Chapter 49: The Third Hokage's Choice
Hokage Office. White smoke permeated the air. Before Hiruzen Sarutobi was a top-secret scroll from the Anbu.
Uchiha Akira.
This name had been appearing too frequently recently. The scroll detailed the revolutionary training exercise at the Uchiha Training Ground. 12 people against 20 elite Guard Team members, including 5 experienced Jōnin. The result was an overwhelming victory. Seamless coordination, unconventional Compound Ninjutsu, and that Uchiha clan member who broke through during the battle. All of this pointed to this Uchiha Elder, Uchiha Akira.
Another scroll came from his old friend, Danzō Shimura. Danzō had directly elevated Uchiha Akira's threat level to the highest and recommended immediate action for his elimination.
Hiruzen Sarutobi brought his pipe to his lips and took a deep puff. He was, of course, worried. The power and cunning Uchiha Akira displayed had exceeded everyone's expectations. But Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage. He always considered not just the gains and losses of a single city, but the balance of the entire chessboard.
The Uchiha were a force that had to be restrained. But Danzō's "Root" was also a beast locked in a cage. In recent years, Danzō's power had expanded too quickly. Uchiha Akira's strong rise had created new cracks within the Uchiha. Between Uchiha Akira and Uchiha Fugaku, between the clan head and the Elder, between the new guard and the old guard. This internal strife was exactly what Hiruzen Sarutobi was happy to see.
A united Uchiha was Konoha's greatest threat. At the same time, Uchiha Akira was enough to make Danzō wary and dare not extend his reach recklessly anymore.
"Hiruzen." Advisors Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu walked in, their expressions equally serious. "How do you plan to handle the Uchiha matter?"
"That young man named Uchiha Akira is too aggressive. The Guard Team's training reform is entirely based on war standards; we cannot just sit by and do nothing."
"Fugaku has been completely sidelined," Homura Mitokado added. "The current Uchiha is almost entirely Uchiha Akira's domain. This is very dangerous, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a smoke ring. "So, what do you think should be done? Direct suppression?" He counter-questioned. "Under what name? By what means? Forcibly interfering with a clan's internal affairs will only make them unite more against us."
Silence fell in the office. This was indeed an unsolvable problem.
After a long pause, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly spoke. "The Guard Team wants combat training, doesn't it? Then give them the opportunity. Recently, there have been constant skirmishes along the borders with Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Many Village missions have also piled up."
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to the prosperous Village outside the window. Homura Mitokado's eyes lit up, instantly understanding the Hokage's intention.
"Send them to complete border missions?"
"Exactly."
"You all know the dangers of border missions without me telling you!" Utatane Koharu also reacted, and much of the worry on her face dissipated. "This is indeed a good idea. It can both keep the Uchiha away from the Village's center of power, preventing them from continuing to exert influence internally, and deplete the Uchiha's active forces."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "It's a good thing for young people to have drive. As elders, we must provide them with a stage to perform. As long as they are fighting for Konoha's glory, then there's no problem."
As long as the Uchiha did not directly raise the banner of rebellion and threaten the Hokage's rule, then let them cause trouble. Let them contend. Let them fight external enemies. Hiruzen Sarutobi was more interested in this power struggle within the Uchiha.
Uchiha Akira, Uchiha Fugaku. New versus old. This contest was the key to determining the Uchiha's ultimate fate. He only needed to be a quiet observer.
…
The night deepened. After seeing off the two Advisors, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not rest. He was waiting for someone else.
Knock. Knock.
A faint knocking sound was heard, and a figure appeared silently in the shadows of the office.
"Hokage-sama." Uchiha Itachi knelt on one knee.
"Rise, Itachi." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was much gentler. "You've worked hard. Tell me, the result of your encounter with Elder Akira..."
Uchiha Itachi's body trembled imperceptibly. Itachi was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"I lost. Lost... completely."
Uchiha Itachi recounted the details of the battle, from the suppression in Taijutsu, to the clash of Ninjutsu, and finally to the scene that shattered his beliefs. "He was immune to my Tsukuyomi," Itachi's voice carried an incomprehensible confusion. "Amaterasu's black flames also couldn't harm his Susanoo."
Upon hearing "Tsukuyomi" and "Amaterasu," Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression became solemn. His greatest fear had come true. Itachi had also awakened that eye.
"Elder Akira… also possesses…"
"Mangekyō Sharingan."
Another Mangekyō Sharingan. Not Shisui, not Itachi. Uchiha Akira, an Uchiha completely outside of control, possessing top-tier power. This completely disrupted all of Hiruzen Sarutobi's plans. The threat level was no longer high, but fatal.
"Are you sure?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked urgently.
"I saw it with my own eyes. His ocular power is stronger than mine!"
"What is the ability of his Mangekyō?" This was the most crucial question. An unknown Mangekyō represented an unpredictable and immense risk.
Itachi shook his head. "I don't know. Elder Akira merely activated his eyes to break my Tsukuyomi; he didn't seem to use any ocular Ninjutsu. It was more like… an innate ability. Amaterasu, on the other hand, was easily blocked by his Susanoo."
Innate ability? Hiruzen Sarutobi's unease grew stronger.
"Itachi. I need you to find out the true ability of his Mangekyō by any means necessary. For the Village, and for the Uchiha. This is a top-priority mission."
Uchiha Itachi bowed his head deeply. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
Uchiha Itachi's figure once again merged into the darkness and disappeared.