"Hmph. Once the Uchiha are eliminated, we'll tell them that Madara Uchiha is still alive..." The Third Hokage, who had stepped out of the Five Kage Conference Cliff-top Fortress, suddenly spoke in a low, icy voice. "Then they'll have no way out."
Danzo followed behind him, a trace of surprise flashing through his lone eye. "Heh, it's rare to see you act so decisively, Hiruzen."
"..."
The Third Hokage did not respond and merely continued onward in silence. The ember in his pipe cast light over his wrinkled face. In those once-wise eyes, nothing remained now but unfathomable gloom.
How could he have wanted things to come to this? But the situation no longer allowed him to hesitate—Uchiha Chuan had yet to be suppressed, and Madara Uchiha had reappeared in the Shinobi World. If even he, the "Hero of Shinobi," could not resolve this, then Jiraiya, Tsunade, and even Orochimaru stood no chance.
As for Danzo? The Third Hokage glanced sidelong at his old friend. Danzo's methods would only be more radical, likely accelerating the Uchiha backlash.
"Old man!"
Jiraiya, who had not been allowed into the Five Kage Conference and had been waiting amid the wind and snow, was covered from head to toe in frost. With an unprecedentedly solemn and conflicted expression, he asked, "Is there really... no way to change this?"
He still could not accept the idea of betraying comrades.
The Third Hokage stopped and feigned confusion. "Jiraiya, what are you talking about? What can't be changed?"
"The matter concerning the Uchiha." Jiraiya froze.
"The Uchiha?" The Third Hokage frowned, his acting flawless. "What Uchiha? Did we discuss anything concerning the Uchiha?"
"Huh?" Jiraiya was completely dumbfounded.
Then he understood—the old man intended to exclude him from the plan entirely.
"Old man, you..." Jiraiya still wanted