Seizing Power! Hiruzen Sarutobi's Concession

On a quiet night, especially in a place like Konoha Village, even the faintest sound could draw the attention of many people.

Uchiha Yansheng dragging someone through the streets naturally soon attracted the Konoha Village patrol ANBU.

However, these ANBU clearly knew what kind of person Uchiha Yansheng was, so they did not dare stop him. They merely sent someone to notify Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had actually been quite pleased when he received the news.

But when he arrived at the residence of the Cloud Village delegation, all he saw were the furious eyes of the Cloud Village group and two headless corpses lying on the ground.

"What exactly happened?"

Seeing such a scene, how could Hiruzen Sarutobi not understand what had happened?

He had not expected Uchiha Yansheng to act this way. Capturing the enemies would have been one thing, but why kill them in front of everyone?

Could it be that the Uchiha Clan intended to provoke a war between Cloud Village and Konoha Village?

Countless possibilities flashed through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind, but he had to deal with the current trouble first.

"Hokage... is this Konoha Village's attitude toward peace talks?"

"If you do not give us an explanation for what happened today, there is no need to continue the negotiations. Let's go to war!"

The leader of the Cloud Village delegation spoke, opening with an accusation in order to claim the moral high ground for Cloud Village.

Public opinion was sometimes utterly useless, yet at other times, it was extremely important.

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could speak, Uchiha Yansheng's icy voice rang out.

"An explanation? What explanation do you want?"

"Cloud Village attempted to seize the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan. Shouldn't you be the ones giving me an explanation?"

"War? Even if those two brain-dead idiots acted on their own, Cloud Village still has to give me an explanation for what happened today."

"Otherwise, then let there be war!"

"The entire Uchiha Clan will mobilize. We will fight to the death!"

Uchiha Yansheng spoke very calmly, so calmly that his words sounded almost like a joke.

Yet once he finished, the scene fell silent. No one voiced any dissatisfaction with Uchiha Yansheng's decision.

At that moment, everyone present recalled the Uchiha Clan of the Warring States Period.

Did you know why Mist Village had so many Kekkei Genkai clans?

It was simple. They had all been driven there by the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Clan ninjas had a particular trait: among their vast numbers of Genin and Chunin, a large number of powerful fighters would suddenly emerge.

Sometimes, the Uchiha Clan would even grow stronger as a battle went on.

Therefore, during the Warring States Period, aside from populous clans like the Senju Clan, few ninja clans were willing to provoke the Uchiha Clan.

"Heh... hehe. Is Konoha Village now being run by a child?"

Someone from the Cloud Village delegation finally could not bear the strange silence and mockingly spoke up.

"Yes, that's right. Konoha Village is mine to command now, I suppose. Third Hokage, what do you think?"

Uchiha Yansheng admitted it without hesitation, then used the opportunity to speak to Hiruzen Sarutobi in a half-threatening manner.

At this very moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi deeply regretted getting involved in this matter.

He had clearly already handed this matter over to Uchiha Yansheng. Wouldn't it have been fine to pretend he knew nothing? Why had he insisted on coming here just to embarrass himself?

"Cough, cough!"

"Everyone, calm down. Mobilizing the entire clan and fighting to the death is indeed a little excessive. After all, Cloud Village is a village, not a clan. Could you kill them all?"

"And everyone from Cloud Village, do not act rashly either. Coveting another clan's Kekkei Genkai naturally requires an explanation. Otherwise, wouldn't anyone be able to stick their hand into the matter?"

"How about this... it is already very late today. Shall we continue our talks tomorrow?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi tried his best to put on a conciliatory expression, but both the Konoha Village ninjas and the Cloud Village delegation could see that he lacked confidence.

The Cloud Village delegation exchanged glances, all realizing that they had misjudged the situation in Konoha Village. Their original plan had apparently failed.

"Since matters have come to this, what is there left to discuss?"

"If Konoha Village does not intend to bear the charge of murdering Cloud Village envoys, then please clear a path and allow us to return to Cloud Village."

"As for what happens afterward... Lord Raikage will naturally make the decision."

The Cloud Village delegation secretly mocked Hiruzen Sarutobi, then sought to use this opportunity to leave Konoha Village.

After all, given the current situation, if any further conflict broke out, their entire group would likely die in Konoha Village.

They did not fear death, but neither did they wish to die meaningless deaths.

Hearing the Cloud Village ninjas' words, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help turning to look in Uchiha Yansheng's direction.

"Fine. I will wait in Konoha Village for the Raikage's response."

"If there is no answer within ten days, the Uchiha Clan will take the initiative and wage war against Cloud Village."

Uchiha Yansheng nodded and spoke.

After Uchiha Yansheng gave his answer, the crowd voluntarily made way, allowing the Cloud Village delegation to flee Konoha Village overnight.

The next day, the Konoha Village Jonin meeting was convened once more.

Though no one had dared say anything the previous night, quite a few Jonin at this meeting still criticized the Uchiha Clan for acting so recklessly.

Some of those people had likely been arranged by Konoha's council of elders. Some genuinely acted for Konoha Village's sake, while others harbored ulterior motives.

Uchiha Yansheng dismissed all those voices with a single sentence.

"Last night, I merely represented the Uchiha Clan."

"Or have you already accepted that I can represent all of Konoha?"

No one dared answer that.

Although everyone knew that Uchiha Yansheng now held a special position in Konoha Village, the Third Hokage was still in office. Moreover, they had no desire to see the Uchiha Clan rebel.

If the Uchiha Clan had rebelled in the past, it might have resulted in mutual destruction with Konoha Village. But if the Uchiha Clan rebelled now, only Konoha would suffer.

After all, the Uchiha Clan now possessed three pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan.

Uchiha Yansheng did not actually possess a Mangekyo Sharingan, but everyone thought he did. Fugaku Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan had also been discovered, and there was Shisui as well...

The Uchiha Clan's unity now surpassed even that of Madara Uchiha's era.

They even had one more pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, so no one dared disregard the Uchiha Clan's attitude at this time.

After a moment of silence, Koharu Utatane suddenly spoke:

"The village has contingency plans for war with Cloud Village."

"But the concern now is that if war with Cloud Village begins, Stone Village and Sand Village will certainly join in. There is even a strong chance that Mist Village will join as well."

"At that time, Konoha Village will face the entire Ninja World as its enemy."

"Can the Uchiha Clan handle such a situation?"