Danzo's delaying tactics

Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his desk, looking weary.

A stack of scrolls lay on the desk.

Every one of them had come from Root.

Officially, they were the "Uchiha-related files" Danzo had handed over on the Hokage's orders.

But in truth, the Third Hokage knew perfectly well.

These files could not possibly be Root's real core intelligence.

A man like Danzo would never hand over all his trump cards.

At most, he had surrendered the parts he could afford to surrender.

There might even be a great deal of material mixed in solely to muddy the waters.

Even so, these files had to give the Uchiha Clan an explanation.

After all, Danzo's seizure of Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan had thoroughly enraged the Uchiha Clan.

If the Hokage Building could not even offer a superficial explanation, the emotions within the Uchiha Clan would immediately spiral out of control.

Inside the office.

Koharu Utatane frowned and said:

"Hiruzen, these files have already been sorted."

"They do contain records of Root's surveillance of the Uchiha Clan."

"But there are no plans directly targeting the extermination of the Uchiha Clan or the seizure of Sharingan."

Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses as well.

"Although Danzo's methods were excessive, the evidence he can currently produce only proves that Root once subjected the Uchiha Clan to intensive surveillance."

"As for what happened to Shisui..."

He paused there.

The Third Hokage's expression darkened further.

There was simply no way to whitewash what had happened to Shisui.

Danzo had invited Shisui out of the village, brought Root members to set up a barrier, and personally demanded that Shisui hand over his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Shisui himself could testify to it.

So could Uchiha You, Uchiha Chuan, and the others.

Even if the Hokage Building wanted to suppress it, they could not bury it completely.

But the problem was, they could not truly hand Danzo over.

Danzo knew too much about Konoha's darkness.

Nor could Root be completely uprooted overnight.

So the Third Hokage could only choose a compromise.

Suspend Danzo from his position as the Hokage's advisor.

Have Root hand over part of its files.

Nominally subject it to an investigation.

And at the same time, placate the Uchiha Clan.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi also understood in his heart.

This kind of resolution would not fool Uchiha You.

That young Uchiha was far too troublesome.

Sure enough.

Before long, footsteps sounded outside the office door.

An ANBU entered and reported:

"Lord Hokage."

"People from the Uchiha Police Force have arrived."

The Third Hokage rubbed his brow.

"Let them in."

Soon, the office door was pushed open.

Uchiha You walked in front.

Uchiha Chuan and two Police Force members followed behind him.

Neither Shisui Uchiha nor Itachi Uchiha had come.

That made the Third Hokage relax slightly.

At least things had not yet reached the point of the entire Uchiha Clan forcing the issue.

Uchiha You entered the office, his gaze sweeping over the file scrolls on the desk as the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Lord Hokage."

"These are the files Root handed over?"

The Third Hokage said solemnly:

"That's right."

"As for Root's surveillance of the Uchiha Clan, the village will conduct an investigation."

"At the same time, Root will no longer be permitted to conduct any surveillance operations against the Uchiha Clan Grounds without authorization."

Uchiha Chuan's expression darkened.

"No longer permitted?"

"What about what happened before?"

"Danzo nearly took Shisui's eyes. Are we just supposed to let that go?"

Koharu Utatane frowned.

"Uchiha Chuan, watch your attitude."

Uchiha You raised a hand to stop Uchiha Chuan.

He did not get angry.

There was even a faint smile on his face.

But no matter how one looked at it, that smile did not seem trusting.

He casually picked up a scroll and opened it.

After skimming through it for a few moments, he laughed.

The Third Hokage frowned.

"You, what are you laughing at?"

Uchiha You closed the scroll and tossed it back onto the desk.

"Lord Hokage."

"Lord Danzo has certainly worked hard."

"He sorted out a pile of long-outdated surveillance records to prove that Root had indeed monitored the Uchiha Clan."

"But not a single crucial thing is here."

Koharu Utatane's expression darkened.

"Uchiha You, do not make wild accusations."

"Root has already handed over the relevant files according to the Hokage's orders."

Uchiha You looked at her.

"Advisor, do you believe that yourself?"

Koharu Utatane choked on her words.

Uchiha You continued:

"Danzo dared to seize Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan."

"He even dared to send Root to assassinate me."

"Yet his files contain only a few patrol observation records?"

"What?"

"Does Lord Danzo burn all the evidence before doing evil, then leave behind scraps of waste paper for you to use as an explanation?"

The atmosphere in the office instantly became awkward.

Uchiha Chuan nearly burst out laughing.

Those words were practically pointing at the higher-ups' faces and saying: Are you trying to fool ghosts with fake files?

Homura Mitokado said heavily:

"Uchiha You, investigations take time."

Uchiha You nodded.

"I know."

"I never expected to strip Root clean in a single day."

The Third Hokage's eyes shifted slightly.

There was something very wrong with how that sounded.

Sure enough, Uchiha You's next words came immediately.

"So the Police Force will cooperate with the village and investigate slowly."

"However, before the investigation is over, all ANBU and Root personnel outside the Uchiha Clan Grounds must withdraw."

"After all, Root itself is currently under investigation."

"It would not be appropriate to let suspects continue monitoring the victims, would it?"

The Third Hokage's expression changed slightly.

Koharu Utatane immediately said:

"No!"

"The situation with the Uchiha Clan has been unstable lately. The village must maintain necessary oversight."

Uchiha You looked at her.

"Necessary oversight?"

"Advisor, are you saying that after Danzo took Shisui's eye, the Uchiha Clan is still the suspect?"

"And Root remains the supervisor?"

Koharu Utatane's expression turned ugly.

She realized that every sentence Uchiha You spoke was like a blade.

As long as she responded, he could follow through and cut deeper.

The Third Hokage spoke in a deep voice:

"You, the village will no longer allow Root to monitor the Uchiha Clan."

"But normal ANBU patrols will not be canceled."

Uchiha You smiled.

"Fine."

"The Police Force will naturally cooperate with normal ANBU patrols."

"However, please issue a formal order, Lord Hokage."

"ANBU may not enter the Uchiha Clan Grounds."

"They may not make unauthorized contact with Uchiha Clan members."

"They may not follow Uchiha children."

"Three conditions."

"They are not excessive, are they?"

The Third Hokage fell silent.

Were they excessive?

On the surface, they certainly were not.

But once he agreed, Konoha's higher-ups would lose much of their ability to monitor the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Yet if he refused, it would make the Hokage Building seem as though it was still shielding Root.

Uchiha You had seized precisely on that point.

Danzo used Root's files to stall the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha You, in turn, used the file investigation to compress Konoha's surveillance space.

You make your moves.

I'll make mine.

Who was afraid of whom?

The Third Hokage slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Fine."

Koharu Utatane's expression changed.

"Hiruzen!"

The Third Hokage raised a hand to stop her.

"That is a reasonable request."

Uchiha You smiled faintly.

"Lord Hokage is wise."

Those words did not make the Third Hokage feel good at all.

Because he knew Uchiha You was not praising him.

It was the courtesy of a victor.

More like wiping the blood from your face after slapping you.