Sounding the Horn of Attack

[Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire also burns on. The light of the fire will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout.]

This is the Will of Fire as preached by Sarutobi Hiruzen, though it is a pity he does not practice what he preaches.

Yet, the ninjas of Konoha are precisely the ones who buy into this rhetoric.

Most of them treat the Will of Fire that Sarutobi Hiruzen keeps on his lips as their own personal creed.

Little do they know that this kind of "political" correctness can be exploited by him.

Anyone who has watched Naruto knows.

The purpose for which Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara founded Konoha was to achieve peace.

It was also to protect the children of their clans, sparing them from having to risk their lives on the battlefield at such a tender age.

Both Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara lost their own brothers to war and understood the pain of losing loved ones.

That is why Konoha was established.

Ever since Sarutobi Hiruzen became the Fourth Hokage, children who had just graduated as genin were forced to step onto the battlefield.

Even Masaki Uchiha was forced to "work" on the battlefield at the age of eight.

One can only imagine how many children from ninja clans were forced onto the battlefield at that time.

But this fundamentally violated the original intention of Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara in establishing Konoha.

Precisely because of this, Masaki Uchiha intends to create a "New Will of Fire," a Will of Fire that belongs solely to him.

A [Will of Fire] truly suitable for Konoha!

"Deputy Chief Uchiha Fugaku, you still do not understand Shimura Danzō thoroughly enough."

"If he didn't stir up some trouble, would he still be Shimura Danzō?"

Masaki Uchiha's words made everyone laugh.

Despicable and cold-blooded are his mottos.

Cruel and selfish are his character traits.

Suspicious and hardline are his ways of handling affairs.

It can be said that there is no one in the entire ninja world who understands Shimura Danzō better than Masaki Uchiha.

Even Sarutobi Hiruzen has to take a backseat.

It is based on this understanding of Shimura Danzō that he is prepared to strike first.

"As it happens, there is something I must entrust to Deputy Chief Uchiha Fugaku."

"What is it?" Uchiha Fugaku asked, puzzled.

"Recently, we must strengthen the security of the Uchiha Clan compound. I suspect that someone has already begun monitoring the area." Masaki Uchiha tapped his fingers on the table. "I leave this matter to you."

"Understood, I guarantee the mission will be completed," Uchiha Fugaku replied with a solemn expression.

"Alright, you may go about your business. Uchiha Shisui, stay behind."

After dismissing the others, Masaki Uchiha took Uchiha Shisui to visit a senior.

He happens to have some of Shimura Danzō's "secrets."

They will come in handy when the time is right.

For these few days, let the rumors fly for a while.

I imagine the expression on Shimura Danzō's face when he receives the news will be quite interesting.

Thinking of this, Masaki Uchiha could not help but laugh out loud.

Uchiha Shisui, walking alongside him, heard the clan leader's inexplicable laughter and thought to himself: What could be so happy?

Konoha has been quite lively these past few days.

Rumors regarding Shimura Danzō, the Uchiha Clan, and other ninja clans have become the talk of the town for the villagers.

For example:

"Elder Shimura Danzō was attacked by the Uchiha at the Inuzuka compound."

"The Uchiha Clan is courting other ninja clans, preparing to overthrow the Fourth Hokage."

"Masaki Uchiha refused to save others on the battlefield," and so on.

When Minato Namikaze saw these rumors intensifying, he directly dispatched the Anbu to secretly hunt down those spreading them.

He also publicly stated that these were all false reports and urged everyone not to take them seriously.

Mainly, this method of spreading rumors stirred up painful memories for Hatake Kakashi.

He has been listless all day for the past few days, and Minato Namikaze sees it in his eyes and feels the pain in his heart.

The loss of the White Fang of Konoha was a massive blow to the entire village.

If such a thing has happened once, it must not be allowed to happen a second time.

Whether it was Masaki Uchiha or his own student, Minato Namikaze did not want the rumors to continue spreading, so he took forceful action to put an end to them.

Currently, members of the Uchiha Clan make up nearly half of the Fourth Hokage's Anbu.

Upon hearing that the rumors were targeting their clan leader, they exerted every ounce of their strength to suppress them.

Anyone who dared to discuss the matter in public was promptly invited to the Anbu for a "chat."

And believe it or not, they actually caught a few "spies."

After the Anbu interrogation squad questioned them and discovered a unique jutsu formula carved onto their tongues, the truth became clear.

The situation was somewhat complex, so they wasted no time in notifying Minato Namikaze.

Upon learning that Root was involved in this matter, the expression on Minato Namikaze's face became incredibly complicated.

Even the hand holding the report trembled slightly.

He had not expected such dark dealings to exist within the bright and beautiful village.

He feared that the father of Kakashi, White Fang, had also been subjected to this "treatment."

Knowing that he could not make the final decision on this alone, Minato Namikaze thought it over carefully and realized he had to speak with the Third Hokage.

Konoha does not allow such practices of attacking one's own comrades.

Not even once!

He couldn't control it before, but now that he is the Hokage, he must see it through to the end.

Otherwise, he would be failing the comrades in Konoha who trust him.

Thinking of this, Minato Namikaze's gaze suddenly turned sharp, and he said to the Anbu who delivered the intelligence:

"Please go and ask the Third Hokage to come here."

"Yes." Receiving the order, the Anbu performed a hand seal and vanished instantly using the Body Flicker Technique.

Before long, Sarutobi Hiruzen had arrived.

"Minato, are there some documents you don't know how to handle?" Sarutobi Hiruzen assumed Minato Namikaze had invited him over to consult on administrative affairs.

Therefore, he was in a fairly good mood at the moment.

He felt that he could continue to shine and contribute to the village.

This feeling of being needed was simply wonderful.

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was feeling moved by his own importance, Minato Namikaze handed the report in his hand directly to him: "Third Hokage, please take a look at this report."

He did not notice at all that Minato Namikaze's tone had changed.

He was still prepared to pick up the report and explain how to handle it, just as he had done in the past.

But after just one glance at the report, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew why he had been summoned.

[Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal]

These large characters were written clearly on the report; it would be hard not to see them.

He then quickly scanned through the rest of the report.

In his heart, he understood that Danzo had caused trouble again.

He must have deliberately kept this matter quiet when he was relieved of his duties earlier.

He never expected that even while recuperating at home, Danzo wouldn't stay out of trouble.

Danzo, oh Danzo, why can't you just stay home and rest properly?

Do you really have to find more work for me to do?

Sarutobi Hiruzen was so angry that the veins on his forehead were bulging; he wanted to turn around and leave, as he truly couldn't afford to lose face like this.

If you, Danzo, are going to do something, at least do it well or come up with something new.

It's the same old trick over and over again.

Oh well.

Now he's been caught red-handed.

Minato Namikaze has likely discovered the suspicious points regarding the "death of White Fang" and suspects that Danzo was behind it at the time.

He might even suspect me as well.

No, I must distance myself from this immediately.

Danzo, you will have to work hard and take the blame for this one.

I will compensate you when there is an opportunity later.

"Fourth Hokage, I..."