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Ōnoki dispatched agents to investigate the Hyūga Clan's successful defection.
At the same time, The Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure, also received the news, along with an inquiry from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The sudden appearance of the Third Raikage puppet and the Eight-Tails naturally raised Hiruzen's suspicions about Kumogakure's involvement in the Hyūga defection.
And indeed, Kumo was involved—indirectly.
If not for their actions, the Hyūga wouldn't have defected.
A slammed his fist on his desk, shattering the poor piece of furniture.
"Shin Uzumaki!" he roared. Seeing Hiruzen's message about the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails, A immediately knew Shin was involved.
His father's corpse turned into a puppet, the Eight-Tails captured—only Shin Uzumaki could be responsible.
In response to Hiruzen's inquiry, A sent a defiant reply:
—["Go ask Shin Uzumaki. If Konoha wants war, Kumogakure will gladly oblige."]
This message reached Hiruzen—who wasn't entirely surprised that Shin was involved. He should have realized sooner.
Guy had reported Shin's presence in Konoha.
Then Hiashi had informed him Shin was staying in the Hyūga compound. Hiruzen had simply forgotten about it amidst the chaos of the Hyūga defection.
Now, everything made sense.
The Hyūga's defection had Shin Uzumaki pulling the strings. No wonder they had the audacity.
Understanding the situation only made Hiruzen feel worse. Shin Uzumaki was involved.
What could he do now? Confront Shin?
The thought vanished instantly. Konoha couldn't afford to provoke such a powerful enemy right now.
Shin Uzumaki, even at the age of twelve, had possessed the power to intimidate the entire Shinobi world.
How much stronger had he become since then?
His true strength was a mystery—one the Five Great Villages were desperate to unravel—yet none dared to test him directly.
Hiruzen certainly wasn't going to be the first. Konoha, already plagued by troubles, couldn't afford such a gamble.
As Hokage, Hiruzen knew the village's current strength better than anyone.
On the surface, Konoha was still the number one Hidden Village, but its actual strength might not justify that title anymore. That was why Hiruzen had chosen to sacrifice the Hyūga Clan and appease Kumogakure.
If he could buy regret medicine, Hiruzen would buy a hundred pills right now and undo his decision.
But regrets were useless. Losing the Hyūga Clan was a significant blow to Konoha.
Furthermore, the defection had destabilized the village internally.
The Uchiha Clan—usually kept in check, had become increasingly restless lately. If not for Fugaku Uchiha suppressing them, they would be even more audacious.
Fugaku was holding back mainly because he'd witnessed Hiruzen's strength and wasn't confident he could win.
He also hoped that—given the Hyūga's fate, Hiruzen would try to appease the Uchiha, not suppress them further.
Alas, Fugaku was mistaken...
In the Hokage's office, the discussion centered precisely on suppressing the Uchiha Clan.
Danzō, accompanied by Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, confronted Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen, the Hyūga have defected, and the Uchiha are restless. What do you propose?"
Hiruzen took a deep breath, seeing the ruthless glint in Danzō's eyes. He knew what Danzō wanted—to eliminate the Uchiha Clan entirely.
But Konoha couldn't afford such turmoil right now, nor could they lose the Uchiha's strength.
"Danzō, we cannot touch the Uchiha Clan. It would destabilize Konoha internally."
They already faced external threats. Kumogakure hadn't agreed to peace yet, and the other villages were watching hungrily. Internally, the other Clans were already dissatisfied due to the Hyūga incident.
They knew if the Hyūga could be sacrificed, so could they. Even clans loyal to the Hokage—were unhappy.
Attacking the Uchiha now? The other clans would lose all faith in Konoha. The village might collapse from within before any external enemy even attacked.
"Konoha's stability??? The Uchiha Clan is the biggest instability!! Only by eliminating them can Konoha truly be stable!" Danzō insisted, unwavering in his desire to destroy the Uchiha.
Hiruzen sighed. Danzō had no sense of the bigger picture. Didn't he understand Konoha's current situation?
"The Uchiha Clan cannot be touched now. Not yet. Danzō, do not act recklessly."
"Remember, I am the Hokage."
For once, Hiruzen asserted his authority forcefully to restrain Danzō.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen! Just wait until the Uchiha rebel!" Danzō snorted angrily.
Danzō hated it when Hiruzen used his Hokage status to pressure him, but he couldn't challenge it. Hiruzen held the true power in the village.
"Hiruzen, we came to tell you—regardless of how you handle the Uchiha, do not allow them into the inner circle." Homura Mitokado stated their condition.
He wasn't as extreme as Danzō, but he didn't want the Uchiha gaining access to Konoha's decision-making core. That would diminish their own power, something Homura and Koharu wouldn't tolerate. That was why they had accompanied Danzō.
Hiruzen knew this was their final compromise, but it aligned with his own intentions anyway. He never planned to let the Uchiha into the upper echelons of power.
He didn't want to annihilate the Uchiha Clan now for the sake of the village, but he still considered them a threat, especially after the Hyūga incident.
Appeasing the Uchiha was no longer an option. He didn't trust them.
Suppressing them remained the long-term plan.
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