Spreading Rumors

"That said, Sarutobi Hiruzen is truly arrogant."

"He brushed off today's events with just a few light words."

"He is worthy of being the man who served as the Third Hokage."

Listening to the nonchalant words of Masaki Uchiha, the Inuzuka Clan Head knew full well that he was being provoked.

But there was no helping it; the prestige of Sarutobi Hiruzen still lingered.

Although he had stepped down, in terms of relations, the Fourth Hokage was still his grand-disciple.

Sometimes, one simply has to play the fool.

However, since he had already stepped one foot onto the Uchiha boat, he had to show some gesture of commitment.

"I am very grateful that Clan Head Masaki could come today; otherwise, I wouldn't know what would have happened next," he said, bowing to thank Masaki Uchiha.

Seeing this, Masaki Uchiha raised his hand in a gesture to help him up: "Clan Head Inuzuka, you are too formal. We are allies, after all; how could I stand by and watch?"

Hmm, I still have to thank Shimura Danzō for the assist.

Just like that, the relationship between the Inuzuka Clan and the Uchiha had taken another step forward.

As the saying goes.

There are three ironclad bonds in the ninja world.

Fighting in a war together.

Sharing a "gun" together.

Beating up Shimura Danzō together.

Hadn't they just completed one of those bonds today?

"If anything like this happens again in the future, feel free to contact me at any time."

"I will definitely be there."

No matter who is messing with Shimura Danzō, I, Masaki Uchiha, will definitely help stir the pot.

Hokage Assistant Office.

"Bang!"

A teacup made intimate contact with the desk.

A low roar followed, filled with both fury and restraint.

"Shimura Danzō, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"I just finished speaking with you, and you've already forgotten everything?"

"You were planning to invite the Inuzuka Clan Head to your Root for tea?"

"What right do you have to just run into someone's clan compound and start grabbing people?"

"And you grabbed the Clan Head, no less?"

"How do you expect the other ninja clans to view us?"

"Huh?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, already burning with rage, was nearly driven to madness by Shimura Danzō's actions.

In Konoha, who doesn't know that you are my man?

By doing this, aren't you just roasting me over an open fire?

Where exactly did I offend you?

You actually want to ruin my reputation in my twilight years.

The more Sarutobi Hiruzen thought about it, the angrier he became; he could not let Shimura Danzō continue like this.

If he dared to grab a clan head today, would he be grabbing the Hokage tomorrow?

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen calmed himself slightly and, with an expressionless face, issued a notice to Shimura Danzō: "Shimura Danzō, you are hereby relieved of your duties."

"Root will be temporarily managed by Koharu and Homura. You should go home and rest for now."

Shimura Danzō, who had been stunned by Sarutobi Hiruzen's rapid-fire questioning, hadn't even had time to process the inquiries.

And then, he heard that he was being forced into a "vacation."

How could he endure this?

He immediately bristled.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen, Root cannot function without me!"

"Everything I do is for the sake of Konoha!"

Hearing Shimura Danzō still making excuses, Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer hold back and roared directly at him: "Shut up! You still have the nerve to say you're doing this for Konoha?"

"If I hadn't sent the Anbu to stop you today, Konoha would likely be facing a crisis of trust!"

"The Inuzuka Clan could have been brought back to our side, but now, thanks to you, they've been pushed away entirely."

"With the situation as it is, how could any other ninja clan dare to get close to us now?"

In the past, Shimura Danzō only ever selected talented individuals from those families.

Now, he dares to kidnap their clan heads in broad daylight.

I don't even know if Root will be able to recruit from these families in the future.

Sigh.

Letting out a long sigh, Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his head, which was aching from overthinking; he still had to figure out how to appease those clan heads.

"Hiruzen, Danzō was just too hasty, but his intentions were good. Let's give him a chance to make amends."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, sitting to the side, finally spoke up.

"Regardless, these ninja clans have indeed been getting tangled up with the Uchiha Clan."

"Danzō's methods were just a bit aggressive, but his heart is in the right place."

Hearing his two comrades pleading on his behalf, Shimura Danzō realized he had nearly botched things this time, so he decided to take the out they offered.

Swallowing his pride wasn't exactly a new experience for him.

"Hiruzen, I..."

He was interrupted the moment he opened his mouth. "Don't plead for him. Let him go home and reflect for a while."

"Besides, his injuries haven't healed yet. You two will take charge of Root for the time being."

Seeing the monkey's firm attitude and knowing the decision was set in stone, the two did not continue to intercede for Danzō.

In any case, it would be good for Danzō to rest for a while; after all, the bandages on his head hadn't even been removed yet.

Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen was ignoring him, Danzō knew his forced leave was inevitable.

There was no point in staying here, so he might as well go back and tend to his wounds.

Yamanaka Fu would handle things properly anyway.

Even if something went wrong later, it wouldn't be blamed on me.

Hiruzen, this is all for the sake of Konoha.

The Uchiha Clan must be guarded against.

Thinking of this, a surge of satisfaction welled up in his heart.

He simply stood up and walked out.

As he reached the door, he deliberately let out a heavy snort.

"Hmph."

The three of them merely glanced at him before turning back to continue discussing the arrangements for Root.

"From now on, Root will divert some of its manpower to monitor those ninja clans collaborating with the Uchiha Clan."

"Homura, you will be responsible for this."

"Understood."

"Koharu, the task of probing those ninja clans is entrusted to you."

"No problem."

Konoha Police Force

At this moment, several core members of the Uchiha Clan were gathered in the department head's office.

They had all been summoned, excluding those currently out on missions.

In addition to the two deputy heads, Uchiha Tetsuya and Uchiha Fugaku, there were the brothers Uchiha Shun and Uchiha Ichiro.

These two brothers were rising stars who had recently made a name for themselves within the Uchiha Clan.

Everyone knew they were the trusted confidants of Masaki Uchiha.

"Ichiro, Shun, I have a mission for you both."

"That mad dog Shimura Danzō won't just let things go so easily."

"Based on my understanding of him, rumors about the Uchiha Clan will likely be flying everywhere before long."

"Therefore, we must strike first and spread the truth about what happened today as quickly as possible."

"I'm entrusting this to you two. You know what to do, right?"

"Understood!" they replied in unison.

The brothers answered confidently and loudly, "We will not fail the Clan Head's expectations!"

Unable to grasp the reasoning behind Masaki Uchiha's maneuvers, Uchiha Fugaku stroked his beard with one hand, lost in thought.

He noticed Uchiha Fugaku standing to the side, his expression filled with confusion.

Masaki Uchiha took the initiative to explain: "Vice-Captain Fugaku, are you confused as to why I am so certain that rumors will soon be spreading throughout the village?"

"It is actually quite simple. From the perspective of pure strength, Shimura Danzō cannot kill me."

As he said this, a hint of a smile flashed in Masaki Uchiha's eyes.

"Only by resorting to such underhanded tactics can he strike at my reputation."

It was just like the case of the White Fang of Konoha back then.

He possessed the same level of prestige, second only to the Hokage.

He possessed the same outstanding strength.

In the end, he was driven to suicide by rumors.

There is only one difference, however.

He would never subscribe to that version of the Will of Fire held by Sarutobi Hiruzen, for he possessed his own [Will of Fire].