Hokage Building.
Tonight, the Third Hokage stood on the rooftop of the tall building.
Click.
He held his pipe between his fingers, puffing quietly as smoke curled upward, his eyes fixed on the village lights in the distance.
At that moment—
Da. Da. Da.
The sound of a cane striking stone echoed. Without even turning, Hiruzen knew who it was. Danzo had arrived.
"Coming so late… what is it this time?" Hiruzen asked lightly, blowing out a smoke ring.
Danzo walked beside him, shoulder to shoulder, both overlooking Konoha. After a pause, his voice was cold:
"Hiruzen, why bother asking what you already know? Uchiha is holding a clan meeting right now. Don't tell me you haven't sent your own people to spy, just as I have."
The Third Hokage's brows furrowed deeply.
"Danzo, withdraw your operatives. Immediately. I've already entrusted Shisui to handle this. He is the strongest Uchiha of his generation, and he carries the will of fire. That is enough to resolve the matter without further interference."
Danzo's tone was dismissive, his one visible eye sharp.
"You had better pray that Shisui succeeds. If he fails… my men will act."
"You—!"
Hiruzen's patience was about to snap when suddenly his expression shifted. His gaze darted toward the distant Uchiha district on the edge of the village.
A storm of violent chakra fluctuations erupted from that direction.
"What…? Did Shisui clash with the clan?"
Shock spread across Hiruzen's face.
Danzo narrowed his eyes, silently waiting. He was expecting it—waiting for Kakashi's signal scroll, the burst of light in the night sky that would justify immediate eradication of the Uchiha clan by force.
Minute by minute passed.
Neither man seemed to feel the chill of the night wind. Both stared toward Uchiha lands.
Gradually, the storm of chakra faded. Calm returned, as if the outcome had already been decided.
Danzo frowned. No signal flare. His face darkened like stone.
Hiruzen, however, slowly relaxed, the tension easing from his brow.
"It seems Shisui has succeeded. As expected of Kagami's descendant…"
Relief flickered across his features as he puffed contentedly on his pipe.
Moments later—
"Here he comes."
Hiruzen spotted a familiar figure racing swiftly toward the Hokage Building.
Whoosh.
Kakashi appeared, kneeling respectfully before them.
"Kakashi, how did it go?" Hiruzen asked, glancing deliberately at Danzo, waiting for his report to confirm success.
But—
"Lord Hokage," Kakashi said gravely, "Shisui fought the Uchiha but was defeated. I too was discovered… by their patrols."
The words hit like thunder. Both Hiruzen and Danzo stiffened, their faces frozen in disbelief.
And then—
"Lord Danzo."
A flat, emotionless voice approached. Aburame Ryoma of Root appeared, delivering his own report. He handed over a surveillance scroll.
On the projection screen, captured from afar by the kikaichū, stood two towering figures: Shisui's green Susanoo, and the later appearance of Fugaku's massive blue Susanoo.
As for Duan's stand-in technique, its unusual form eluded the insects' lenses—but Kakashi's testimony confirmed another Susanoo had manifested.
The Third and Danzo exchanged looks. In each other's eyes, they saw the same horror.
Susanoo.
They had witnessed it before—from Uchiha Madara himself, a godlike presence on the battlefield. Its power was overwhelming, its destruction unmatched.
And tonight… the Uchiha clan had revealed three Mangekyō Sharingan.
Terrifying.
"…Uchiha Duan."
Danzo muttered the name with hatred and dread. He finally understood. No wonder this man dared humiliate him face to face. With such confidence, he truly resembled Madara in arrogance.
Danzo's ambition flared—yet he realized bitterly that his plan to crush Uchiha had been reckless.
Hiruzen came back to his senses first. His face hardened, and his tone was sharp as steel:
"Danzo. Whatever schemes you've devised—abandon them. Immediately. Or else you will no longer serve as my Hokage's assistant!"
Three Mangekyō… even if Shisui remained loyal, there were still Fugaku and Duan. Two Mangekyō users against the village could bring disaster.
And Kakashi's release by Uchiha was deliberate—a message: Uchiha will not provoke, but neither will they bow.
Hiruzen inhaled deeply, then spoke:
"A full council meeting will be convened tomorrow."
Without waiting for Danzo's reply, the Third Hokage turned and walked off the rooftop.
"Kakashi…"
Danzo's voice dripped with manipulation, but Kakashi's expression chilled. He bowed curtly, then vanished in a flicker, leaving Danzo seething.
***
Meanwhile, Duan returned home.
The clan meeting had ended with a decisive outcome: Shisui defeated, Itachi injured, and even Obito forced to retreat with broken arms. With Kakashi's presence turned to their advantage, Uchiha solidarity had hardened.
Perhaps not all were radicals, but for the first time in years, the vast majority now stood firmly behind Fugaku and the clan.
Of course, Konoha could still destroy them if pressed—but any attempt now would come at a terrible price.
Duan considered this balance of power as he walked the corridors of his gym. Passing Samui's room, he paused briefly, listening to the quiet breathing within. She was already asleep.
He moved on, showered, and retired for the night.
***
The next morning, dawn light spilled over Konoha.
Villagers bustled into the streets as always. Shops opened, laughter and chatter filled the air.
The Uchiha Police patrolled in uniform. The Hokage Building rose in serene authority.
To the average citizen, nothing seemed different. Peace endured.
Yet only a handful of people knew the truth.
Last night, Konoha had stood on the razor's edge of civil war.
Beneath the illusion of calm, the undercurrents only grew stronger.
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