Looking at Uchiha Akihito's calm, untroubled smile, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a faint sense of discomfort.
With "Flame Oni" Akihito ascending as the new clan head, the Uchiha's future had become highly unpredictable.
Though unwilling, Hiruzen had no choice but to tacitly accept the reality of Akihito's rise.
The Third Great Ninja War had only just ended, and Konoha had recently endured the Nine-Tails Incident.
Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning was watching like a tiger eyeing its prey. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was equally ambitious.
At such a time, it was unwise to provoke the Uchiha further.
Hiruzen took a heavy draw from his pipe and began preaching the Will of Fire to Akihito.
"Wherever the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire will continue to burn."
"And the newly sprouted leaves will one day illuminate the village."
Akihito remained silent.
That indoctrinating creed had poisoned generations of Konoha. In terms of rhetoric, he was no match for the Third Hokage.
Akihito believed only in strength.
As long as the Uchiha were powerful enough, Hiruzen would not dare act rashly.
Once Hiruzen relented, the two advisors who had been brimming with anger immediately quieted down.
The two old vultures were nothing more than opportunists who bullied the weak and feared the strong.
If Hiruzen had already accepted the situation, what could they say?
Unable to target Akihito, they turned their frustration toward Fugaku.
"The dignified Uchiha clan head, 'Wicked Eye' Fugaku, losing to a mere youngster."
"You've truly regressed with age."
Fugaku frowned slightly and replied calmly,
"The advisors speak the truth. I am indeed no longer what I once was."
"Perhaps you'd like to go up there and teach the young Uchiha a lesson yourselves?"
The two advisors were instantly speechless.
In their youth, they had possessed some skill.
Now? They were long past their prime.
Facing "Flame Oni" Akihito would be nothing short of suicide.
Hiruzen's expression darkened as he admonished,
"We are all comrades of Konoha. Harmony above all."
"Constant fighting and killing—what kind of example is that?"
Fugaku immediately seized the opportunity to step down gracefully.
"Lord Hokage speaks wisely."
"We must avoid actions that damage harmony."
The two advisors felt as though they had swallowed flies, yet could not press the matter further.
Akihito turned to face the gathered clan members in the arena.
"The revival of our clan cannot rely on me alone."
"I need your support."
"Are you willing to brave fire and blade—for me, and for the honor of the Uchiha?"
The answer was unanimous.
"We are willing to die for the clan head! To die for the clan!"
"We are willing to die for the clan head! To die for the clan!"
Watching this scene of unified loyalty, Hiruzen maintained a smile on the surface—but deep inside, a strong sense of apprehension took root.
"'Flame Oni' Akihito… so forceful in his methods?"
"From now on, the Uchiha will not be as easy to handle."
With matters settled, Hiruzen had no desire to escalate tensions.
He offered Akihito a few polite words of encouragement before departing with the two advisors.
The moment they left Uchiha territory, the advisors began complaining.
"Hiruzen, you are far too indulgent with the Uchiha."
"At this rate, they will slip beyond control."
"You should listen more to Danzō."
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"I will find an opportunity to rein them in."
Hokage's Office.
Danzō sat in the Hokage's chair, gazing thoughtfully in the direction of the Uchiha compound.
"Hiruzen went to the Uchiha compound…"
"Will he come to blows with them?"
"If Hiruzen clashes with the Uchiha… perhaps my chance to become Hokage will finally come?"
Suddenly, a Root operative leapt through the window.
"Danzō-sama. 'Flame Oni' Akihito has become the new Uchiha clan head."
"The Hokage and the two advisors have tacitly acknowledged it."
A flicker of anger passed through Danzō's eyes.
"They allowed a mere brat to rise?"
"A bunch of incompetents."
Staring toward the Uchiha compound, his gaze brimmed with killing intent.
"To defeat Fugaku and take the clan head's seat… has Akihito grown to such a level?"
"Very well."
"I will propose eliminating the Uchiha entirely—cutting off the threat at its root."
"When you exhaust yourselves fighting each other… the Hokage's seat will be mine."
After Hiruzen and the others departed, a mocking smile curved Akihito's lips.
"They acknowledged my position as clan head, yet carefully avoided mentioning the role of Chief of the Konoha Police Force."
"Trying to drive a wedge between Fugaku and me?"
The so-called "Heroic Ninja" Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared righteous on the surface—but in truth, he was a master of political maneuvering.
The Third Hokage's greatest skill lay in having someone like Danzō as his scapegoat.
Danzō stirred up trouble repeatedly, yet Hiruzen tolerated him—was it truly out of old friendship?
If it were friendship, why would he later approve the extermination of the entire Uchiha clan?
Danzō was an old comrade.
But was Uchiha Kagami not one as well?
Hiruzen tolerated Danzō simply because Danzō was useful.
A "Shadow Hokage" like him was hard to replace.
Akihito drew a deep breath.
"It's time to have a proper talk with Fugaku."
If he intended to unify the Uchiha, he could not neglect the ideological work of the dovish faction.
Otherwise, while he charged ahead on the front lines, the doves might secretly align with Konoha.
That would be disastrous.
Akihito swore to himself—
He would never allow another "filial son" like Uchiha Itachi to emerge within the clan.
Thinking of the Obito lurking in the shadows, Akihito felt another headache coming on.
The Obito who inherited Uchiha Madara's legacy would not be easy to deal with.
And worse still, Black Zetsu was scheming behind the scenes.
Changing the fate of the Uchiha would be no simple task.
It would have to be done—
One step at a time.
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