A cheerful atmosphere emerged as Shisui widened his eyes with three Tomoe Sharingan, clearing the previous gloom of the clan meeting, and everyone's face blossomed with sincere smiles.
At the back of the queue, Obito moved forward with the others, stood on tiptoe, and could barely see Roy's figure.
Somehow, as Obito swept his gaze around, he sharply realized... today's Uchiha seemed a bit different... he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt that if every clan meeting were like today, then... he would definitely not make excuses to skip like he used to; fortunately... he was here today!
"Quiet!"
"Gathering like this, what are you saying!"
"Thud~" a dull sound echoed as Uchiha Shatters seemed to finally remember his cane.
The old man flicked his toe and grabbed the cane in his hand again, thumping it heavily on the ground, dispersing the crowd to make space for Roy, then turned aside to invite Uchiha Fugaku, gently saying, "Clan Leader, who starts and who follows, will you take the lead?"
Uchiha Fugaku had no objection, but... "Before that," Fugaku gestured to Uchiha Inaho and Tetsuo to close the main hall doors and guard the entrance on both sides, finally stepping out from the crowd, squinting at the other Uchiha clan members, and said, "I would like everyone to keep this secret for my son."
The higher-ups don't wish the Uchiha to gain more Sharingan, especially not three Tomoe Sharingan... and now because of Roy's existence, every Uchiha has the chance to awaken their eyes... everyone here with some sense knows, if the secret is leaked, what will become of the Uchiha...
Not to mention the entire force of Konoha exterminating the clan... at least, if Sarutobi Hiruzen and others know, Roy... will definitely die!
"How to keep it?"
"I think it's best to plant the 'Curse of the Frenzy' for safety!"
Uchiha Shatters glanced at Uchiha Hachida: "Hachida, starting with you, every person... one by one, plant the 'Curse of the Frenzy'!"
[Curse of the Frenzy]: A jutsu for keeping secrets, it brands a curse mark on the tongue and combines hand seals to cut off the ninja technique of others leaking secrets.
It is also a common method used by Danzo to control "Root," preventing leaks from "Root."
As long as the caster does not die, the curse mark will not be lifted.
Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shatters exchanged a glance, tacitly agreeing... yet even if they wrack their brains, they won't realize that [Curse of the Frenzy] can defend against insiders but hardly those like the spying or "surveillance" of the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen!
A probing gaze descended from the shadows... drifting through the shrine's doors.....
Hokage Building.
The two old men, one standing and one sitting, separated by the desk symbolizing the power of Konoha,
A report lay spread on the desk, with the heading... "List of Deceased Uchiha Members" depicted.
Shimura Danzo's right eye and entire right arm were wrapped tightly with bandages; his slender eyes looked dissatisfied at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who sat behind the desk, questioning, "Why agreed to Uchiha Fugaku's request to reduce the quota?"
"Hiruzen, have you forgotten the teacher's reminders?"
"Uchiha, naturally a sinister clan, must never be allowed to grow large!"
The village can produce strong ninjas, can produce Jonins, but cannot produce shadows, cannot threaten the Hokage's position... The teachings of Tobirama Senju remain vivid.....
Sarutobi Hiruzen, draped in a white god robe, underscoring a red ninja outfit, with the Hokage hat representing the "Hokage" placed quietly in a corner of the desk, quietly gazed at the list, his head unlifted, saying, "Too much is harmful; Hyuga, Inuzuka, Aburame can die, Uchiha of course can die... but,"
"Cannot die too many, dying too much affects the village's unity."
Without the position, there's no governance... Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced sideways at Danzo: "The principle of boiling a frog in warm water, do I still need to teach you?"
Danzo understood the principle, he only hated not being the one behind the desk... thinking of the plan made beforehand with Orochimaru, expecting this time for the Uchiha to die more, to gather more Sharingan, unexpected... Sarutobi Hiruzen's mere words abruptly halved his plan for implanting Sharingan.
Shimura Danzo insisted defiantly, "Don't fool me with the bullshit about unity again."
"Do you think Uchiha Fugaku doesn't know?"
"This is a matter on the surface; even if you don't agree, what can he do?"
"It's precisely because everyone knows, self-restraint is necessary!" Sarutobi Hiruzen closed the list, paced to the window, and from the drawer, retrieved a tobacco pipe, lit it with a match, inhaled deeply, then leisurely gazed at the three giant Hokage statues at the Hokage Rock, deeply saying, "One shouldn't go to extremes in doing things; Uchiha is also part of the village, see them up close and afar, ultimately it's better to leave a bit of leeway."
"Better leave none." Danzo leaned against the desk, which should have been his, and would be his future,
A slender eye opened and closed, together with Sarutobi's gaze toward Hokage Rock, besides the first and second, Sarutobi's statue was the most striking; the hand holding the cane subtly itched... wishing a [Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere] could clean it, returning Hokage Rock to neatness!
"Indeed?"
"Isn't it?"
Danzo: "The village doesn't need small cliques; guess what they are doing, they are having a clan meeting!"
Shimura Danzo rubbed the cane, sneering coldly, "A clan not dedicated to Konoha, constantly pondering how to preserve their clan's power... the teacher was right, the Uchiha all deserved to be killed!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyebrows twitched, "When did the teacher say this?"
"Do you think I'll tell you?"
"Indeed,"
Sarutobi Hiruzen removed the tobacco pipe, exhaled a puff of smoke, his face veiled within the smoke, indistinct to the eye as he said: "Since the teacher valued you so much yet let me become Hokage, Danzo... the door is behind you, please."
"You!"
"You'll regret this!"
"Bang!"
The Hokage office door slammed shut heavily!
Shimura Danzo stormed out.
"Tap... tap..." His cane pounded the ground with both fury and urgency....
Sarutobi Hiruzen scoffed with disdain, leaned against the clean window frame, basking in the sunlight shining down, illuminating the Hokage Rock, adding a halo glow to his statue...
He puffed contently through the dried tobacco...
Settled back in the Hokage's seat, staring at the closed list, lost in contemplation... unsurprisingly, as per his foresight, this time the Uchiha lost dozens, leaving Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Hachida, Uchiha Inaho, Tetsuo... and Uchiha Shatters, who weathered more than a decade of youthful time....
Fully resembling a group of big cats, small cats, plus an old cat, amounted to nothing substantial... further pondering....
Recalling Danzo's mention, today is the Uchiha clan meeting day....
Sarutobi Hiruzen gently furrowed his brow, reaching out to grab the crystal ball on the desk used as decoration,
As his brows tightened, he constructed the appearance of Uchiha ancestral land—Naka Shrine—in his mind, his hands instantly produced shimmering chakra light, flowing towards the crystal ball, executing the [Telescreen Jutsu].
Using the crystal ball as a medium, chakra as a support, projecting his gaze forth.....
Diffuse mist dispersed... the surface of the crystal ball showed an image, reflecting the main hall of the shrine,
At the center of the hall were placed over a dozen coffins, presumably those recorded on the deceased Uchiha list,
Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed intently... unsurprisingly, in front of the coffins stood... Uchiha Fugaku... Uchiha Shatters... Uchiha Hachida... and the younger generation from Uchiha, such as Inaho and Tetsuo, among other outstanding members... seeming to gather, discussing something.....
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze shifted, moving to the center of the circle suddenly....
And saw a pair of eyes suddenly looking at him!
Those eyes "ffwoo~" ignited two wheels of sun!
Immediately... stabbing pain shot through his eyes!