Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing, but his expression was grim.
He had summoned Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura tonight to find a solution. Yet all three had offered the same answer: endure.
Did he really need them to tell him that?
Of course Hiruzen Sarutobi understood that this was not the time to turn on the Uchiha. The most pressing problem remained the wars with Kumogakure and Sunagakure. Until those wars ended, Konoha could not afford another upheaval within its own walls.
But how could they bring the wars to a definitive end?
He had no answer to that himself.
Yet that was not what troubled him most. What truly bothered him was the composure his three old friends had shown.
They were far too calm.
The Uchiha were formidable enemies. After learning that the Uchiha had schemed against him, they should have shown at least some anger, even if they could not act yet. Instead, Danzo and the others had looked as though they had expected it all along, as if the matter was not worth worrying about.
The more they behaved that way, the stronger Hiruzen Sarutobi's foreboding grew.
In the end, he lost even the desire to continue the discussion and simply raised a hand to dismiss them. Keeping them there would yield nothing useful anyway.
Danzo and the others said little. They exchanged glances, then rose and left the tea room.
With their business already concluded, there was no point discussing anything else. As they walked away, they did not even exchange their usual idle chatter.
After knowing one another for so many years, some things needed no words.
On their way out, they spotted Arashi Sarutobi in the distance, illuminated by the lights.
"What a pity," Utatane Koharu said flatly. "Arashi Sarutobi is still too