"Danzo and his Root are a relatively minor concern, but many clans have flocked to his banner since you stopped taking an active role. Weakening him won't be easy."
When Utatane Koharu heard Mitokado Homura bring this up, she let out a deep sigh. The Third Hokage clearly intended to support the Uchiha Clan as a counterweight to Danzo. If that was the case, it was hard to say whether Madara Uchiha's sudden emergence was a blessing or a curse.
"Burning ourselves out to pave the way for the younger generation—that's what we ought to do, isn't it?"
The Third Hokage looked at Konoha's two Senior Advisors and offered his concluding remarks.
The clans could all be won over. If anyone truly refused to see reason, the Third Hokage was not above dirtying his own hands for Konoha's future.
After leaving the Hokage Office, Madara Uchiha headed toward the center of Konoha. The Uchiha Clan's Police Force headquarters should have taken shape by now. He had not visited the village center in quite some time, not since the Nine-Tails' Attack.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
As Madara Uchiha walked, a pink ball bounced into his path and came to a stop.
Madara Uchiha stepped forward and picked it up. Not far from the ball, a little girl with golden hair was watching him timidly.
"Is this yours?"
Though Madara Uchiha never showed his enemies mercy, he was actually willing to be kind to children. After all, he had no twisted penchant for terrorizing them.
Unfortunately, while Madara Uchiha had no intention of frightening the little girl, his unapproachable aura was intimidating enough on its own.
Seeing Madara Uchiha approach, the little girl's eyes widened in fright. At the same time, her mother stepped forward and shielded her daughter with an arm.