I Choose Orochimaru as Hokage, Ten Years to Reach the Moon Chapter 21

"Sigh, the Uchiha Clan is a family that loves peace, exhausted by years of war. I never expected Uchiha Madara would still refuse to let the Uchiha go, even colluding with Shimura Danzō to pressure us, hoping to see the Uchiha Clan betray Konoha."

"The Uchiha Clan will never betray Konoha!"

Uchiha Gin stated righteously.

However, it was hard to say who would represent Konoha by then; after all, the Uchiha were among the founders of Konoha, and the 'Will of Fire' flowed through their very blood!

Standing to the side, Nara Shikaku began to doubt his own reality. When did the Uchiha become like this?

"I believe in the conviction of the Uchiha Clan!"

"This matter will be resolved for the Uchiha. If Shimura Danzō truly is such a person, I will personally eliminate him!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen could barely force a smile, managing only to speak calmly.

Uchiha Gin nodded, then followed directly behind Kakashi as he left.

As for hunting down Shimura Danzō, Uchiha Gin had no interest. If that guy dared to show his face in front of him, he would simply kill him on the spot.

Wasting effort to hunt him down would be a true waste of time.

In the original plot, he turned Uchiha Itachi into a rogue ninja; now, turning Shimura Danzō into a rogue ninja was perfectly reasonable.

The atmosphere outside the Hokage Building was very strange, primarily due to the Uchiha side, where many had activated their Sharingan—the very picture of being prepared for battle.

Caught in the middle of the Uchiha, Hyuga Himon felt like he was dealing with a Kugou; he dared not move, and he dared even less to do anything.

When Uchiha Gin appeared, everyone's attention was drawn to him.

"Shimura Danzō has defected and has been listed as an S-rank rogue ninja by the Third Hokage, a priority target for capture. He is suspected of colluding with Uchiha Madara. The Military Police Force is to update the pursuit warrant immediately."

Uchiha Gin announced loudly and arrogantly.

"Whoa!"

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

Clearly, no one had expected such an outcome.

After all, Shimura Danzō was the Hokage Assistant.

The last time such a major incident occurred in Konoha was with Uchiha Madara.

Since Orochimaru and Itachi were not yet S-rank rogue ninjas, Shimura Danzō was the second high-ranking official to defect from Konoha.

The Uchiha could not help but laugh.

At the same time, the ninjas from other families were actually already dissatisfied with Shimura Danzō; after all, they had been completely suppressed and manipulated by him, their weaknesses held over their heads.

Everyone was dying for Shimura Danzō to die—that hyena in the hands of Sarutobi Hiruzen!

Fugaku: Why don't you be the clan leader?

With the matter resolved, the crowd naturally dispersed.

The hidden war that could have erupted was averted, and some people in the shadows breathed a sigh of relief.

This was mainly true for the other families; after all, they did not possess such a heavy 'Will of Fire', and what they wanted was to live a good life.

Now that the Uchiha had not done anything that invited public outrage, why should their own families risk their lives?

Avoiding a fight was naturally what these families wanted to see most.

However, this time, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been offended to the core. He was prepared to steel his heart and personally deal with the Uchiha Clan—if not to exterminate them, then at least to ensure the clan completely lost its ability to threaten the village.

"How did you do it?"

Back at the Military Police Force, the sky had turned completely dark.

Fugaku finally could not help but speak up.

"I'll show you through a genjutsu; it's more satisfying that way."

Uchiha Gin said.

At the same time, he cast a simple genjutsu to transmit the images. Fugaku instinctively wanted to dispel the genjutsu, but in the end, he restrained himself.

About three seconds later, Fugaku woke up, a smile he couldn't suppress appearing on his face.

He never thought he would live to see Sarutobi Hiruzen look so miserable.

"But the Uchiha might face retaliation from the Third Hokage next."

Fugaku quickly put away his smile and said very seriously.

"If we didn't do this, would he not have taken action?"

"Regardless, from now on, the Uchiha will do everything by the book. Don't exert even an extra ounce of effort. If there are missions outside, we won't take any of them; we'll just wait it out in the village."

"At the same time, lift all restrictions on ninjutsu except for Izanami. Let the clansmen learn them based on their strength; these ninjutsu are just gathering dust anyway."

Uchiha Gin stated his countermeasure.

For a ninja, the most expensive things are ninja tools and consumables; next are ninjutsu, which cost almost nothing to practice.

Magicians are different—everything they do costs money.

However, the Uchiha Clan is currently not lacking in ninjutsu. Since they aren't going out to fight, they aren't consuming many ninja tools, so they can simply train within Konoha.

When Sarutobi Hiruzen sees these Uchiha ninjas refusing to take on missions yet training desperately, he will likely feel a chill run down his spine.

Isn't this clearly telling the Third Hokage that the Uchiha Clan has ideas of their own?

Fugaku knows that this will certainly irritate Sarutobi Hiruzen's nerves and undoubtedly stir up conflict between the two sides.

"In their eyes, the name and bloodline of the Uchiha are original sins."

"If he has an opinion, just tell him you are following his intention of favoring the civilians, and that you believe in the importance of the common people—that the next Uchiha clan leader will be selected from all members."

"Fairness is crucial, so the ninjutsu you know must be taught to others in the clan. Just use these excuses to disgust him."

Uchiha Gin feels that Fugaku is still too soft.

When will Sasuke finally have the strength to replace this old man?

