Chapter 34 The So-Called Hokage
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes snapped open, flashes of anger cutting across his face.
He had known Shimura Danzō for decades—no one understood Danzō like he did. Once a disciple of the Second Hokage's era, Danzō had once vied with Hiruzen for leadership; when Hiruzen ultimately took the mantle, the responsibility of the village was placed in his hands. Danzō had inherited the Second's ruthless streak toward enemies, an unforgiving, pragmatic streak that chilled many.
Hiruzen had convened countless councils of Konoha's elders, and he had long noticed Danzō's deep distrust of the Uchiha. Time and again, Hiruzen had pressed him: Are you not misreading the Second's policy toward the clan? Each time Danzō insisted he remembered Uchiha Kagami and denied a deliberate vendetta.
Shisui had been raised and trusted by Hiruzen himself. Even with such power, the Third never glimpsed the paranoid fire some other Uchiha carried—Shisui's eyes had always held clarity, loyalty, and a desire for peace. Yet events had spiraled into the scene before him—more damage than Hiruzen had expected, and much of it caused by Shisui's power. He counted himself fortunate it had taken place outside the village; otherwise the picture inside Konoha would have been a ruin.
He could imagine with painful clarity the village's streets turned to hell.
Hiruzen believed in Shisui and Itachi—but he also knew other villagers and other ninja would not necessarily trust the Uchiha. After all, the clan had indeed planned meetings that hinted at a coup, and Shisui had cut down ninjas who belonged to Konoha. Even Danzō's men were citizens of the village.
What should be done? The Uchiha's eyes burned with hate; at the slightest provocation the clansmen would surge forward and fight. The tension in the clearing tightened like a drawn bow.
"Master Hokage—Shisui is injured! He needs treatment!" Danzō strove to temper his voice of accusation and pointed instead to the fallen man. He looked at the surrounding corpses, then at Shisui—whose clothes were torn, arms marked by scratches and exhausted chakra—but no obvious mortal wounds. Losing one of the Uchiha's Sharingan had shaken him to the core; something gnawed within him like rot.
His determination to eradicate the Uchiha only hardened. Such a clan could not be tolerated—when would Hiruzen finally see that he was right? Yet he stayed silent. He knew well that few among the upper echelons liked him, and though many despised the Uchiha, arguments only invited more scrutiny—especially from the sharp minds of the Nara and other clans.
Danzō hoped to sway Hiruzen through deeds and secrecy, to influence the Third's policies without revealing his full hand. He sought not only to change the Uchiha's role but to paper over his own shadows.
Shikaku frowned, watching the elders. What would Hiruzen decide? He was only the strategist—implementation lay with the Hokage. For strategic direction regarding the clan, Shikaku would follow the Third's judgment.
Hiruzen stilled, then returned Enma—the Vajra Staff—to its compact form and planted it in the soil beside him. He addressed the assembled Uchiha with slow, fervent words.
"The Uchiha clan has been part of Konoha since its founding. The clan's contributions to the village during the wars are not forgotten."
He recalled the ancient conflicts with the First and the stories of Madara. "When the First fought Uchiha Madara, the Uchiha chose to remain with the village rather than walk away. That choice showed their loyalty to Konoha."
"In every great war, the Uchiha have contributed their strength. The Second Hokage accepted Uchiha Kagami as a disciple. The Fourth worked with Uchiha shinobi under his command."
"Shisui and Itachi are men of exceptional talent."
"I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Third Hokage of Konoha, promise this: so long as the Uchiha do not harm Konoha, this village will continue to accept the clan."
His voice carried warmth and weight. Many Uchiha felt it strike a chord deep within—yet a few wore skepticism on their faces. Some still doubted whether words could fully erase suspicion.
"If the Uchiha consider themselves part of Konoha, then do not endanger our peace. Otherwise, the Uchiha will see Konoha's strength."
Hiruzen spun the staff, the old motions returning like muscle memory, and the hat flapped as wind stirred. The presence of the Third—an image of the village's former military might—fell over the crowd.
"Send Uchiha Shisui to the hospital for care," he ordered tightly, giving instruction to the shinobi at his side.
"What? No! How can Shisui be sent to the hospital inside the village? What if something happens to him during treatment?"
"That's right! If he needs treatment, it must be done under the supervision of the Uchiha clan. We cannot allow outsiders to handle Shisui's condition."
The words were sharp and direct, their tone filled with hostility, and every eye turned toward Shimura Danzo, the root of their distrust.
Sarutobi Hiruzen pressed his forehead with two fingers; a headache spread again. A moment ago, the Uchiha clan seemed shaken by his promise and warning, showing some signs of restraint. But now, the fragile peace had collapsed once more, and the dispute turned to Shisui's treatment.
And at the heart of it all was still distrust—distrust of Shimura Danzo, his old comrade and rival, who now stood at the center of this storm.
Hiruzen, though painfully aware of his limits compared to the brilliance of the Second Hokage, had held the Hokage's seat longer than any before him. He had learned through decades of rule that the title of Hokage was not glory, but a burden—the weight of the entire village pressing down on one man's shoulders.
"The so-called Hokage," he thought, "is the one who carries the darkness of the village along with its light."
"Lord Hokage, I will personally take Shisui to the Konoha Hospital."
Itachi, cradling the unconscious Shisui on his back, finally spoke. His voice was calm but decisive, and his gaze did not waver as he turned his back on the gathered Uchiha.
"I'll take full responsibility for Shisui's care."
Fugaku Uchiha's brows tightened, a flicker of dissatisfaction in his eyes. Shisui's survival was a matter of utmost importance to the clan, and yet Itachi ignored the will of the assembled Uchiha and made the decision himself, acting alone. It was yet another sign of how far his eldest son had drifted from the clan's collective path.
The sky itself seemed to reflect the growing turmoil. Clouds thickened above, and with a crack of thunder, heavy rain began to pour down over Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled quietly, watching as Itachi's firm statement defused what could have spiraled into immediate bloodshed. At least for now, the boy had preserved the fragile balance.
But even as relief touched him, his sharp gaze turned toward Danzo. Leaning against a tree, Danzo's bandages were partly loosened, revealing his right eye.
"Wait…" Hiruzen's eyes narrowed. "Danzo's right eye… it's blind?" The exposed pupil was clouded, white and sightless. A suspicion struck him. For years, Danzo had hidden his eye under those bandages. Hiruzen had half-feared that he had stolen a Sharingan. Yet, seeing the hollow whiteness, he felt a momentary sense of relief. "So… perhaps it wasn't a Sharingan after all…"
With Shisui carried firmly on his back, Itachi blurred from sight, vanishing into the rain as he raced toward the hospital.
Hiruzen pulled his robes tighter against the storm. "It's time to return to the village. Danzo, the Uchiha… I will need new strategies for both. I must pray the Uchiha clan does not act rashly during my remaining tenure… Otherwise… how will I face the First and Second Hokage in the afterlife?"
His mind briefly shifted to Minato, the Fourth Hokage. Unlike Tobirama, unlike Hashirama, unlike even Danzo, Minato's presence lingered as a silent reproach. Hiruzen admitted privately: the one he most feared disappointing was that young man with the golden hair, who had entrusted him with the future.
Before his thoughts could settle, a shadow darted through the rain. An Anbu dropped to one knee before him, mask dripping with water.
"Lord Hokage! Urgent report—the village archives have been breached! The library has been stolen from!"
Hiruzen's face hardened at once. Even with Shisui's tragedy unresolved, a new crisis had already arrived.