Fishing in Troubled Waters

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

His gaze grew distant.

"The second matter is that I need you to... spread some news."

Everyone exchanged puzzled looks.

Spread news?

"Clan Head, what... what kind of news?"

Uchiha En did not answer at once.

He fell silent for two seconds, then spoke slowly.

"I want you to gather your Ninja Cats."

Ninja Cats?

At those two words, everyone's expressions turned a little strange.

The Uchiha Clan had a longstanding partnership with the Ninja Cat Clan.

These Ninja Cats could use ninjutsu and speak. They were also quick on their feet and adept at moving unseen.

Most importantly, they were hard to detect.

Using Ninja Cats to carry messages was the safest, most discreet method.

"Then use them to secretly spread some... interesting news throughout Konoha."

Uchiha En spoke softly, but everyone present heard him clearly.

"The first story."

"The Konoha High Command intends to wipe out every clan with a Kekkei Genkai."

The room went dead silent.

Everyone's pupils contracted sharply.

"What?!"

"The Konoha High Command wants to wipe out every clan with a Kekkei Genkai?!"

"Is... is that true?!"

Someone blurted out the question, shock filling his voice.

Uchiha En looked at him, a cold smile tugging at his lips.

"No."

"But once enough people repeat it, it will be."

He paused, then continued.

"The second story."

"The Konoha High Command conspired with Uchiha Itachi to have him recruit an outside Missing-nin to wipe out the Uchiha Clan."

"But the Missing-nin Uchiha Itachi found betrayed him."

"Driven by greed, that Missing-nin slaughtered and looted the Shimura Clan and the Sarutobi Clan."

At that, everyone's expressions grew even more animated.

The story... fit perfectly!

It explained why the Shimura Clan and the Sarutobi Clan had been attacked while putting the blame right back on the Konoha High Command!

More importantly, it would make every ninja clan even more suspicious and fearful of the Konoha High Command!

After all, if the Konoha High Command could conspire with an outsider to destroy the Uchiha, would the Hyuga be next?

Would it be Ino-Shika-Cho?

Or one of the other smaller clans?

"Brilliant... absolutely brilliant!"

A Jonin blurted it out, his voice full of admiration.

"Once this gets out, the Konoha High Command will never clear its name!"

"No matter how they explain it, the other clans won't trust them again!"

Uchiha En smiled and went on.

"The third story."

"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was killed because of Shimura Danzō of Root."

"On the night the Nine-Tails attacked, Shimura Danzō and his Root ninja never showed up."

The room erupted again.

"The Fourth Hokage... died because of Danzo?!"

"No wonder not a single Root ninja appeared on the battlefield that night..."

"If this gets out, Danzo will never be able to clear his name!"

Excitement lit up everyone's faces.

They all knew that once these three stories spread, the Konoha High Command's credibility would collapse completely!

Then all of Konoha would fall into chaos.

And the forces lurking in the shadows would be forced into the open.

"Clan Head... should we also say something about the Nine-Tails?"

A Jonin asked cautiously.

Uchiha En shook his head.

"Leave the Nine-Tails out of it for now."

"Our goal right now is to drag the Konoha High Command's name through the mud."

"The Nine-Tails affair involves too much. One wrong word, and we could bring trouble down on ourselves."

He paused, then continued.

"Spread these three stories first."

"Let's muddy Konoha's waters."

His gaze turned cold, like a blade in the dead of night.

"Then we can fish in them."

A brief silence fell over the Meeting Hall.

Uchiha En's words had shaken everyone present.

They had thought that forcing Danzo to back down at today's meeting was their Clan Head's greatest victory.

They had not expected it to be only the appetizer.

The main event was here.

A Jonin took a deep breath and asked with some concern,

"Clan Head... these stories will certainly deal a heavy blow to the Konoha High Command."

"But what if... they trace them back to us?"

Uchiha En smiled.

It was the kind of smile that sent a chill down their spines.

"Trace them?"

"How would they do that?"

"Ninja Cats aren't so easy to track."

"Besides..."

He paused, his voice turning suggestive.

"Even if they guess it was us, so what?"

"Would they dare move against us?"

"With me here, they won't dare lash out in desperation."

"As for Danzo..."

Uchiha En gave a cold laugh.

"He's already been suspended."

"Until he gets his position back, he's a tiger with its teeth pulled."

"He's no threat."

Hearing this, everyone's last doubts faded.

That was right...

The Konoha High Command was already in enough trouble of its own.

Even if they guessed the Uchiha Clan was behind it, what could they do?

Strike back?

Would they dare?

"Clan Head, what a brilliant plan!"

"Stirring up trouble and using the chaos to our advantage—brilliant!"

"Once these stories spread, the Konoha High Command won't know a moment's peace!"

Everyone applauded and cheered.

But Uchiha En did not let success go to his head.

He raised a hand, signaling for quiet.

"All right."

"I've made everything clear."

"First, tally our assets, pool our funds, and improve conditions for the Konoha Military Police Force. That's our foundation."

"Second, send out the Ninja Cats to spread these stories. Public opinion is our weapon. If we don't seize the high ground, our enemies will."

He rose and swept his gaze over everyone present.

"Both must happen at the same time."

"There can be no mistakes."

"Understood?"

"Understood!"

The dozen or so Jonin answered in unison, their voices ringing out.

Uchiha En nodded with satisfaction.

"Good."

"Meeting adjourned."

Everyone stood and headed for the door.

The expressions on their faces had changed.

The confusion and unease were gone.

In their place was an eagerness to act.

They knew that, starting today, the Uchiha Clan would fight back.

They would no longer defend passively. They would take the offensive.

Uchiha En stood in the Meeting Hall, watching them leave, a faint smile on his lips.

He walked to the window and pushed it open.

The night breeze brushed his face, bringing a hint of coolness.

Outside, lights dotted Konoha.

The people beneath those lights had no idea that a storm was about to sweep through the entire village.

And at the center of that storm stood him—Uchiha En.

"Fishing in troubled waters..."

He murmured under his breath, looking toward the brightly lit Hokage Building in the distance.

"The muddier the water, the easier it'll be for me to catch fish."

"You old fossils..."

"Enjoy your last moments of peace."

"Once the waters are thoroughly stirred up..."

"Let's see if you can still sit still."