Decision

After receiving the village's order, Fugutake Tonbo put aside his thoughts of deciphering the code and prepared to study it carefully after returning to the village.

Meanwhile, within the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Fugaku completed the compilation of the defectors' names. Looking at the scroll with more than thirty names, his good mood since the Fourth Generation took over the throne vanished today.

He hadn't expected that, apart from the radicals who were under house arrest, several of his clansmen would also take advantage of the chaos to defect from Konoha with them.

After removing those killed on the spot and adding the newly defected, the final list consisted of more than thirty people.

That's not even the worst part.

What Fugaku feared most was that the Third Hokage would return from behind the scenes to the forefront and lead Danzo to continue ruling Konoha.

During the Third Hokage's era, the Uchiha Clan was usually the last to know about a major event like the Hokage's serious injury.

At that time, the only Ninja Clan qualified to attend high-level meetings were the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, and the Hyuga Clan.

"Sigh." Recalling the Uchiha Clan's previous predicament, Fugaku sighed from the bottom of his heart.

I hope the Fourth Generation is alright.

Unlike the endless sorrow on Fugaku's side, Hyuga Hiashi as calm as ever.

He was standing in the courtyard, looking towards the gate.

Outside the door, Hiruzen Sarutobi's footsteps could be clearly heard.

"The Third Hokage is here. I've said everything I needed to say. You can leave now."

Hiashi didn't look at the kneeling Hizashi inside the house; his tone was so cold that it was impossible to detect any emotion.

"Yes."

The Hizashi bowed respectfully and silently left through the side door.

"These are turbulent times."

Hearing his younger brother leave, Hiashi turned around, looking at the spot where his brother had just been kneeling with a complicated expression, before reverting to his previous expression just before Hiruzen Sarutobi the house.

The meeting between the two did not last long. Hiruzen Sarutobi soon left the Hyuga Clan Compound under the protection of the Anbu and headed towards the location of the Uchiha Clan Compound.

When Hiruzen arrived at the Fugaku, the Clan Head, whose face was filled with bitterness and resentment, was earnestly instructing his son not to go and train with Might Guy unless absolutely necessary.

If he wanted to train in Taijutsu, he could have easily introduced Itachi to a better teacher.

Clearly, Fugaku also failed to see Kai's potential.

Just as Itachi was about to refuse, he heard a knock on the door.

Mikoto opened the door and called out to Hiruzen in a slightly surprised voice, leading him into the room.

Two Anbu stood guard outside the door.

"I won't keep you in suspense any longer."

Hiruzen, who was led into the study by Fugaku, made no polite remarks and directly stated his purpose.

"If the village were to be led by a young Acting Hokage, would the Uchiha Clan be able to accept it?"

Upon hearing this, Fugaku's mind began to race.

The young Acting Hokage?

This is indeed an unforeseen path.

He had been worried about whether the Third Hokage would regain power, neglecting the fact that the village could elect a new Hokage to lead the village.

But Sakumo's injuries...

"The Fourth Generation, he..." For both personal and professional reasons, Fugaku had to ask about Sakumo's situation.

Hiruzen waved his hand, indicating to Fugaku not to worry about Sakumo: "Sakumo is fine, but he probably won't wake up for a while, and even if he does, he'll likely need a long period of recuperation."

"I have no objection, but I don't know who exactly is serving as the Acting Hokage?"

Fugaku said he didn't know, but he already had two answers in his mind.

Minato Namikaze, or Shimura Kazashiro.

If Hiruzen wanted to nominate one of the Sannin to become Hokage, he could have simply removed the word "acting" from the title.

With the prestige of the Sannin, he was more than qualified to become the Fifth Hokage.

While the reason for appointing Acting Hokage was partly due to the anticipation of Sakumo's awakening, the more likely reason was that the Acting Hokage unsuitable for the Daimyo's Mansion.

However, whether it's Minato or Kazashiro who becomes the Acting Hokage, it will be beneficial to the Uchiha Clan.

The former was his good friend, and the latter was his son's teacher.

As long as the Third Hokage doesn't return to power, the Uchiha Clan can remain as stable as a mountain.

"Minato is still on a mission and will not be able to return to the village anytime soon."

Hiruzen's answer said it all.

"Understood. The Uchiha Clan will support this decision."

Three days later.

The group rushed back to the village as quickly as possible, only to discover upon reaching the village entrance that the village's defenses had been significantly strengthened.

In addition to the familiar faces of Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki, a small squad of Military Police Force was also stationed at the village entrance, conducting strict checks on anyone attempting to enter the village.

"Kazashiro Jonin"

Kotetsu Hagane spotted Kazashiro from afar and hurriedly went to greet him.

"The Lord Hokage instructed you not to register upon returning to the village, but to go to the Hokage's Office immediately."

Kazashiro, who was about to take out a pen to sign, was stunned and looked at Kotetsu Hagane in front of him with some surprise.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Did the Fourth Generation say anything else?"

At this moment, Kazashiro still thought that the person who summoned him was the Fourth Generation Sakumo.

"The specifics weren't mentioned. It wasn't the Fourth Generation who summoned you, but the Third Hokage."

"I see. So you also encountered enemies, and you even know how to use Wood Release?"

Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen listening to Kazashiro's report, Hiruzen took out his pipe and put it to his lips, but did not light it.

"I never expected that the Wood Release, which had been lost in Konoha for so long, would be revived by the enemy. Fate is indeed unpredictable."

As Hiruzen sighed, he looked his youngest disciple up and down.

"Speaking of which, it's been thirteen years since you came to Konoha with the Fourth Generation, hasn't it?"

Raising his hand to indicate Kazashiro's height at the time, Hiruzen's tone was full of emotion. "Back then, you were about this tall, uh..."

Before he could finish speaking, Hiruzen awkwardly withdrew his hand.

Hmm, it seems it has only grown a little bit.

"Teacher Sarutobi, what happened to the Fourth Generation?"

Kazashiro felt that the atmosphere today was a bit strange, especially the strange expression on Hiruzen's face after he mentioned Sakumo, which confirmed his guess.

"Come with me."

Hiruzen himself had no intention of hiding it, but considering the relationship between the two, he didn't reveal the truth immediately.

Led by Hiruzen, Kazashiro followed them to the headquarters of the Medical Unit.

The moment he stepped inside, Kazashiro clenched his fist.

The Medical Unit not only undertakes wartime treatment, but also conducts autopsies for the Anbu.

Could it be...?

No, that's impossible.

Given Uncle Sakumo's strength, it's impossible for anyone to kill him in the village.

Even those two Uchiha couldn't have done it.