Danzo's single eye fixed coldly on Uchiha Fugaku, waiting for his answer.
As long as Fugaku dared to voice any objection…
Within the crowd, Fugaku kept his head lowered, his face shrouded in gloom. Since the beginning of the meeting, he had not spoken a single word.
In truth, he knew that nothing he said would change the situation. The reality was already clear: if the Uchiha clan wished to weather this storm safely, they would have to pay a price.
Or else… truly launch a coup d'état.
But unlike those within the clan who shouted about rebellion day after day, Fugaku could still see the situation clearly.
The current Uchiha, challenging Konoha's upper leadership?
It would be like smashing an egg against a rock.
Even when the Three Sannin were absent from the village, there would have been no hope—let alone now, with all three having returned.
Causing trouble at this moment would mean only one thing: the complete annihilation of the Uchiha clan.
Mito Homura unfolded the map before everyone. A striking red circle stood out clearly. After a brief glance, all eyes turned toward Fugaku.
In the dead silence, Fugaku slowly rose to his feet.
"Hokage-sama, honored advisors, I understand your decision. The Uchiha clan will relocate to the outskirts of the village and do our utmost to avoid contact with the civilians."
He cast a glance at the jōnin from the smaller ninja clans and took a deep breath.
"At the same time, the Uchiha will provide part of our assets as compensation for the losses suffered. In the coming wars, we will fight on the front lines. We will use the blood of our own people to regain the village's trust."
If reports of Uchiha shinobi dying one after another reached the village during the battles ahead… even the civilians who hated them the most would be forced to reconsider.
When that time came, the rumors claiming the Uchiha had controlled the Nine-Tails and slaughtered the villagers would collapse on their own.
There was no other choice.
To cleanse the clan's stain with the lives of its own members—this was the painful decision Fugaku made.
Disappointment flashed through Danzo's eye. To him, this Uchiha clan head was far too weak.
So be it. We still need manpower for now… but after this, will there truly be room left for moderates within the Uchiha clan? he thought.
Gradually strangling the moderate faction and driving the entire clan toward extremism had always been Danzo's strategy.
The Third Hokage cleared his throat.
"As for compensation to the civilians, the village will also shoulder part of the burden. I will remove several ninjutsu from the archives and distribute them to the ninja clans that suffered losses."
Fugaku hurriedly expressed his thanks.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Then this matter is settled. From this point onward, any rumors linking the Uchiha clan to the Nine-Tails are strictly forbidden."
He continued,
"Next, we will discuss Kumogakure and Kirigakure. According to our intelligence, the Cloud Village is reinforcing its troops near the Land of Hot Water, while the Mist Village has already initiated hostilities. Three days ago, their ANBU destroyed one of our key coastal supply points…"
The meeting concluded swiftly with final decisions.
Jiraiya would lead one thousand shinobi to reinforce the Land of Hot Water's border. Combined with the three thousand already stationed there, four thousand ninja would be tasked with holding back Kumogakure.
Elite forces from the Ino–Shika–Chō clans, the Sarutobi clan, the Inuzuka clan, and part of the Hyūga branch family under Hyūga Hizashi would assist Jiraiya.
Orochimaru would command six thousand shinobi to the eastern border of the Land of Fire. Together with the fifteen hundred already stationed there, a total of seven thousand five hundred ninja would confront Kirigakure.
Elite forces from the Aburame clan, Root, the Hyūga clan under Hyūga Hiashi, and the Uchiha clan under Uchiha Fugaku would support Orochimaru in striking down the invading Mist forces.
Tsunade, meanwhile, would remain in Konoha.
This final decision surprised many. Tsunade had already refrained from entering battle several times in recent years.
A shadow fell over Fugaku's heart.
He interpreted Tsunade's stay as a sign of the village leadership's vigilance toward the Uchiha.
Even after resolving to send most of the clan's elite to the battlefield, the village still did not trust them.
What are they afraid of? Who are they guarding against by keeping Tsunade here? After all we've given, is it still not enough? What more do they want from us?
Fugaku left the Hokage Tower with a deeply darkened expression.
As the meeting ended, the participants gradually dispersed.
