Chapter 52: The Hokage's Decree
Early the next morning, Zhan lay in bed, glaring at Tenchi with a sour expression.
"'Just a warm-up,' you said. 'It'll be fine,' you said. This is the 'warm-up' you were talking about? I'll be stuck in this bed for half a month!"
Hearing Zhan's complaints, Tenchi shot back, "What's with the attitude? You're a grown man, not some delicate girl. The genjutsu I used on you actually helps strengthen your mental fortitude. With luck, you might even awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan soon."
"Tch, as if I'd believe that. If you wanted to beat me up, you could have just said so. Don't make up excuses. If the Mangekyo were that easy to awaken, why are you the only one in the entire clan who has it?" Zhan didn't believe a single word.
"By the way," Zhan continued, his tone turning serious. "Now that you're this strong... if Uchiha Setsuna ever comes to invite you back to the main clan, would you go?"
"Don't even mention that," Tenchi replied, his own expression hardening. "Don't say Uchiha Setsuna; even if the old patriarch Uchiha Seiro himself came, it would be useless. The moment I decided to lead our faction out of the clan, I severed those ties for good. I am never going back." He had no respect for the main branch's weak, posturing moderates.
Besides, with the future Uchiha massacre looming, he wanted no part of their doomed fate.
Hearing Tenchi's firm refusal, Zhan hesitated before speaking again. "But... they're being suppressed so harshly now. They are still our kin. Can we really stand by and watch them be bullied without helping?"
Tenchi's face darkened instantly at those words. "Uchiha Zhan! Listen to me! Their current situation is a fate of their own making! If you want to help them, you can leave our martial faction right now! Whatever you do from then on is none of my business!" Having said his piece, he turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Zhan alone to ponder his words.
*'Tenchi's resistance is so strong... It seems convincing him is impossible. If the Young Master disagrees, the Great Elder will disagree. If the Great Elder disagrees, the entire martial faction will fall in line... Sigh. I'm sorry. I truly can't help you this time. You're on your own.'* Zhan sighed and shook his head in resignation.
***
On his way to the Hokage's office, Tenchi mulled over the situation. *'It seems the main branch is under immense pressure. Too scared to approach me directly, they went through Zhan instead.'*
He soon arrived at the Hokage's office. Pushing the door open, he found Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, and the two other Konoha elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, inside.
The moment Danzo saw Tenchi enter, he let out a contemptuous "Hmph!" and pointedly looked away. If there was one person in Konoha he never wanted to see, it was Uchiha Tenchi. He'd been humiliated by him repeatedly yet was powerless to retaliate. The frustration was maddening.
"Tenchi! You're here! Come, have a seat." Hiruzen greeted him warmly, even pulling out a chair for him.
Seeing Hiruzen's unusual hospitality, Tenchi frowned. "Lord Hokage, if you have something to say, just say it. There's no need for the pleasantries. You said you had a mission for me when I got out?"
"Ah... well... That mission is temporarily on hold. There's actually an official notice for you today. It's..." Hiruzen stammered, unable to get the words out.
"Whatever the notice is, just tell me," Tenchi said flatly. "I've faced worse."
"Um..." Hiruzen still couldn't bring himself to say it. He glanced at Homura Mitokado, signaling for him to speak.
Understanding the look, Homura cleared his throat and stated formally, "Due to your unauthorized attack on the Land of Earth, which resulted in significant losses for Konoha, the village leadership has unanimously decided on the following: You are hereby stripped of all official duties and ninja status. You will be placed under 24-hour surveillance and are forbidden from leaving the village without explicit permission. Uchiha Tenchi, do you understand this decree?"
This decision had been pushed through by the elders. While Hiruzen had consistently opposed it, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu had outvoted him three to one. His hands were tied.
"Brother Sarutobi," Tenchi said, his voice dangerously calm as he looked directly at the Hokage. "Do you agree with this decision?"
"I... I obviously disagree," Hiruzen admitted, his face a mask of helplessness. "But with three elders in favor, my single vote against it is overruled. There's nothing I can do."
"I see. I'll accept having my ninja status revoked and being confined to the village. But 24-hour surveillance is absolutely out of the question." He felt a wave of contempt for Hiruzen's weak, compromising attitude. The strong, decisive Hokage he'd once known was slowly fading away.
"Out of the question?!" Danzo shot to his feet. "This is a decree from the Council of Elders! You have no right to refuse! You *will* be monitored!"
"That's right, Uchiha Tenchi," Koharu Utatane added. "This is a joint decision by the elders and the Hokage. You must obey!"
Homura Mitokado nodded in agreement. "You have no choice but to comply!"
"Heh. Obey?" Tenchi let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Do you think you're Hashirama Senju? If you want my obedience, show me the strength to back it up!" A terrifying wave of chakra erupted from his body, saturating the room.
The oppressive force made Danzo and the two elders instinctively raise their arms to shield themselves. The windows of the office rattled violently, and a spiderweb of cracks appeared on the closest one.
"Uchiha Tenchi! What is the meaning of this?! Do you know the penalty for assaulting a village elder?!" Homura yelled.
"Uchiha Tenchi, don't you dare be so insolent!" Koharu shrieked.
"Tenchi, calm down! Please! If you disagree, we can discuss this!" Hiruzen pleaded, trying to de-escalate the situation.
While the others were talking, Danzo remained silent, utterly cowed by the display of power. He didn't utter a word.
"You? Pathetic." Tenchi's voice was laced with scorn. "If you want to send people to watch me, go ahead. I'll kill the first one. I'll kill the second. Send as many as you like. The choice is yours." He finally looked at Hiruzen, his expression one of profound disappointment, before turning and walking out of the office without a backward glance.
Seeing that look of disappointment, Hiruzen felt a pang of self-doubt. *'Did I really make the wrong choice? But I was against it...'*
After Tenchi left, Danzo's mind began to race. *'With power like his... perhaps direct confrontation isn't the way. Maybe I should try to cooperate with him. If I can get him to help me become Hokage... Yes, that's a brilliant idea. I'll test the waters in the coming days.'*
"Sarutobi, look at his attitude!" Koharu fumed. "He dares to threaten us here today; tomorrow he'll dare to attack Konoha itself! We must control him! We must send monitors! I refuse to believe he'd actually make a move against his own village!"
"She's right, Sarutobi," Homura agreed. "It has to be done. Danzo, say something!" He nudged the silent Danzo.
"I... I have matters to attend to. I'm leaving." With that, Danzo turned and walked out, completely ignoring Homura.
"Hmph! Useless when it counts," Homura muttered, watching him go. "Sarutobi, what is your final decision on this matter?"
Seeing Danzo abandon the fight, the two elders' resolve visibly weakened.
"Surveillance... is acceptable," Hiruzen said wearily, his face lined with defeat. "As long as he remains peacefully within the village, that is enough. Given his current strength, if we push him too far, he might truly turn against us."
"This... Very well. We suppose that will have to do for now," the two elders conceded, reminded of the terrifying fact that the man they were trying to punish had single-handedly attacked a Great Ninja Village. If pushed into a corner, Konoha could easily become the next Iwagakure.
And so, the matter of monitoring Tenchi was settled, though everyone involved knew it was a hollow gesture. They would pretend to watch him, and he would pretend not to notice. It was a fragile, unspoken truce.