Danzo spoke at this moment, tone cold and deliberate.
"The Uchiha clan is already too powerful. This time, they even control a tailed beast.
We must take it from them and put it under our supervision."
He narrowed his eyes.
"I already sent people to negotiate earlier. But they were outright rejected."
"In fact, the Uchiha even claimed Konoha itself belongs to them. Surely, the Third Hokage understands the implication?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat in silence, but his thoughts raced.
How could he not understand?
The Uchiha clan had become too arrogant… too bold.
They had no intention of submitting to him, or to the village's leadership.
Now, with their rising strength, they were starting to dream of rebellion.
But what irked him just as much… was Danzo.
That old snake had made a move before he did — trying to seize the tailed beast's Jinchuriki for himself.
Hiruzen couldn't allow the Uchiha to grow stronger…
But neither could he allow Danzo to consolidate power.
The Uchiha were after his Hokage seat. But so was Danzo.
If Danzo gained control over a tailed beast-level force…
It wouldn't be long before he dared to speak down to the Hokage.
Even Danzo's suggestions would become harder to veto.
No — Hiruzen wouldn't allow Danzo any more political leverage.
He exhaled slowly and said:
"As for the Jinchuriki of the Two-Tails… I will issue a direct order as Hokage. The Uchiha will be commanded to hand her over to the ANBU."
"I'm confident they won't defy the will of the Hokage."
After all, he was the Third Hokage — the highest authority in the village.
But Danzo immediately scowled.
"The Two-Tails' Jinchuriki must come under Root's control."
"You already command the Nine-Tails, Lord Hokage. It's time the other beast belonged to my Root."
Danzo's voice was calm but firm.
If Hiruzen's ANBU ended up with two tailed beasts under their command, Hiruzen's authority would be unshakable — possibly permanent.
And that, Danzo could not allow.
He'd always believed the Hokage seat should've been his.
Had he not been one step too slow, the Second Hokage would've chosen him as successor, not Hiruzen.
Tobirama always favored him — for his ruthlessness, his decisiveness.
The Third Hokage frowned.
Even Naruto had stopped showing him the same respect lately.
His influence over the boy had faded — all thanks to that damned Uchiha Ryosuke.
Who knew Naruto could be swayed with just a bowl of ramen?
Kids were too naïve.
And now… the Two-Tails — a perfect Jinchuriki, no less — was in the Uchiha's hands.
If he could secure her under his own control, it would be an invaluable asset.
How could he possibly hand that over to Danzo?
"No," Hiruzen said flatly.
"I already gave you two promising shinobi last time. You failed to deliver results. The Two-Tails Jinchuriki will not be handed over."
Danzo's expression darkened.
"You're being greedy, Lord Hokage.
You control the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, and still want to seize the Two-Tails as well?"
If that happened, Hiruzen's combat potential and political weight would reach a level Danzo couldn't touch.
Their conversation soured.
Neither side would give ground.
Finally, Danzo played his trump card — a veiled threat.
"If the Two-Tails isn't handed over…
then Root may no longer be able to cooperate with the Hokage's office on future matters."
Hiruzen's face instantly darkened.
"You dare threaten me?"
Danzo remained unmoved.
He had no intention of backing down now.
And Hiruzen knew he wasn't bluffing.
For all his backroom dealings, Danzo was still essential.
Root's operations handled things Konoha couldn't do publicly — gathering intelligence, eliminating threats, ensuring "order."
Without Root, Hiruzen's control over the village would significantly weaken.
Reluctantly, he sighed.
"Fine. I'll hand over the Two-Tails Jinchuriki…
but only after we deal with the Uchiha situation."
Because truth be told — Hiruzen feared the Uchiha too.
They were rising again — stronger than ever.
But he had no intention of actually delivering the Jinchuriki to Danzo.
He just needed to stall.
Danzo, sensing the shift, eased slightly.
He didn't want open conflict with Hiruzen either.
After all, officially, Hiruzen was the Hokage.
Danzo's own operations still depended on the Hokage's approval.
If he burned that bridge too early, the elders and advisors would rein him in.
As long as Hiruzen agreed in principle, the rest could be handled with time.
What worried Danzo now was the Uchiha's image among the village's citizens.
If public opinion of them shifted positively, and they began to be seen as heroes,
then even if he and Hiruzen worked together to eliminate them — the cost would be catastrophic.
They couldn't afford that.
So Danzo offered the next step.
"Alright. First, we'll take the Two-Tails Jinchuriki."
"Second — we must revoke the Uchiha Police Force's authority. Their power has become too great."
"Strip them of their elite status.
Reduce them to just another clan."
Danzo's eyes gleamed.
The Uchiha Police Force operated entirely under village funds.
Without that salary, they'd be forced to take missions for money — vulnerable, scattered.
Easy to isolate.
Easy to eliminate.
A double win.
But the Hokage's expression shifted.
It wasn't that he disagreed.
The Police Force did have too much power — they had even arrested his own son once.
But… this position had been granted to them by the Second Hokage himself.
He frowned.
"I thought you'd have a better plan," Hiruzen muttered.
"They'll never willingly give up that position."
No one gave up power voluntarily.
And right now, the Uchiha were at their peak — strong, unified, confident.
Danzo's idea seemed crude.
But Danzo only smirked.
"Of course it won't be easy. But if we pull it off, we can crush their reputation.
Turn them into pariahs among Konoha's citizens."
Now Hiruzen was listening.
"And how do you propose we do that?"
Danzo answered smoothly.
"Let the villagers complain. Stir up more dissatisfaction."
"Once enough noise builds up, we'll pressure the other clans to back the proposal to revoke their police duties."
"And then, with your approval… the Hokage will make it official."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
It was a dirty tactic.
But an effective one — manufacture public outrage, then move politically.
After all, if the position was granted by the Second Hokage, it could just as easily be revoked by the Third.
Yes… perhaps the Uchiha did need to be humbled.
Lately, it seemed Konoha only had one name on its lips: Uchiha Ryosuke.
Not the Hokage.
That wouldn't do.
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