Deal

After the sixteen Root barrier ninjas suffered defeat and fled, they quickly returned to the Root base.

Danzo also learned the details of the battle from them. Uchiha Yushu had lost his strongest advantage—large-scale Fire Release.

Yet alone, relying on taijutsu and a strange kind of Fire Release, he had slaughtered all sixty Root ninjas. There were even Anbu ninjas who had survived.

Furious and terrified, Danzo rampaged through the base, seemingly treating everything as members of the Uchiha Clan, crazily destroying whatever came into view.

After venting his fury, Danzo said darkly, "Abandon this place. Take everything that can be taken."

He then glanced at the sixteen who had escaped back. Normally, failure in a Root mission meant only death, but there were not many Root ninjas gifted in sealing and barrier techniques. Danzo could not bear to kill them, so he ultimately decided to take them with him.

"Lynx, lead your men and guard this place!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

"Lord Hokage, Elder Danzo has betrayed the village!"

The moment Yushu said those words, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that his plan to provoke the other side had completely failed.

After Yushu had suffered an attack, Hiruzen had suddenly arrived with men in a combat formation, putting on the appearance of coming to arrest him.

If Yushu or any Uchiha Clan members had been unable to restrain themselves, then he would have had an excellent reason to deal with Yushu.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had not intended to wipe out the Uchiha Clan. But the Uchiha Clan was simply too powerful, while Root had suffered devastating losses. The Third Hokage, who excelled at maintaining balance, did not want the Uchiha Clan to continue growing stronger. He wanted to tip the scales against them.

Unfortunately, Yushu did not take the bait and instead began lodging a complaint outright.

"Oh? Why does Clan Head Yushu say that?" Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer kept a stern face as he questioned Yushu.

"Lord Hokage, please look at these corpses. Most of the techniques they used in battle were Konoha taijutsu, and they also used secret techniques from Konoha clans. Within Konoha, apart from the Anbu, only Root has ninjas with such a composition."

"Of course, if Lord Hokage does not believe me, you may take these corpses back for examination. I believe it will confirm that these traitors all came from Konoha."

To prevent Hiruzen Sarutobi from pinning the names of other villages onto these people, Yushu deliberately cut off that avenue.

"Clan Head Yushu is not only the head of the Uchiha Clan, but also the chief of the Konoha Military Police Force. How could I not believe you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi first affirmed Yushu, then changed the subject. "But how does Chief Yushu conclude that these ninjas are rogue ninjas? The Konoha Military Police Force does not seem to have the authority to designate ninjas as rogue ninjas."

Yushu did not care that Hiruzen Sarutobi was using his position to pressure him. He continued, "Naturally, because these rogue ninjas have already committed the act of betraying the village. As Lord Hokage's direct force, the Anbu has always represented the Hokage. These rogue ninjas attacked and killed Anbu ninjas. The two surviving Anbu can testify to that."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the two men. Their squad leader immediately said, "That is indeed the case, Lord Hokage. They even tried to abduct the Nine—"

Yushu cut off the Anbu ninja. He did not want Naruto to learn at such a young age that he was the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.

In the original story, after Naruto learned of his identity before graduation, if Iruka had not risked his life to save him, he probably would have gone berserk. It was better to let Naruto learn the truth after he had matured somewhat.

"Lord Hokage, these rogue ninjas attempted to abduct Naruto. Lord Hokage should know what that means."

Hiruzen Sarutobi could only say helplessly, "In that case, they truly are a group of rogue ninjas. As for Danzo being a rogue ninja, I think there must be some misunderstanding."

"Chief Yushu has had some minor conflicts with Danzo before, so perhaps he has some misunderstandings about Danzo. I believe Danzo would never betray Konoha."

Under these circumstances, the Third Hokage had no choice but to sacrifice the cart to save the general. At the very least, he had to preserve Danzo.

Yushu also knew that trying to bring down Danzo with just a few words was clearly underestimating the relationship between Danzo and the Third Hokage.

However, Yushu was not discouraged. Natsuri bringing Naruto home was already behind them now. Whatever else happened from here on out would be pure profit.

"Perhaps I am simply being too sensitive. But rest assured, Lord Hokage, as long as I remain chief of the Konoha Military Police Force, no one will be allowed to destroy the peaceful and tranquil life within the village."

This was a blatant demand for credit. He meant: you have already admitted that they were rogue ninjas, so I helped Konoha eliminate so many of them. As Konoha's Hokage, should you not show some appreciation?

Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally understood the meaning behind it. "Konoha will remember Chief Yushu's contributions, and naturally those of the Uchiha Clan as well. The village will never mistreat anyone."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi trying to dismiss him with just two sentences and offering nothing tangible, Yushu naturally could not agree.

"Lord Hokage, this is what every ninja with the Will of Fire should do. I am an inheritor of the Will of Fire, so how could I possibly ask for a reward from Lord Hokage?"

"However, Lord Hokage also knows that the Uchiha Clan's territory is truly remote, and the clansmen live difficult lives. I recall that a row of shops on the west side of the commercial street has remained vacant. How about selling them to the Uchiha Clan, so that the clansmen may feel more of the warmth of the Will of Fire?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi cursed inwardly. A ninja who had truly inherited the Will of Fire would be overjoyed after just a few compliments. Unlike this little fox, who kept talking about the Will of Fire without doing a single thing related to it.

"Clan Head Yushu, how could the village wrong those who have rendered meritorious service? Since the Uchiha Clan wants those shops, there is no question of selling them. The village will directly grant them to the Uchiha Clan as a reward."

"However, I must apologize to Clan Head Yushu. I had originally planned to allow Clan Head Yushu to view the Scroll of Seals, but the village has its own system for rewards and punishments. Clan Head Yushu's contribution will instead be converted into a reward for the Uchiha Clan."

Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi talk nonsense so freely, Yushu was amused inwardly. The Scroll of Seals? Let me see it? How could that be possible? He probably only said it deliberately for me to hear.

Besides, how many of the forbidden techniques in the Scroll of Seals were not meant to target the Uchiha Clan? What would I look at them for? So I could use them against my own people after reading them?

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi agree so readily and even waive payment, Yushu did not press for more.

After all, he had left prepared to suffer a loss. Yet not only had he not lost anything, he had even made a small profit. He truly had Danzo to thank for that!

Knowing when to stop, Yushu immediately said, "Thank you, Lord Hokage. Perhaps there truly is some misunderstanding. How about investigating the Root base to see whether there are any other hidden circumstances?"

Those words were equivalent to telling the Third Hokage directly: sparing Danzo was acceptable, but Root could not be let off so easily. He could think of some hidden circumstances himself to excuse Danzo.

Without realizing it, the two had completed their transaction.

Having reached an agreement, the atmosphere between them immediately became harmonious. During their subsequent conversation, Yushu occasionally praised the Third Hokage for still working late into the night and contributing so much to Konoha.

The Third Hokage likewise praised Yushu for being young and promising, and for managing his clan in perfect order.

Just moments ago, the ninjas on both sides had been at each other's throats, ready to fight at any moment. Now, watching their own leader and the other side's leader, it seemed they were only one step away from becoming sworn brothers.

The people facing off had no idea what to do. They could only exchange glances and make faces at one another, completely at a loss.

Just then, a gust of wind passed through, and everyone seemed to feel waves of awkwardness in it.