News that former Root ninja had defected and Danzo had reappeared in the Shinobi World spread like wildfire among Konoha's upper ranks.
But among Konoha's lower and middle ranks, all was quiet. The news caused barely a ripple, and Danzo was no longer part of the Konoha leadership.
Most people did not care that he had resurfaced. Now he was just a Konoha Rogue Ninja. Only when he had held a position in its leadership had he been the powerful Danzo they once knew.
To many of Konoha's strongest ninja, he was now merely a somewhat dangerous stray dog.
Seven days later, Kinzō sent Fugaku a message through a secret channel, with their location attached. Fugaku scanned it and committed its contents to memory.
The letter drifted downward. A black flame flickered into being, then vanished, reducing the letter to ash.
Two bases were still too few. A cunning hare kept three burrows, and Danzo made an excellent target to draw the Third Hokage's attention.
If conflict arose in the village, Fugaku could use Danzo to divert attention from it. Danzo had been a threat while he was in the village.
Now that Danzo was believed dead, he had instead become an asset. Fugaku could only marvel at how fate worked.
At home, Fugaku sat calmly in the living room, drinking tea. A figure appeared before him: Uchiha Jin.
"Fugaku, you wanted to see me?"
"Just to talk. No need to be nervous."
Jin looked surprised, then gradually relaxed and sat down across from Fugaku.
"Have you settled into your work with the Security Force?"
Uchiha Jin froze for a moment, then laughed. "I've worked with the Security Force for ten years. How could I not have settled in?
"Fugaku, you seem a little strange today. Why ask me that?