At the doorway, Danzo suddenly stopped.
"Hiruzen, you always believe your power is enough to suppress any unrest from the Uchiha. But have you ever considered the future? When all of us grow old, will the next generation—soft and complacent—still be able to restrain them? The evil power of the Mangekyō Sharingan continues to circulate within that clan. It will never disappear."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was hidden beneath the Hokage's hat, unreadable. Only the smoke from his pipe drifted slowly upward.
Receiving no response, Danzo snorted coldly.
"I won't stop. If you won't do what must be done, then I will. That is the purpose of Root—and the continuation of Master Tobirama's will!"
With that, he slammed the door shut and left.
"That old man is as dark as ever," Jiraiya muttered, crossing his arms.
Only he and the Third Hokage remained in the room.
Hiruzen set down his pipe.
"Having him watch the Uchiha is not entirely without merit… but let's leave that aside. Jiraiya, during your travels through the shinobi world, did you notice anything unusual? I suspect that the one who controlled the Nine-Tails…"
In the corridors of the Hokage Tower, Orochimaru walked with an unreadable expression when he suddenly came to a halt.
By the window ahead stood a familiar figure.
Dark green robes trimmed with black, a black sash tied at the waist. Blond hair at the temples fluttered gently in the breeze, and a blue-violet diamond mark adorned her forehead.
Tsunade.
She had returned to Konoha that very day.
Tsunade turned around, her expression openly hostile—like someone ready to demand answers.
It was clear she had been waiting specifically for him.
"You bastard… what exactly did you put into that kid's head?!"
Orochimaru was momentarily stunned.
What did I put into his head?
Since when did Tsunade misunderstand him this deeply?
Of course, he knew exactly which "kid" she meant.
But that boy had always been troublesome by nature. Did he really need external influence?
"How interesting…" Orochimaru's long, serpentine tongue flicked out, curling through the air. "Have you also been infected by Jiraiya's stupidity? Do you truly believe that child was as innocent as he appeared?"
"Before entering Root, he would never have done something like this!" Tsunade clenched her fists.
She knew Hazan better than anyone—she had personally taught him for so long. How could she not understand him?
And she knew exactly what Root was.
No matter how pure or kind a child might be, once they entered that place, they would inevitably be stained black.
Since learning of Hazan's defection, Tsunade's heart had been in agony.
He was the most gifted child she had ever seen in the medical field—warm-hearted, kind, his eyes always filled with hope.
Yet in just one year after she left Konoha, he had been dragged into Root… and corrupted.
If only I had known…
Rage and guilt flooded Tsunade's heart.
She had already confirmed it—Hazan had been brought into Root by Orochimaru himself.
Tsunade was well aware of Orochimaru's ability to manipulate and twist people.
The truth was obvious.
Because of his exceptional talent, that pure and gentle child had been targeted by this venomous snake.
Orochimaru had dragged him into Root and subjected him to brainwashing.
"Orochimaru… you truly disappoint me. No matter who it is, you can bring yourself to use them. When did you become so cold and cruel?"
Orochimaru's expression turned icy. He lost all interest in explaining himself.
He brushed past Tsunade, his hoarse voice echoing through the corridor.
"I was wrong. You're even more foolish than Jiraiya. People like you will never understand the pain or ambitions of others. Tsunade… you are unbearably dull."
His figure gradually disappeared from the Hokage Tower.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the ground.
The Hokage Tower collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Hiruzen and Jiraiya, who were still in discussion, leapt out in shock, staring at the scene in utter disbelief.
ANBU forces rushed in, fully alert.
"Tsunade?!" the Third Hokage roared angrily.
"What is it, you old man?!" Tsunade shouted back, furious.
"The… the reconstruction of the Hokage Tower will cost a great deal of money…"
"Hmph!"
Tsunade flicked her dark green cloak and turned away.
Before Jiraiya and Hiruzen, a massive kanji was carved into the ground:
"赌" — Gamble.
Jiraiya scratched his head in confusion.
"What just happened?"
The Third Hokage let out a heavy sigh, deeply feeling his failure as a teacher.
"These disciples of mine… every single one of them. How did they all turn out like this?"
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