Permission to Withdraw from School

"Uchiha Chuan has withdrawn from school. What exactly is the Uchiha Clan trying to do?" Inside the Hokage's Office, the Konoha F4 sat gathered together, the atmosphere grave. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, frowned, his voice carrying traces of confusion and unease.

"Does Uchiha Chuan think withdrawing from school can threaten us?" Utatane Koharu said coldly, her tone laced with disdain. "Isn't he being too naive?"

"Or is Uchiha Chuan's withdrawal only the beginning? Does the Uchiha Clan intend to isolate us completely?" Mitokado Homura picked up the thread, his brow tightly furrowed and his tone concerned.

"Heh, we've always been the ones isolating the Uchiha. The Uchiha isolating us? Do you really think they'd be that stupid?" Utatane Koharu sneered, her voice dripping with mockery.

"Danzo, what do you think?" The Third Hokage turned his gaze toward Shimura Danzō, his tone questioning.

"Hmph, the Uchiha Clan is evil by nature. Whatever they're doing, they definitely mean no good." Danzo spoke coldly, a chilling killing intent shining in his eyes. "We still don't know what their goal is, but they will certainly make further moves. I'll say it again: Uchiha Chuan is a massive threat. Since gaining him, the Uchiha have become even harder to control."

"Hmph, saying that is no different from saying nothing. I don't want to hear nonsense." The Third Hokage frowned, his tone impatient. He knew Danzo wasn't wrong, but the crux of the matter was that without a suitable pretext, they could not make a move against Uchiha Chuan.

"Hiruzen, you're too cowardly." Danzo snorted, his tone dissatisfied. "I told you long ago that strength is what matters most. As long as we're strong enough, no matter what schemes the Uchiha have, we can suppress them with ease. Therefore, I propose restarting the human experimentation with Hashirama Cells."

"No!" The Third Hokage immediately rejected the idea, his tone stern. "That experiment has already been explicitly banned. Restarting it now without sufficient justification would only give people something to criticize. By then, it wouldn't be just us restarting human experimentation, but every ninja clan. And once all the ninja clans begin human experimentation, the ones who suffer will only be the civilian ninja—our foundation."

"Hiruzen, you're far too weak." Danzo's expression instantly turned ugly, anger seeping into his voice.

"Danzo, I am the Hokage." The Third Hokage spoke coldly, a warning in his voice.

"Hiruzen, you..." Danzo gritted his teeth. He had wanted to follow the script and say, "You'll regret this," but thinking of how troublesome Uchiha Chuan had been lately, as well as the humiliation he had suffered, he ultimately held it back and asked coldly, "Hiruzen, if you don't approve of this or that, then what do you suggest?"

"Have any of you truly witnessed Uchiha Chuan's talent?" The Third Hokage suddenly asked, his tone meaningful.

"Come to think of it, not really." Utatane Koharu frowned thoughtfully. "Other than his impressive performance yesterday, it seems all the claims about his genius came from the Uchiha Clan?"

"So he's not a real genius, and his withdrawal is meant to cover that up?" Mitokado Homura immediately caught on, realization in his voice.

"No, he is a genuine genius." Danzo spoke coldly, his tone certain. "I asked AK and 47. They withdrew late because Uchiha Chuan held them back. His shuriken were fast—fast enough to disrupt 47's Body Flicker rhythm."

"Hmph, does it even matter whether that's true?" Utatane Koharu snorted disdainfully.

"Hmph, so that was your plan?" Danzo immediately understood as well. He sneered, his tone mocking.

Just as they finished their discussion on this side, over on the other side...

"Clan Head Fugaku, Shitaka Sarutobi, the Ninja Academy's dean of academics, requests an audience." Fugaku Uchiha had only just returned to the Uchiha Clan Territory when an Uchiha patrol ninja hurried over to report respectfully.

"Let him in." Fugaku Uchiha frowned slightly, puzzled. He had only just returned from the Ninja Academy, yet Shitaka Sarutobi had already come to his door. That was far too fast. Still, he maintained a courteous attitude and nodded.

Before long, Shitaka Sarutobi strode in, an arrogant look on his face, completely unlike the obsequious manner he had displayed at the Ninja Academy earlier.

"Director Shitaka, are you here to act as a mediator?" Fugaku Uchiha smiled faintly, testing him.

"Heh, no. I'm here to deliver the withdrawal documents." Shitaka Sarutobi sneered mockingly. "Uchiha Chuan's withdrawal has been approved. If any other Uchiha want to withdraw, bring it up. I'll approve every last one of them."

His tone was full of provocation, as though he were saying, Don't the Uchiha want to withdraw? Then withdraw. Let's see what tricks you can pull.

Fugaku Uchiha looked at Shitaka Sarutobi's smug expression and sneered inwardly. He knew Shitaka Sarutobi dared to be so arrogant only because he had the Third Hokage's approval. In the past, faced with such an attitude from Shitaka Sarutobi, he would have been furious, perhaps even lashing out on the spot.

But now, he did not care in the slightest. In Uchiha Chuan's plan, withdrawing from school was merely the opening act. The real feast had yet to be served.

"Then thank you, Director Shitaka." Fugaku Uchiha said calmly, his tone composed. "Give me the withdrawal documents. As for the other Uchiha students, if they need to withdraw, I'll come find you again."

Seeing Fugaku Uchiha remain so composed, Shitaka Sarutobi felt deeply displeased. He had expected Fugaku Uchiha to be angry or embarrassed, yet the man was unexpectedly calm.

"Fine, as long as you Uchiha don't regret it." Shitaka Sarutobi spread his hands, disdain in his tone. He placed the withdrawal documents on the table, then turned and left the Uchiha Clan Territory.