Inside Mitokado Homura's camp.
Fugaku Uchiha sat on the right-hand side, looking uneasy.
Two young Uchiha stood behind him.
One was his five-year-old son Uchiha Itachi, and the other was Uchiha Shisui, a rising genius of the Uchiha Clan.
Looking at the sky outside the tent, Fugaku forced himself to control his emotions.
Ever since Danzo's son was attacked, he could feel undisguised hostile gazes fixed on him every moment.
You can also catch glimpses of Root ninjas.
Before he could even figure out why he was being monitored after being attacked by Kazashiro, Fugaku received some news during a meeting this morning.
That means Danzo is going to take over command of the front lines.
Danzo's son was attacked, and he was placed under surveillance the next day. On the third day, Danzo took over command.
Fugaku was slightly smarter than Kazashiro, and combining the above information, he immediately realized that Danzo had pinned the blame for Kazashiro's attack on him!
This is outrageous!
Although he did dislike Danzo and had cursed him countless times in secret, he swears to God that he never had any ill intentions towards Danzo's son!
Throughout the entire Mist Battlefield, he had never even seen Kazashiro's face once. How could Danzo pin this on him?!
No, I need to explain this to him in person!
Fugaku was on pins and needles, while Tsunade and Jiraiya were talking in hushed tones, occasionally glancing at Fugaku not far away.
Tsunade told Jiraiya about the attack on Kazashiro. Upon learning that the attackers included a member of the Uchiha, the two, who had initially been concerned about Fugaku being monitored, instantly changed their attitudes.
At first, they both thought it was Danzo's way of taking his anger out on them, but it turned out that there was indeed an Uchiha who stood against the village.
This forced them to also turn their suspicions to Fugaku.
Feeling the gazes of Tsunade and Jiraiya, Fugaku, who was already feeling uneasy, became even more terrified, shifting his position constantly with an innocent expression.
What did I do wrong? Why are even Tsunade and Jiraiya starting to distrust me?!
Just when Fugaku thought things couldn't get any worse, he felt a new gaze upon him.
This time it's Orochimaru.
By observing Tsunade and Jiraiya's reactions and combining what he had seen over the past two days, the clever Orochimaru roughly reconstructed the course of events based on mere guesswork.
I thought Fugaku was a weakling, but I never expected him to be so brave.
Sitting at the Mitokado Homura was bored, waiting for Danzo to come and take over.
Seeing that the Sannin were glancing in Fugaku's direction from time to time, he looked at them, puzzled.
Mitokado Homura sat at the head of the table, and his movements were visible to all the Jonin in the tent, which caused everyone to focus their attention on Fugaku.
Fugaku: Damn it!
Realizing that his son and Shisui were also watching him from behind, Fugaku only wanted to find a high place to jump off and end his life as soon as possible, so as not to suffer here.
A long time passed, so long that Fugaku was drenched in sweat, before Danzo finally lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.
"Danzo, have you seen Kazashiro?"
All the Jonin Fudō, except for Mitokado Homura, who rose to greet them.
"Um."
Danzo nodded, showing no intention of reminiscing with Mitokado Homura, and instead walked straight to the head of the Danzo, declaring that he was now in charge of command.
Having Danzo's style of doing things, Mitokado Homura didn't mind. His expression remained unchanged as he walked to the chair he had prepared and sat down.
Before arriving here, Danzo had already learned about the situation at the front lines.
Based on the information left to him by Mitokado Homura, Danzo quickly made some arrangements to prepare for a final counterattack against Kirigakure.
With his own strength and the help of the Sannin ninja, even if Kirigakure were to gamble everything by sending the Six-Tails onto the battlefield, he was confident that he could completely eliminate it.
Therefore, Danzo's plan was quite radical.
None of the Jonin present expressed any objection.
The war had been going on for a long time, and these Jonin were tired of a life of nothing but fighting every day. Everyone was eager to return to their daily lives.
Seeing that no one objected to the plan, Danzo glanced one last time at Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui behind him, and announced the meeting adjourned without expression.
Once everyone had left, Fugaku got up and led the two to Danzo's desk.
"I'll head back to my tent now, Danzo." Knowing that Fugaku had something to say, Mitokado Homura also rose to take his leave, giving the others space.
"Captain Fugaku even brings bodyguards to meetings."
Danzo casually picked up a document from the table, Danzo up at Fugaku, and spoke calmly.
"This is my son, Uchiha Itachi, and the other is Uchiha Shisui." Fugaku introduced the two people beside him to Danzo:
"Shisui is quite capable and young. I want him to act as Kazashiro's bodyguard to protect his safety."
Danzo certainly knew Uchiha Shisui.
After all, the other party is Kagami Uchiha's grandson.
It seems that Fugaku sensed danger and was preparing to play the emotional card to deal with his opponent's attack.
If it weren't for his previous conversation with Kazashiro, Danzo would definitely have taken both the person and the life.
Now...
"I understand, but I need to ask Kazashiro's opinion first."
Danzo nodded, acknowledging Fugaku's overture.
Just when Fugaku thought the matter had been resolved, Danzo suddenly steered the conversation toward his son.
Your son should be five years old this year, right?
"Yes." Faced with Danzo's question, Fugaku seemed vaguely uneasy.
"Captain Fugaku, as an elite Jonin of the village, is often active on the front lines. He probably doesn't have the energy to take care of his son. My son may not be very talented, but he's quite capable and should be able to look after this little guy."
After hearing Danzo's words, Fugaku's face turned green.
Good grief, they're asking me for hostages!
How could I, the captain of the Military Police Force and the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan, be easily controlled by you!
Having received no response from Fugaku, Danzo reread the documents before him and said calmly, "During the attack on Kazashiro, two of my subordinates were attacked by Sharingan Illusion Technique."
"Understood. I'll have Shisui take Itachi to Kazashiro's tent in a bit."
A storm raged within Fugaku's heart.
Satisfied with Fugaku's performance, Danzo put down the documents in his hand and reached into his robes to take out a scroll, which he then handed to Fugaku.
Reaching out to take the scroll Danzo offered, Fugaku realized Danzo was unwilling to let go. Turning to look behind him, he said, "Shisui, take Itachi to Kazashiro's tent first."