Inside the Hokage Tower office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo were arguing over the Uchiha Clan.
Danzo's stance was uncompromising. He believed the Uchiha Clan was inherently evil.
Hiruzen Sarutobi brought up an old acquaintance he and Danzo shared.
Kagami Uchiha.
Danzo's gaze flickered. "Kagami... he was different, and I am merely continuing Teacher Tobirama's methods!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi earnestly advised him, "Teacher Tobirama decided to consolidate and guide the Uchiha's power. He established the Police Force and the prison together, tasked the Uchiha Clan with maintaining the village's security, and allowed them to contribute to the village. That was all.
Moreover, Teacher Tobirama did not hate the Uchiha. No matter which clan it was, as long as it had the potential to threaten Konoha, Teacher Tobirama would keep an eye on it. His arrangements for the Uchiha Clan were only meant to prevent another Madara Uchiha from appearing.
During Teacher Tobirama's administration, he nurtured many clansmen like Kagami—people who were not bound by narrow clan loyalties, who were willing to step beyond their family's limitations, inherited the Will of Fire, and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the village.
Even now, there are outstanding ninja like Shisui and Itachi who have inherited the Will of Fire. We should ease up somewhat instead of pushing them so hard."
Yet Danzo remained unmoved and said coldly, "Hiruzen, a certain sentiment has emerged within the Uchiha Clan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "What sentiment?"
"A call for Fugaku Uchiha to lead the Uchiha Clan in seizing control of Konoha and restoring the Uchiha name. Some Uchiha clansmen want to launch a coup!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression immediately turned grave. "Is this information confirmed?"
"Do you think I would say this without reliable intelligence? And haven't you noticed that the Uchiha Clan's gatherings at Naka Shrine have been growing more frequent?"
Danzo rose to his feet, tossed out, "Think it over carefully yourself," and left the Hokage Tower.
Hiruzen Sarutobi repeatedly puffed on his pipe as he pondered.
After thinking it over, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Itachi and Shisui.
Itachi and Shisui knelt on one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi, waiting for him to speak.
"Itachi, Shisui, relax. I have not summoned you to assign a mission this time. I merely have something to ask you. What do you think of the Uchiha Clan's current situation?"
Itachi and Shisui were stunned. How were they supposed to answer Hiruzen Sarutobi's question?
Were they supposed to tell Hiruzen Sarutobi that they were deeply dissatisfied with the Uchiha's current situation?
That would be like lighting a lamp in a toilet—courting death.
Just as Itachi and Shisui did not know how to answer, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke. "After the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Uprising, Konoha's policies toward the Uchiha Clan must have left you deeply dissatisfied, correct?"
Itachi and Shisui hurriedly replied, "Lord Hokage, we have no such thoughts."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand. "There is no need to be so nervous. It is only natural for you to be dissatisfied. I have also been trying to resolve the Uchiha Clan's current situation in Konoha.
I know that Konoha's policies toward the Uchiha have stirred intense dissatisfaction among the Uchiha clansmen, as well as radical remarks from some of them during the Uchiha Clan's gatherings at Naka Shrine.
If the Uchiha Clan does anything excessive before I find a solution, then even as Hokage, I will have no way to salvage the situation. I hope you both understand."
Itachi and Shisui were startled. They had only learned of these matters after recently attending the gatherings, yet Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew everything.
Seeing Itachi and Shisui's expressions, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood that what Danzo had said was true.
Itachi and Shisui exchanged a glance, lowered their heads, and said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Lord Hokage, whatever mission you have, please entrust it to us!"
"Good. I am pleased that you possess such resolve. I need you to gather a list of those who wish to launch a coup and determine Fugaku's attitude toward it. I also promise you that I will do everything possible to find a way to change the Uchiha Clan's current circumstances."
"Yes!"
After Itachi and Shisui left the Hokage Tower, their hearts were still pounding wildly.
Both Itachi and Shisui wore incomparably grave expressions.
Hiruzen Sarutobi telling them about this meant that matters had already reached a critical stage.
If it was not resolved, the Uchiha Clan could very well face annihilation.
After Uzumaki Menma returned to Root, Danzo summoned him to his office.
Danzo simply stared straight at Uzumaki Menma.
Uzumaki Menma did not dare move at all.
After they remained deadlocked for a long while, Danzo finally asked, "You seem to have been getting rather close to a little brat from the Uchiha Clan lately?"
Uzumaki Menma trembled. Had Danzo gotten angry because Sasuke was an Uchiha?
Uzumaki Menma cautiously asked, "Grandpa Danzo, are you talking about Sasuke?"
"Who else could it be? Do you know what my attitude toward the Uchiha Clan is?"
Uzumaki Menma played dumb despite knowing perfectly well. "What is it?"
Danzo said viciously, "Exterminate them completely and eliminate all future trouble!"
Uzumaki Menma shuddered and asked nervously, "Why does Grandpa Danzo hate the Uchiha Clan so much?"
"Hate? I do not hate the Uchiha Clan. I simply do not trust the Uchiha as a ninja clan."
Uzumaki Menma remembered the adorable Sasuke, who had been trailing after them this entire time.
As Sasuke's companion, Uzumaki Menma felt that he had to try and argue on Sasuke's behalf. Otherwise, would it not be a terrible waste if Sasuke became someone who disowned everyone close to him in the future?
Besides, the plan to mold Sasuke had not even begun yet!
Uzumaki Menma gathered his courage and asked, "Grandpa Danzo, why do you distrust the Uchiha Clan? There has to be a reason, right?"
"Because of the Uchiha Clan's former leader, Madara Uchiha! Madara Uchiha, who once left Konoha, suddenly returned and attacked Konoha, intending to destroy it. If the First Hokage had not been there to kill Madara Uchiha, Konoha might have already vanished back then."
"That is the only reason?"
"Is that reason not enough? If another Madara Uchiha appears within the Uchiha Clan, it will be a disaster for Konoha!"
Uzumaki Menma found it difficult to understand.
Just because of one Madara Uchiha, Danzo distrusted the entire Uchiha Clan and wanted to exterminate them all?
Uzumaki Menma summoned his courage and retorted, "Grandpa Danzo, I think that is far too arbitrary. Madara Uchiha is Madara Uchiha, and the Uchiha Clan is the Uchiha Clan. Has the Uchiha Clan never produced any good ninja?"
Upon hearing Uzumaki Menma say, "Has the Uchiha Clan never produced any good ninja?" Kagami Uchiha surfaced in Danzo's mind once more.
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