He Is the Son of Heroes, Senju Ye Appears

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the Uchiha Clan ninja before him, their bodies radiating murderous intent, the blood on their longswords not even dry yet.

His expression turned ugly.

Every one of them possessed a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Clearly, they were one of the Uchiha Clan's formidable trump cards!

Yet, although these Uchiha Clan ninja were all strong, what truly made Hiruzen Sarutobi wary...

Was Uchiha Fugaku's pair of Mangekyō Sharingan!

Until he knew what those Mangekyō Sharingan could do, he dared not act rashly.

If Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan had the same ability as Shisui's and could alter his thoughts...

Then acting recklessly now would only mean throwing his life away!

And while Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to remain silent and Shimura Danzō slowly retreated under his guards' protection...

The villagers and civilian ninja below erupted into an uproar.

"What did Lord Fugaku just say? That child is actually the son of Lord Fourth Hokage and Lady Kushina!"

"That can't be true, can it? What parents would willingly make their newborn child a jinchūriki? That's just..."

"But Lord Fourth Hokage and Lady Kushina's child was indeed born that day. And looking closely, that child looks a lot like the one Lord Senju Ye entrusted to Lord Fugaku."

"Could he really be Lord Fourth Hokage and Lady Kushina's son? Then, after the way we just treated him, isn't that a little..."

Once that possibility dawned on them, the civilians and ninja began to waver, unsure whom to believe.

With the people planted by the Uchiha Clan and the other major clans working the crowd, the scene remained noisy, but the situation stayed balanced.

Yet as Shimura Danzō watched the scene before him, having thought the Uchiha Clan would truly rise to prominence this time with Uchiha Fugaku's help...

His eyes suddenly lit up.

Judging by the current situation, he had not lost yet. There was still a chance to turn things around!

Uchiha Fugaku had hidden his strength well and made a clever move, but he did not understand how to manipulate people's hearts and fan the flames.

With such an advantageous position, all he could do was maintain this stalemate. How laughable!

Without the slightest hesitation, Shimura Danzō turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said in a low, forceful voice.

"Hiruzen, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki must remain under the protection of the Anbu and the Root. Only then can we preserve the village's peace."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, his pipe held between his lips.

"Hiruzen, what are you still hesitating over? Do you want the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's identity exposed to the entire world and the village plunged into danger again?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi still remained silent.

He knew very well that, with the forces currently under his command, it was almost impossible for him to contend with the Uchiha alone.

Unless he allied himself with the vast majority of Konoha's major clans.

As for Shimura Danzō, the man's thirst for power was far too strong, and there were far too many unpredictable factors surrounding him.

After this incident, he was genuinely disappointed in Danzō. It was time to begin gradually reclaiming the authority he had delegated.

Still, there was one thing Danzō had just said that was correct.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's identity absolutely could not be exposed. Once it was, those with ulterior motives in the other major ninja villages would surely seize the opportunity to act.

After all, Konoha was now facing a host of setbacks: the deaths of Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, the heavy losses suffered by the Uchiha Clan, and more.

For those who had long eyed Konoha hungrily, this was an opportunity that came once in a lifetime!

At that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed helplessly, turned to Uchiha Fugaku, and tried to persuade him.

"Fugaku, I can help you stabilize the situation. We can also let your Uchiha Clan raise the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, with the Anbu simply providing protection from the sidelines."

"Moreover, whenever we take any action involving contact with the jinchūriki, we will notify the Uchiha beforehand."

The Uchiha Clan would raise him?

The Anbu would provide protection from the sidelines?

Then what about the Root?

That bastard Hiruzen had actually shut him out of the struggle for custody of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

"Hiruzen, you..."

Ignoring Shimura Danzō's increasingly ugly expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke again.

"My condition is simple: Naruto's true identity must not be revealed."

"Of course, rest assured that I will issue a gag order afterward, forbidding the villagers from calling the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki a beast, a fox demon, or anything of the sort."

At that point, Hiruzen Sarutobi adopted an earnest, well-meaning air.

He raised his pipe slightly, took a deep draw, and exhaled a smoke ring.

"Fugaku, what do you think of my proposal?"

"..."

Despite Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Uchiha Fugaku continued calmly watching the noisy crowd before him, unmoved.

Seeing this, Shimura Danzō could not help letting out a small sigh of relief.

As long as those two did not join forces, he and the Root still had a chance to turn things around.

But Hiruzen, I'll remember what happened today.

You had better not give me an opening. Once the time is ripe, I will make sure you lose any ability to compete with me for the Hokage's position!

When Uchiha Fugaku still refused to agree to his proposal, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows drew tightly together.

This was already the greatest concession he could make, and he would still have to explain himself to the clans allied with him when he returned.

Yet Fugaku still was not satisfied...

Could this man be after the Hokage's position as well?!

Oh, Uchiha, Uchiha. You had better not get too greedy.

If you know what's good for you, I'll give Shisui a chance to become Hokage after some time.

Otherwise, beware. One wrong move could doom you beyond redemption.

Yet, just as Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō were both waiting for Uchiha Fugaku to speak...

A calm voice suddenly sounded from somewhere in the crowd below.

"Not much."

At that voice, every ninja and civilian present, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and Uchiha Fugaku...

Turned in unison toward its source, their expressions varied.

Some even burst into angry curses.

"Who is that? How dare you speak so insolently here!"

"Exactly! Who are you? Show yourself right now!"

"This is the resting place of Lord Fourth Hokage and Lady Kushina! How dare you be so disrespectful? Aren't you afraid we'll..."

But when those making threats saw who had arrived, every one of their expressions changed drastically.

It was him!

The disciple of First Hokage Hashirama Senju, Senju Ye!

At this, Shisui Uchiha suddenly vanished in full view of everyone.

When he reappeared, he was already beside Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, and he spoke calmly.

"I just said that I don't think much of your proposal."

"Go on. Whether you have objections or not, I'll give you a chance to speak."

"..."