Hokage, I Choose Orochimaru, Ten Years to the Moon Chapter 20

"The tongues of those captured have all been branded with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal unique to the Root organization. Furthermore, among those who attacked us, there were members of the Yamanaka Clan, the Aburame, and the Hyuga Clan."

"This clearly indicates a major problem within Konoha. I propose a total lockdown of the village and the immediate detention of these three clans to restrict their freedom of movement. We should only make further decisions once we have confirmed whether or not they were involved in this."

"Perhaps they are all acting under the orders of Uchiha Madara, preparing to overthrow Konoha!"

Uchiha Gin put on a show of exaggerated shock.

As he spoke, his expression was frantic, as if some catastrophic disaster were imminent.

This left Kakashi, standing to the side, completely stunned; he clearly hadn't expected Uchiha Gin, whom he knew, to say such things.

Uchiha Gin was in the same batch of students as Kakashi and was the same age, though they had been in different grades. They knew of each other, but were not close.

"Cough, cough!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was so startled by Uchiha Gin's words that he choked on the smoke he had just inhaled, breaking into a violent fit of coughing.

He hadn't expected Uchiha Gin to seize the initiative and use these rigid rules and regulations against him.

He was almost amused to the point of anger.

However, it was truly difficult for him to exonerate Shimura Danzō this time; the evidence was too overwhelming. Yet, he was unwilling to let the Uchiha Clan have their way so easily.

"This matter has too great an impact. I will arrange for the Anbu to restrict Shimura Danzō's freedom of movement first, place him under Anbu detention, strip him of his position as Hokage Assistant, and conduct a comprehensive internal investigation to ensure such a thing never happens again."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's statement served as his final answer.

This was his bottom line: Shimura Danzō could not die, and he certainly could not be handed over to the Uchiha. He could only be removed from his post and placed under house arrest.

Whether it would truly be detention, however, was another matter entirely.

"Anbu detention and an internal investigation?"

Hearing this response, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but laugh.

Isn't this the same as the **responses from his previous life?

Internal conflicts are resolved internally, but it has nothing to do with you.

Just then, a knock sounded at the office door.

This made Sarutobi Hiruzen feel uneasy; after all, he had already issued orders that no one was to enter unless it was an emergency.

"Enter!"

He said in a deep, steady voice.

The person who pushed the door open was Nara Shikaku.

"Third Hokage, the Uchiha Police Force has issued an order to arrest Shimura Danzō. They are currently searching for him throughout the village, and everyone knows about it."

Nara Shikaku stated the matter concisely.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils constricted.

The veins on his right hand, which was gripping his pipe, bulged.

Clearly, the Uchiha Clan's decision to act without consulting him left him deeply dissatisfied; it was undoubtedly a challenge to his authority.

The look he cast toward Uchiha Gin no longer hid his cold, murderous intent.

"What is the meaning of this, Uchiha Clan?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone was icy as he directly interrogated Uchiha Gin.

"Apprehending targets that pose a threat to Konoha is a duty established for the Uchiha Clan by the First Hokage and the Second Hokage."

"Shimura Danzō intended to attack a member of the Police Force Captain rank, and his collusion with Uchiha Madara has yet to be fully investigated. Naturally, we must apprehend him now to prevent him from causing further damage."

"What if the Nine-Tails Incident were to happen again? What would Konoha do then?"

If Fugaku had been here, he would have shown some restraint in the face of Sarutobi Hiruzen's attitude.

After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen had essentially watched Fugaku grow up. But Uchiha Gin was different; he felt not a shred of fear toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Perhaps this man was doing it for the sake of Konoha, but what did that have to do with him?

Since you have already distanced Konoha from the Uchiha, stop putting on this hypocritical act!

Uchiha Gin directly invoked the "unchangeable laws of the ancestors," asserting that the Uchiha's actions were permitted by the First and Second Hokage.

