Hokage's Office, 10 o'clock in the morning.
Three leather sofas surrounded a low table. On them sat four aged figures.
At this high-level meeting were: the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen; his longtime rival and Hokage's assistant, Shimura Danzo; and the two senior advisors, Koharu Utatane and Mitokado Homura.
Koharu not only oversaw Konoha's massive bureaucracy but also served as a key liaison with the Fire Daimyō. She was a veteran recognized even in the capital for her political weight.
These four, now the highest authority in the village, were once disciples of Senju Tobirama, the Second Hokage.
After his death, the four had together steered Konoha's governance for nearly forty years. They had endured two Great Ninja Wars and weathered countless storms.
It was no exaggeration: the brilliance of Konoha today owed much to the leadership of these four. This fact was even written plainly in the Academy textbooks.
At this moment, Koharu and Homura each held an intelligence scroll. After reading, both wore grim expressions.
"I did not expect Uchiha to conceal three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan so deeply," Koharu murmured, narrowing her eyes.
"It seems their years of restraint were nothing but patience—waiting for us to lower our guard. Now, they finally bare their fangs," Homura said, pushing up his spectacles.
As students of Tobirama, both knew exactly what Mangekyō meant.
Fortunately, from what intelligence showed, although Fugaku, Shisui, and Duan each possessed their own kaleidoscopic eyes, none yet matched the overwhelming level of Uchiha Madara.
Madara's Susanoo had once towered over a hundred meters, capable of leveling mountains and sundering rivers with a single strike—greater even than the rampaging Nine-Tails.
Had the clan produced three Madaras, then even Senju Hashirama reborn might hesitate.
Ahem.
Hiruzen set down his pipe, about to speak—only for Danzo to cut in first.
Slap.
Danzo flung the report onto the table, his voice deep.
"I have already arranged for this information to spread. Soon, the entire village will know Uchiha possesses three Mangekyō Sharingan."
"What?"
Hiruzen's brow furrowed. Rage flickered in his eyes. "Danzo, why? I ordered you to halt all actions against Uchiha. Give me one good reason."
But Danzo sat firm, replying with cold confidence:
"Because the people must be made to stand with us. No one wants another Madara rising in Konoha. Once news spreads, fear will breed distrust. Civilian shinobi, clan leaders, even the common folk will see Uchiha as a threat. They will demand action.
At that point, we will not even need your command, Hiruzen. The village itself will unite to keep Uchiha in check. With the strength of all Konoha, why should we fear them overturning the order of things?"
Danzo believed utterly in his path, unflinching before Hokage's authority.
Hiruzen shook his head in bitter disappointment.
"Danzo, your vision is too narrow. You see only Uchiha, never the larger picture. Have you forgotten? The other great villages watch Konoha ceaselessly. If civil war erupts here, do you think they will not seize the chance to invade? Must I remind you what such internal strife would cost?"
"Tch."
Danzo stood abruptly, his cane striking the floor. His single eye glared with accusation.
"Hiruzen, your weakness and hesitation have allowed the Uchiha disease to fester. This cancer thrives only because you lacked the resolve to cut it out. For this failure, you as Hokage bear full responsibility!"
Koharu and Homura, seated between them, exchanged glances. Neither interjected—because on the Uchiha question, both leaned closer to Danzo's hardline view.
Danger loomed. Hiruzen saw it. If this went further, his authority as Hokage itself could be hollowed out.
Boom!
He slammed his palm onto the table, rising to his feet.
"Enough!"
"Enough of this infighting," Koharu finally sighed, shaking her head. "How can we even begin to face Uchiha when we are quarreling among ourselves?"
"Indeed," Homura added wearily. "This is not the first time the four of us have clashed, but the village cannot afford division now."
The so-called "Konoha Four" had known one another for decades. Their political disputes were many, their arguments fierce, but all believed—at least in their own way—that their actions served the village's best interests.
At last, tempers cooled.
Koharu, the only woman present, voiced her judgment:
"As Hiruzen said, war with Uchiha now is unwise. The fact they released Kakashi alive proves they do not seek to break with the village yet. They know as well as we do they cannot truly win."
"But…" Homura picked up her words with worry. "The problem is Uchiha has revealed three Mangekyō. If we show no strong response, they will surely attempt to reclaim authority over the Police Force. And then?"
Indeed—the real core of the Uchiha question was the Police Department.
Its existence had been a thorn in Konoha's leadership for decades.
"This is the Second Hokage's error," Danzo said coldly, showing no reverence for their late master. "Granting the entire Police Department to Uchiha was one of his gravest mistakes."
Danzo's resentment toward Tobirama was no secret. The Second had chosen Hiruzen as successor instead of him.
Koharu and Homura, too, had long harbored doubts about Tobirama's decision.
The Police Department wielded immense authority:
Formulating Konoha's laws, maintaining order, making arrests. From capture, to trial, to sentencing and imprisonment—the Uchiha managed it all, a "one-stop system."
Legislative, executive, and judicial powers concentrated entirely in one clan.
In truth, only the Hokage's ANBU could check them.
In other words: every shinobi and every civilian in the village—save ANBU—fell under Uchiha's jurisdiction.
They could justify arrest on almost any grounds. Was this balance?
Thus, for over thirty years, the Konoha elders had schemed ceaselessly, chipping away at the Police Department's influence wherever possible. Their efforts had kept Uchiha contained, preventing open rebellion.
But with three Mangekyō revealed, the old wounds threatened to tear wide open.
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