Light rain seemed to evaporate in the heated atmosphere.
Danzo arrived with his men, roused from sleep. Seeing the scene and his bound subordinate, he understood.
He exchanged a calm glance with Hiruzen, signaling his men to gather Root forces.
"What's this?" Danzo asked, feigning ignorance.
"Your man attacked an Uchiha child," Hiruzen said coldly.
"No idea, no memory," Danzo replied.
Cangyue gritted his teeth. "Really? If he's not Konoha's, he's a spy. We'll kill and interrogate him."
He expected a reaction, but the ninja stayed silent.
No proof.
Chiren yawned. "If Danzo-sama doesn't know him, we'll take him back, interrogate with genjutsu, and share the info village-wide. Let the Yamanaka verify it for credibility."
The Uchiha caught on. They excelled in battle, not wits, often swayed by flattery. Publicizing Root's secrets would ruin Danzo.
Danzo's face paled. He glared at Chiren. "You're Uchiha Chiren?"
Regret gnawed him. Who sent this fool? I need a way to control ninja emotions and memories to prevent leaks!
Boom!
Thunder crashed, darkening the sky. Late spring rain turned torrential.
Setsuna, silent till now, spoke chillingly. "Seems our people aren't lying. Danzo, planning to attack us Uchiha?"
Danzo's eyes darted. "Misunderstanding! I never ordered an attack!"
"You think we'll believe that?" Setsuna's scarlet Sharingan swirled in the rain, aura shifting. "We failed back then, but killing Tobirama's disciples today isn't bad!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three hundred Uchiha activated their Sharingan, crimson eyes glowing like predators in the lightning-lit night.
Onlookers retreated, clan leaders wary.
War loomed.
Hiruzen, refusing to yield, made a final effort. Glaring at Danzo, he said, "I'll punish Danzo severely and watch him closely! Make a request—within reason, I'll agree."
Cangyue eyed the thousand-plus Anbu and Konoha ninja on rooftops. A fight would gut the Uchiha.
He shook his head slightly at Setsuna.
Setsuna let the rain soak his frail body. At his age, this could sicken him.
He longed for youth to strike Hiruzen first, even if cursed forever, for his clan.
But his body failed him.
He turned, suppressing resentment. "Fifty million ryo compensation. Hand over the ninja."
Danzo nearly shouted. Fifty million? Months of Root's budget!
Hiruzen silenced him with a look, nodding. "Agreed."
Cangyue and the Elders sighed in relief.
Setsuna wasn't done. He called Chiren, patted his shoulder, and said loudly, "Danzo, I'm a notorious villain. Pray nothing happens to our young Uchiha. If it does, I'll assume it's you, and this won't be the end!"
"You want me to protect him?!" Danzo roared.
Setsuna and the 300 Uchiha locked onto Danzo with murderous intent, overwhelming his Anbu, who stepped back, legs weak.
"I'll ensure the Uchiha's safety!" Hiruzen interjected, quelling the tension.
Setsuna snorted, leading his clan away. "Take the ninja! Hiruzen, leash your dog!"
Hiruzen suppressed his anger, announcing, "Just a misunderstanding. Disperse."
Back in his office with Danzo, he snapped, "Forever suppressed by the Uchiha? How long will your plan take?"
"My plan was fine until you meddled, making me lose face!" Hiruzen retorted.
Thinking of Danzo's dirty work, he calmed. "The Uchiha are evil, you say? You sound like an old man with no fight left."
Hiruzen smirked faintly. "You don't get my method. Setsuna's influence lingers, but he's childless. When he dies, power shifts to Cangyue."
"So?"
"I'll back Cangyue's son, Fugaku, as next leader. Steeped in the Will of Fire, he'll be a controllable moderate. Boil the frog slowly, generation by generation. In two, the Uchiha will be Konoha's sharpest blade, even fighting their own if needed."
This was his hidden plan—why Tobirama chose him over Danzo. Hiruzen would sacrifice anything, even family, for Konoha.
Danzo's pupils shrank. After a moment, he said bitterly, "Sensei had his reasons. I'll wait. Setsuna won't last long."
His eyes darkened. "For Chiren, use Tobirama's old trick—impossible missions, accidental battlefield death."
"Exactly how the disobedient died, right, monkey?"
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