"I understand."

Fugaku looked puzzled for a moment, then immediately grasped Uchiha Gin's meaning.

"The Uchiha don't want to fight, and Sarutobi Hiruzen wants to fight even less."

"As long as the Uchiha remain united and continue to grow stronger, Sarutobi Hiruzen will be all the more afraid to make a move. Didn't I mention this situation before?"

Uchiha Gin explained the fundamental reason to Fugaku.

This time, there was no longer any doubt in Fugaku's eyes.

"However, do not lower your guard. The Second Hokage's disciples are itching to exterminate the Uchiha. It is not impossible that they might even join forces with Uchiha Madara to deal with us."

"By the way, tell those in the coup faction to calm down. Explain the general situation to them, and from now on, whenever they carry out missions, they must keep the Will of Fire on their lips."

"The legitimacy of the Uchiha in Konoha has existed since the village was founded, so half of the Will of Fire belongs to the Uchiha. Let's add a little extra trouble for the Third Hokage."

Uchiha Gin added at the end.

"You really are a wicked one!"

"Should I yield the position of clan leader to you?"

After offering a compliment, Fugaku said this earnestly.

He does not doubt for a second the hatred the Second Hokage's disciples hold for the Uchiha; the idea of them joining forces with Uchiha Madara does not seem impossible now.

He had entertained such thoughts in his mind several times before, wondering if Uchiha Gin was more suited than he was to lead the Uchiha Clan.

Today, he finally made that decision.

"No interest. Wait for others in the clan."

Uchiha Gin shook his head.

This title doesn't even come with stat bonuses.

As long as Fugaku doesn't reveal his Mangekyō Sharingan, no one can shake his prestige within the clan.

The only one left is Uchiha Shisui. He did not let Uchiha Shisui into the conversation with Fugaku, and he even set up a barrier in Fugaku's office.

Among those with the Mangekyō Sharingan in the clan, he trusts Sasuke the most, followed by Fugaku, then Uchiha Shisui, and finally Itachi.

However, neither Sasuke nor Itachi possesses the Mangekyō right now.

Uchiha Shisui has been poisoned by the Will of Fire and thinks entirely from the perspective of the Hokage. Although he had built a firewall for him and shattered his beautiful, filtered view of the Third Hokage and Konoha, the Uchiha are volatile, and Uchiha Gin makes no guarantees.

His final trump card will always be himself. Everything he is doing now is merely to fulfill his grandfather's dying wish: to protect the Uchiha.

"Very well. If you ever change your mind, come to me anytime. I don't think anyone in the clan would object."

Seeing this, Fugaku did not force the issue.

He has his own ambitions; he wants the Uchiha to restore their former glory under his leadership.

Back in the day, Kagami Uchiha was to him what Uchiha Shisui is to Itachi.

There was a six-year age gap between them. Because of Kagami Uchiha, Fugaku had a fondness for Konoha, believing that the Uchiha had a responsibility to concede and sacrifice for the village.

But after Kagami Uchiha died and the Third Hokage took office, great changes occurred within Konoha. The rival Senju Clan gradually withered away, and the Uchiha Clan was forced to lower its head.

The situation of two great families during the Second Hokage's era turned into a state of multiple powers coexisting.

Having experienced the final period of the Uchiha's prosperity, Fugaku naturally hopes to make the Uchiha shine with glory once again!

In the past, he never dared to have such thoughts, hoping only to keep the Uchiha lineage going. But now, Uchiha Gin has appeared, and he is the hope for that dream.

Uchiha Gin possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan, just as he does, but he lacks a certain temperament that he sees in Uchiha Gin.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, on the other hand, is furious.

There is the pressure from the Uchiha and the fact that Danzo has gone on the run.

The peace of this period had caused him to lower his guard, and he never expected Danzo to suddenly pull off something so massive.

"You've mentioned Uchiha Madara several times. Is that guy really in the Land of Rain?"

Mitokado Homura voiced his doubts.

"Arrange for someone to contact Danzo. Tell him to stop holding back out there and strike directly at the Uchiha."

"At the same time, test this mercenary organization called Akatsuki. Pick a random identity, issue them a mission, and have them assassinate Uchiha Gin to see how they handle it."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke directly.

He was preparing to lower his external defenses, looking for the right moment to deal with the Uchiha.

Within his own inner circle, he would absolutely not allow a bomb like the Uchiha that he could not control.

As long as he could confirm that this mercenary organization called Akatsuki was reliable, or at least capable of causing trouble for the Uchiha, he would have no more reservations about his next moves.

"Understood, I will go make the arrangements."

Utatane Koharu nodded calmly.

She also agreed that Sarutobi Hiruzen's judgment was sound.

Daring to treat the Hokage this way meant they truly should not be left alive.

"Your actions today were very dangerous."

"Furthermore, the meeting the teacher is holding next has excluded me as well."

In a laboratory occupied only by Orochimaru and Itachi, Orochimaru spoke to Uchiha Gin while continuing his research.

Both of them had only sent Shadow Clone, while only Itachi was present in his true form.

Itachi was quite busy every day; he had to go to the ninja tool facility during the day and come here at night to perform simple research, completing the tasks Orochimaru assigned him.

"He lacks the strength of the Second, yet he wants to be a dictator just like him. He is far from it."

"These people are merely stumbling blocks on our path; they will soon be discarded by the era."