Assassination

The more Sarutobi Hiruzen reviewed the intelligence delivered by the ninja hawks, the deeper his expression became. Sparks flickered intermittently within his pipe, and though his favorite crystal ball sat right beside him, he lacked any interest in it this time.

Rising smoke once again permeated the entire office.

"Is the Uchiha clan planning to hoist Sakumo into the position of Hokage?" Sarutobi Hiruzen whispered softly.

He leaned back, resting his hands on the armrests of his chair, his slightly weary eyes scrutinizing every detail of the Hokage office.

The simple room lacked excessive decoration, yet those layers of paper documents represented [Power]. Once a person grasped [Power], even the most feeble hands would possess immense strength.

They would hold [Power] in a death grip.

[Power] had a unique scent—a strange fragrance distinct from tobacco, one even more alluring than smoke, lingering at the tip of the nose.

It made one never want to leave this seat.

"Two sharp blades have actually aligned in the same direction, and their edges are turned inward."

"I underestimated you, Uchiha Yuji."

Sarutobi Hiruzen believed he understood what kind of man Hatake Sakumo was; thus, given this situation, the only variable was the other man.

He moved the pipe away from his lips, flipped the bowl upward, and tapped the ash and burnt tobacco—which had been consumed like flame—into the ashtray beside him.

"But Konoha is still the Konoha I command."

"How could you possibly fight me?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up. In his prime, his physique did not appear thin in the slightest; rather, it was filled with explosive power. He gazed out at the village he loved, the village he controlled.

Far away, at the defensive line in the Land of Grass, the future was also being discussed.

"Ah, I have always known that I cannot outplay Sarutobi Hiruzen when it comes to schemes and plots."

Uchiha Yuji's frank admission was met with a questioning look from Hatake Sakumo.

Looking at Hatake Sakumo, the corners of Uchiha Yuji's mouth curled slightly, "Is it because my performance on the battlefield was too outstanding that you think I am omnipotent, Sakumo?"

Although it was a tease, it precisely hit the mark of Hatake Sakumo's thoughts.

He scratched his head, feeling slightly embarrassed, "With the letters of surrender from the Third Tsuchikage and the Third Raikage, along with so much fabricated intelligence, I assumed you already had a next step in your plan, Yuji."

"The Uchiha clan is incredibly dull in this regard, and I am no exception."

"My strength is more than enough to crush Konoha, but I will not take the initiative to launch an attack on the village. Not only is there no benefit, but it would also make the Uchiha clan's situation in Konoha even more difficult."

"Although my clansmen don't care much for the opinions of others, by then, the Uchiha, having become alienated from every other clan in Konoha, would have only one path left: rebellion."

"It would be nothing more than killing the Hokage or the migration of the entire clan."

Sweat beaded on Hatake Sakumo's forehead, and he reached up to wipe it away hurriedly, "It shouldn't have to come to that extent."

The aggressiveness of the Uchiha clan under Uchiha Yuji's leadership was ridiculously high. Originally, the Uchiha clan was riddled with factions, and no one could truly represent the clan.

The constantly changing policies were truly baffling.

But this situation changed completely after Uchiha Yuji seized power.

Having a powerful, assertive leader full of personal charisma makes subordinates incredibly proud, and they gradually begin to align with the leader's personality.

You make me uncomfortable? Then don't expect to be comfortable yourself. Isn't it just risking our lives? Who's afraid of whom!

Maybe if I get stimulated enough, my Sharingan will evolve!

Come! Let's risk our lives!

That was roughly the current mindset of the Uchiha.

As for the intelligence sent back, Uchiha Yuji hadn't thought much about it; he simply acted on the pure intention of disgusting Sarutobi Hiruzen to death.

He was even calculating how to spread it within Konoha to ruin the "good old man" persona Sarutobi Hiruzen had cultivated.

What plan? What plan?

Just compare fists with me!

"Perhaps after we return, the Third Hokage will announce his abdication?" Hatake Sakumo said naively, and Uchiha Yuji looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Uchiha Yuji sighed softly and tapped the table gently. The rhythmic thumping sounded as if it were not hitting the wood, but Hatake Sakumo's head.

"Sakumo, we cannot deceive ourselves."

"If he truly had that intention, how could he have ordered you to remain stationed here?"

Hatake Sakumo lowered his head in silence, his eyes fixed on the map below, yet his gaze lacked any focus.

Hatake Sakumo was the commander of the Iwagakure front; he held the highest authority on the battlefield, yet he still took orders from the Hokage. This was a matter of organizational structure.

[To prevent Iwagakure Ninja from using false intelligence to lure us away from the defensive line, Hatake Sakumo is hereby ordered to continue monitoring the movements of the Iwagakure Ninja for a period of fifteen days.]

With just this simple order, Hatake Sakumo had been trapped in this place for a long time.

Time had always been on Sarutobi Hiruzen's side.

And this order had completely wounded Hatake Sakumo.

Even though he had long known that Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, had changed the Will of Fire and altered the goals established at the founding of Konoha, those past events were quite ethereal and he had not witnessed them with his own eyes.

The reason he had agreed to Uchiha Yuji in the first place was mostly for the growth of the next generation.

At this moment, Hatake Sakumo could pull the Third Hokage down from the position of [Hokage] without a shred of negative emotion.

If that batch of outrageous intelligence were entirely false, Sarutobi Hiruzen would never have issued the order for him to remain behind; even though he had defeated two hidden villages according to the reports, such a feat was not enough to make him [Hokage] directly.

At most, it would only serve to further bolster his prestige.

Yet, this order from Sarutobi Hiruzen was a complete manifestation of a guilty conscience!

"Knock, knock."

The sound of knocking at the door broke the silence within the small room.

"Come in," Hatake Sakumo said casually.

A ninja wearing the standard Konoha flak jacket walked into the room carrying tea, placing the warm cups in front of the two men.

"Please enjoy your tea, my lords."

Hatake Sakumo's mind was overtaxed, and without thinking, he reached for his cup. Just as the bottom of the cup left the tabletop, his arm was held back by Uchiha Yuji's hand, halting its upward movement.

?

Hatake Sakumo looked at Uchiha Yuji in confusion, then followed Uchiha Yuji's gaze to focus on the ninja in the flak jacket.

"Although you hide it well, that malice is clearly visible in my eyes. There is poison in the tea, isn't there?"

"A ninja of Root."