Inside the Hokage Tower, in the Hokage's office—
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his large desk.
In front of him were the clan heads of Konoha's major ninja clans, all of whom had been invited by the ANBU early in the morning.
"The Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan has always been invaluable on the battlefield, detecting enemy movements before anyone else," Hiruzen said with a warm smile.
"And the cooperation of the Ino–Shika–Cho alliance has long been the backbone of the village."
"Konoha's peace today would not exist without everyone's support."
"Lord Hokage is too kind," the Hyuga clan head replied in a deep voice.
"Protecting the village is our duty."
"Under your leadership, Hokage-sama, we have simply done what was expected of us," the Nara clan head added respectfully.
The other clan heads nodded in agreement.
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction.
Then his tone slowly turned more serious.
"However… the current situation is difficult."
"The other ninja villages are restless, and the village's strength is stretched thin."
"The request for reinforcements that Danzo made earlier was truly an act of necessity."
The clan heads' expressions remained unchanged.
After hearing the Third Hokage's polite opening speech, they had already anticipated this question.
They had also prepared their responses.
They had already refused Shimura Danzo.
They could not refuse Hiruzen Sarutobi as well.
If they wished to continue living in Konoha, everyone understood this unspoken rule.
After all—
They were not the Uchiha Clan.
Just as the Nara clan head was about to speak, planning to offer that the Ino–Shika–Cho clans could send a small number of ninja to support the army—
The office door was suddenly struck with loud knocks.
Before anyone could respond, the ANBU Captain pushed the door open and hurried inside.
After glancing briefly at the clan heads present, he dropped to one knee.
"Hokage-sama! Emergency!"
"The Uchiha Police Force has detained eight ANBU members who were performing a mission near the Uchiha compound—"
"They claimed the ANBU were spies and arrested them on the spot."
"Several of them are seriously injured!"
"What?!"
Hiruzen shot to his feet.
The gentle smile on his face vanished instantly.
In its place appeared disbelief and rising fury.
Veins bulged on the Third Hokage's forehead.
His eyes burned with anger.
But almost immediately—
He realized something strange.
When did I ever send ANBU to monitor the Uchiha?
Wait…
Danzo again?
With a war about to break out, why provoke the Uchiha now?!
And the Uchiha have gone too far…
Even if they were Root, they're still under the ANBU banner.
If they dare attack them today, what will they do next? Storm the Hokage Tower?
Thoughts flashed through Hiruzen's mind like lightning.
Slowly, he sat back down.
His darkened expression carried not only displeasure toward Shimura Danzo, but also growing concern toward the increasingly restless Uchiha Clan.
Their demands haven't even been decided yet…
Are they creating trouble to force my hand?
Or is something else going on?
The questions circled endlessly in his mind.
Hiruzen fell into silence.
The Hyuga clan head lowered his eyes slightly, concealing the thoughts hidden within them.
The Nara clan head sighed softly and rubbed his temples.
He exchanged a complicated look with the Akimichi and Yamanaka clan heads beside him.
The responses they had prepared earlier were now stuck in their throats.
The Uchiha—who were normally expected to grumble a bit and endure humiliation—
Had suddenly struck back.
Nine times out of ten, it meant Hiruzen's faction had pushed them too far.
So what exactly had happened?
And more importantly—
Whose side should they stand on?
In the suffocating silence—
BANG!
The office door was suddenly kicked open again.
The door slammed violently against the wall.
The sound was so familiar that everyone present frowned at once.
Shimura Danzo stood at the entrance.
His face was ashen.
Half of it was hidden beneath bandages.
His exposed eye burned with rage so intense it seemed almost tangible.
Ignoring the other clan heads entirely, he strode straight to Hiruzen's desk and slammed his cane on the floor.
"Hiruzen! You heard it, didn't you?!"
"It's the Uchiha!"
Danzo's voice twisted hoarsely with fury.
"They dared to openly attack and detain my subordinates!"
"This is rebellion!"
"Blatant rebellion!"
He suddenly turned around.
His single eye swept across the Hyuga and Ino–Shika–Cho clan heads present.
His gaze was venomous like a snake.
He looked as if he wanted to declare the Uchiha traitors immediately.
"Tobirama-sensei said it long ago!"
"The Uchiha Clan is Konoha's tumor!"
"They are born evil and cannot be trusted!"
"We should strike first and—"
"Danzo!"
"Do not say anything that harms unity!"
Hiruzen cut him off sharply.
At that moment, his mood was even worse than when he first heard the news about the captured "ANBU."
Some things could be said in private.
But attempting to provoke the Uchiha into rebellion—
And dragging the entire village into conflict—
No one would agree to that.
Among the clan heads present—
Several, led by the Hyuga clan head, now wore visibly colder expressions.
Did Danzo really expect them to start a war with the Uchiha just because of a few words?
They would have to be insane.
Those red-eyed lunatics—
Once they started fighting—
After the Senju Clan disappeared, no ninja clan in the Land of Fire dared provoke them.
Even if the Uchiha truly rebelled—
They were not the Hokage.
There was no reason for them to rush in.
"Harming unity?"
"The evil Uchiha are the ones harming unity!"
Danzo laughed angrily.
He turned back to Hiruzen.
His eye locked onto the Third Hokage as he roared his bloody proposal.
"The Uchiha have already rebelled!"
"We must mobilize all available forces!"
"Strike before they are ready!"
"Destroy them completely and eliminate the threat forever!"
The word "destroy" cut through the air like a blade.
Even the clan heads present could not help but change expressions slightly.
Their eyes grew darker.
"Enough, Danzo!"
Hiruzen slammed his hand onto the desk and stood up again.
He glared at his old friend.
His voice rang with fury.
"Look at yourself!"
"You're shouting about killing our own people without a shred of evidence!"
"Is this the attitude a leader of Konoha should have?!"
"Every word from your mouth is 'destroy' and 'traitor'!"
"What exactly are you trying to turn this village into?!"
He pointed directly at Danzo.
His voice was firm and final.
"The greatest threat facing Konoha right now is the ninja villages watching our borders!"
"Not the Uchiha you secretly sent spies to monitor!"
"What you should be doing now is preparing for war—"
"Not creating internal conflict!"
Danzo was momentarily stunned.
His eye widened as he tried to argue back—
But Hiruzen didn't give him the chance.
"I now issue an order in the name of the Hokage!"
The Third Hokage's voice thundered through the room.
"Immediately gather your forces and head for the northeastern border!"
"You will command the border troops and defend against a potential invasion by Kumogakure!"
"Without my explicit permission…"
"You are not allowed to return!"
Hiruzen stared directly at him.
He emphasized each word slowly and clearly.
"Your battlefield is at the national border."
"Not inside the village."
"Move out."
"Immediately!"
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