Itachi only trusts you

With Fugaku, Yashiro, and Tekka gone, the tense Hokage office gradually fell quiet.

But the anger that clan had left behind still weighed on the white-haired old man seated at the head of the room. He puffed irritably on his pipe, and before long, smoke nearly engulfed the entire office.

"The Uchiha are growing more arrogant and reckless by the day. Ignoring the rules and making a scene here, of all places!"

After a long silence, Utatane Koharu was the first to speak.

Whenever she recalled the earlier uproar, she could not dispel the indignation in her heart.

Though she was the only woman among the four in the room, her political skill and abilities were no less formidable than those of the other three.

"It's time we put the Uchiha in their place again. The Police Force Lord Second established has given them far too much power and prestige. Their autonomy should have been revoked long ago!"

"Hiruzen, when all is said and done, you're still too softhearted!"

Mitokado Homura nodded as he added his criticism.

Behind his thin glasses, his gaze remained sharp.

Any shinobi—or even clan—that underestimated these two elders would suffer an irreversible blow!

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing and continued puffing on his pipe.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the old man who had acted without permission to give him a reason.

Yet the wait seemed to accomplish nothing.

Seated to one side with his cane, Shimura Danzō remained silent, as though none of this concerned him. His lone eye was even half-closed, as if he were about to fall asleep.

Ordinarily, he was the Uchiha Clan's most hostile and vocal opponent.

If anyone could wipe out that clan, this old man would be the first to raise both hands in approval.

Yet today, this radical old man showed not the slightest agitation. Even in the face of Yashiro Uchiha's furious denunciations, he had remained utterly composed and said nothing.

He had left his teammate, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to bear it all alone.

There was a clear boundary between the Anbu and Root.

But why would the enraged Uchiha care about that?

"Danzo, don't you have anything to say about this?"

In the end, the Third Hokage could no longer contain his irritation and questioned him first.

As for the two councilors' criticisms, he had long since grown used to them.

Taking direct action against the Uchiha and breaking them apart completely was all but impossible.

Though the garrison assignments of recent years had depleted some of this foremost clan's fighting strength, the clan seemed blessed by heaven. Shisui, Itachi, and now Arata—given time, all had the potential to stand among the strongest.

And even setting those three aside, the clan had dozens of ordinary jonin alone!

What other clan possessed such reserves of strength?

Fortunately, Fugaku Uchiha was not the Madara of old. Otherwise, would he ever have tolerated their slow, gradual stranglehold?

Confronted with such a direct question, Shimura Danzō finally roused himself from his detached state. His exposed eye held nothing but calm.

"I did nothing wrong."

Those words instantly soured Hiruzen Sarutobi's mood, and his suppressed emotions surged.

He had borne the Uchiha's wrath alone, yet the instigator wanted to get off lightly without so much as an explanation?

"Then there's no need for Root to exist anymore. The Anbu can take it over."

A cold glint flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes, and his ceaseless puffing on his pipe finally stopped.

"That Arata must be eliminated as soon as possible. He's different from Shisui and Itachi. You'll never be able to control him!"

As though sensing Hiruzen Sarutobi's chill, Shimura Danzō finally regained some of his usual vigor. His lone remaining eye met the other man's gaze without flinching.

According to Aburame Torune's report, the boy had shown considerable skill in taijutsu, countersurveillance, and the Body Flicker Technique. Escaping an assassination attempt by Root operatives already placed him beyond the level of an ordinary genin.

Gekko Hayate had also brought back information: the boy was a rare swordsmanship prodigy who had mastered an A-rank sword technique like the Dance of the Crescent Moon in just five days!

With his Ice Release kekkei genkai on top of that, his aptitude for ninjutsu was practically innate.

All he still lacked was combat experience and further development of his ocular techniques.

"But you failed!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his pipe onto the desk.

That was the most infuriating part!

Acting against Arata Uchiha without informing him was one thing. After all, they had first engineered a situation in which the boy had fought other Konoha shinobi, giving them a pretext to arrest him.

But the crucial point was that they had failed!

They had gained nothing and uncovered no secrets. Instead, they had brought the clan's long-suppressed anger out into the open, further worsening relations between the village and the Uchiha.

"That's why I've always said the Uchiha can't be trusted. If Shisui hadn't interfered, that little brat would already be gone."

Shimura Danzō answered coldly.

"This is all because you're too merciful!"

He added the accusation with utter conviction.

"The Uchiha Clan isn't something you can suppress just because you want to."

With matters having reached this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only compromise for now and stop reproaching him. What mattered was discussing how to handle the wrath the Uchiha might unleash.

He had heard that Arata was Yashiro Uchiha's only disciple.

That seemingly mild-mannered man was anything but mild when he acted. He had long since earned a fearsome reputation on the battlefield.

"Two points."

"First, Shisui can no longer be trusted. But those eyes of his are valuable."

Shimura Danzō laid his cards on the table, watching the Third Hokage's reaction with a cold gaze.

Good. Though the other man frowned deeply, he ultimately said nothing.

Indeed, Hiruzen Sarutobi's trust in Shisui Uchiha had begun to wane. In particular, that strange movement technique the Root shinobi had reported—wasn't that Shisui's Body Flicker Technique?

Besides, the technique called Kotoamatsukami really was the best way to resolve the Uchiha's rebellious ambitions once and for all.

"Second, use Itachi..."

Danzo's voice grew colder. He left the thought unfinished, yet he seemed like a sinister venomous snake baring its fangs, sending a chill down one's spine.

"He won't agree."

Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected it outright.

He knew what Danzo meant, but having Itachi eliminate his own clan—how could that be possible?

"No, Itachi will agree. All we need is a little incentive."

"His little brother, for instance."

The one-eyed elder rose, leaning on his cane.

"Of course, you'll have to guide him toward it."

"Itachi only trusts you."

With that, Shimura Danzō slowly walked out with his cane.

He had caused this confrontation, yet in the end, he was the one who emerged most at ease.

"Hiruzen, when it comes to dealing with the Uchiha, Danzo is right."

"They're no longer like Kagami!"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement.

"I'll think it over."

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe again and silently breathed clouds of smoke, an unreadable light shifting constantly in his eyes.