Shinobi are tools. Defective tools should be discarded. Valuable tools must be placed in the hands of those who know how to use them.
Shimura Danzo had always adhered to this principle.
In his view, the Uchiha clan was a dangerous, difficult-to-manage set of tools that nonetheless contained astonishing value.
Over long years, this set of tools had brought Konoha too many wounds and hidden dangers. Rather than expend enormous resources attempting to reconcile and appease them, it would be better to completely disassemble them, extract the most valuable parts, and place them in the hands of those who truly understood their use.
This had been proceeding methodically, especially after the Fourth's death. Everything would develop smoothly and naturally.
But then Tsunade returned.
This was entirely different from any previous sporadic, tentative gestures of goodwill. This new plan was a clear, systematic action driven by a strong candidate for Hokage positioned at the center of the village's power structure.
She remained the only candidate at this stage.
His old friend Sarutobi Hiruzen would commit resources and express support unless that path proved impassable.
The Root could not directly move against Tsunade. At this stage, any action targeting a Hokage candidate would invite direct retaliation from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
When Orochimaru defected, Hiruzen allowed him to leave. When Orochimaru attempted to kill Kakashi afterward, he immediately received an explosive tag. When the Root operated rampantly, the moment they moved against Kakashi, the main headquarters was surrounded by ANBU and Tenzo was taken.
If that were the case, the only way to make Tsunade's plan unworkable was to strike at the Uchiha clan.
So Danzo appeared before Uchiha Itachi.
"Advisor," Itachi said.
"Uchiha Itachi, you are truly a talented shinobi, yet your talents are being wasted under Shuji's command," Danzo began his recruitment directly, adopting a warm expression. "Staying beside him will only squander your gift. I can provide you with a true path to power."
Itachi did not respond. He simply bowed slightly. "My apologies, Advisor. I have other matters to attend to."
"Your clan walks a dangerous path. The protection he can offer is insignificant," Danzo pressed closer, his tone threatening. "Come to my side. As the Hokage's advisor, I can provide you with far greater room to develop."
Danzo stepped forward, using his long-established authority to create a suffocating pressure around Itachi, knowing how to make a child feel trapped and how to force that first compromise. With the first compromise comes the second, until complete control is achieved.
Itachi's expression did not change. He had witnessed how Shuji handled such situations.
Beneath all surface threats and intimidation lay the fundamental objective of the opponent.
Today Itachi was meant to go to the western outskirts residence because Shuji needed him to verify which names from Uchiha Fugaku's list should enter the ANBU first.
That meant the village had begun addressing the Uchiha question through Shuji's methods. This Advisor's appearance now indicated he was an opponent to that plan. So either he was more radical or more conservative than the proposal, but in any case, not someone to cooperate with.
His current posture suggested an intent to force Itachi into action. Backing down meant following the Advisor's rhythm. Resisting might mean losing, possibly giving this Advisor an excuse to move against him. Even if Itachi ultimately came out unscathed, his father might develop doubts about cooperation, jeopardizing the entire arrangement.
Should he engage in empty courtesy then?
"Itachi, you're here... Oh, Advisor is also present."
Uchiha Shisui emerged naturally from around the street corner, his expression showing slight surprise.
He walked to Itachi's side in a few steps and stood, his gaze meeting Danzo's steadily and frankly.
"Is something the matter?"
Shimura Danzo glanced at Shisui once, then disregarded him entirely. Today's pressure could not continue.
"Think carefully about this, Uchiha Itachi."
He dropped these words and vanished into the shadows.
Only after that oppressive aura had completely disappeared did Shisui turn to Itachi. "You all right?"
"I'm fine. Thank you, Shisui."
"I was just patrolling nearby," Shisui smiled. "Where are you headed next? I'll accompany you."
"To see Senior."
"Then let's go. Don't keep Shuji waiting too long."
Inside the western outskirts residence, Shuji was reviewing a list. This was not directly provided by Uchiha Fugaku. After Tsunade's personal involvement, Fugaku no longer needed to liaise privately with him.
The list came through Tsunade. She was aware that Shuji conducted certain investigations through Itachi.
Hearing the knock and Itachi's report, he looked up.
"Come in."
"Senior, on the way here I encountered Advisor Shimura."
Shuji set down what he was holding and gestured for Itachi to continue.
Itachi succinctly recounted what had transpired, including Danzo's recruitment attempt, his implicit threats, and Shisui's timely intervention.
Still not giving up, Shimura Danzo.
Tsunade had not yet officially assumed the Hokage position. It would be inappropriate to directly suppress him.
"Your handling was appropriate. There is no need to clash directly with him at this stage. He is, after all, a village advisor," Shuji said. "But do not be afraid either. He is merely the leader of the Root."
