Darkness of Konoha

"...Kirigakure's Fourth Mizukage has gone missing."

Studying the intelligence urgently delivered that morning, the Third Hokage knitted his brows and spoke in a low voice.

"Just last year, the Land of Water sent the Daimyo an official notice claiming that spies from Konoha had infiltrated and sabotaged Kirigakure, leaving countless ninja dead or injured. They demanded that we hand over the culprit and outright declared that someone from the Uchiha Clan was responsible."

Inside the Hokage Office, Shikaku Nara, renowned as Konoha's strategist, studied the intelligence with a headache. He wore a rugged cloak, his hair tied in the upright style passed down through the Nara Clan.

Even a clever man like him, who made his living with his mind, had to admit that the current situation was almost beyond solving.

"They provided a portrait. There are slight differences, but it's unmistakably Shisui Uchiha."

"...We can't rule out someone using a transformation technique to drive a wedge between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. Kirigakure understands that too, which is why they've only had the daimyo issue a written warning so far, but..." The Third Hokage drew on his pipe. The Smoke he exhaled lingered like the clouds of doubt in his heart.

"But an ocular technique capable of placing a tailed beast under genjutsu could only be the Uchiha's Sharingan." Shikaku Nara supplied that crucial detail. "That alone makes it impossible for Konoha to escape blame. Damn it!"

The Uchiha.

The Third Hokage wished he could banish that name from his ears. Ever since the earlier rebellion had been temporarily halted, Danzo and his people had arrested the Uchiha Clan's radicals on all sorts of trumped-up grounds. Of course, the reasons they gave in front of the Third Hokage sounded perfectly legitimate. Why should anyone guilty of plotting rebellion be let off?

To undermine the Uchiha Clan's standing, the village had carried out those arrests in various public places.

Naturally, the villagers' view of the Uchiha Clan changed. The fear that had begun with the Nine-Tails' Attack gradually turned into loathing during this time.

As Hokage, Sarutobi knew better than anyone that the Uchiha clan members taken away by Root would never be released. But how could their relatives accept it when those arrested never came home?

The conflict between the village and the Uchiha Clan would only intensify, with no end in sight.

And now, the man he had lost—the best person to keep the Uchiha Clan in check—had his name on wanted notices across the Shinobi World, charged with assassinating the Mizukage and subverting Kirigakure.

Konoha could never accept responsibility for crimes of that magnitude.

Yet Shisui Uchiha's death was also a dark secret Konoha could not reveal. As long as the Uchiha Clan remained publicly associated with Konoha, the village would be trapped in a deeply unfavorable position.

And amid this internal turmoil, pressure from outside continued to mount. Caught between both, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Uchiha Clan were being forced to make a decision as quickly as possible.

Both sides understood perfectly well: it was like a pile of barrels filled with high explosives and covered in explosive tags. A single spark could blow all of Konoha sky-high.

For the Third Hokage, who sought peace, stability, and development, that was absolutely unacceptable!

"...I'll go to the Uchiha Clan Compound again and speak with Fugaku." Seeing the Third Hokage's expression, Shikaku Nara sensed trouble and tried once more to salvage the situation.

"There's no need."

Just then, a cold, hoarse voice came from beyond the door. Danzo entered, his arm and half his face wrapped in bandages, his imposing presence that of a hunting leopard.

"Shikaku, leave us for now." At the sight of Danzo, the Third Hokage, who had been deep in thought, suddenly spoke, dismissing Shikaku Nara from the Hokage Office.

Shikaku Nara had wanted to say more, but at the Hokage's words, he paused, then could only bow and reluctantly withdraw.

Once outside the office, Shikaku leaned against the door and casually formed hand seals, casting a soundproof Barrier around the office that excluded even him. Then he stood guard, preventing anyone from approaching.

He knew full well that the conversation between the two men inside would decide the Uchiha Clan's fate.

And no third person in the village could be allowed to know what they said.

"How did Shisui die?" the Third Hokage asked coldly, looking at Danzo standing before him.

"That isn't important, Sarutobi. You know why I'm here." Danzo ignored the question and spoke casually. "Everything the Second Hokage did was right. The Uchiha Clan is inherently evil. They didn't just plot the Nine-Tails' Attack within our village; they even tried to control a tailed beast and seize power in another village. This clan's ambition is just like that of their forebear, Madara Uchiha..."

"Enough, Danzo! There isn't sufficient evidence for any of this." The Third Hokage abruptly rose to his feet, but he clearly could not intimidate his old companion, who knew him all too well. Danzo simply continued speaking.

"Evidence? Hiruzen, you're still so naive." Danzo sneered. "You are Konoha's Hokage. You stand in the light. But I am rooted in darkness, and in that darkness, no one sees what we do, nor does anyone care what we do. All people see are the results."

"..." The Third Hokage fell silent. He knew what Danzo meant, and he also understood that, at present, this was the most sensible solution.

Ninja had never been open and honorable.

"What do you intend to do?" At last, the Third Hokage made his decision.

"Itachi... Uchiha."

The door to the Hokage Office opened outward. Shikaku Nara instinctively turned to look. Inside, only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained, standing by the window in his Hokage robes, drawing in and exhaling smoke.

Shikaku stepped forward. He did not look around to see where Danzo was hiding or how he had left; he simply waited quietly for the Third Hokage to speak.

The subject he brought up next would reveal his decision.

"Shikaku, your son Shikamaru will be starting at the Ninja Academy next year, won't he?"

"...Yes." After a moment of silence, Shikaku answered.

"A pity. He'll be a year behind Naruto. From what I've seen of Shikamaru's temperament, I thought he would get along well with Naruto." The Third Hokage turned around. All hesitation and uncertainty had vanished from his expression, and he chatted about everyday matters as naturally as though nothing had happened. "Perhaps I needn't have been in such a hurry to enroll Naruto."

"It's all right. He had to be enrolled sooner or later. Besides, once next year comes, they'll still be attending the same school. This isn't wartime, after all. With six years of schooling, children are bound to get to know one another," Shikaku replied.

"Yes. It isn't wartime anymore. By next year, it will all be behind us..." the Third Hokage murmured.

They seemed to be discussing their children's schooling, but each understood what the other truly meant.

The Uchiha's fate seemed to have been sealed at that moment.