After Chi Yu arrived at Root headquarters, he made his way to Danzo's office. Inside, Danzo awaited him.
Chi Yu bowed respectfully. "Lord Danzo."
Danzo glanced up and nodded slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You've come, Chi Yu."
Chi Yu straightened and spoke with a calm tone. "Regarding yesterday's wedding, Lord Hiruzen personally requested that I invite Minato Namikaze. I couldn't refuse. I understand this may have displeased you, Lord Danzo, and I offer my apologies."
Danzo's expression darkened. He gritted his teeth. "That man... Hiruzen. It's one thing for him to force the Hokage seat onto his grand-disciple, but now he's trying to poach my people? Using your wedding, of all things, to get close to Minato? He's playing a long game—trying to soften you up, Chi Yu."
He stood, voice hardening. "Don't forget, Minato Namikaze stole the Hokage position from your master. If not for Hiruzen's blind favoritism, Orochimaru would be the Fourth Hokage right now. And you, as his disciple, would likely be the leading candidate for the Fifth."
Danzo clenched his fists behind his back. "Instead, because Hiruzen ignored my advice, we're stuck with that yellow-haired upstart who's inferior to Orochimaru in both military service and seniority. This weak leadership has set both your and Orochimaru's futures adrift."
Chi Yu almost laughed at the dramatic delivery, but he kept his composure. Danzo's manipulation was as obvious as ever. He was clearly afraid Chi Yu might align himself with Hiruzen or Minato, so he tried provoking his resentment—and dangled dreams of the Hokage seat as bait.
He feigned a stern expression and nodded. "You're right, Lord Danzo. I've been frustrated as well. If it had been Jiraiya, I'd have accepted it. But Minato Namikaze... I can't help but question Hiruzen's motives."
Danzo sneered. "Exactly. Orochimaru always believed that Hiruzen wanted a puppet. Minato was chosen because Hiruzen thought he could pull the strings—control the village through his former student."
Chi Yu's tone shifted. "Since the situation can't be undone, I'd like to ask about the Uchiha Clan plan. How should I proceed now? Wartime conditions no longer apply, and since Fugaku Uchiha became clan head, their behavior has become... restrained."
Danzo fell silent for a moment before replying. "You're right. Without war, we can't openly target them. Still, though Hiruzen and I disagree on many matters, we are aligned when it comes to the Uchiha. Leave this to me—I'll speak with him."
Chi Yu raised a brow and spoke frankly. "Forgive my bluntness, but I don't believe any such conversation between you and Hiruzen will yield results."
Danzo frowned. "Why do you say that?"
Chi Yu answered evenly. "You understand Hiruzen better than I do. Before the war, the Uchiha were widely resented—arrogant, oppressive. Even Masaki Uchiha, who led the clan before Fugaku, recognized that they were heading toward a purge and pinned his hopes on the war: that victory and merit might protect them."
He continued, "To obstruct that, Hiruzen assigned me—a known enemy of the Uchiha—to derail Masaki's efforts. In wartime, any targeting of the Uchiha could be disguised as strategy. But now, in peace, such actions will be questioned. Fugaku's leadership has curbed their excesses, and I believe Hiruzen intends to adopt a conciliatory stance. He likely fears that driving the Uchiha too far will cause them to lash out—and throw the village back into chaos."
Danzo's brow furrowed further. The Uchiha had long been under suspicion—ever since Tobirama Senju's era. Tobirama, his and Hiruzen's former teacher, had placed the Military Police under Uchiha control while secretly surrounding them with surveillance. Danzo didn't expect Hiruzen to waver on this issue.
Chi Yu pressed the advantage. "Consider this: even though Konoha won the war, Hiruzen demanded only symbolic reparations from the enemy villages. Some gold dust from the Hidden Sand, minor concessions from the Mist. Nothing from the Stone or the Cloud. Why? For peace. Stability."
Danzo's eyes narrowed sharply.
Chi Yu continued. "He may treat the Uchiha the same way. If the plan to pressure them is dropped and they regain influence, it will be too late to suppress them again."
Danzo's silence was telling.
Chi Yu shifted topics. "There's something else. I've recently encountered someone from the Uchiha Clan—Shisui Uchiha. You may have heard of him."
Danzo nodded slowly. "Yes. He's the second known Uchiha after you to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. His father was once a trusted comrade."
Chi Yu nodded. "I met him once on the battlefield. He's different. Most Uchiha place their clan above all else—but Shisui is loyal to the village first. He embodies the Will of Fire."
He paused. "I've also spoken with Fugaku Uchiha. He's intelligent—he understands their clan's precarious position and wants to reform it. He may use Shisui and Minato to bridge the gap between the Uchiha and the Hokage."
Danzo's face was unreadable, but Chi Yu saw the tension in his shoulders. Danzo knew such a move would make the Uchiha more integrated—and harder to isolate or manipulate.
After a long pause, Danzo looked up. "If it comes to that... What can be done to stop it?"
Chi Yu shook his head. "If they succeed in reconciling with the leadership, it can't be stopped. Both the Third and Fourth Hokage are cautious by nature. But we can adapt—we can act elsewhere."
Danzo's eyes sharpened. "What do you propose?"
Chi Yu spoke solemnly. "If Hiruzen and Minato reject direct action, you can suggest forming a new department—one that exists parallel to the Military Police. Its stated purpose can be internal security or counter-subversion, but it would allow continued oversight of the Uchiha Clan."
Danzo said nothing, but his mind was clearly racing.
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