Don't Hold a Grudge Against Danzo

On the sixth night, Arata returned from the training grounds, walking beneath the moonlight.

The day after tomorrow would be the decisive battle. He needed a full day to adjust his condition. At the very least, he needed to lie down and get a proper night's sleep instead of simply muddling through with meditation.

Besides, Teacher Hayate had already gone home. Without anyone to spar with or offer guidance, there was little point in continuing his training.

"Arata~"

Just as he was about to open his door, a familiar call reached his ears.

It was Izumi's voice.

In truth, when Arata Uchiha had passed by the girl's house earlier, he had already sensed her presence.

But he had restrained the urge to greet her as he usually did and chosen to walk past as though he had not seen her.

Given the current situation, Arata did not know how to face Izumi.

He had thought that deliberately ignoring her would allow him to temporarily sidestep this bond. Yet unexpectedly, the person closest to him in this life had still followed him here.

"Izumi."

The boy turned around and replied calmly.

He could guess why she had come, and he was not particularly skilled at hiding his thoughts.

The challenge after tomorrow truly was his—Uchiha's—best opportunity!

For Uncle Yashiro, Granny Kome, Grandpa Shoyaki, Aunt Hazuki, and Izumi to survive, even if it cost him his life and branded him a traitor to his clan, he would personally kill that white-eyed wolf!

"Do you really have to fight?"

After hesitating again and again, Izumi Uchiha finally could not help asking, though she already knew the answer in her heart.

Arata said nothing.

This was the first time he had responded with silence.

Time passed in silence.

Izumi Uchiha's fingers repeatedly shifted from relaxed to clenched, and an unusual sorrow appeared on her gentle face.

"I understand."

"Get some rest, Arata."

After a long while.

Only when the hanging moon vanished behind the clouds did Izumi force out a smile and speak as though nothing was wrong.

As for wishing him luck.

She did not know how, nor could she, cheer for only one side.

"I'm sorry."

Watching the girl's retreating back, Arata finally spoke.

But it meant nothing.

"Third Hoshikage, that is my assessment."

"Cough, cough."

"If Arata can be recruited into the Anbu and properly cultivated, then given time, he will surely become a powerful ninja like Shisui, capable of deterring an entire faction."

Kneeling on one knee, Gekko Hayate spoke with more excitement than usual.

To witness a genius grow and become his teacher was also a rare experience for him.

This time, he could finally experience for himself how those Ninja Academy teachers had once felt when facing Kakashi Hatake.

"Mm, you have done well. I will consider your suggestion. But regarding his entry into the Anbu, we must still obtain the consent of the boy himself and the Uchiha Clan."

"After all, he is only eight years old. He is still too young."

"You have worked hard these past few days. Go back and get some proper rest."

Seated behind his desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a kind expression and spoke gently, just like an old man next door, without the forcefulness or majesty of a village's Shadow.

"Yes."

"Then I shall take my leave."

Gekko Hayate answered and immediately rose to his feet. Before departing, however, he cast an inconspicuous glance outside the door.

With Transparent Escape, he excelled at reconnaissance.

However, he did not speak up.

Because he believed that what he could sense, the Third Hoshikage—known as the Professor of Ninjutsu—would surely be able to detect as well.

After Gekko Hayate left, the Hokage's office fell into brief silence.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly broke that silence.

"Come in."

Whether it was an illusion or something else, the white-haired elder seemed to have lost his previous benevolence, and his voice had grown somewhat colder.

"Hmph."

A cold snort sounded.

A wooden cane squeezed through the narrow crack in the door first.

"So this is the result you said we should wait for!"

"Uchiha—that evil clan—is about to produce a third Shisui!!"

The newcomer was clearly angry.

He emphasized every word and every sentence, utterly unconcerned with whom he was speaking to.

"Shisui deterred the restless Mist, and Itachi has perfectly completed every assassination mission, clearing away quite a few potential enemies for Konoha. No matter how you put it, they have rendered meritorious service, haven't they?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi lit the pipe in his hand and slowly questioned his old friend before him.

"But Uchiha are Uchiha in the end!"

"Both Shisui and Itachi have reported recent irregular movements within their clan. Can you truly guarantee that those evil people will not rebel? Can you truly guarantee that Shisui and Itachi will betray their clan and stand on Konoha's side?"

"Do not forget the Nine-Tails incident five years ago. The only ones capable of forcibly controlling a tailed beast are the Uchiha!"

Shimura Danzō viciously smashed his cane against the floorboards.

The grating impact was a symbol of his fury.

Arata's rise was not the important part.

What mattered was Hiruzen's attitude—his attitude toward the Uchiha. If he delayed suppressing them any longer, those people would one day break free of control and become the root cause of the village's destruction!

"Shisui will not attack the village, and Itachi will certainly stand with it."

"I believe they are both ninja who have inherited the Will of Fire."

Faced with his old friend's questioning, the Third Hoshikage spoke with absolute certainty.

That was his conviction.

If he could not even be certain of that, then he had lived these past sixty-odd years for nothing!

However, such words clearly could not convince the head of Root. He opened his mouth, wanting to say more, wanting to use examples to prove that clan's evil and untrustworthiness.

But before he could speak, a warning filled with stern authority directly cut him off.

"Know your place, Danzō."

"I am the Hokage!"

Those words completely silenced the one-eyed elder.

The Hokage held the highest authority in a village. With a single word, he could determine whether Danzō stayed or left.

"Hmph. You will regret this one day, Hiruzen!"

Staring at that man in a position of power, Shimura Danzō coldly left behind that threat before turning and departing. The entire Hokage Building could hear his cane striking the floor.

"Do not hold too much of a grudge against Danzō. He is doing it for the village as well."

"I will work hard to correct his way of thinking."

After a long while, and several fierce puffs from his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke slowly, a trace of helplessness in his voice.

"No, Third Hoshikage. You have already been more than tolerant toward the Uchiha. They are simply too obsessed with their clan's reputation and glory."

A response arose in the quiet Hokage's office. A figure knelt on one knee on the floor, dressed somewhat differently from Gekko Hayate and wearing a white mask.

"Mm. The relationship between the village and the Uchiha still needs time to be reconciled. I will leave this matter to you and Shisui."

"And your match is the day after tomorrow, correct? Put tomorrow's mission on hold and get some proper rest."

Looking at the Anbu member before him, Hiruzen Sarutobi said warmly.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. I will not lose. This subordinate shall take his leave."

After leaving those words behind, Itachi vanished from the spot.

Only then did the white-haired elder who ruled Konoha let out a slight sigh of relief.

As for that boy called Arata Uchiha, naturally, he could not trust him so easily. Itachi was much more convenient to use.