This Was Politics

The Third Hokage frowned.

He didn't want things to get out of control.

Even less did he want the Uchiha and the Councilors arguing in front of everyone.

So he said in a low voice, "Enough."

The office fell silent.

The Third Hokage looked at Fugaku.

"First, I can agree to that."

"The village will acknowledge that the Uchiha Clan Grounds were invaded last night and establish an investigation team."

Fugaku said nothing.

The Third Hokage continued, "Second, Uchiha Police Force members can participate in the investigation."

A glimmer of delight flashed in Uchiha Tekka's eyes.

But Fugaku remained calm.

Because there was still the third point.

The Third Hokage said slowly, "As for the third point, it would be inadvisable to inform all the clans about the security risk for now."

Tekka's expression darkened.

Just as expected.

The Third Hokage continued, "The village will quietly strengthen its defenses."

"I'll also personally order the Anbu to assist with patrols."

"But if we inform all the clans directly, it could spark unnecessary speculation."

"The village needs stability right now."

Stability again.

The greater good again.

Tekka clenched his fists.

Fugaku, however, wasn't surprised.

He knew the Third Hokage would block the third point.

Because the third point wasn't really about security.

It was about spreading the news.

Konoha High Command absolutely didn't want every shinobi clan to learn about this.

At least, they didn't want the Uchiha to be the ones to spread it.

Fugaku was silent for a moment, then said, "Lord Hokage, the Uchiha can refrain from demanding that all the clans be informed for now."

The Third Hokage was just about to breathe a sigh of relief.

But Fugaku's next words made him frown again.

"But the investigation needs a deadline."

"Seven days."

"Within seven days, the Hokage Building must give the Uchiha an official result."

The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe but didn't answer right away.

Mitokado Homura said in a low voice, "Seven days is too short."

Fugaku looked at him.

"Then how long does the Councilor think is appropriate?"

Mitokado Homura said, "This concerns the village's security. It will take at least a month."

Tekka sneered.

"A month?"

"By then, all the evidence will have been cleaned up, won't it?"

Anger flashed in Mitokado Homura's eyes.

"Uchiha Tekka, watch your words!"

Tekka didn't back down.

"Am I wrong?"

"If it had been a child from the Sarutobi Clan who was attacked, would the Councilor still say a month?"

The temperature in the office plummeted.

Those words were too harsh.

The Anbu's presence shifted slightly.

But Fugaku didn't reprimand Tekka.

Because although the words were sharp, they spoke for the Uchiha.

The Third Hokage's expression also darkened.

He looked at Tekka and, after a long moment, said slowly, "Seven days."

Mitokado Homura was taken aback.

"Hiruzen?"

The Third Hokage waved a hand.

"The investigation team will provide preliminary results within seven days."

"Fugaku, this is the greatest guarantee I can offer."

Fugaku looked at the Third Hokage.

The two stared at each other for a moment.

Finally, Fugaku nodded.

"Fine."

"The Uchiha will await Lord Hokage's findings."

With that, he led the Police Force members out.

After the office door closed,

Utatane Koharu immediately said, "Hiruzen, you shouldn't have agreed so quickly."

"The Uchiha are pressuring the Hokage Building."

Mitokado Homura also said in a low voice, "Once we give them an opening, they'll become more and more forceful."

The Third Hokage rubbed his brow.

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Should we refuse them?"

"And let the Uchiha make last night's events known to the entire clan, or even let the other clans hear about them?"

Utatane Koharu frowned.

The whole clan already knew.

The Third Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Which is why we can't keep suppressing them."

"The Uchiha need to see that we're taking this seriously."

"If we don't even give them the appearance of a response, Fugaku won't be able to keep the Radical Faction in check."

Mitokado Homura was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about the investigation team?"

The Third Hokage's gaze darkened slightly.

"Have the Anbu lead it."

"The Police Force can participate, but don't let them get access to Root."

Utatane Koharu asked quietly, "Do you suspect Danzo too?"

The Third Hokage didn't answer.

But his silence said enough.

Mitokado Homura sighed. "If Danzo really did this, we have to suppress the matter."

The Third Hokage raised his head, looking weary.

"Suppress it?"

"How?"

"Two Root shinobi died on the Uchiha Clan Grounds, and the Uchiha took their bodies."

"That child is still alive."

"He heard the word 'specimen.'"

"Do you think the Uchiha will pretend nothing happened?"

Utatane Koharu fell silent.

The Third Hokage looked out the window, his gaze heavy.

"The best option now is to find an explanation that will hold up."

"Enemy-village spies."

Mitokado Homura understood immediately.

"You want to classify it as an infiltration by a foreign enemy?"

The Third Hokage didn't deny it.

"On the surface, that's the only option."

"Otherwise, relations between the Uchiha and the village will collapse immediately."

Utatane Koharu frowned. "But will the Uchiha believe it?"

The Third Hokage sighed.

"They won't believe it completely."

"But if we offer enough compensation, Fugaku might accept it."

Mitokado Homura asked, "What sort of compensation?"

The Third Hokage was silent for a moment.

"Grant the Uchiha greater authority over patrols around their clan grounds."

"Increase the Police Force's budget."

"Allow some young Uchiha shinobi to take on missions within the village."

Utatane Koharu's expression changed.

"That amounts to conceding to the Uchiha."

The Third Hokage looked at her.

"This is appeasement."

"We need to appease them right now."

"Not provoke them further."

The two Councilors said nothing more.

They both knew this was the only option for now.

But they also knew the truth.

This was only a delay.

The rift between the Uchiha and Konoha High Command was already too deep to be bridged by a few concessions.

Meanwhile,

deep beneath the Hokage Building,

Danzo sat in the shadows. After hearing the Root shinobi's report, he gave a cold laugh.

"Seven days?"

"Hiruzen really hasn't changed."

"He still thinks that compromise can buy stability."

The Root shinobi in front of him lowered his head and asked, "Lord Danzo, should we take care of the evidence?"

Danzo said coldly, "Destroy all related records."

"Leave nothing behind—not a single word of last night's orders, the team's route, or the source of the intelligence."

"Also, prepare two scapegoats."

The Root shinobi asked, "What identities?"

Danzo replied coolly, "Cloud Village spies."

"They want to investigate, don't they?"

"Then let them trace it back to the Cloud Village."

The Root shinobi immediately bowed his head.

"Yes, sir."

A glint of cold light flashed in Danzo's single eye.

Blaming the Cloud Village was the simplest and most reasonable solution.

The Cloud Village had always coveted Konoha's bloodline abilities.

They had even targeted the Hyuga in the past.

Claiming that they now coveted the Uchiha's Sharingan was entirely plausible.

As long as the evidence was clean, the Hokage Building would accept it.

Even if the Uchiha suspected something, they wouldn't have any evidence to refute it.

This was politics.

The truth didn't matter.

What mattered was whether the situation could be contained.

But...

Shin-getsu's name surfaced in Danzo's mind.

That brat couldn't be allowed to live much longer.

He could let this one slide for now.

But next time, he had to find an opportunity to uproot this unstable seed.

"Uchiha Shingetsu."

Danzo slowly tapped his cane.

"I'd like to see how much longer you can live."