Forcing the Hokage's Hand

"That bunch of brainless Uchiha fools—send them into battle and they're perfectly capable, but have them stir up trouble? It's not that I look down on them, but it'd be a miracle if they succeeded!"

Hozuki Shingetsu held the propaganda feedback reports that had gradually come in from various regions, scribbling and drawing across a map of the Shinobi World in high spirits.

If the Uchiha truly followed his advice, that would be even better.

"So you sent them that letter?"

Ao lowered his head and glanced at the map of the Shinobi World. He knew it was something Hozuki Shingetsu had named the "Public Opinion Situation Map." At this moment, all the major cities and transportation hubs on it had been marked red. At a glance, it looked like sparks of fire setting the entire Shinobi World ablaze.

"If they really act according to that letter, can the Uchiha clan get what they want?"

The tangled history of love and hate between the Uchiha and Konoha was simply too famous. Even Ao could roughly guess the Uchiha clan's ambition.

The position of Hokage.

The throne they had longed for over thirty years.

So in the end, Ao could not suppress his curiosity and asked the question.

"Get what they want?"

Hozuki Shingetsu smiled and shook his head at the question, a trace of mockery at the corner of his mouth.

"How could they? If the Uchiha get what they want, other shinobi clans won't get what they want. If the Uchiha can get what they want, why can't the other shinobi clans? Most importantly, if the Uchiha can get what they want, then the other shinobi clans will know how to get what they want too."

Ao was somewhat confused by those tongue-twisting words. Though he would later become one of Kirigakure's rare reliable Jonin, asking a twelve-year-old to think about such matters was truly beyond him.

"What if they don't act according to the letter's suggestions?"

"Then they don't. Let it be a thorn buried in the Uchiha's hearts. It's not like I paid anything for it, right?"

Hozuki Shingetsu looked relaxed, as if he did not care in the slightest.

The Uchiha's current situation left them unable to advance or retreat.

Advance?

Leaving Shimura Danzō aside, even the other shinobi clans would never agree.

Over the past thirty years, Konoha's interests had long since been divided up. If the Uchiha moved forward, who would have to step back? Which shinobi clan would be willing?

Retreat?

Leaving aside whether the Uchiha clan was willing, the Senju clan had already demonstrated through practical action what happened when one took a step back.

Back then, they had been a prestigious founding clan of Konoha, producing two consecutive generations of Hokage. What remained of them now?

Well, one imposing Senju residence, two statues on Hokage Rock, and the gratitude of Konoha's people.

Other than that, nothing.

Thus, the Uchiha clan was caught in a dilemma.

And the Uchiha wanted to rise through their own efforts under the leadership of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō?

What a ridiculous fantasy!

Besides... wasn't he still here?

After more than a decade of peace, coupled with the Land of Fire's uniquely favorable geography and Konoha's powerful military strength, Konoha was now unmatched in prosperity throughout the Shinobi World, a true jewel of the shinobi nations.

With such prosperity, there was naturally no shortage of entertainment venues and light songs accompanied by graceful dances.

Inside a Kabuki House on Hokage Avenue, a group of wealthy merchants toasted one another and drank merrily.

But at that moment, a piece of music they had never heard before suddenly reached their ears.

"Thirty years of such a life, until the great edifice collapses."

"O darkness deep within the clouds, drowning the scenery in one's heart."

The unheard-of melody and sorrowful lyrics immediately drew everyone's attention.

"The music here is certainly fresh. This is the first time I've heard it. What's it called?"

One wealthy merchant kept his hands busy as he questioned the singing girl in his arms.

"It's the theme song from the recently popular film Twelve Years a Slave. It's called Kill That Uchiha."

"A film theme song? Twelve Years a Slave? Kill That Uchiha?"

The merchant froze, even his hands stopping. The people around him exchanged looks as well.

Having only just completed a long-distance trade run, they had not yet gone to the cinema to see the film. But why did that title sound so wrong?

Uchiha?

Was it the Uchiha they knew?

"Could that rumor actually be true?"

As though by unspoken agreement, they all thought of the widely circulating rumor, as well as the Uchiha Human Rights Report supposedly released by an authoritative organization.

"Wait, look at those people downstairs!"

"They seem to be Uchiha! Wait, what are so many Uchiha trying to do?"

A wealthy merchant seated by the window seemed to have spotted something unbelievable and cried out.

The others also rose curiously to see what was going on.

On the broad Hokage Street, a long procession was moving forward.

And at its head was a coffin!

Behind the coffin came the Uchiha clan's current head, Uchiha Homura, followed by the clan elders, all registered Uchiha shinobi, and finally every ordinary member of the Uchiha clan.

Such a vast procession marched through Konoha's busiest street, yet not a single person dared stop them.

Though they dared mock the Uchiha behind their backs because of those rumors, when the Uchiha truly stood before them, no one dared say such things anymore.

This was the formidable prestige the Uchiha clan had built over a thousand years!

No one could speak the words "brave and battle-hardened" in front of the Uchiha.

"Quick! Go notify Lord Danzo at Root!"

Ignoring the fact that his identity as a mole was about to be exposed, an Anbu shinobi hastily summoned a ninja bird and had it return with the message.

As early as when the Uchiha clan had gathered its members, the Anbu shinobi monitoring them from outside had noticed their movements.

Though curious about the purpose of their assembly, there was no way these Anbu shinobi could have guessed that the Uchiha were about to do something this big.

So after making their routine report, they did not think much of it. But as they watched, they suddenly realized something was wrong.

This direction... seemed to be Hokage Rock?

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen happened to discover the scene during a routine break from the Crystal Ball.

It really had been by chance. It had absolutely nothing to do with the Kabuki House next door.

"What is the Uchiha clan trying to do?!"

Realizing the situation was bad, Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered the Anbu to summon the Jonin Squad, then immediately vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.

Deep underground in Root, Shimura Danzō finally learned of the matter as well.

"Gathering their clan members to threaten the village?"

"How dare the Uchiha?!"