Cold War?

Deep into the night.

Stationed at the entrance of the Uchiha Clan compound with all members of Root, Shimura Danzō received the news of Minato Namikaze's sacrifice, a flicker of joy flashing through his eyes.

Heaven truly aids me!

Hiruzen, what reason do you have left to stop me from becoming Hokage?

The greatest obstacle is gone.

Contemplating the high probability of his ascension to Hokage, a look of greed spread across Shimura Danzō's face. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Retreat."

I must plan carefully tonight; the Uchiha are nothing but lambs waiting for the slaughter now.

They are of no concern.

He waved his hand again. "Retreat."

The members of Root remained silent, quickly following Shimura Danzō as he departed.

"Clan Leader, the Root members at the gate have all withdrawn!" Uchiha Yusuke hurried over.

"Oh? It seems they have finished their business!" Masaki Uchiha, who had been resting with his eyes closed, snapped them open. He offered a playful smile before ordering the core members of the Uchiha Clan who were already waiting impatiently before him: "It is our turn to take the stage. Let us go and defend Konoha!"

Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Tetsuya, Uchiha Naoya, Uchiha Shisui, and the others stood up upon receiving the order, heels clicked together, heads held high, and chests puffed out as they shouted in unison: "Yes!"

Not bad momentum!

It was worth spending so much money to cultivate them.

A look of satisfaction flashed in Masaki Uchiha's eyes.

After walking outside, he glanced at the moon hanging in the sky.

The moon is exceptionally bright tonight.

Perfect for killing!

The group of Uchiha set off in a grand, imposing manner.

As they passed through the residential district, the surviving villagers glared at the passing Uchiha with eyes full of hatred.

"Shisui, do you know why they look at us like that?" Masaki Uchiha felt this situation was a perfect opportunity to instruct Uchiha Shisui.

Barring any accidents, Uchiha Shisui would be the next clan leader.

He had to seize the chance to cultivate him quickly so he could become a hands-off leader in the future.

"Clan Leader, is it because the suspicion that the Nine-Tails was controlled by the Sharingan has led the villagers to believe that today's events were orchestrated by our Uchiha Clan?"

"That is part of the reason, but more than that, it is the villagers' anger and fear toward a power they cannot control."

Uchiha Shisui pondered for a long moment before asking: "Is it the same for the Third Hokage and the others?"

"Not bad, Shisui, you've learned to jump to the answer." Masaki Uchiha laughed.

"Is it because of Uchiha Madara that the Third Hokage and the others target the Uchiha like this?" Uchiha Shisui's expression was full of confusion.

"Exactly. They inherited a portion of Tobirama Senju's ideology. It is precisely because they fear another 'Madara' will emerge from the Uchiha that they relentlessly suppress the Uchiha Clan out of sheer terror."

"So that's how it is." Uchiha Shisui suddenly realized.

"President!"

At this moment, Hyuga Hiashi arrived with several members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to find Masaki Uchiha.

"There are some situations I need to report to you," Hyuga Hiashi said with some urgency.

"Clan Leader Hyuga, you've come at the right time. I was just about to send someone to find you."

Masaki Uchiha found a relatively intact house nearby, and the two walked inside together, while the others silently assumed a defensive stance.

Hyuga Hiashi was detailing the specific process of the Nine-Tails incident to Masaki Uchiha.

He specifically mentioned that Minato Namikaze had spoken up to defend the Uchiha Clan at the time.

Is that so? So Minato Namikaze actually said such things.

A strange emotion suddenly stirred in Masaki Uchiha's heart.

It all depends on whether I can obtain that ninjutsu from Elder Chiyo of Sunagakure in the future.

If the opportunity arose, Masaki Uchiha wouldn't mind resurrecting Minato Namikaze, provided that Konoha was firmly in the hands of the Uchiha.

Regardless, a resurrected Minato Namikaze would be a very useful workhorse.

"Where are the bodies of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, and their orphan?"

"They are with the Third Hokage! They should have arrived at the Hokage Building by now."

"Let's go. We are going to find Sarutobi Hiruzen. I believe he has been waiting for me for a long time."

Masaki Uchiha smiled confidently.

Suddenly, the cry of a hawk echoed through the sky.

"That is the order to assemble all the Jonin in the village," Hyuga Hiashi said with an ugly expression.

"It seems someone doesn't hold this Jonin Squad leader in high regard." Masaki Uchiha wore a smile, yet that smile carried a bone-chilling murderous intent.

One must know that summoning the village's jonin is typically done by the Hokage issuing an order to the Jonin Squad leader, who then releases ninja hawks to gather the jonin.

These are jonin, the high-end power of every ninja village, not comparable to chunin or special jonin.

Therefore, issuing an order to summon all jonin is always handled with great caution.

Yet today, someone had bypassed Masaki Uchiha, the current Jonin Squad leader, to issue the order.

Since someone dared to do such a thing, they would have to bear the corresponding consequences.

"Hmph, let's see if your bones are harder or my blade is. Let's go."

Masaki Uchiha felt a surge of excitement.

Hyuga Hiashi hurried to keep pace, and the guards outside followed closely behind.

In front of the Hokage Building.

A faint silhouette stood there.

Around them, a large crowd of footsteps gradually began to sound.

Looking closely, it was the Uchiha Clan and some members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

"Masaki-kun, today's order to summon the jonin is clearly aimed at you. You must be careful."

Orochimaru's raspy voice revealed a hint of concern, and after saying this, with a 'poof', his figure vanished.

Masaki Uchiha merely nodded, his footsteps never faltering as he continued toward the Hokage Building.

A murderous atmosphere had already begun to spread.

Someone was bound to meet their end tonight; the question was, who?

Masaki Uchiha smiled confidently.

Inside the Hokage Building conference room.

Many jonin who had received the order were already standing inside.

Clack.

The conference room doors were pushed open.

Masaki Uchiha appeared with his group.

Some who saw the Jonin Squad leader arrive prepared to salute, but were stopped by a wave of Masaki Uchiha's hand.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had been staring at Masaki Uchiha ever since the doors opened.

"Who will explain to me who issued the order to assemble the jonin?" Masaki Uchiha took the initiative the moment he sat down.

Hearing Masaki Uchiha say this, most of the gathered jonin looked at each other in confusion.

Was the order to assemble the jonin not issued by the Jonin Squad leader?

For a moment, the conference room was deathly silent.

"It was I who issued the order." Seeing that this brat wasn't playing by the rules, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no choice but to speak up.

Masaki Uchiha heard this and gave a playful smile: "Then in what capacity did the Third Hokage issue this order?"

"Naturally, I issued it in my capacity as the Third Hokage." Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't quite grasp what Masaki Uchiha was thinking; why would he ask such a question?

It could only be said that Sarutobi Hiruzen had been Hokage for too long and had become somewhat arrogant.

Is a retired Hokage still the Hokage?

What right did he have to interfere in village affairs?

This is the disadvantage of failing to recognize one's own situation!