Chi Yu's Proposal
Chi Yu proposed a new idea to Danzo: establish a new department parallel to the Konoha Military Police Force—one that could serve as a tool to continue exerting pressure on the Uchiha Clan under a different name.
Danzo lowered his head slightly, contemplating the feasibility of such a move.
Chi Yu's suggestion opened a new line of thinking.
If a new department were truly established, neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Minato Namikaze would permit Danzo to monopolize control over it. However, this obstacle was not insurmountable.
The Uchiha Clan regarded the Konoha Military Police Force as their pride and symbol of influence within the village. In their eyes, it was essentially a family institution.
With some subtle manipulation—just enough to make it appear that the new department was being created to undermine or surveil them—the Uchiha would inevitably petition the Hokage to shut it down.
By that point, both Hiruzen and Minato would have likely adopted a more conciliatory stance toward the Uchiha, aiming to avoid conflict. If the Uchiha protested strongly, the Hokage might feel pressured into dissolving the new organization.
At that moment, Danzo could position himself in opposition, appearing as the only voice advocating for the department's continuation. The compromise? Splitting the institution—publicly disbanding it while privately allowing a splinter group to operate under his exclusive control.
But one problem remained.
Danzo asked, "If we create this department, who would serve in it? Most ninja in the village avoid offending the Uchiha. If it's seen as a direct threat to the clan, no one will join. And those who do may leave once they realize the target."
Chi Yu shook his head. "That's not a problem, Danzo-sama. If the compensation is high enough and Root operatives are embedded in leadership positions, they will set the tone. Once the new recruits experience arresting and surveilling Uchiha firsthand—and realize the Uchiha are not untouchable—they won't hesitate to stay."
"Those recruits can be treated as external auxiliaries of Root. Not official members—Hiruzen and Minato would never approve Root expanding openly—but honorary ones. This strengthens Root's influence and spreads your reputation among the ranks."
He leaned forward. "Danzo-sama, what you lack isn't ability or vision—it's visible support. You need people willing to follow you when the moment comes."
Then he added, "I still don't understand why the Second Hokage chose Hiruzen to succeed him. In my eyes, you were the more suitable heir. A Kage cannot afford hesitation."
His words hit Danzo deeply.
Indecisiveness. The flaw he hated most in others—and in himself.
He remembered how, back when the Five Great Nations were formed, Hashirama Senju—undoubtedly the strongest shinobi of his era—had the opportunity to make Konoha the supreme power. Instead, he had distributed the Tailed Beasts to other villages in the name of balance and peace, and had convened the First Five Kage Summit.
But that peace was superficial, sustained only by Hashirama's overwhelming might. The moment he died, the other villages no longer held back. The First Shinobi World War broke out.
If Konoha had retained all the Tailed Beasts, Danzo believed, none of that would've happened.
Tobirama Senju, by contrast, had ruled with decisiveness and strategy. He established the Anbu, directly under the Hokage, to secure executive power. He created the Konoha Military Police Force—staffed primarily by Uchiha—as both a gesture of trust and a calculated move to monitor a powerful clan.
He founded the Ninja Academy, ensuring the village could cultivate loyal, trained shinobi from a young age. While Hashirama built the village, it was Tobirama who made it sustainable.
Danzo often saw himself as Tobirama's ideological heir.
Yet when the Second Hokage chose his successor during a crisis, he passed the mantle to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Danzo had hesitated—he wanted to volunteer as the decoy during that mission—but Hiruzen acted first.
The title of Hokage had eluded him ever since. It remained a thorn lodged in his heart.
He was convinced that had he become Hokage, Konoha would be far stronger. The Third Shinobi World War would never have broken out. No other village would have dared act.
After hearing Chi Yu's proposal, Danzo understood its true intent.
Chi Yu had seen through him. He knew Danzo still harbored ambitions for the Hokage seat.
And more importantly, Chi Yu supported that ambition.
Chi Yu's strategy aimed to gradually expose Root to the public eye—not as a threat, but as a necessary arm of the village. It was a path to legitimacy, and influence. A path to power.
Danzo tapped his fingers rhythmically against the table, deep in thought.
After a long pause, he finally said, "I will give serious consideration to your suggestion. You may leave."
Chi Yu bowed. "Yes, Danzo-sama."
He turned and left the Root headquarters.
Emerging into the sunlight once again, Chi Yu drew a deep breath.
He wasn't worried. As long as Danzo still aspired to the Hokage seat, this plan would take root.
And there was no version of reality in which Danzo didn't want to become Hokage.
As for the Uchiha...
Chi Yu's expression darkened.
He intended to strike them while they were still proud—before the inevitable night of their downfall.
He hadn't forgotten how they treated him and his family. His parents had committed no crime, yet were labeled traitors and driven from the village. They were hunted as missing-nin. And when Chi Yu returned to Konoha, he was treated as a pariah, mocked and abused by Uchiha clansmen.
He remembered every insult. Every humiliation.
The Uchiha Clan was doomed—Chi Yu knew this—but before their fall, he intended to collect interest on the debt they owed him.
And on the night of their annihilation...
He would make sure he was there.
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