perhaps he's still waiting to receive the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan!"

"Additionally, we need to leave some ninja behind to protect the civilians. I suggest assigning the Conservatives to stay behind. As for those without strong opinions, Clan Head should lead them in guarding every exit of Root, in case Sarutobi Hiruzen arrives."

"Itachi and I will lead the Radical Faction clan members into the Root Base and kill Shimura Danzō."

"That's more or less the plan for tonight. As for confronting Sarutobi Hiruzen, we'll have to trouble Clan Head with that. We'll gather evidence of Shimura Danzō's crimes as quickly as possible and meet up with you afterward. I believe that evidence will shock the major clans and civilian ninja alike!"

A mocking, wicked smile appeared on Minagawa Uchiha's lips. Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi now understood that Minagawa Uchiha had been the one to infiltrate the Root Base and the Hokage Building before. That meant he had likely uncovered much of Shimura Danzō's incriminating evidence during those incursions.

After Minagawa Uchiha finished explaining his plan, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi both found it feasible and nodded in approval. However, Uchiha Fugaku would have to face Sarutobi Hiruzen, and he still lacked confidence.

"Lord Minagawa, do you think the Third Hokage will really choose to compromise? He must have tacitly approved of destroying the Uchiha Clan. With such a good opportunity to unite the major clans and civilian ninja and wipe us out under the charge of rebellion, he shouldn't let it pass."

Uchiha Fugaku had clearly come to recognize and trust Minagawa Uchiha. Thus, he did not hesitate for long before voicing his concerns directly.

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's worries, Minagawa Uchiha found them somewhat amusing. Judging by the Third Hokage's governing philosophy over the years, Uchiha Fugaku still could not see what kind of leader the Third Hokage truly was. It could only be said that the Third Hokage had been exceptionally skilled at maintaining his image. First Uchiha Itachi, and now his father as well.

Without any reservations, Minagawa Uchiha prepared to shatter the lofty image of the Third Hokage in Uchiha Fugaku's heart.

"Don't worry. As the Clan Head, you should see many things more clearly than most. Whether it was the Sannin leaving or the White Fang's death, both revealed that Sarutobi Hiruzen was strong on the outside but weak within. Now that he is old, he has become even more conservative. You can see it from what happened to the Hyuga Family four years ago."

"At the time, Konoha was already extremely weak, and the younger generation had not yet grown up. If another war broke out, it would be the Sarutobi Clan's turn to step up. That was why he chose to sell out the village's interests and push the Hyuga Clan forward to Calm Down Kumogakure's anger."

"This also showed that so long as his power and reputation were not threatened, and so long as he had a way out, he cherished his life greatly. Otherwise, it would not have been the Fourth Hokage who used the Reaper Death Seal to stop the Nine-Tails."

"The Uchiha Clan has been driven to this point entirely by them, and he understands that better than we do. We endured for so long before finally erupting, and we didn't kill the Anbu directly under him. He should have no trouble guessing that we do not intend to completely break with him. That is the unspoken understanding between us. Add the pressure of our three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, and of course he will choose to compromise."

Although all worry had vanished from Uchiha Fugaku's face, no other expression appeared there either. Minagawa Uchiha understood that he still had his reservations. There was little he could do about that, so he could only offer an example.

"Heh, Shimura Danzō understands this very well."

"Every time, he takes advantage of the Third Hokage's willingness to compromise and tolerate him. That is why he dares to relentlessly strike at Sarutobi Hiruzen's weakness. For his own interests, he targets the major clans of the same village, recruits their geniuses into Root, and cultivates them into tools loyal only to himself. Root has grown so powerful that even Sarutobi Hiruzen can no longer command it."

"So long as we do not intend to completely betray Konoha or threaten his power and reputation, and so long as we display enough strength that he does not feel confident he can easily take us down, he will inevitably compromise."

"After all, he has occupied that position for too long and no longer has the ambition he once did. Every decision he makes will unconsciously begin from his own interests, with the village coming afterward. So even if other ninja step forward in opposition, he will help persuade them."

"Of course, Clan Head must also grasp this mindset of his. You must be more forceful."

Having finished his analysis, Minagawa Uchiha said no more. Whether Uchiha Fugaku could understand these things and avoid making mistakes in the coming confrontation with the Third Hokage depended on him.

Minagawa Uchiha did not want to stand out too much. It would be troublesome if he drew the attention of old schemers like the Sage of Six Paths. After all, Konoha in this era was rather special, and the Uchiha Clan's crisis of destruction was an extremely important turning point.

Minagawa Uchiha was not disappointed. After pondering for a while, Uchiha Fugaku raised his head with a smile. The confusion and unease in his eyes had completely faded, replaced with undisguised admiration as he looked at Minagawa Uchiha.

"You really are something, Lord Minagawa. I never expected you to analyze Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others so thoroughly. When it comes to judging people, I'm afraid no one in all of Konoha can compare to you. When Hizashi Hyuga died, I sensed that something was wrong, but I never imagined it was not merely the higher-ups trying to suppress the Hyuga Clan. It was also proof that the Third Hokage was strong on the outside but weak within, selling out the village's interests to preserve his own."