Eradicate Them Root and Branch

Nara Shikaku's eyes gleamed. It was just as he had expected, though there was a slight deviation. He had originally thought that getting a consultant position from Uchiha Fugaku would have been enough; he had not expected Uchiha Fugaku to offer him the position of assistant instead.

Yet he did not refuse Uchiha Fugaku's overture, merely smiling. "The Ino–Shika–Cho Clans have no objections."

Why had the Ino–Shika–Cho Clans always been staunch supporters of the Naruto faction? Was it not because the benefits had been generous enough?

The Nara Clan controlled most of Konoha's pharmaceutical industry and was Konoha's largest supplier of medicinal herbs. The profits were enormous.

The Akimichi Clan controlled Konoha's meat trade, and Soldier Pills had also been developed by the Akimichi Clan.

Thanks to their powerful spiritual strength, the Yamanaka Clan not only served as Konoha's intelligence officers but also oversaw Konoha's barriers.

It could be said that after the Ino–Shika–Cho Clans sided with Naruto, they had all gained benefits.

Now that the Third Hokage was dead and Uchiha Fugaku was about to take office, with an assistant position offered to him as well, he would have been a fool to refuse.

Takuya nodded. The Ino–Shika–Cho Clans had always been closely bound together, with intermarriages between all three clans. As long as Nara Shikaku agreed, the other two clans would not object.

That meant he had already secured the support of the three clans.

He had not intended to gain the support of every clan during these negotiations. Following the ancestral strategy of allying with one faction to strike another, it would count as a success as long as he gained the support of the Ino–Shika–Cho Clans and the Hyuga Clan. The other clans were nothing to fear.

Hyuga Hiashi was rather displeased. The Hyuga Clan was a great clan second only to the Uchiha Clan, so why had this Naruto assistant position gone to Nara Shikaku instead of him?

But when he raised his head and met Takuya's gaze, he still obediently nodded. "The Hyuga Clan has no objections either."

When Uchiha Fugaku's gaze swept over them, Aburame Shibi and Inuzuka Tsume both tensed their muscles. Was this the Bloodline Limit of the Uchiha Clan?

The pressure it brought was immense.

The two exchanged glances. Since the Ino–Shika–Cho Clans and the Hyuga Clan had no objections, there was no point even if their two clans did. Thus, they spoke in unison and said they had no objections.

Takuya nodded. "Then it's settled happily. The Sarutobi Clan and the Shimura Clan have rebelled. I ask everyone to lend me a hand."

He had killed Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, so naturally he could not possibly spare the clans behind them.

If you did not pull up the weeds by the roots, they would grow again with the spring wind.

Now that the cake had been divided, it was naturally time to get to work.

Nara Shikaku showed no sympathy whatsoever. He rose and echoed, "Clan Head Fugaku—no, I should call you the Fifth Hokage now." Nara Shikaku smiled faintly. "The Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan harbor treacherous intentions and have plotted rebellion. We of the three Ino–Shika–Cho Clans are willing to assist the Fifth Hokage."

It was time for the reckoning!

Hyuga Hiashi inwardly cursed Nara Shikaku for moving so quickly to kick them while they were down. But thinking of the consultant position he had received as well, he declared righteously, "In rooting out the remnants, the Hyuga Clan will not fall behind."

Seeing the Ino–Shika–Cho Clans and the Hyuga Clan state their positions, Aburame Shibi and Inuzuka Tsume hurriedly spoke up as well. "We feel the same."

Takuya revealed a satisfied smile.

After discussing a few more details, they finally ended the meeting.

When Takuya came out, he was surprised to see that more than half the clansmen outside the door were gone. Only after learning that the Great Elder, Uchiha Sihu, had led people to intercept and kill the fleeing members of the Sarutobi Clan did he understand.

When the ninjas outside saw their clan head emerge safely, the tense atmosphere eased somewhat.

Nara Shikaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and the others did not waste any time. Upon returning to their clans, they immediately began issuing orders.

"What? Surround and kill the Sarutobi Clan?"

The Hyuga clansmen had trouble processing the order issued by their clan head.

If their Byakugan had not shown that their clan head's Chakra was completely normal, they would have thought Uchiha Fugaku had controlled him with the Sharingan.

"Was what I said not clear enough?" Hyuga Hiashi asked in a deep voice.

At that moment, the authority of the Main House head was on full display.

The Branch House clansman who had spoken shrank back, not daring to show the slightest disobedience.

Within the Hyuga Clan, the Main House's word had always been absolute. The Branch House did not dare resist in any way.

The other Main House members were also puzzled, but after receiving Hiashi's signal, they temporarily buried their doubts, intending to ask him later.

The other clans were the same. Before the Shimura Clan members present could even understand what was happening, they had already been surrounded by ninjas from the major clans.

Although they were attacking fellow villagers, they did not hesitate in the slightest. The order from their clan heads was to kill without mercy.

A ninja's duty was to carry out orders, especially the orders of their clan head.

In the blink of an eye, the Shimura Clan's ninjas were slaughtered to the last man.

The civilian ninjas watching nearby were dumbfounded. What was going on? Hadn't the Uchiha Clan rebelled and murdered Lord Third Hokage?

Why were the other great clans helping the tyrant commit evil?

They could not make sense of it.

They wanted to stop it, but facing the elite ninjas of several great clans with only their own small numbers, they decided to forget it.

After every Shimura clansman present had been killed, a civilian Jonin mustered his courage and approached Nara Shikaku to ask what was happening.

Nara Shikaku clapped his hands and addressed the civilian ninjas loudly. "Sarutobi Hiruzen was old and muddleheaded. He sold out the village's interests, causing Konoha's strength to decline. Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzo aided his tyranny and harmed Konoha's ninjas. They deserved death. After deliberation, we have chosen Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku to serve as acting Fifth Hokage. What happened today must not be spread, and everyone is to return home for now. Do not cause trouble!"

Several clan heads nodded toward Uchiha Fugaku, who stood at the entrance, then swiftly led their people toward the territories of the Sarutobi Clan and the Shimura Clan.

The great clans departed with their people, leaving behind civilian ninjas who stood there stunned and helpless.

Though they were not entirely convinced by Nara Shikaku's explanation, the other side had more people. Among Konoha's Jonin, ninjas from the great clans made up the majority, while civilian ninjas accounted for only a small portion.

There was nothing they could do even if they refused to accept it, so...

"Disperse. Everyone, disperse."

A civilian Jonin sighed and called out, taking the lead in leaving.

The remaining civilian ninjas gradually dispersed as well.

Before long, only members of the Uchiha Clan remained around the Hokage Building, along with ordinary civilians peeking and watching from the distant streets.

Seeing the commotion here, they were naturally desperate to know what had happened.

Only after the civilian ninjas had dispersed did the previously blocked view become much clearer. But they were too far away to see properly, and could only make out several corpses lying outside the Hokage Building.

At that moment, Takuya left several Uchiha clansmen behind to clean up the mess. He had the rest stop the ordinary civilians in the distance, lest they gather around and cause trouble.

"Disperse! Move along!"

The Uchiha clansmen stood before the gawkers with cold expressions, driving them away.

Because of their clan head's warning, they did not disperse the crowd with an iron hand. They merely warned them to leave quickly.