Danzo's Decision

"Koharu is right. Until we know what Uchiha Qin Yu is after, some pressure is unavoidable. Having Danzo play the villain is the best option." Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement.

"You fools! Have you all gone senile?" the Third Hokage suddenly barked.

"Don't forget Minato's report. We must do our best not to drive Uchiha Qin Yu into turning against us. Otherwise, he'll become Konoha's greatest enemy."

His inexplicable words made Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stiffen.

"Sarutobi, what do you mean? What happened between Yamanaka Tatsuya and Uchiha Qin Yu?"

In their eyes, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had always been a moderate.

He had never shown such a strong emotional reaction. Something was clearly wrong.

"He's dead. Uchiha Qin Yu killed him with a single move." The Third Hokage took out a scroll and tossed it to Mitokado Homura. "This is the intelligence Minato sent. Read it, then come up with a response."

"Yamanaka Tatsuya was killed in one move?" Mitokado Homura's expression changed.

He hurriedly opened the scroll and read it.

As time passed, his and Utatane Koharu's expressions grew increasingly grim.

In their eyes, Yamanaka Tatsuya had been an expert in the Mind Transfer Jutsu. He had also endured inhuman training in the Root Division.

He specialized in restraining and sensory techniques.

If the two of them had fought, Yamanaka Tatsuya's powerful sensory abilities should have let him detect his opponent's movements first.

Yet according to the scroll, Yamanaka Tatsuya hadn't even had time to react before he was trapped in a genjutsu. Then an inextinguishable Black Flame burned him to ash.

They hadn't witnessed the battle themselves.

But the account alone was enough to send a chill down their spines.

"According to Minato's report, Uchiha Qin Yu has only revealed part of his strength so far. He also has a terrifying ability to learn ninjutsu, which is probably related to his unusual Sharingan," the Third Hokage said gravely.

"Minato mentioned that Uchiha Qin Yu has always hated trouble, which is why he kept his abilities hidden. He only acted this time because he had no choice. He even drove back the Cloud Ninja and Mist Ninja forces."

"He also killed Suikazan Fuguki, wielder of Samehada and one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, as well as Raiga Kurosuki. Only a handful of people in Konoha could match such a record."

At that, the Third Hokage looked at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

"Now tell me: what should we decide?"

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu's expressions changed.

Until now, they had thought Uchiha Qin Yu was just a brat like Uchiha Shisui.

People like him were easy to handle. A little pressure on his family would be enough to make him fall into line.

But Uchiha Qin Yu had not only kept his abilities hidden for more than a decade; when he finally acted, he displayed overwhelming strength.

He had even dared to kill one of Danzo's subordinates.

He clearly had no fear of the consequences.

"Hmph. You really are getting more useless with age."

Danzo suddenly pushed open the office door.

"Lord Hokage..." The two guards stationed outside looked conflicted.

"Stand down. I knew he'd come," the Third Hokage said, waving a hand.

In Konoha, Danzo was a special case. The Root Division he had established was independent of the Anbu, which answered to the Hokage.

In a sense,

the Root Division was outside the Hokage's power structure.

That was why Danzo often sent its members out on his own to spy on all of Konoha.

The Hokage's office was no exception.

"Hmph. Sarutobi, you really are getting more useless with age. You can't even deal with a mere brat. I don't think you're fit to be Hokage or shoulder this responsibility."

Danzo strode over, his face cold. "If I hadn't made contingency plans in advance, you'd have already made some decision without my knowledge."

"Danzo, don't misunderstand. Sarutobi didn't mean it that way," Mitokado Homura said, trying to intervene.

He knew his old classmate's temperament all too well.

"Hmph. So you agree with the Third's idea too, Homura? You've really disappointed me," Danzo sneered.

"Konoha is on the brink of disaster. Every nation dares to stick its nose in and bully us. It's all because you've grown accustomed to being weak. If you'd listened to me from the start and dealt with them with an iron fist, Konoha wouldn't have to fight on three fronts at once."

That—

Mitokado Homura's expression faltered. He shook his head and sighed. "Danzo, don't misunderstand. We're all here because we want Konoha to grow stronger. Sarutobi is no exception."

"If you have any ideas, just say them. We can discuss them."

"Danzo, Homura is right. If you have any ideas, share them so we can consider them. If they'll benefit Konoha, I can agree," the Third Hokage said gravely.

Utatane Koharu had remained silent, but her expression made it clear she agreed.

"Hmph. There's no need," Danzo snorted. "Since that Uchiha Qin Yu is such an unpredictable variable, he's a threat to Konoha."

"And don't forget: if the Uchiha Clan learns that someone so unruly exists among their own, it'll only embolden them. So I've already sent people to deal with him."

His quiet words left the Third Hokage and the others stunned.

They had just been discussing how to appease Uchiha Qin Yu and put him to work for Konoha Hidden Leaf Village.

Meanwhile, Danzo had secretly sent people after Qin Yu.

That completely overturned Minato Namikaze's plan.

"Danzo, have you lost your mind? You've gone after Uchiha Qin Yu again and again. You're forcing him to defect!" the Third Hokage shouted angrily.

"If Uchiha Qin Yu leaves the village, every other village will gladly welcome someone with his strength and record. He could become a weapon used against Konoha Hidden Leaf Village. You'll be the one most responsible."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura couldn't hide their shock.

They had never seen the normally mild-mannered Hiruzen Sarutobi get this angry.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi had always felt indebted to Danzo for becoming the Third Hokage.

That was why he had allowed the Root Division, an organization beyond the Hokage's control, to continue existing.

Yet now the Third Hokage was raging at Danzo over Uchiha Qin Yu.

It was enough to show just how much the Third Hokage valued Uchiha Qin Yu.

"Danzo, I'm warning you now: call your people back at once, or don't blame me for what happens next," the Third Hokage said sternly.