The words of the Uchiha clan are deeply moving. Inuzuka Sakuten understands the weight behind each one. The Uchiha need allies to break the political stranglehold of Konoha's system. But his clan, bound by its pact with the hellhound summoning, has been cornered. There is almost no room for negotiation.
One of the Uchiha elders had even warned him—seeking help from the Hokage would be useless. "No one can take what belongs to Uchiha," the elder had said. "Friends will feast with us, but enemies will be left in the cold. Those who try to stay neutral will find that the middle ground doesn't exist."
This wasn't just a banquet—it was a declaration. A decision had to be made. Either the Inuzuka sided with the Hokage's administration and slowly faded into obscurity, or they allied with Uchiha and risked being ostracized by the village. The choices were simple: die immediately, or live a difficult life.
Sakuten exhaled deeply, realizing there was never truly a choice. Once his decision was made, the suffocating pressure lifted.
Raising his glass, he stood and declared, "I am a friend of the Uchiha clan—now and always. For the future of our clans, let's drink to our alliance."
The room responded instantly, with cups raised high. The air filled with laughter and cheer. The Inuzuka, known for their bold and uninhibited nature, embraced the moment. There was no turning back now.
Some reached out to pet the enormous summon beast beside them. The creature, a massive warhound, rumbled in satisfaction under their hands. Somehow, the Uchiha always seemed to understand what pleased their allies. The night grew livelier.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yang stepped onto the roof, gazing at the night sky. "At least we've taken the first step." He sighed. He had arrived near the end of the Second Great Ninja War—luckily before the Nine-Tails attack. If it had been after that, there would have been no playing politics. The Uchiha would have been forced to flip the table or defect entirely.
But for now, there was still a game to be played. The Uchiha had not yet lost their foothold. They had to keep adding weight to their side of the scale—and chip away at the Hokage faction's power.
The recent death of Koharu Utatane had weakened her faction, reducing the influence of the advisors. With her gone, the Sarutobi clan had absorbed the remains of her power base. If Mitokado Homura could be eliminated next, it would leave Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura face to face—without a buffer.
That would be the real test.
The Uchiha had successfully recruited one neutral clan. The Yūhi clan had been placed under Jiraiya's command—obviously a political maneuver. That left the Hyūga and Shiranui clans. Neither would be easy to sway.
"If we can't recruit the neutrals immediately, then we'll keep weakening the opposition," Yang muttered. "For now, let's enjoy this brief moment of unity. Soon, we move to the next phase."
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office…
"This morning, the Uchiha clan held a clan meeting at Naka Shrine. They conducted a large-scale summoning ritual, calling it the 'Summoning Ceremony.' Afterward, the Uchiha elders gathered for a closed-door meeting. Details remain unknown."
An Anbu operative placed a thick report in front of the Hokage, continuing his report.
"The summoned warhound is an exclusive breed—only usable by Uchiha who have awakened the Sharingan. Each Uchiha can only form a contract with one. This particular summon was discovered by Uchiha Yang's team during a mission. The creature appears to possess an extreme affinity for chakra and enhanced intelligence.
Additionally, the Inuzuka clan suffered a devastating loss. Their standard ninken cannot compete with the Uchiha summons. The bloodline suppression is evident—their dogs cannot even function near these creatures. Their chief attempted to seek Hokage's intervention but was intercepted by the Uchiha elders and escorted to the meeting instead.
The talks ended in a grand banquet. Uchiha members continuously brought in food and drink. Cheers and laughter have been reported throughout the evening. Based on our sources, the Inuzuka clan has fully allied with Uchiha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe against the table, watching the embers fall.
Mito Menyan was the first to speak. "Hiruzen, this is serious. The Uchiha's new summons aren't just strong—they enhance the power of the Sharingan exponentially. The Inuzuka clan's techniques are completely obsolete now."
"In the past, every clan kept to their own summons," he continued. "But now, the Uchiha have something superior to the Inuzuka's signature fighting style. Their ninken have become liabilities. The Inuzuka went to us for help, and instead, the Uchiha intercepted them. That's a clear political maneuver."
Danzo slammed his hand against the desk. "The Uchiha are threatening the Inuzuka and coercing them into a deal. This cannot go unpunished! We need to increase our suppression immediately. Since the Inuzuka have chosen their side, they must suffer the consequences."
Hiruzen exhaled slowly. Sanctioning Uchiha now would undo years of efforts to integrate them into Konoha. If the Uchiha weren't actively making aggressive moves, then cracking down would only push them further into rebellion.
Just then, another Anbu operative entered, bowing before reporting.
"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha and Inuzuka clans have concluded their talks and are now approaching the Hokage Tower. They wish to formally register their agreement.
The contract states that the Uchiha will share their summon beasts with the Inuzuka clan. Together, they will develop a new breed of ninken, ensuring a stronger logistical network for Konoha's ninja forces. Several clauses indicate shared responsibilities and equal authority over the project. They request official approval and notarization."
Danzo's fists clenched. "This is a blatant provocation! They are testing us. Let me handle it—I will make sure they regret this arrogance!"
Mito Menyan shook his head. "Danzo, calm yourself. The Uchiha are clearly positioning themselves as cooperative members of the village. They have given us no direct reason to act against them. Suppressing them now would look unreasonable to the other clans."
Hiruzen placed his pipe down and spoke with a small smile. "Konoha is home to all its clans. We cannot afford unnecessary hostility. The Uchiha have extended an olive branch, and we must not crush it before it even has a chance to grow."
Danzo's face darkened. "You're a fool, Hiruzen. Indulging the Uchiha is no different from raising a tiger. You will pay the price for your weakness." With a final glare, he stormed out.
As the door shut, Mito Menyan sighed. "Hiruzen, I agree with diplomacy, but we must remain cautious. Uchiha are playing a long game."
Hiruzen chuckled, lighting his pipe once more. "That's why we let Danzo keep an eye on them. He will do what he does best. For now, let's wait and see."
Outside the Hokage Tower, Danzo smirked coldly. "You've made a clever move, Uchiha Yang. But don't think I won't find a way to kill you for it."