If you have the ability, Third Hokage, issue an order yourself to forbid the Uchiha Clan from doing these things. If you don't dare, then keep your mouth shut!

"Have the Anbu detain Danzō and bring him here."

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of continuing the conversation with Uchiha Gin; he realized this young man was far more troublesome than Fugaku.

He possessed absolutely no sense of ninja hierarchy, staring directly at him without bowing his head in the slightest.

This made him furious, but he wasn't ready to burn bridges yet. He realized that the situation now depended on who could secure Shimura Danzō first.

As long as Shimura Danzō was in his hands, he would hold the initiative regardless of what was said, and he could explain it however he pleased later.

If the Uchiha got to him first, it would be a different story—it would be very troublesome. Furthermore, if Shimura Danzō resisted and clashed with the Police Force, the situation would become extremely difficult to handle.

Kakashi immediately headed out to notify the Anbu.

Sarutobi Hiruzen ignored Uchiha Gin and used the Telescope Technique, preparing to lock onto Shimura Danzō's location.

"?"

However, after casting the technique, Sarutobi Hiruzen discovered that within the barrier covering the Konoha urban area, it was impossible to lock onto Shimura Danzō's chakra.

The Anbu and Root were no longer allowing Shimura Danzō to pass through; normally, the Hokage Assistant would handle his work at the Hokage Building or the nearby administrative building where mission assignments were dispatched.

A sense of unease welled up in his heart.

When Kakashi appeared alone once more, that unease only deepened.

Meanwhile, a mocking smirk curled the lips of Uchiha Gin, for he had already foreseen the future.

"Third Hokage... according to intelligence, Shimura Danzō left Konoha yesterday, taking men to the border of the Land of Rain to execute a mission. He used an Anbu departure channel, which is why no one noticed."

Kakashi knelt on one knee, reporting this news, which was highly unfavorable to the current situation.

Beyond the main gates of Konoha, the Anbu possessed private channels to exit without being detected by the barrier, though only those at the level of an Anbu squad leader or higher could utilize them.

"He prepared his escape in advance!"

"He must have been deploying people around the village today to ambush his own comrades. The two who escaped must have notified Shimura Danzō, and now the man is defecting to Amegakure!"

"It seems Uchiha Madara is hiding there!"

Uchiha Gin spoke up, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

This Shimura Danzō realized that this operation would fail and lead to trouble, so he chose to run away immediately!

It seems that finishing him off won't be a matter of a moment.

However, Uchiha Gin was not certain whether this was something Sarutobi Hiruzen had orchestrated or if Shimura Danzō had truly fled.

He spoke up in passing to cause more trouble for Obito, hoping to alleviate the pressure on the Uchiha Clan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was terrifyingly gloomy; Shimura Danzō's actions were equivalent to preparing for a desperate struggle, while simultaneously signaling that he no longer trusted him—running away the moment things went wrong.

After all, ever since the Uchiha incident led to him losing his position as head of Root to Orochimaru, Shimura Danzō had ceased to trust Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was more like a politician, willing to pay a price for benefits, yet equally capable of using unscrupulous means to achieve his goals.

Shimura Danzō was far more extreme, bordering on insanity in his targeting of the Uchiha, and obsessed with the position of Hokage. Many things he did were unnecessary, but to prove he was stronger than Sarutobi Hiruzen, he secretly helped Konoha resolve unsavory matters, yet he gained no public recognition or support from the masses.

Standing to the side, Nara Shikaku felt that the members of the Uchiha Clan were indeed arrogant; how could they dare to provoke the Third Hokage so brazenly to his face?

"Has the time come for the Uchiha to run Konoha?"

"How to make decisions is the duty of the Hokage. Does the Uchiha have some thoughts on the matter?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was cold, the facade of civility nearly shattered.

He could barely restrain himself from wanting to strike out and teach this evil Uchiha brat a lesson!

"Ah?"

"I believe your Will of Fire, Third Hokage, is beyond reproach. How could I ever question your authority as Hokage?"

