Behind-the-Scenes Discussion (1)

Hiruzen Sarutobi still had to keep up appearances, so he stayed behind to discuss matters with the Sand Shinobi leadership.

But our Pot Shadow, Danzo Shimura, had no such obligations.

His mind was filled with Uchiha Yato's Mangekyo Sharingan, with the massive skeletal Susanoo.

"He!"

"He actually hid this power!"

As a former disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Danzo Shimura naturally knew that the Mangekyo Sharingan represented Kage-level strength.

Danzo Shimura had no choice but to set aside the matters he had been preparing and plotting. He craved power, but that did not mean he was an idiot.

Chiyo had similar thoughts. Another Mangekyo Sharingan wielder had emerged from the Uchiha Clan, and that was extremely important intelligence.

As the Konoha Exchange Meeting came to an end, the Sand Shinobi began packing up to leave. The day had passed safely enough.

That night, within Konoha Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat alone in the Hokage's office.

Even now, he still found it difficult to believe what he had seen that day.

Uchiha Yato possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan and could successfully use Susanoo.

It left the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, deeply troubled.

He truly did not want to use the same methods against Uchiha Yato. After all, he had watched that child grow up.

He could not be as ruthless as a pure egoist like Danzo Shimura.

Just then, Danzo Shimura walked in and said, "You're troubled by Uchiha Yato too, aren't you?"

"You should have listened to me back then and killed him without hesitation."

"Now that he's awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, he's fully grown. We won't be able to suppress him anymore."

Unwilling to lose momentum, Hiruzen Sarutobi replied.

"No need for your concern. At a time like this, you'd better not let him catch you with anything. If he truly decides to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, there's nothing I can do."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were rather harsh. Danzo Shimura also knew Hiruzen Sarutobi's bottom line and would not cross it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took another drag of his pipe and said helplessly, "As long as he does not betray Konoha, I believe in his Will of Fire."

Danzo Shimura had wanted to say more, but seeing the situation, he could not press the matter.

He changed the subject and asked about the final handling of the Sand Shinobi and Sakumo Hatake.

Whether Hiruzen Sarutobi had a headache now was another matter. Originally, the best outcome would have been Sakumo Hatake dying in battle.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi could find a way to kill Chiyo as well. That way, the two villages would remain stable.

But things had become somewhat troublesome. He had already caused Sakumo Hatake to lose faith in the Hokage leadership.

And he was another formidable Kage-level combatant. Killing him outright was practically impossible.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Have him continue his ambush mission in the Land of Lightning."

"Keep a closer eye on his son. That will be all."

Just like in the original story, Danzo Shimura had already come up with a vicious plan to destroy Sakumo Hatake.

He would ruin his reputation, make him abandoned by his own beliefs, and drive him to suicide.

Even in the worst case, he would lose the people's support and no longer become a candidate for Hokage.

Elsewhere.

Uchiha Yato arrived at the Sand Shinobi residence.

Uchiha Yato said directly to Chiyo, "Grandma Chiyo~"

"Don't keep looking at me with such a stiff expression~"

Chiyo found his words somewhat uncomfortable, while Pakura behind the folding screen got goosebumps all over.

Chiyo composed herself and said, "Speak properly, or there will be nothing to discuss."

Uchiha Yato immediately changed his attitude.

Chiyo said, "First, let us fulfill the promise you made earlier. We will take three things."

"The first is what you call canned food. We want three thousand cans, all of them meat."

"The second is one of your ninjutsu—the technique you used earlier to release all that gray smoke."

"As for the last one, I originally wanted money, but I hope you can answer one question for me."

Uchiha Yato explained directly, "I made the bet with you, but I'm not the clan head. So whether this is truly approved depends on the clan head."

Hearing this, Chiyo thought Uchiha Yato was trying to renege and had no intention of paying the wager he mentioned.

Yet for some reason, Uchiha Yato pulled Uchiha Kei in through the door behind him, where he had been sitting.

Uchiha Kei was somewhat embarrassed as well. He could only steel himself and walk in, maintaining the dignified bearing expected of the head of a great clan.