"You can refuse any request. If there are problems, have him speak with Lady Tsunade. I will inform Lady Tsunade."
"The only issue is he may resort to forceful methods."
Just as Danzo had seized Shisui's eyes, if he could render an opponent's plan ineffective, his existence as someone opposed to the Uchiha's radical faction would have meaning. Once matters became untenable, the village would still need his cleanup solution.
As for why matters became untenable, that hardly mattered.
It was like two doctors treating the same patient. If one sabotaged the other's surgical plan, then no matter how unwilling the patient was, they could only accept what remained.
"After you return, remind your father to be extra cautious recently. Shisui's concern was valid. Even you should remain alert when leaving the clan grounds."
"If anything important arises, I will take the initiative to find you."
Given another year, based on Itachi's abilities, he would have no reason to fear Danzo. By then, Uchiha Itachi without even opening the Mangekyo Sharingan could easily fight three three-tomoe Uchiha using only personal skill.
But ultimately, anyone needs time to grow. Even someone as powerful as Uchiha Madara had periods in youth when he couldn't throw a stone across a river.
Itachi hesitated slightly. "Senior, if even I have become a focus of attention, then your own safety..."
"Do not worry about me," Shuji said flatly.
Shuji knew Danzo's cards. Danzo did not know his. Between shinobi, conflict was an exchange of information. Especially when physical capabilities were not drastically different, excluding Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara.
Fighting against those who had appeared in the original timeline did not truly concern him. He knew his winning margin. He knew how much damage he could take. He knew when to withdraw.
Rather, it was the unknowns—those who had never appeared, those without jutsu records—that required caution.
After discussing the Danzo matter, conversation returned to the list Uchiha Fugaku had submitted.
Uchiha Itachi reviewed the names and said, "Hasshin tends to be stubborn but remains relatively level-headed, not an impossible person to communicate with."
"Tekka and Ienka are largely similar."
"As for Kusami, he has always been loyal to Father."
Shuji's brow furrowed, barely perceptibly. His worry had become reality.
The directive Shuji transmitted through Itachi involved selecting obstinate elite Uchiha for ANBU to free up Military Police Force slots.
Fugaku's interpretation may have been to persuade the more controllable, willing-to-follow members among the radicals into ANBU to meet the quota.
So he had submitted the names of those who listened to him most.
The problem was why report them? If these people truly obeyed Fugaku, they were not extreme elements requiring isolation but forces that could be cultivated and guided.
The truly problematic ones were those whose voices rang louder than the clan head's, whose stance was more hardline—the genuine radicals.
Integrating people into the ANBU system meant deploying them to remote regions for long-term infiltration, or reassigning them to pursue rogue shinobi fleeing deeper into western regions like the Desert of Death.
Uchiha internal discord would decrease dramatically.
Did they truly believe the village wanted a single Uchiha squad to jointly investigate some lead on Madara?
The first group entering ANBU, combined with the freed Military Police Force slot, together served as the Uchiha's credential submitting to village leadership.
Uchiha Fugaku submitted only six names, five of whom were his direct retainers.
Selecting four from six, no matter how chosen, could not effectively suppress the Uchiha's harshest extreme voices. It might instead weaken Fugaku's control over the clan.
"Takubi, Chiyo, Enbou..." Itachi reeled off several names, each representing those whose stances were most radical, most dissatisfied with the status quo in his observation.
Recording these names, Shuji made a decision. He would need to have Tsunade reject this list. Next time, she would have to ask Fugaku to provide a larger roster.
He would not explain the reason directly—merely say the village hoped to select the best from the best, and wanted a larger pool.
"Regarding the village's wish to select elite members from the Uchiha to enter ANBU, has word spread throughout the Uchiha clan?"
Itachi replied, "Yes, news has circulated."
"What is the reaction?"
"There are some questioning voices, and some clearly opposed, who believe this is a village conspiracy."
As expected, not all Uchiha could fail to see through the political implications, despite how often they proved unfortunately clever.
Itachi continued, "But there are also clan members who find this pleasing, even some exceptionally capable ones."
He had not previously realized that responses to stepping outside the Military Police Force were not universally negative.
Especially among those already serving as squad leaders within the Military Police Force, many harbored considerable anticipation.
Shuji's eyes brightened at this news. To Itachi's confusion, he explained, "The Military Police Force, though a large department, is limited in scale and advancement ceiling when compared to the other five departments combined, plus numerous independent squads and special operations teams."
"For truly capable individuals, serving only in the Military Police Force becomes a form of constraint."
After all, no matter how much effort one invested, the Police Force had only one position: clan head.
If Itachi's report was accurate, these individuals' presence might provide unexpected internal support for deeper future reforms to the Police Force.
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild
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