The Security Force's massive operation quickly drew the attention of every clan in Konoha.
The heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans had gathered there.
Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Choza, and Nara Shikaku were the Ino-Shika-Cho of this generation, and the heads of their respective clans.
"Shikaku, what do you think the Uchiha Clan is up to?!"
"They even shut down my barbecue restaurant, claiming it failed to meet hygiene standards..."
Akimichi Choza said angrily.
Because of their clan's techniques, all the members of the Akimichi Clan were fat.
To maintain the fat in their bodies, the Akimichi Clan had opened many barbecue restaurants in Konoha.
But today, the Security Force had shut down all of them.
"Exactly! Has the Uchiha Clan gone mad?!"
"They're demanding protection money from every shop in Konoha. If you don't pay, they shut you down..."
"My flower shop was shut down too..."
Yamanaka Inoichi said, sounding a little angry.
But more than anything, he was confused. What was the Uchiha Clan trying to do?
"Yeah... The Uchiha Clan's actions are certainly strange..."
"My herbal medicine shop was shut down too..."
Nara Shikaku was just as confused.
With Deer Forest, the Nara Clan ran Konoha's herbal medicine trade.
Today, his herbal medicine shop had also been shut down by the Security Force on various grounds.
They were furious that their shops had been closed.
But they were also baffled. What was the Uchiha Clan trying to achieve?
Was it really just about collecting protection money?
Clearly, they didn't believe the Uchiha Clan would make such a show of force over a little money.
The Uchiha Clan already had a bad reputation in Konoha. Making such a spectacle of demanding protection money would only make it worse.
Clearly, the money wasn't worth the cost.
The only explanation was that the Uchiha Clan had a deeper motive.
"Do you think the Uchiha Clan is planning to move against the Hokage?"
"After all, the Uchiha Clan has coveted the title of Hokage for a long time..."
Yamanaka Inoichi seemed to have thought of something and lowered his voice.
"Move against the Hokage?! That can't be right..."
"Does the Uchiha Clan really have that much nerve?!"
Akimichi Choza was startled and couldn't help asking.
"I just got word that the current Uchiha Clan Head, Uchiha Gen, has been imprisoned..."
"Now, the Uchiha Clan is under the control of a man named Uchiha Byakuya..."
Yamanaka Inoichi said.
"I can't read Uchiha Byakuya..."
Nara Shikaku said thoughtfully.
As Konoha's strategist, Nara Shikaku had a brilliant mind.
But he simply couldn't figure out what Byakuya hoped to accomplish.
"Shikaku, what should we do now?"
"Yeah! Our people are still being held by the Security Force..."
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza asked Nara Shikaku.
The Nara Clan were all very clever.
So whenever a problem came up, the other two clans sought their advice.
"Hmm... We shouldn't do anything."
"Let's wait and see how things develop..."
"See how the Hokage responds..."
Nara Shikaku thought it over before answering.
Nara Shikaku was a smart man. Until things became clearer, he wouldn't be the one to stick his neck out.
The best course was to do nothing.
Besides, their three clans weren't the only ones who had suffered losses.
The Hokage and several clans among the Konoha High Command had suffered the most.
If the Hokage wasn't worried, why should they be?
More importantly, in Nara Shikaku's view, the Uchiha Clan must have had a good reason to dare such a reckless move.
Their three Ino-Shika-Cho clans were minor clans. They didn't dare provoke the Uchiha Clan.
Let the Hokage take on the Uchiha Clan.
The Ino-Shika-Cho clans weren't the only ones thinking that way. Every clan in Konoha was waiting to see how the Sarutobi Clan would respond.
The head of your Sarutobi Clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is the Hokage.
Now the Uchiha Clan has shut down your businesses. Why aren't you doing anything?
In the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō had gathered there.
"Damn it, what is the Uchiha Clan up to? Are they trying to rebel? How dare they shut down our shops..."
"Exactly! They didn't just shut down our businesses; they arrested our people too!"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura said furiously.
Of the businesses that had been shut down, those belonging to their two clans made up more than half.
They had acquired these businesses over the years by relying on the power in their hands.
If those businesses were damaged, their clans would suffer a devastating blow.
Their clans had struggled to grow into major clans in Konoha.
They didn't want to lose those businesses, become minor clans again, and live from one day to the next.
"The Uchiha Clan has gotten too arrogant..."
"We absolutely can't let them keep acting like this!"
"We have to teach the Uchiha Clan a lesson..."
Shimura Danzō said angrily.
Clearly, the Shimura Clan had suffered heavy losses this time too.
Shimura Danzō had long disliked the Uchiha Clan and had wanted to deal with them for ages.
Now the Uchiha Clan had finally made everyone furious. How could Shimura Danzō let this opportunity pass?
As the three men fumed, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe without a word.
After a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again.
"Hmm... The Uchiha Clan really has gone too far this time..."
"Danzō, leave this matter to your Root Organization..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Shimura Danzō.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't make sense of the Uchiha Clan's conspicuous move.
He simply couldn't figure out what Uchiha Byakuya was trying to do.
So Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to have Danzō probe the Uchiha Clan first.
Then he could decide whether to act.
"Sarutobi, leave it to me..."
"My Root Organization will take care of this..."
After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō didn't hesitate. He returned to the Root Organization's base.
He took the Root Organization's members and headed straight for the Uchiha Clan.
As soon as they reached the Uchiha Clan's compound, Uchiha Clan shinobi blocked their way.
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