For the Village, the Uchiha Would Have to Suffer

Sarutobi Hiruzen had more or less guessed what Danzo was thinking. "Danzo, don't you dare do anything reckless."

At that, the other two Hokage Advisors couldn't help giving Danzo worried looks.

They knew all too well that Danzo never considered the consequences of his actions. He would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

Meeting their gazes, Danzo smiled slyly. "Don't worry. What you're concerned about is a war between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan, which would greatly weaken the village. I have a way to completely eliminate the Uchiha menace without losing a single shinobi."

Hearing the word "completely," both Hokage Advisors furrowed their brows. They shuddered at Danzo's ruthless methods, but then they thought of the Uchiha Clan's impending rebellion and steeled themselves.

Utatane Koharu sighed. "If that's the case, then this is our only option."

"What about Uchiha Izumi, who graduated last year?" Mitokado Homura chimed in. "Over the past year, Fujiwara Chiya has been spying on the Uchiha Clan and Uchiha Itachi for us.

"His intelligence hasn't differed much from Uchiha Itachi's, and Uchiha Itachi ultimately hasn't done anything to betray the village.

"Looking back, sending Chiya over there seems to have been unnecessary.

"But his condition at the time was that Uchiha Izumi be spared."

"Absolutely not. According to our intelligence, that girl has already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. If the Uchiha rebellion causes her to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, and she uses it to take revenge on Konoha, she could become another Uchiha Madara. The consequences would be unthinkable. For the village, we must root out the threat completely." Danzo flatly rejected the idea.

"Then let's call Chiya back," Sarutobi Hiruzen finally said.

By saying that, he was effectively giving his approval.

"There's no need for that."

The corners of Danzo's mouth lifted slightly. Chiya had been put on Root's blacklist the moment he got involved with the Uchiha Clan.

Danzo had no intention of letting Chiya live.

The same went for Uchiha Itachi.

From beginning to end, they were nothing more than his pawns.

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "Danzo, don't do anything reckless. Chiya isn't an Uchiha. He's a true inheritor of the Will of Fire."

"Of course I know he's a true inheritor of the Will of Fire," Danzo said. "But have you considered that, during his year undercover among the Uchiha, Chiya learned far too much about their secrets?"

"I'm afraid he also knows about the Uchiha's impending coup."

"Once he learns that Uchiha Izumi has died, he may well grow resentful toward the village and reveal the truth."

"I doubt you'd want to see that happen."

"Everything is for the village."

At that, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent once more.

It was true. Chiya loved the village, and he loved him, the "strongest Hokage in history."

But he also loved Uchiha Izumi.

If Chiya hadn't been involved in the Uchiha affair, that would have been fine. They could have simply sent him away on some mission.

Afterward, they could have let him hate the "culprit" who had wiped out the Uchiha Clan.

The problem was that Chiya knew too much now.

One thing could set everything else in motion.

If he, the strongest Hokage in history, broke Chiya's trust, there was no telling what Chiya might think in the future.

His faith would crumble.

And whether he would still admire him, the "strongest Hokage in history," was anyone's guess.

Even if he blamed Danzo, who could guarantee that Danzo wouldn't manipulate Chiya into turning against him instead?

After all, Danzo had once manipulated Kakashi.

Sigh.

What a shame.

If only I hadn't let that child get involved.

He had made Chiya Kurenai's student because he'd noticed his youngest son had feelings for her. He'd originally hoped Chiya would support Sarutobi Asuma in the future.

That seemed impossible now.

Thinking this, Sarutobi Hiruzen steeled himself and said in a low voice, "I won't interfere in Chiya's affairs anymore. But there's one condition: don't tarnish that child's name. Like his parents, he's an inheritor of the Will of Fire. He should be remembered as a hero."

"The village owes him that much."

"Of course. A shinobi must be willing to sacrifice himself. For the village, he deserves that honor."

Shimura Danzo gave a sinister smile and readily agreed. At that moment, he felt better than he had in a long time.

Before long, he would not only acquire a large number of Sharingan.

He would also be able to eliminate the inherently evil Uchiha Clan.

Nothing could make him happier.

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a helpless sigh and murmured under his breath, "For the village, the Uchiha would have to suffer. Chiya, don't blame me. Everything is for the village."

Uchiha Clan Compound.

A nondescript courtyard.

Space abruptly twisted, and a shadow emerged from another dimension.

An orange-red mask with black stripes covered one eye. His long black hair resembled Uchiha Madara's, and he wore a black robe, with a light purple katana at his waist.

This was Uchiha Obito's current appearance and attire.

Standing before a tree, he thoughtfully picked up a pebble. Suddenly sensing something behind him, he casually put it down. Space twisted around his right eye, and he vanished from the courtyard in an instant using Kamui.

"He really is cautious."

Not long after Obito left, a figure in Anbu attire and a smiling mask slowly emerged from the rooftop. He removed the mask, revealing a handsome young face. It was Chiya.

This was the Nth time in the past year that he had sensed Obito's presence.

In three days, the Uchiha would hold their annual festival. The Uchiha Clan would launch their coup that day.

But they would be wiped out by Uchiha Itachi the night before—in other words, tomorrow night.

He had originally planned to find Obito and discuss joining the Akatsuki. Who would have thought the guy would be so cautious now?

At the slightest disturbance, he would run off.

Forget it. There'll be plenty of chances later. With that thought, Chiya flickered away from the courtyard.

When he returned to Uchiha Izumi's home, he sensed an unpleasant, strange presence before he had even stepped into the courtyard. Frowning, he used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared inside. "Come out."

As soon as he spoke, blades sliced through the air. Four sharp Kunai shot toward him from behind, but Chiya shifted his body and dodged them with ease.

Immediately afterward, a Root shinobi dressed as Anbu appeared in front of Chiya and said arrogantly, "Fujiwara Chiya, Dan—"

Before the Root shinobi could finish speaking, a sapling suddenly sprang from beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, it grew into an enormous ancient tree several dozen meters tall.

It bound him.