There Is a Spy!

Inside the Hokage Office in the Hokage Building.

Fugaku Uchiha was now sitting on pins and needles, his back already soaked with sweat.

Because Danzo had directly laid bare the Uchiha Clan's intention to launch a coup.

Fugaku Uchiha, who had always been exceptionally calm, had lost his composure.

"Lord Danzo... our Uchiha Clan has no intention of launching a coup."

Danzo intended to completely crush Fugaku Uchiha's spirit and firmly seize the initiative.

Danzo picked up a list of names and began reading them aloud with an overwhelming sense of pressure: "Haito Uchiha, Nagato Uchiha, Takuma Uchiha..."

Every name Danzo read made Fugaku Uchiha's face turn a shade paler.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not uttered a single word so far, allowing Danzo to read the list and pressure Fugaku Uchiha.

"Stop!"

Fugaku Uchiha could no longer endure it and stopped Danzo from continuing.

Fugaku Uchiha explained weakly, his face pale, "Those clansmen were merely dissatisfied with some things. They only wanted to vent..."

Danzo sneered, "Oh? So your way of venting is to keep talking about launching a coup against Konoha? The Uchiha Clan certainly has a unique way of venting."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that the time had come to take over from Danzo.

"Enough, Danzo. I believe Fugaku may not have known much about it either. Fugaku, Danzo and I invited you here today mainly to discuss the Uchiha Clan's issues." Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke gently to Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha felt utterly stifled.

From the looks of it, they were probably going to impose another series of harsh demands on the Uchiha Clan.

But the Uchiha Clan had already been pushed to the outskirts of Konoha. How much farther could they retreat?

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "There's no need to be nervous. Today's meeting is good news for the Uchiha Clan. Danzo and I have discussed it, and we will be changing our policies toward the Uchiha Clan."

Fugaku Uchiha could not smile at all right now.

Good news?

Danzo had already read out the names of some of those who wanted a coup. How could there possibly be good news?

In Fugaku Uchiha's view, Hiruzen Sarutobi was obviously speaking sarcastically. If nothing unexpected happened, the policies they were about to propose would make life even harder for the Uchiha Clan in Konoha.

Fugaku Uchiha sighed inwardly.

Whatever demands Hiruzen Sarutobi made later, he had no right to refuse or oppose them.

All he could do now was leave it to fate and hope that Hiruzen Sarutobi would not be too harsh for the sake of the Uchiha Clan being one of Konoha's ninja clans.

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe and said, "An area will be designated in central Konoha for the Uchiha Clan to relocate to."

Fugaku Uchiha thought he had misheard and asked again in disbelief, "Lord Hokage... what did you just say?"

Smiling, Hiruzen Sarutobi repeated himself. "An area will be designated in central Konoha, and the Uchiha Clan will relocate there in the future."

Fugaku Uchiha's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

Did that not mean the Uchiha Clan would return to Konoha's inner circle from now on?

Although he could not understand why Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo had suddenly decided to let the Uchiha Clan enter Konoha's inner circle, Fugaku Uchiha could not suppress the wild joy in his heart.

Seeing Fugaku Uchiha's delighted expression, Danzo knew it was time for him to step in again.

Danzo said in a chilling voice, "There are conditions."

Fugaku Uchiha regained his calm. Conditions were only normal.

No matter what conditions Danzo proposed, Fugaku Uchiha intended to accept them.

After all, he did not know how long he had waited for this day.

Danzo said darkly, "This opportunity is not for the entire Uchiha Clan. It is for those Uchiha clansmen who have not called for a coup. Therefore, the Uchiha clansmen who wish to launch a coup are not included.

Fugaku Uchiha, if you truly wish to change the Uchiha Clan's current situation, then you must show us your sincerity as well. Make a list of those who wish to launch a coup and hand it over to us. You heard it just now—I have already read out some of the names. That proves we already have the complete list, so any concealment will only plunge the entire Uchiha Clan into eternal ruin.

And within seven days, bring all of them to the Root. After that, the Root will provide them with unified training and education, ensuring they never again entertain thoughts of rebellion for the rest of their lives!"

Fugaku Uchiha was startled inwardly.

If those Uchiha clansmen went to the Root, even if they did not die, they would surely lose half their lives.

But those clansmen had proposed a coup, and Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew about it. How could they possibly escape punishment entirely?

Therefore, Danzo's demand was not excessive.

Still, as the clan head, Fugaku Uchiha wanted to try negotiating.

"I will hand the list over to Lord Hokage and Lord Danzo, but regarding entering the Root, could Lord Danzo possibly reconsider?"

Danzo sneered. "Fugaku Uchiha, do you think I am negotiating with you? Since you do not want this opportunity, then go back now. Your Uchiha Clan can try it—try launching a coup and see what the consequences are!"

"Danzo, don't be so hostile. Fugaku, Danzo's priority is protecting Konoha, so he takes a hard line toward unstable elements within the village. Don't blame him for it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took over again and soothed Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha finally understood. Danzo's demands had to be accepted, or the Uchiha Clan would never be able to return to Konoha's inner circle.

"I understand, Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo. I will submit the list within the next few days. I hope Lord Danzo will not be too harsh on them. After all... they are Konoha's ninja as well..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile grew even brighter. "Rest assured, Fugaku. I will check on them from time to time, and Danzo has also agreed that those Uchiha clansmen will only join the Root temporarily. Once their training is complete, I will take charge of them."

When Fugaku Uchiha heard that Hiruzen Sarutobi would take over those Uchiha clansmen afterward, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

At least... they should survive.

Though he felt somewhat sorry for those clansmen, it was clear that a coup led nowhere.

Since Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo had learned of the Uchiha Clan's planned coup long ago, they would certainly have taken precautions in advance. The Uchiha Clan might have been dealt with before the coup could even begin.

At the same time, Fugaku Uchiha was alarmed by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo's methods.

Everyone who attended the gathering at the Uchiha Clan's Naka Shrine was an Uchiha clansman.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi or Danzo could know the names of those involved in the coup, then there was a spy among his clansmen.