Uchiha Kei said, "I'll increase the canned food to five thousand."

"As for that ninjutsu, you'll have to ask Uchiha Yato. I have never seen that technique among the clan's collection."

Hearing this, Uchiha Yato took a ninjutsu scroll from his robes.

He handed it generously to Chiyo, which only made her more suspicious.

Unable to stop herself, she asked, "Aren't you afraid that Konoha's clans will come after you later and accuse you of selling intelligence without authorization?"

Uchiha Yato replied, "Even if I give it to you, you might not be able to learn it."

Chiyo did not react much to those words, but Pakura behind the folding screen reacted strongly.

Pakura's Scorch Release was a bloodline limit, but she was also highly skilled with fire and refused to accept that.

Uchiha Yato did not indulge her. He said bluntly, "Then let that little girl who makes fireballs come out and give it a try. Let's see how long it takes her to learn it."

That was a full-on taunt. Coming out would mean she had been eavesdropping all along, which was rather improper.

Not coming out would mean she did not dare accept the challenge, that her strength was lacking.

And Uchiha Yato was especially considerate as he made a gesture and said, "If you're bad, practice more~"

"If you can't afford to lose, don't play~"

(Just imagine the meme expression yourself. It'll definitely feel different.)

With that goofy gesture, along with Uchiha Yato's expression and tone, Pakura instantly lost her composure.

Without another word, she stepped out from behind the folding screen, opened the ninjutsu scroll, and began studying it.

But what left her dumbfounded was that the scroll recorded the application of two ninjutsu.

She truly could not learn it immediately, nor could she put it to use.

Uchiha Yato could only wave a hand and say, "That's why you shouldn't doubt me. I'm a good person. Everything I say is true."

Just as Chiyo was about to ask her final question, Uchiha Yato interrupted, "It's getting late. Please return now."

Chiyo asked in confusion, "I still have one question left."

Uchiha Yato said directly, "Didn't you just ask it?"

That infuriated Chiyo. In her heart, she skipped through at least sixty seconds' worth of curses.

Uchiha Yato was also afraid that Chiyo might suddenly have a heart attack here and try to pin it on him.

He immediately said, "There are still some things I want to make clear to you."

Only then did Chiyo realize that the most important matter of the night had finally arrived. She calmly sat down and prepared to hear what Uchiha Yato had to say.

Uchiha Yato said, "Sakumo Hatake did indeed win today. I did not show favoritism, and I hope Grandma Chiyo can understand that."

Without giving Chiyo or the other Sand Shinobi a chance to object, Uchiha Yato continued, "What happened on the battlefield should remain on the battlefield forever."

"Sakumo Hatake's son was also in the viewing stands today. I believe Grandma Chiyo does not want this hatred passed on to the next generation either."

Although Chiyo understood Uchiha Yato's words rationally, emotionally, she still could not let go of the warm home her son and daughter-in-law once had, which had vanished because of this.

Her grandson—Sasori—was not doing very well now either.

Uchiha Yato knew that a few words could not make Chiyo completely let go, so he continued.

"I believe Grandma Chiyo saw it today as well."

"Sakumo Hatake held back the whole time. Otherwise, his earlier kunai should have been able to break through your defenses."

This was what hurt Chiyo the most. For various reasons, her enemy had actually spared her life.

She had not told anyone about this after returning, and upon hearing those words, the Sand Shinobi present did not know what to say for a moment.

Uchiha Yato gave them time to think. Only then did Chiyo say, "I understand. You're right. Let the pain of the previous generation remain buried beneath the yellow sands."

As always, the two stood on different sides. Otherwise, what a harmonious outcome this would have been.

It was also because of this that Uchiha Kei nearly doubled everything Chiyo and the others had requested earlier.

After discussing several other matters, Chiyo led the Sand Shinobi away from the reception hall.

Only after they had all left did Uchiha Yato say, "All right, everything has been resolved. You can rest easy now."

"Next, it's time to discuss the matter between you and me."