Konoha's roots

Root.

Danzo sat in a chair identical to the Hokage's, with a Root member wearing a Cat Demon Mask kneeling on one knee before him.

"Lord Danzo, our people discovered that Uchiha Itachi has taken his younger brother to places near the Jinchūriki's home several times."

"Furthermore, our covert scouts discovered that Uchiha Itachi's younger brother went out for barbecue with the Jinchūriki."

"And..."

Otsu paused, unsure whether he should say what came next.

As Danzo listened to Otsu's report, a flicker of anger appeared in his eyes. Then he heard Otsu pause.

"Keep talking! I want to see just what this bunch of inherently evil Uchiha are planning!"

Danzo slapped his desk, which was identical to the Hokage's, encouraging Otsu to continue without fear.

He wanted to see what other evil plans the Uchiha could come up with.

"Uchiha Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan's current Second Young Master, and the Jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki, have..."

"Kissed..."

The dark room suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Then Danzo furiously slammed the desk.

"How dare they! I knew the Uchiha were inherently evil and mentally unstable, but I never imagined they could devise such a sickening plan."

"They actually intend to use a handsome boy to capture the heart of a Jinchūriki who is only four years old?"

"What a disgrace!"

"Is there no justice left? No humanity?"

In truth, Danzo understood this sort of "handsome-boy trap" very well.

After all, he had unwittingly used the same tactic himself, making Sarutobi let him off the hook for many things.

But precisely because of that, he understood all the better what it would mean if the Uchiha Clan lured away the Jinchūriki, given his control over the Nine-Tails Chakra, which differed from that of every previous Jinchūriki.

Danzo did not dare imagine what those red-eyed lunatics might do.

However, he was a little short on top-tier fighters under his command at the moment.

The thought of Kō betraying him made Danzo's heart ache. Damn Sarutobi, he had been so ruthless.

But that was fine. He had a new target now.

Shisui Uchiha, the Uchiha who had earned the name Body Flicker Shisui on the battlefield.

Sarutobi had recently made his move on Itachi, and naturally, Danzo had begun setting his sights on Shisui as well.

For now, he would learn about the Uchiha Clan through him, but Shisui seemed very drawn to Sarutobi's side.

Damn Sarutobi!

Why? Just because he was the Hokage?

I was only a few seconds behind him back then! No! Just one second!

With a bang, Danzo punched another hole in his desk.

"Otsu, next, go speak with Shisui Uchiha and find out the Uchiha Clan's current situation."

Danzo touched his bandaged right eye. Beneath the bandages, the Sharingan had three tomoe, but they rotated very slowly, lacking a certain vitality.

"Oh, and go to that Wooden Goods Shop and buy another desk."

Danzo added this as he looked at the hole in his desk.

Otsu did not even need to think to know that it should be exactly the same design as the current desk.

"Yes."

Otsu slowly withdrew from Danzo's office, which was identical to the Hokage's, and began arranging for someone to contact Shisui.

Meanwhile, Shisui was standing in the Hokage Office, facing Hiruzen Sarutobi's aged face as he reported the Uchiha's internal problems.

"Lord Hokage, the number of extremists within my clan is gradually increasing."

"Could you reform the village's system a little? For example... could the Uchiha take a different path, instead of serving in the police force?"

Shisui's tone carried humility and pleading. He truly wanted his clan and the village to live in harmony.

The Third narrowed his eyes and thought it over.

Naruto was now close to the Uchiha, which would undoubtedly cause those extremists' ambitions to surge.

And the position in the police force, combined with the Uchiha's personalities, was bound to make people dislike them.

(Tobirama: Look! Look! I knew assigning them like this would work! As long as things stay this way, sooner or later, the evil Uchiha Clan will be wiped out!)

But this was a decision left behind by the Second, and Konoha really did need the Uchiha Clan to maintain order at present. This was rather difficult.

"I understand. I'll find a way to change some policies."

The Third spoke slowly, lacing his hands together and resting his chin on them.

"But it may be rather difficult. The village's other senior officials and the Land of Fire's daimyo are all obstacles."

"I can only do my utmost."

"After all, I'm old now."

The Third's last sentence carried a trace of bitterness, but he soon rallied again.

"How about this? Go back and look into the demands of your clan's extremists and their reasons, then report to me."

Shisui nodded, then took his leave of the Third, pushed open the Hokage Office door, which Danzo had slammed countless times, and headed back.

(Door: Do you know how many times Danzo has slammed me?!!! Finally, a normal person is willing to close me gently!

Danzo: Excellent. I'll kill him in a while, then bring his eyes with me and keep slamming you! Hehehehe!)

As the door gently closed, the Third slowly leaned back, gradually slumping into the Official Hokage Seat that Danzo dreamed of.

Ah, Minato. If only you were still here.

The blond figure appeared before the Third's eyes again, though it was an illusion.

After all, Minato and Fugaku had actually been on good terms. Together with the prestige Minato had accumulated during the Third Shinobi World War, the Uchiha Clan had actually been willing to listen to him.

Besides, Minato's wife, Kushina, and Fugaku's wife, Uchiha Mikoto, were close friends. If their children became friends in the future, it could greatly ease tensions.

Ah, but that was all empty talk now. Little Sasuke and Naruto had indeed become friends, but it had instead caused unrest within the Uchiha.

Some time later, a man in an ANBU uniform pushed open the Hokage Office door.

"Ah, Itachi. What is it?"

The Third recognized the visitor.

"Lord Hokage, I am at fault. I failed to stay out of my clansmen's sight."

Itachi dropped to one knee as soon as he entered. Sasuke and Naruto's barbecue outing had indeed attracted the attention of the extremists within the Uchiha Clan.

This had already violated the promise Itachi had made to the Third at the time.

"It's all right. Yugao has already informed me. I've already given this my tacit approval."

The Third rubbed his temples. After all, it had already happened, and Naruto really should go out and play with friends. Staying home all the time was not good.

But the consequences had to be dealt with.

"Itachi, it's all right. Go home for now and spend some quality time with your younger brother."

"But try to visit Naruto less often from now on. You'll have plenty of time once the Ninja Academy term starts."

After Itachi left, the Third clapped his hands, and an ANBU member leaped out.

"Have Fugaku, the Uchiha Clan's head, come here."

"Yes."