What was his leverage?
Watching Uchiha Amane's back, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not tell.
Logically, in such a sensitive time, even the son of the Uchiha clan head ought to keep his head down and behave.
Look at Itachi, a model case.
As a member of the Hokage's own ANBU, he was obedient and quiet.
Whatever goal that boy had in provoking him, Hiruzen had to admit he had underestimated the other side.
That elegant, courteous air had lowered his guard.
The issue now was no longer only the question Uchiha Amane had asked. Everyone present, including the students below, wore puzzled looks, curiosity burning bright.
The students wanted to know why the highest leader of Konoha bore the title Hokage.
Do not talk to them about the Will of Fire.
He himself had just explained that the Will of Fire was his summary of the spirit of the former Hokage.
Which meant that during the First Hokage Senju Hashirama's time, the spirit existed but the phrase was still vague.
So the title Hokage had nothing to do with the Land of Fire or the Will of Fire.
Everything that brat said was true. Without the Second's intervention, the first Hokage's seat would certainly have gone to Uchiha Madara.
Mentioning Madara in Konoha was taboo.
Hiruzen had spent decades dimming the Uchiha's presence, even making the villagers resent them.
Many had already forgotten that the village was founded by two leaders together. He could not allow the title's origin to be pinned on that man.
It was a riddle whose answer he knew and could never say.
He had underestimated him.
Uchiha were not easy prey.
Hiruzen's expression did not change. He ignored the children's bright, hungry eyes, skipped over Amane's question, and went on with other bits of Konoha's history.
He would not forget the six year old who dared challenge the Hokage's authority.
What was Amane's leverage?
Sorry.
He had far too many cards.
Perhaps when he went home, Fugaku would come to speak with him at length.
From Fugaku's view, if they could avoid provoking the Third, they must avoid it.
Amane intended to crush that foolish hope.
If they did not provoke the Third, would the Uchiha be safe?
Obviously not.
Only one of the Uchiha and the Konoha leadership could remain.
And the key was not where Itachi stood.
Even if, in the story, Itachi chose his clan and used two Mangekyo to slaughter the leadership, would Konoha fall under Uchiha rule?
The answer was clear. The civilians, the bloodline clans, the shinobi, none would allow it.
That was the result of long years of indoctrination from the top. You could say it had become tradition since the Warring States ended and Konoha formed.
No one trusted the Uchiha.
If a coup succeeded, the likeliest result was Konoha splitting apart, the Uchiha guarding an empty shell while other villages invaded.
If a coup failed, Konoha would remain, and Itachi would save his little brother.
That seemed to be his reason for acting.
As for leverage?
Had Amane heard Hiruzen's musings, he would have laughed.
If you intend to wipe out my clan, why should I be polite with you?
Do not overthink it.
To someone fated to be an enemy, what did it matter if he was brazen?
Born Uchiha, he could never warm to Sarutobi Hiruzen. Even so, the Third was a piece on his board. He would use him later.
Amane was no hothead. Needling Hiruzen was not for fun.
He was sure Hiruzen would not touch him.
First, Hiruzen needed Itachi, the obedient subordinate. Move against Amane, and he lost his hold on Itachi.
Second, though the village and the Uchiha were at each other's throats, and it looked like Konoha would love to wipe them out, Hiruzen was not a fool. Even if war broke out, the outcome was uncertain.
He was old, no longer the hero of his prime.
Third, corner the Uchiha and the result would only backfire.
Thus Uchiha Amane could dance on Hiruzen's line, never stepping over it.
He knew the measure.
Nor would he provoke without purpose. Those words just now were to clear a quest.
The Allworld Fist King's daily tasks were odd.
It had been this way for half a month.
The old punch-practice tasks had vanished. He could choose which tasks to complete. The truly absurd or impossible ones he ignored.
Like the one to observe up close how wicked Tsunade really was. Joke. She was not even in the village, and even if she were, Amane would have no way to get near.
Know your limits if you want to grow.
For now, raising the Kusanagi Kyo template was his best path to power.
One of today's tasks was to effectively interrupt Sarutobi Hiruzen's brainwashing at the entrance ceremony.
The reward was 2 percent template progress. Very tempting.
How to interrupt it?
Start with the Will of Fire and the title of Hokage.
Konoha was founded by Uchiha and Senju.
Laughable, the Senju claimed to have merged into the village, then faded like smoke. A few leftovers with no right to carry the name.
The Uchiha, meanwhile, were plotted against by the leadership and slaughtered.
As for never forget your roots, that line was purely to disgust Hiruzen.
The Senju.
Merged into Konoha, and how many remained?
Who had toyed with the only power that could rival the Uchiha in the Warring States? No need to say.
"I really envy you, Amane-kun."
Lounging against his little brother, letting the Second Pillar carry his weight while he smoked, Amane heard a voice at his side.
He glanced over. The orange jacket alone told the tale.
Uzumaki Naruto.
Come to think of it, he had swiped the boy's goggles.
"What do you envy?"
Amane beckoned, curious.
"I envy you, Amane-kun. You seem to gain others' approval so easily."
Naruto's eyes were clear, envy plain on his face.
There was one thing he did not say.
He wanted to know why seeking approval was so hard for him.
"Is that so?"
"Then I am very sorry."
"But Naruto, why should what I do require anyone else's approval?"
Approval for the Uchiha?
Do not kid yourself.
Amane patted the boy's dazed cheek, smiled kindly, then leaned to murmur in his ear.
"The approval of a bunch of nobodies..."
"Is it really that important to you?"
"Want to learn from me how to be a real man?"