"That is why I believe you, Third Hokage, should act like the First Hokage. The First Hokage established Konoha alongside Uchiha Madara, but when Uchiha Madara threatened the village, the First Hokage defeated him without hesitation."

"I believe that you, Third Hokage, will make the same choice as the First Hokage. Even if Shimura Danzō is your former classmate, someone who has followed you through so much and bled for Konoha."

"His actions pale in comparison to the contributions Uchiha Madara once made to Konoha. Therefore, I believe you will surely issue a warrant immediately and personally eliminate this traitor who has betrayed Konoha, won't you?"

Uchiha Gin, conversely, wore an expression of utter bewilderment.

It was as if he were saying, How could you possibly think that of me?

He then proceeded to draw a direct comparison between the situation of the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara.

If the First Hokage did it back then, then you should do it now!

Since you love to emphasize the importance of the Will of Fire, you must now suffer the backlash of that very Will of Fire.

Nara Shikaku, standing nearby, was stunned—did the Uchiha Clan not even hold Uchiha Madara in any respect?

"Back then, not a single member of the Uchiha Clan betrayed Konoha; not one Uchiha followed Uchiha Madara in his defection!"

"Therefore, I believe there is no one in Konoha who would support Shimura Danzō now. A man like that should be ruthlessly purged!"

"Those who follow Shimura Danzō must have been threatened by him. The Uchiha Police Force has often received rumors that Shimura Danzō uses the families of Anbu members as leverage to force them to serve him."

"Some great clans have been subjected to such treatment, posing a threat of betrayal to Konoha. The Uchiha have also been targeted this way!"

"A man like Shimura Danzō must have been seduced by Uchiha Madara; he lacks the Will of Fire."

Uchiha Gin continued, feigning grievance.

It was as if Shimura Danzō were an affront to heaven itself.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned red—not just his face, but his entire being was boiling with rage.

"Third Hokage."

At that moment, Nara Shikaku called out.

He simultaneously signaled for Sarutobi Hiruzen to look out the window.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was puzzled, but he rose and turned to look out the window nonetheless.

The sky had turned completely dark, yet many people were gathered outside, separated into two distinct rows.

The Uchiha Police Force and ninjas from other clans stood facing one another; the atmosphere was incredibly heavy, and the pairs of glowing red eyes exerted a formidable sense of intimidation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched this scene with lowered eyes, remaining silent.

Inside the room, there were only four people: Uchiha Gin, Kakashi, Nara Shikaku, and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The situation was one against three.

"Izanagi..."

A flash of regret crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes; if he had acted sooner, the price paid certainly would not have been as severe as it was now.

Turning to look at Uchiha Gin, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt that this man was very likely to become the new Uchiha Madara.

At this moment, he also understood Shimura Danzō's desire to eliminate Uchiha Gin; if they had succeeded this time, the Uchiha Clan surely would not dare to be so arrogant.

But that was only a "what if."

To strike now would only lead to an all-out war, dragging Konoha into a quagmire of conflict.

"Shimura Danzō, for threatening and coercing Konoha ninjas, attacking Police Force Captain Uchiha Gin, and suspected collusion with Uchiha Madara, is hereby classified as an S-rank missing-nin."

"Shikaku, issue this wanted notice, list him as a priority target on Konoha's pursuit list, and simultaneously place a 50 million yen bounty on him in the black market."

"Kakashi, immediately arrange two Anbu teams to head to the border of the Land of Rain to pursue Shimura Danzō, and at the same time, investigate whether Uchiha Madara is colluding with the Land of Rain."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke.

He made the decision directly without waiting for Utatane Koharu or Mitokado Homura, because even if those two arrived, there would only be two choices: fall out with the Uchiha, or do exactly as he had.

"Yes! Third Hokage!"

Nara Shikaku and Kakashi responded one after the other.

Just as the two were preparing to leave, Uchiha Gin spoke up again.