Return to the Clan Grounds

As long as the Uchiha Clan wasn't foolish, they would probably arrange for those Uchiha Clan Members with gentler temperaments to move into the clan grounds at the village center and live among those already there. That would let more people Realize the Uchiha's changes, reduce the divide between them and the village, and forge new bonds.

It seemed my previous judgment that this brat was naive had been wrong. What naive brat? He was clearly as cunning as a ghost. A predicament even Uchiha Fugaku had struggled to handle, yet he had resolved it with ease. It seemed the plan to win him over could only die before it began.

Though he appeared to be an Uchiha who feared trouble and sought stability, his heart still leaned toward the Uchiha. Konoha likely held very little weight in his heart.

In that case, the Uchiha had completely slipped out of control. Tsunade and Jiraiya had to be recalled as soon as possible. They could stabilize the village's people and suppress the Uchiha Clan's ambitions, while also providing the strength to fight if necessary.

As Sarutobi Hiruzen weighed his options inwardly, he began reassessing this newly emerged young wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan. The wariness in his eyes deepened further.

"Ha ha, a true hero emerges in youth! If I remember correctly, you are Minagawa Uchiha, a student in the Ninja Academy's graduating class, aren't you?

"I never expected someone so young to be this outstanding. Not only had you awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but you also handled matters without a single flaw.

"To see such an exceptional junior emerge in the village at this age truly gratifies me as Hokage. I imagine the Uchiha Clan will prosper for decades under your leadership!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding clans all revealed strange expressions and turned to look at the youth who was still attending the Ninja Academy. Quite a few clans even showed a trace of wariness.

After all, Konoha was only so large. The Uchiha Clan already possessed three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan. Their strength was evident. Given their former temperament, they might very well encroach upon the interests of other clans. Even if the Uchiha did not care for their meager assets, no one could calmly accept having to bow their heads before the Uchiha in the future.

But before Minagawa Uchiha could defuse this redirected hostility once more, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had done a thorough job of keeping up appearances, gave him no chance to continue speaking and directly began issuing orders to the surrounding shinobi.

"Enough. Today's matter ends here. Everyone, disperse. Leave the rest to the Anbu. What happened here today is classified, and it especially must not be allowed to reach the other villages.

"After all, Shimura Danzō was previously responsible for foreign infiltration and espionage. If the other villages learn that Root has been Destroyed, it may stir up unrest detrimental to the village.

"Also, the Military Police Force should continue carrying out its decision to patrol the village. At a time like this, we cannot allow enemy spies to seize any opening."

Everyone was somewhat dissatisfied that the Third Hokage had simply glossed over the matter, but constrained by his status as Hokage—and since he had dealt with the chief culprit, Shimura Danzō—they dispersed one after another.

Although everyone tacitly accepted this handling of the matter, the seeds of distrust toward the higher-ups had already been planted. This expedient measure, temporarily suppressing the issue, would one day erupt. All it needed was a fuse.

As they left, some clans even nodded to Uchiha Fugaku in greeting right in front of A Group of higher-ups. Clearly, this was not only goodwill released after the major clans had gained some recognition of the Uchiha through this incident; it was also an expression of dissatisfaction toward the Hokage.

Sarutobi Hiruzen could only pretend not to notice this, but his killing intent toward the Uchiha grew even stronger. He also became dissatisfied with the major clans and secretly decided to find an opportunity to warn them, just as he had done with the Hyuga Clan before.

Seriously, even at the very end, he had to drive wedges between the other clans and Uchiha Fugaku. Sarutobi Hiruzen, you really are a bastard.

Minagawa Uchiha was extremely annoyed. Facing such a smiling tiger, every step was a calculation and every moment fraught with danger. He had not expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to expose the fact that he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan even at the end, making the other clans wary and thereby dividing the Uchiha Clan. The reason those clans had accepted Sarutobi Hiruzen's arrangement so quickly was probably related to that information as well.

He had even praised him while undermining Uchiha Fugaku's authority as Clan Head, hoping to create internal conflict within the Uchiha.

When he turned and saw no unusual expression on Uchiha Fugaku's face, Minagawa Uchiha could not help but admire this Clan Head somewhat. At the very least, the man was genuinely magnanimous!

Led by Uchiha Fugaku, the Uchiha Clan soon returned to the Uchiha Compound.

As soon as they returned, Uchiha Fugaku sent people to lift the alert at Naka Shrine and announced the news of the Uchiha's great victory. The Clan Members who had remained behind were naturally overjoyed.

After arranging the clan's affairs and announcing that a clan meeting would be held tomorrow, he dismissed everyone. He then brought Minagawa Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi to the study.

After the three of them took their seats, Uchiha Fugaku got straight to the point.

"This is a good beginning. Shimura Danzō, the one who targeted us most fiercely, is dead, and the prestige of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other higher-ups has suffered a tremendous blow.

"However, he has been Hokage for so many years. This blow alone cannot shake his position. What is even more unpredictable is that, when he can no longer control the situation, he may recall Tsunade and Jiraiya. He may even step down directly and hand the Hokage Seat to one of them.

"We cannot accept him escaping unscathed like this, nor can we hand over the favorable situation we worked so hard to create. I imagine that even if the other clans are wary of the Uchiha Clan, they would not wish to see a new Hokage still emerge from the Senju Clan.

"Who doesn't have dreams of becoming Hokage? With the higher-ups monopolized so thoroughly, the other clans could only remain submissive forever. That would be even harder for them to accept than having the Uchiha Clan serve as Hokage."

"Therefore, our Uchiha Clan still has a considerable chance of taking the Hokage Seat. So, I have decided that our next course of action should remain focused on winning over the other clans.

"To avoid alerting Sarutobi Hiruzen, Nanga, you should handle this matter. Whether in strength or judgment, you are an excellent choice. What do you think?"

After analyzing the current situation, Uchiha Fugaku asked Minagawa Uchiha for his opinion. As for Uchiha Itachi, after all the foolish things he had done, Fugaku, as Clan Head, no longer held any hope that he could continue being the Uchiha's pride.

The older model was ruined; it was more promising to properly cultivate Sasuke, the younger model. As his father, he could still manage to keep him as an Uchiha enforcer.