Besides, Setsuna Uchiha knew what kind of reputation he had in Konoha. If his intentions were seen through, it would be hard to get another chance to approach Uchiha Shingen.
This was probably his only opportunity to meet Uchiha Shingen ahead of time.
So even as he listened to the two men's lewd talk, Setsuna Uchiha patiently waited nearby.
But the two men were already too engrossed to think of stopping.
It wasn't until the sun began to set that they reluctantly put down their teacups. A thick stack of densely written notes covered the table—all of them Jiraiya's work.
Unwilling to give up, Setsuna Uchiha quietly stood guard beside the tea stall, observing Uchiha Shingen.
But the longer he watched, the harder it became to connect the eager young man discussing Imperial Uncle with Jiraiya to the outstanding Uchiha he'd imagined.
Good grief!
Weren't Uchiha geniuses supposed to be aloof and taciturn, cold on the outside but warm within?!
When had they started producing guys like this?!
As he pondered this, Setsuna Uchiha noticed Shisui helping an old woman cross the street in the distance. His expression darkened even further.
Had the kid been completely taken in by that nonsense about the Will of Fire that Hiruzen Sarutobi had cooked up?!
Whatever.
He was a clan genius, after all. If he could lend him a hand later, he would.
And so, for several days in a row, Setsuna Uchiha kept watch at that tea table, practically becoming an NPC who respawned at the same time every day.
The members of the South District 4 Third Squad gradually grew used to seeing him around.
They didn't know who Setsuna Uchiha was. They only knew that among their captain's partners in writing porn, there was now an old man in his seventies or eighties who still hadn't given up.
"What do you mean, Setsuna Uchiha has started writing porn with Jiraiya too?!"
Beneath Konoha.
Inside the Root headquarters.
Danzo turned the scroll over and over, reading it several times. He thought his eyes must be playing tricks on him.
If the shinobi assigned to monitor Uchiha Shingen hadn't all been elite operatives trained by Danzo himself, he would have thought the Third Hokage had already infiltrated Root.
And that this absurd report was just something the Third Hokage had cooked up to pull the wool over his eyes.
But after thinking it over, Danzo ruled out that possibility.
After all, he had spent decades fighting the Third Hokage, both openly and behind the scenes. He knew his old rival's ways well.
Danzo's impression of Setsuna Uchiha remained that of the Uchiha leader who had led his clan in resisting the Second Hokage, and of the ruthless man whose murderous aura hadn't diminished at all despite spending decades in captivity.
But you're telling me that the first thing this man did after getting out of prison wasn't to stir up trouble in the Uchiha, but to write porn with Jiraiya?!
Good grief!
Was this really Setsuna Uchiha?!
"That's the situation, sir."
The Root operative reporting to him looked just as awkward.
They had monitored countless dangerous figures before, including Konoha's current Jinchūriki, Kushina Uzumaki. But they'd never seen anything like this with Setsuna Uchiha!
Even if the old man still had the desire, surely he no longer had the strength?!
"It can't be that simple."
Danzo put down the report and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
He forced himself to stay calm, examining the details one by one to uncover the truth behind the appearances.
"I remember Setsuna Uchiha's eyes. He's a mad dog through and through."
"Even if he saw through my plans, he'd never let the Uchiha reconcile with Konoha. What he wants is to bring the Uchiha to power and seize control of Konoha."
"That man is probably..."
"After Uchiha Shingen!"
The image of the young man from that night surfaced in Danzo's mind again.
Even by Danzo's standards, Uchiha Shingen's demonstrated talent was the greatest he'd seen in decades.
Even Hatake Kakashi, the White Fang's son, whose name had been echoing throughout Konoha in recent years, was probably far inferior.
It was hardly surprising that someone like Setsuna Uchiha had taken an interest in him.
Gradually, Danzo's train of thought began to clear.
"That old man is probably planning to win Uchiha Shingen over and groom him as his successor."
"With the talent and brains that kid has shown, if Setsuna Uchiha succeeds, Konoha will know nothing but trouble for decades to come..."
"Damn it!"
"Now it's not just the Uchiha. Sarutobi is competing with me for talent, and even that old man is trying to stick his nose in!"
Danzo couldn't help regretting his past actions.
If he hadn't been so overbearing when he first met Uchiha Shingen, perhaps Shingen would already be his right-hand man.
He might even have been able to bring Shisui into the fold as well.
But it was too late.
None of that was possible now.
The last incident had already enraged the Third Hokage. If Danzo tried anything again, Hiruzen might seize the opportunity to strip him of his authority over Root.
Even with the support of a few Hokage Advisors, Danzo probably wouldn't be able to stop him.
And with Jiraiya now staying by Uchiha Shingen's side every day, even if Danzo wanted to move against Shingen and eliminate the threat once and for all, the odds of success were slim.
Danzo was fretting over how to handle the situation.
Just then, a Root operative appeared in the hall of the headquarters. Before Danzo could speak, the operative said, "Lord Danzo, we have urgent intelligence."
"The Uchiha will hold a Clan Meeting in two days. We don't know the exact purpose yet, but it probably has something to do with Setsuna Uchiha, who was recently released from prison."
"An Uchiha Clan Meeting?!"
The gloom on Danzo's face vanished at once.
"I knew Setsuna Uchiha wouldn't sit still. It's only been a few days, and he's already losing patience?!"
"He's old, after all. He knows he doesn't have much time left, so it's only natural that he's in a hurry."
Aburame Ryoma, who had been concealed in the shadows beside Danzo, stepped forward and asked, puzzled, "Do you think he'll use this chance to challenge Fugaku Uchiha?"
"Exactly."
Danzo nodded slightly. His indifferent eyes gleamed with the certainty of a man who'd seen through everything.
"That old man was never the sort to willingly take orders from others. This Clan Meeting is probably his doing. He intends to wrest power from Fugaku Uchiha."
After thinking for a moment, Aburame Ryoma said, "In that case, Setsuna Uchiha's been keeping close to Uchiha Shingen lately to test his attitude?"
Leaning on his cane, Danzo resumed his usual air of absolute authority.
"It doesn't matter whether that's true anymore. With Setsuna Uchiha involved, Hiruzen has no chance of winning the Uchiha over... He can dream!"
Aburame Ryoma studied Danzo's expression, finding it oddly familiar.
He thought for a few seconds.
Then he remembered that Danzo had worn the same expression when he'd confidently declared that Fugaku Uchiha and the Third Hokage had joined forces.
For a moment, Aburame Ryoma hesitated.
"Lord Danzo, I..."
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