The Third Hokage: Fugaku Will Keep Things Under Control, I Believe Him

"**!"

"**!"

"**!"

The voices were high and fervent.

The excitement and agitation burned as fiercely as a blazing fire, enough to sear the nerves of anyone who heard it.

"!?"

In an instant, everyone's expression changed, including the Third Hokage's.

The Uchiha Clan's morale was actually soaring at a time like this!

What were they planning to do?

Were they going to fight Konoha to the death?

"What are they shouting? It sounds like a person's name..." Shikaku Nara suppressed his unease and began to analyze the situation.

Hearing this, the others joined in thinking.

They used this to divert their attention and calm the anxiety in their hearts.

"It does sound like a name."

"I can't hear it clearly."

"Are they shouting Fugaku?"

"Does Fugaku have that kind of influence?"

"Maybe it's the person who defeated Susanoo?"

Everyone offered different opinions, but no one could make sense of it.

Clap clap clap!

Then came another round of thunderous applause.

Everyone's faces darkened further.

Under these circumstances, the higher the Uchiha Clan's morale, the worse it was for them.

Especially since...

The Third Hokage had already decided to negotiate peace!

But with the Uchiha Clan's morale so high, would they be willing to negotiate?

"Don't worry."

The Third Hokage remained calm as he slowly spoke. "I believe in Fugaku. He is the clan head and can keep the situation under control."

Everyone's expressions eased slightly at his words.

"The Third Hokage is right. Clan Head Fugaku will keep things under control."

"He has always yearned for peace."

"That's right. Clan Head Fugaku won't just watch the situation fall apart."

"If the fighting doesn't stop, the Uchiha Clan won't have it easy either."

They all understood Fugaku's position.

Fugaku had always devoted himself to peace and worked hard to help the Uchiha Clan integrate into the village.

With this dovish clan head around, tonight's events would not become impossible to resolve.

Among them...

Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzō secretly nodded as well.

In their eyes...

Fugaku was practically the Third Hokage's lapdog. He had successively sent the clan's geniuses, Shisui and Itachi, over to him, and had even given his second son the same name as the Third Hokage's father.

He claimed that it was because he admired the Third Hokage's father, Sarutobi Sasuke.

But in reality...

Those who understood, understood. It was his subtle way of showing loyalty to the Third Hokage.

"Everyone, for Konoha's peace, please lend me your strength!" The Third Hokage said with a smile as he bowed to the crowd.

The civilian jōnin looked helpless.

The jōnin from the ninja clans' eyes twitched slightly, and they felt as sick as if they had eaten shit.

Everything that had happened tonight had been caused entirely by the Third Hokage himself.

They had known nothing beforehand.

And now he wanted to tie them to his war chariot and have them suppress the Uchiha Clan with him. How could that possibly sit well with them?

But there was no choice.

A Uchiha counterattack would throw Konoha into turmoil, and that was something they could not accept.

As disgusted as they were, they could only board the Third Hokage's pirate ship.

"Rest assured, Third Hokage."

"For the village, we are prepared."

"Everyone standing here chose to do so for peace."

"Our goals are the same."

The crowd suppressed their discomfort and exchanged polite words.

Yet some of those words carried hidden barbs.

"That's wonderful." The Third Hokage chuckled, unconcerned by the veiled dissatisfaction in their words. He turned toward several ninja in the crowd. "Genma Shiranui, Raidō Namiashi, Tatami Iwashi..."

"You have some ties with the Uchiha Clan."

"I'll have to ask you three to act as messengers and convey our desire for peace talks."

The three men who had been called looked rather unhappy.

They were the Fourth Hokage's guard squad, but after the Fourth Hokage's death, they had been suppressed and sidelined, unable to advance.

And now they were being sent forward. How could they not resent it?

The Uchiha Clan's morale was soaring right now.

Although Clan Head Fugaku was supposedly maintaining order, no one knew what the actual situation was.

Entering the Uchiha compound would undoubtedly be extremely dangerous.

"...Yes, Third Hokage."

But the three could not resist. They could only accept the order.

After all, they truly were the most suitable messengers.

The Fourth Hokage had enjoyed a good reputation within the Uchiha Clan. As members of his guard squad, they could benefit somewhat from that and would not be rejected too harshly by the Uchiha Clan.

Others would not have that advantage.

"I'm counting on you." Smiling pleasantly, the Third Hokage walked over and patted each of them on the shoulder. "Do not disappoint everyone."

What bullshit!

The three cursed inwardly, but they could not voice any objection.

The ninja around them looked at the trio with faint sympathy.

"Go on."

The Third Hokage waved his hand.

Genma Shiranui, Raidō Namiashi, and Tatami Iwashi walked toward the Uchiha compound with grim expressions.

Behind them...

The Third Hokage watched their backs with a relaxed expression and secretly laughed. This is the authority of the Hokage's righteous cause!

As long as I am Hokage, I can mobilize the entire village's strength for my own use!

No matter how high the Uchiha Clan's morale is, can they really fight the whole village?

Inside the Uchiha compound.

"Yangshu, Takuya, Hayato, Hiro, Tekka..."

Junichi selected a group of clan members and formed a brand-new squad.

"I'll leave this place to you, Fugaku." He glanced at Fugaku as he spoke.

"Yes. I will not disappoint you." Fugaku showed him deep respect and bowed profoundly.

Junichi was not only powerful, but his mind and strategies far surpassed Fugaku's as well.

Junichi's excellence in every aspect had completely won Fugaku over.

He had now become Junichi's loyal subordinate.

"Good."

Junichi nodded, then waved to the newly formed squad. "Everyone, follow me."

"Yes!" The new squad replied in excited, invigorated voices.

Whoosh!

Junichi was the first to leave using the Body Flicker Technique.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

The clan members of the new squad quickly followed.

Led by Junichi, they circled out through the rear of the compound and headed toward a certain place outside the village.

Within the compound.

All the remaining clan members bowed to see Junichi's squad off.

Only after a long while, when Junichi and the others had vanished from sight, did they slowly straighten up.

"Thank you, Clan Head, and everyone, for your trust."

Fugaku looked at the clan members, his expression solemn and determined. "Please rest assured. I will not repeat the mistakes of the past!"

"Leave what comes next to me!"

"I will definitely buy enough time for the Clan Head!"

After he spoke...

The clan members' expressions were somewhat complicated, but they all nodded in approval.

Elder Yoshikichi sighed. "Let the past stay in the past. It is a good thing that you have come to your senses."

"Yes. I have already made up my mind. Please witness it together later," Fugaku said resolutely.

Seeing this, Yoshikichi said nothing more. He simply patted Fugaku on the shoulder in approval.

"I'll set out first."

Fugaku bowed to the clan members once more, then turned and walked toward the edge of the compound.

Everyone watched him leave.

All of this was within the new clan head's plan.

At the same time.

Genma Shiranui, Raidō Namiashi, and Tatami Iwashi nervously stepped into the Uchiha compound.

Their faces were tense as they constantly scanned their surroundings.

They feared that a squad of Uchiha might suddenly leap out from some corner and strike them down.