Arata Cannot Be Touched; But, Shisui Has Changed.

Tang Sarutobi naturally reported Arata's rule-violating behavior to Lord Hokage's desk in a formal complaint.

Yet that was the extent of it.

The incident vanished like a stone dropping into the ocean, without a single whisper leaking out.

Not long ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been confronted by visiting members of the Uchiha Clan, making the standoff between the two sides increasingly rigid. How could he possibly bother with that clan again over such a trivial matter?

Furthermore, according to Itachi's report, because of Arata, who had been ambushed by Root, the boy's reputation within the Military Police Force had completely reversed. Even Shisui's attitude toward him had undergone a massive change.

If he truly pursued such a minor matter of taking a private mission, there was no telling what kind of fierce backlash it would provoke from those people.

He had to remember that any Uchiha clansman capable of entering the force possessed at least Chunin-level strength, and coupled with the Sharingan, they formed an incalculable special operations squad. And Shisui Uchiha was a powerful shinobi capable of subduing the Village of the Bloody Mist.

"Hiruzen, are you still going to hesitate? That Uchiha has already left the village alone!"

"Right now is the best moment!"

Shimura Danzō emphasized the word "alone" heavily, his left eye brimming with murderous intent.

There were not many people who could back him into a corner.

Yet that brat had actually forced him into being angrily rebuked by the evil Uchiha for an entire afternoon!

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken the brunt of it at the time, Arata had already made his hit list.

"Puff."

A ring of white smoke drifted upward from the cigarette holder.

"Do you really think the Uchiha would let that little fellow go on a mission alone?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked unhurriedly in return.

Compared to Danzo, who only knew assassination, framing, and scapegoating, he thought and worried more as the Hokage.

The old fox before him could casually push Root operatives into the Anbu and spread his hands to let him take the blame, but could he shake off all the blame the way the other man did?

Perhaps such tactics worked a little on other clans, but petty tricks and minor maneuvers were completely useless against the arrogant Uchiha Clan. Those fellows would only come looking for trouble with him.

Especially since Yashiro Uchiha already regarded the little fellow Arata as his most precious disciple, and Shisui's recent behavior was becoming increasingly suspicious.

Could this be a deliberate trap set by the Uchiha? Perhaps they had already secretly dispatched people to protect Arata, just waiting for his side to take the bait.

Or perhaps Shisui had truly changed his stance, stood firmly on the side of the clan, and was currently watching their every move?

He had to consider every single possibility.

Otherwise, a single misstep would turn into a lifelong regret.

After all, this old partner of his had been eyeing the position of Hokage for far, far too long.

"Then you're just going to watch the Uchiha act so arrogantly within the village?"

"If they can ignore the rules and take private missions this time, will they change the name of Konoha next?!"

"Right now, you are truly unworthy of the once-held title of the 'Shinobi Hero', Hiruzen."

Unconcealed gloom surfaced in Shimura Danzō's eyes. He intended to use what the other man valued most to force him into making a decision sooner.

And even without Arata's actions, he had other excuses.

The air stagnated.

A conflicted expression appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.

The hidden danger of the Uchiha was indeed growing more severe. Even though he had brought Itachi into the fold, how could he guarantee that the boy would not rebel again?

He truly had not expected that an 8-year-old little fellow would allow the long-suppressed Military Police Force to find an outlet for their frustrations and boost their morale so significantly.

"Arata cannot be touched."

A moment later, he reached a decision, his aged face displaying a long-absent sternness.

Danzo fell silent.

The gloom in his eyes deepened.

It seemed his suggestion had once again been treated as a passing breeze by this old man.

In that case, the task of maintaining Konoha's prosperity would once again have to be handed over to Root!

"However, Shisui has changed."

Yet just as Shimura Danzō prepared to leave and begin arranging the assassination, the white-haired old man sitting in the main seat lightly tapped the table, his tobacco pipe having been laid aside at some point.

"Interesting."

"However, that fellow doesn't trust me all that much."

Danzo instantly understood his "old friend's" intent. The gloom in his left eye vanished, replaced by a sinister grin.

He just wondered whether the meaning behind this smile was directed at the plan itself, or mocking that person!

He merely wanted to play it safe and nip a rising new star in the bud, whereas the other party wanted to cut down the pillar of an entire clan!

This truly was a better approach, one capable of curbing the Uchiha's momentum even further.

It seemed this old man had also seriously considered his two suggestions from that day.

Yet, thinking back to what the other man had said just days ago:

"Shisui will not strike at the village, and Itachi will definitely stand on the village's side. Both of them are shinobi who inherit the Will of Fire."

"How very interesting."

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing more, instead picking up paper and brush to write rapidly.

"I want to have the Uchiha return to their original site to resolve the conflict."

"But this is merely a proposal for now; don't let others know yet."

After hastily finishing, he folded the letter paper and tucked it into an envelope.

"I will have the Anbu deliver it. Prepare yourself."

The Third Hokage said calmly.

No one could fathom his true feelings at the moment.

"Mn, I know. Root will mobilize in full."

Danzo concealed his smile. Regardless of anything else, when it came to curbing the Uchiha, they were ultimately standing on the same united front.

"Once you have everything set up, I will dispatch two Anbu squads to seal off the area."

Hiruzen Sarutobi added slowly as he picked up his tobacco pipe.

"I won't let you down."

With that, Shimura Danzō leaned on his cane and stood up. Shisui Uchiha was, after all, the strongest expert of that clan; he needed to properly arrange and plan the operation.

And just as the one-eyed old man was about to step out of the Hokage's office, the voice of Lord Hokage reached him from behind: "Leave an intact corpse; he also once inherited the Will of Fire."

"Hoh, I can't guarantee that."

Danzō's tone was laced with a trace of mockery.

"We have officially arrived inside the Land of Fields starting from now."

Gazing out at the inn street they were about to reach, Kujo Sho wiped the sweat from his forehead and introduced carefully, speaking with utmost caution.

Just what kind of youth was this!

Along the way, those vicious black-market thugs and blind mountain bandits had been dealt with in a single instant.

Mn.

They were truly dealt with!

Had Kujo not just seen the boy wiping the Horizontal Blade in his hand?

Yet Kujo Sho also clearly understood that the other party was truly just a child.

After finishing off those black-market thugs, the pale, flustered, and nauseated expression on his face had been impossible to conceal.

Still, why did he deal such ruthless blows to ordinary robbers?

He remembered shinobi seemed to have a strict prohibition against attacking ordinary people, and such prohibitions were growing increasingly strict among the major hidden villages, seemingly tied to some notion of shinobi pride.

Kujo Sho wanted to ask, but did not dare.

After all, the sense of security along this journey was absolute.

"Arata, want to eat something?"

At Arata's request, the chubby merchant had also begun directly addressing him by name.

Yet Arata did not reply. The raised line of his sight swept straight past Kujo Sho's shoulder, fixing upon the forest path they were about to enter. That pair of scarlet pupils was as chilling and terrifying as the bloodstains on his blade.