"By the way, Lord Hokage, there's something else… though I'm not sure whether I should say it."
Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had calmed down somewhat, Uchiha Fugaku suddenly hesitated, looking as though he wanted to speak but held himself back.
Hiruzen's eyes flickered slightly when he saw this.
"Fugaku, it's just the two of us here. If you have something to say, speak plainly."
Fugaku hesitated for a moment before seemingly making up his mind.
"Lord Hokage, regarding the rumors about you circulating in the village… although most of them were spread by the First Elder's faction, our investigation suggests that someone else has also been secretly fanning the flames."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
"Who?"
Fugaku clenched his teeth.
"It appears those people are Root shinobi under Elder Danzō Shimura."
This was not something Fugaku fabricated.
After rumors about Hiruzen Sarutobi began spreading through the village, someone had indeed taken advantage of the chaos and secretly released a large amount of damaging information about him.
Although the perpetrators acted extremely cautiously, after an investigation by White Zetsu under Afei, Uchiha Ren quickly discovered that the mastermind behind them was none other than Shimura Danzō, the man known as the Darkness of the Shinobi World.
Danzō seemed determined to completely ruin Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation during this opportunity. He practically threw every piece of mud he could find at Hiruzen, accelerating the spread of the rumors.
Although Ren didn't know Danzō's exact objective, after some consideration he decided to go with the flow.
He deliberately inserted several statements praising Danzō into the rumors, pushing Danzō into the spotlight and creating a stark contrast between him and Hiruzen.
Hiruzen remained expressionless after hearing Fugaku's words.
It was unclear whether he simply didn't care—or had already anticipated it.
"Lord Hokage, I—"
"Enough. This matter ends here."
Before Fugaku could continue, Hiruzen raised his hand and interrupted him.
"I have my own plans regarding Danzō. That is none of your concern."
"You only need to manage your own Uchiha Clan."
"Also," Hiruzen added coldly, "until the matter within your clan is resolved, I think it would be best if the Uchiha refrain from wandering around the village."
"You understand what I mean."
His sharp gaze caused beads of sweat to form on Fugaku's forehead.
"I understand."
After a moment of silence, Fugaku sighed softly.
"I will strictly restrain the clan members during this period."
"Good."
Hiruzen exhaled a ring of smoke from his pipe.
"That will be all. I still need to meet the shinobi who returned to the village today, so I won't keep you any longer."
"Yes."
Understanding that he was being dismissed, Fugaku stood up, bowed respectfully, and left the Hokage's Office.
Once Fugaku's footsteps faded away, Hiruzen's previously calm expression immediately darkened.
"Someone!"
He tapped the desk.
"Lord Hokage!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke appeared in the office, kneeling on one knee.
Hiruzen wasted no time with pleasantries.
"Is what Uchiha Fugaku said true?"
Shinnosuke answered immediately.
"According to the ANBU's investigation, aside from the First Elder's faction within the Uchiha Clan, there was indeed another group secretly intensifying the spread of rumors."
"They operated very discreetly. At first we couldn't catch any trace of them."
"But later, under deliberate guidance from the Uchiha, we managed to identify them."
"They are indeed Root shinobi under Elder Danzō."
"Heh."
Hiruzen laughed coldly.
"It seems my old friend is eager for me to step down."
Shinnosuke frowned slightly, confused.
"Father… why would Elder Danzō do this? Even if you step down, it doesn't seem to benefit him."
Hiruzen glanced at his son.
The fact that Shinnosuke had dropped formal etiquette and addressed him this way showed that he genuinely could not understand Danzō's motives.
Hiruzen sighed and explained.
"You don't understand. Danzō has always coveted the Hokage position."
"But he also knows that as long as I occupy this seat, he will never have a chance."
"In recent years, the ideological conflict between us has grown more intense, and I've imposed more and more restrictions on him."
"That's why he's so eager for me to step down as Hokage."
After taking another puff of his pipe, Hiruzen continued.
"Originally, the person most likely to become the Fourth Hokage was Orochimaru."
"That's why Danzō began drawing close to Orochimaru long ago. The two of them carried out quite a number of operations together."
"By the time I realized it, it was already too late. The ties between Orochimaru and Danzō had grown far too deep."
"If Orochimaru had truly become the Fourth Hokage, Danzō would likely become even more unscrupulous within the village."
"Fortunately, Minato Namikaze emerged at that moment."
"Orochimaru and Minato are fundamentally different."
"If Orochimaru is a dark cloud in the night—"
"Then Minato is the sun in the sky."
"Minato's personality ensures that he would never associate with someone who walks in darkness like Danzō."
"Once Minato becomes Hokage, he will definitely restrict Danzō's actions."
"It truly is Heaven's blessing upon Konoha."
Hiruzen sighed deeply.
There was both regret in his tone for his former disciple Orochimaru and disdain toward his old friend Danzō.
Shinnosuke nodded, only half understanding.
"Lord Hokage… how should we handle this situation?"
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened as he spoke firmly.
"Hmph. Danzō harbors ulterior motives, and the Uchiha Clan are hardly innocent either."
"Since they both despise each other so much—"
"Let them tear each other apart like fighting dogs."
"Send word to Danzō. Have him mobilize Root and surround the Uchiha Clan Compound, standing by for orders."
"Also instruct the ANBU to increase surveillance and closely monitor the Uchiha."
Although Fugaku had temporarily gained Hiruzen's trust by appearing cooperative, Hiruzen still had to prepare for the worst.
If Fugaku failed to suppress Uchiha Setsuna, Hiruzen needed to be ready to respond immediately.
"Yes!"
Shinnosuke acknowledged the order and prepared to leave.
"Wait."
Hiruzen suddenly seemed to recall something.
"Minato Namikaze should have entered the village by now, correct?"
Shinnosuke nodded.
"He's currently completing the return procedures for the shinobi who came back with him. It should take a little longer."
Hiruzen waved dismissively.
"Leave those trivial matters to someone else."
"Tell him to come see me immediately."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Shinnosuke vanished from the Hokage's Office.
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