Danzo Is 'Raring' to Go...

Tension!

Though there were no obvious signs, the entire village was suffused with an eerie atmosphere.

Konoha's streets had once occasionally seen members of the Uchiha Police Force, much to the annoyance of the villagers. But for the past few days, not a single one had appeared.

For the many villagers and vendors who hated the local enforcers, this should have been cause for celebration. Without the police watching over them, it was much easier to break village rules.

Well...

This stall is mine now. Get the hell out of here...

Treasure your life. Stay away from gambling and drugs. Hey, old man, want to come over and try your luck...

And so on...

But as the saying went, ducks knew the river was warming before anyone else. The longer the police stayed away, the more their initial relief turned to fear.

After all...

Rumors that the Uchiha Clan might rebel had spread throughout Konoha by every possible channel over the long years. And now that the Uchiha were making such a big move, what could it mean?

It wasn't just ordinary villagers who were letting their imaginations run wild and growing uneasy. Even some of the village's ordinary ninja—especially the higher-ups of the various clans—were starting to worry.

The Uchiha had suddenly sealed off their entire clan compound, cutting off all contact with the outside world.

Could it be...?

Were they about to make their move?

Everyone knew how powerful the Uchiha Clan was. If civil war broke out in the village, where would that leave the rest of them?

The atmosphere grew even more oppressive when the Anbu under the Hokage and Root under Hokage Assistant Shimura Danzō began gathering near the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage of Konoha sat in his smoke-filled office with a pipe between his lips, frowning darkly as he stared toward the Uchiha Clan Compound without saying a word.

As the highest authority in Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen had naturally been the first to hear of the Uchiha Clan's unusual movements.

It was happening too often!

Ever since the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the Uchiha Clan had been making increasingly bold moves. They had shown no clear signs of rebellion, but a shadow of suspicion had been growing in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart.

Did this mean they were planning to act?

Uchiha Jin!

The handsome figure that often drifted through Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind flashed before him, and the darkness in his eyes deepened.

Knock! Knock! Knock...

Amid a rapid succession of cane taps, the door to the Hokage's office was shoved open. An old man with half his body wrapped in bandages and an icy aura strode inside without hesitation.

"Danzo, what is it?"

The Third Hokage's aged voice rang out. His tone suggested he didn't care about the man's rudeness, but a hint of displeasure had already crept into his eyes.

In all of Konoha, there were few people who dared to enter the Hokage's office without knocking—and only one old man who gave off such a chilling aura!

Hmm...

Root has grown a little too powerful lately. Once this is over, perhaps I should consider trimming it back.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze toward Shimura Danzō gradually softened. The sight also helped calm some of Danzō's agitation.

As expected of my old comrade. He carries himself like the leader of a village should. It's a shame he's too weak. Only I can lead Konoha into the future!

A flicker of warmth stirred in Shimura Danzō's heart, then vanished just as quickly. The gentleness in his eyes faded back into indifference. After steadying himself, he imitated the Hokage's detached manner and said, "What are you planning to do about the Uchiha Clan? They've been making moves more and more often lately."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a moment. Even the smoke he exhaled was slightly unsteady.

Danzō gave a cold snort and scolded him. "How long are you going to hesitate? Do you want to wait until that traitor Uchiha Jin said was right, and they're at our throats?"

"Danzo!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped puffing on his pipe. He slammed it down on the desk before him and said in a low voice, "The Uchiha are a ninja clan of Konoha. They're part of this village too. Without evidence, I will never agree to your underhanded methods."

Shimura Danzō suddenly grew furious. He sneered at Hiruzen. "By the time they make their move, it'll be too late. If you want evidence, I have plenty."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart sank. He stared at Shimura Danzō, his face dark, and enunciated each word. "Danzo! Give up your little tricks. I will never allow you to use those devious schemes against our fellow villagers!"

The Third Hokage looked stern. His frail body now radiated a force as grand as the sun.

Danzō was long accustomed to this. Instead, he gave a frightening smile and sneered. "Hmph! We both know the power of the Uchiha—their wicked strength! This evil clan can't be trusted!"

Hmm...

The Third Hokage's face darkened as he puffed steadily on his pipe. Once again, an eerie silence filled the office.

Sarutobi, you're old. It's only the Uchiha!

As time passed, the impatience on Shimura Danzō's face became more obvious, and the contempt in his eyes grew stronger.

Anyone who posed a threat to the village had to be dealt with.

Whether it was Uchiha Madara, Hatake Sakumo, Namikaze Minato, or Senju Nawaki—it was all the same!

You're no longer fit to sit in the Hokage's seat. I, Shimura Danzō, am the only man who can lead Konoha to the pinnacle of the Ninja World!

With that thought, Shimura Danzō stopped paying attention to Sarutobi Hiruzen and turned to leave the room, which was making him increasingly irritable.

"Sarutobi, you'll regret this!"

Just as the door was about to close, Shimura Danzō's cold, low voice rang out.

"Danzo, I'm the Hokage!"

The Third Hokage watched Danzō's retreating back and, at the last moment, unleashed the overwhelming presence of the 'Strongest Hokage'!

Shimura Danzō, who had been leaving so casually, suddenly stiffened. But he forced himself to keep his face blank and continue on his way.

"Danzo, you're only Konoha's root. I'm the Hokage. Running the village takes more than fighting and killing..."

Once he sensed that Danzō's presence had vanished completely, Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up his pipe and calmly took another puff.

The position determined the perspective!

He, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was the Hokage, so he had to consider things from the Hokage's point of view.

The Uchiha were one of Konoha's oldest and strongest clans. Even if they had a poor reputation in the village, striking at a clan without any evidence would make the other clans wonder what to think.

After all, it had taken several generations of Hokage to finally give ordinary ninja of Konoha a chance to distinguish themselves. Even now, the village was still truly supported by its various clans.

If the Hokage struck at a clan, even one as unpopular as the Uchiha, it would inevitably alienate the small and great clans throughout Konoha.

Besides!

Were the Uchiha really so easy to bully?

They were an evil clan with such a powerful bloodline. Who could say for certain that they weren't hiding some terrifying power?

That was the forbidden power of the gods!

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly, but he wasn't too troubled. After all, he still had Shisui and Itachi as pieces on the board.

He couldn't be sure what those two could do for him, but in the current situation, they were enough to buy him plenty of time to prepare.

More importantly, although the village had signed a peace treaty with Kumogakure, the other nations had never stopped eyeing Konoha. If a large-scale conflict with the Uchiha broke out, the Fourth Shinobi World War might not be far off!

The village still needed time...

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, sighed softly. Then he glanced toward the side of the room, where a photograph of a blond young man hung.

The young man in the picture looked dignified yet approachable, youthful and full of vigor.

"Minato, what would you do in my place?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes held a trace of wistfulness, but that warmth vanished in an instant. He turned his head and looked toward the Uchiha Clan Compound again, a hint of suspicion slowly clouding his eyes.

Calling up medical ninja! And that inexplicable gathering...

Uchiha!

What are you planning?