Seeing that the Hyuga Clan was willing to join the Police Force, Masaki Uchiha had achieved his goal.
The Police Force's reputation had improved considerably lately. Both the smaller shinobi clans and the civilian shinobi who supported the Fourth Hokage had contributed greatly to this.
With the Hyuga Clan joining them, more than half of Konoha's shinobi clans would be tied to the Uchiha's ship.
That would be a huge help in their bid to seize the Hokage Position.
The other half of Konoha's clans all relied on Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, and Shimura to make a living. In other words, they were all vassals of those four clans.
Although the Hyuga Clan's joining would affect how some of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's benefits were distributed, the advantages they could bring Masaki Uchiha were obvious.
They could help with votes in the Jonin Squad and, later, votes for the Hokage Position. They might even contribute some Byakugan for experiments.
After all, the Otsutsuki Clan was still on the moon. Surely the news about the Tenseigan would be enough to sway the Hyuga Clan?
If not, they could always offer more money. This was all for the sake of strengthening Konoha as a whole, so it could protect itself in the future.
If Hyuga Hiashi didn't want to become part of the Tenseigan, he would surely agree.
Just as Hyuga Hiashi and Masaki Uchiha were appreciating each other's company,
news of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans' sudden arrival reached Uchiha Fugaku, who was "studying" beside Masaki Uchiha.
Why had so many major clans shown up unannounced today?
First the Hyuga Clan, and now the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans.
Setting aside his doubts, Uchiha Fugaku hurried over to greet them.
As a member of a major clan, he had to be courteous.
Masaki Uchiha and Hyuga Hiashi had heard the news, too.
Hyuga Hiashi wondered if they had come because of that matter.
Masaki Uchiha thought, They must have come to thank me. Surely they don't have some other business?
Ever since agreeing to Minato Namikaze's terms last time, the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans had sent people to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Police Force. They had all been doing well lately.
Could something else have gone wrong?
As Masaki Uchiha wondered, Uchiha Fugaku brought over Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi.
Seeing Hyuga Hiashi there, the three immediately understood what he was after. But today's matter concerned him, too, so there was no need to avoid discussing it.
Shikaku Nara and the others greeted Masaki Uchiha and Hyuga Hiashi, then glanced around and sat down. Shikaku lowered his voice and asked Masaki Uchiha, "Has the president heard anything about Root lately?"
Masaki Uchiha was a little bewildered by the question. He had been busy with his wedding lately, and now that it was finally over, he had planned to rest for a few days before dealing with Root. He hadn't expected to hear about it from Shikaku Nara.
"You know I just finished my wedding. I haven't had time to pay attention to Root."
Seeing that Masaki Uchiha really hadn't received any "special attention" from Root, Shikaku Nara understood. Shimura Danzō didn't dare go after the Uchiha, yet he'd had the nerve to come after them—and it was hard to refuse him.
But since they were tied to the Uchiha now, they needed the president to step in and resolve the problem.
Masaki Uchiha would surely be more than happy to help deal with Shimura Danzō.
Everyone knew that no one in Konoha wanted Shimura Danzō dead more than the Uchiha Clan.
"Please help the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans!" Shikaku Nara and the other two stood up and made their earnest plea to Masaki Uchiha.
"Don't be like that. We're all members of the organization. If one of our members is in trouble, then as president, I'll gladly help!" Masaki Uchiha first urged the three to sit back down, then asked what had happened.
Shikaku Nara and the others explained how Shimura Danzō had come to demand people to fill Root's ranks, threatening them as he did so. They added that their three clans weren't the only ones being threatened; other members of the organization must have been targeted, too.
Hyuga Hiashi cut in, "It's true. Shimura Danzō also demanded that the Hyuga Clan hand over five Chunin and two Jonin to join Root." He angrily pounded the table as he finished.
It seemed this "attack" wasn't aimed only at members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Hyuga Clan had been dragged into it, too.
"Something like that happened? Didn't you report it to the Fourth Hokage?" Masaki Uchiha asked, confused.
After all, Minato Namikaze disliked Shimura Danzō's Root, too. If he knew about this, he surely wouldn't let Danzō act so arrogantly.
The others exchanged glances and smiled bitterly. "Shimura Danzō came with an order from the Third Hokage. He threatened to forbid us from telling the Fourth Hokage anything about Root, and said that the Third Hokage had approved all of this."
At that, Masaki Uchiha understood.
Sarutobi Hiruzen might have retired, but his power hadn't.
Indeed, Sarutobi Hiruzen had served as Hokage for decades, and his prestige had long since taken root among Konoha's clans.
Aside from the Uchiha Clan, what shinobi clan would dare refuse Sarutobi Hiruzen? That was one reason the Uchiha were targeted.
And the Fourth Hokage was his former student's grandson. They were family—why would they fall out?
Even if this reached Minato Namikaze, it wouldn't be a big deal for Sarutobi Hiruzen. But the clans that refused to hand over people would have a much harder time later.
For example, they might be deliberately assigned more difficult missions, have their compensation payments delayed, have their treatment at the Medical Department put off, or be transferred to guard the borders.
In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen had more than nine ways to ruin these clans.
But no one dared to invite that trouble, except the Uchiha.
That was why the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans had come to Masaki Uchiha for help.
Only Masaki Uchiha had the strength and ability to go toe-to-toe with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I knew it. Shimura Danzō and his old comrades have had too much free time lately. If they didn't stir up trouble, I wouldn't feel like myself."
Masaki Uchiha wore a faint smile. "Leave this to me. Shimura Danzō won't be able to keep jumping around for much longer. Stall him for a while. Once I've made the arrangements, I'll send him to meet the Second." The domineering aura he unconsciously gave off made everyone's hearts tremble.
His confident, commanding bearing made everyone feel even more confident.
Shikaku Nara was the first to raise his cup toward Masaki Uchiha. "Then we'll leave it to you, President."
The others followed suit and raised their cups.
"We're all part of the same organization. There's no need to be so polite. I'm glad you thought of me when trouble came. As your president, that makes me happy." Masaki Uchiha finished speaking with a hearty laugh.
How could Masaki Uchiha not be happy? His aim was to get these clans used to turning to him to solve their problems, rather than going to the Hokage.
Over time, that would help him win their hearts.
As for why he had to get involved, it was simple.
For the sake of revenge, Shimura Danzō had to die. It was what his clan wanted, too.
For the sake of gaining influence, he had to strike at the Konoha F4 whenever an opportunity arose. Making them struggle to handle too many things at once and expose their weaknesses would help him compete for the Hokage Position.
This wouldn't just weaken the four clans' control over Konoha.
It would also clear obstacles from my path to becoming Hokage.
Heh. That meant I could win a few more times.
As Masaki Uchiha sipped his drink, he happily thought to himself, an expression of victory creeping onto his face.
Seeing this, everyone toasted him even more enthusiastically.