Chapter 121: Using Izuna's Blade to Divide the Leaf
The Hokage Office. High Council Chamber.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table, Danzo Shimura positioned like a
looming shadow at his right hand.
Four High Commissioners were in attendance: Isshin and Fugaku Uchiha, alongside
Tenzo and Hizashi Hyuga. Hiruzen hadn't summoned the Uchiha and Hyuga heads to
be petty; it was a matter of logistics. Every other Commissioner was currently
buried in R&D or border deployments. Only the Police Force and the Clan
Patriarchs had the "desk time" to attend a diplomatic summit without stalling
village operations.
After the initial pleasantries, Elder Genji of the Mist took the floor.
"Lord Hokage, the Third Mizukage wishes to establish a much closer relationship
with the Hidden Leaf."
"He asked me to convey his deepest admiration for your character. In all the
Ninja World, he believes you are the only leader with the integrity to truly
inherit the spirit of the First Hokage."
Genji was referring to Hiruzen's recent global statement regarding the Cloud's
"illegitimate" power. Hiruzen hadn't joined the other Kage in kicking the
Mizukage while he was down; instead, he had subtly "started the fire" and then
stepped back to watch it burn.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Genji," Hiruzen said with a polite, easy
smile. "I admire the Mizukage's resolve. Reforming a village as complex as the
Mist requires a man of great iron and vision. Every reformer is a
brother-in-arms in my eyes."
Hiruzen smirked inwardly. Thanks to the "correspondence" between the Kaguya and
the Hyuga, the Anbu were receiving weekly updates on the Bloody Mist purges.
Hiruzen wanted the Mist to burn. As the internal civil war intensified, it would
become easier to siphon off "humanitarian refugees"—specifically those with
valuable bloodlines. If he played his cards right, he could eventually "export"
the Will of Fire to the Land of Water, provided the Mizukage kept doing his
"cleaning" work.
"I'm glad we agree," Genji said, looking satisfied.
"Our Kaguya clan and your Hyuga clan are ancient cousins. It is only natural
that the Mist and the Leaf function as a family. We should share intelligence
and maintain a real-time dialogue on global affairs."
"The Mizukage proposes a Joint Intelligence Interface. We can use the
Kaguya-Hyuga link as our primary channel. We realize that the Mist is
currently... in Konoha's debt regarding information."
"To balance the scales, we are prepared to deploy a rotation of Mist shinobi to
assist Konoha with mission contracts. We are also willing to offer priority
processing for chakra-metal refinement and the crafting of specialized ninja
blades."
Genji smiled, looking like a man offering the moon.
What the Mist actually needed was a "window" to the outside world while they
were under lockdown. They wanted Konoha to act as their diplomatic shield and
information aggregator.
The offer to "help with missions" was a darker move. It would allow the Mizukage
to "exile" troublesome or political rival ninjas to the Leaf. Once they returned
to the Mist, he could frame them for "colluding with a foreign power" and
execute them with legal cover.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe. "Mist shinobi running Leaf missions? I'm afraid that
won't be necessary."
Danzo caught the cue instantly. His face turned into a mask of cold hostility.
"If you want to plant spies in our village, Genji, just say so. Don't hide
behind 'assistance.' You clearly don't trust us."
"If there is no trust, there is no alliance. The Mist is the one asking for
favors here, not the Leaf."
Danzo stared Genji down, his voice dropping to a dangerous hiss. "I'll give you
some free intel: the Stone Village is already investigating your lockdown. Their
Jinchuriki have achieved stable mastery. They're looking for a reason to test
their new weapons on a weakened island."
Fuguki Suikazan lost his composure. "Is that true?"
"Who are you? Did I give you permission to speak? Shut your mouth!"
Danzo glanced at the Samehada on Fuguki's back and let out a sharp, dismissive
snort. "Genji, keep your 'Ninja Swordsmen' on a shorter leash. They're
embarrassing you."
"Fuguki, silence," Genji commanded, though his heart skipped a beat at Danzo's
threat.
The Anbu Commander's intelligence network was legendary. Even if Genji suspected
Danzo was bluffing, the tension between the Stone and the Mist was a historical
certainty. The late Second Tsuchikage, Mu, had made a habit of mocking the Third
Mizukage back in the day—and the Mizukage was a man who lived to settle old
scores.
"Konoha has no ill intent," Genji said, regaining his composure. "We believe
Lord Hiruzen is a man of his word. We simply didn't want our allies to shoulder
the burden of our intelligence gap for free."
Hiruzen leaned back, looking thoughtful. "I have an alternative proposal."
"The Mist is famous for its rigorous training methods. Our Academy students are
talented, but they lack the 'grit' of real-world experience. How about this:
four of your elite 'Genin' remain in Konoha for a one-year Cultural Exchange
Program?"
"We foster a bond between our youth. We allow them to maintain a direct,
encrypted line of communication with your office. When the year is up, we escort
them home."
Genji hesitated. Konoha wants our prodigies as 'guests'?
He wasn't worried about the kids being "corrupted" by Konoha's luxury. If they
were weak enough to be swayed by a hot spring and a full stomach, they weren't
worth the Mist's time anyway.
More importantly, Genji noticed the dynamic between the Hokage and his
Assistant.
Hiruzen was playing the "Merciful Sage," while Danzo was barking like a rabid
dog. To an outsider like Genji, it looked like a classic "Power Struggle." He
assumed Danzo was trying to stage a coup and Hiruzen was desperately giving out
"Commission" titles to the clans just to stay in power.
I see, Genji thought. Konoha is a house divided. Their prosperity is a facade.
"A one-year exchange? Acceptable," Genji declared. "We value our youth above all
else. I will select our four best candidates."
He had already done the math. Out of the four—Mei, Kisame, Yuki, and
Nakamaro—only Kisame was a true "loyalist" prospect. The other three were from
bloodline clans the Mizukage intended to purge anyway. Using them as "diplomatic
pawns" in a divided Konoha was a win-win.
"Hiruzen! You'll regret this!" Danzo barked on cue. "It's a security risk! It
isn't worth the trouble!"
His performance was flawless. He sounded exactly like a man who was losing
control of his superior.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen snapped back, his face reddening with "anger."
Genji watched the "argument" with a hidden smirk. The Leaf is rotting from the
top. The 'Shadow' and the 'Light' are at each other's throats. Excellent.
"Lord Hokage, since we are now partners," Genji said, signaling Fuguki to step
forward. "The Mizukage has sent a special tribute to honor the memory of the
Second Hokage."
Fuguki Suikazan produced an ancient, rectangular wooden box. He placed it on the
desk and unlatched the lid.
Inside lay a katana with a black-and-silver hilt and a blade that shimmered with
a faint, blood-red tint.
"This is the Hitomi-maru (The Ocular Blaze)," Genji announced.
"It was a custom-order placed by the Uchiha clan with the master smiths of the
Land of Water decades ago. It was intended to be one half of a 'Mother-and-Son'
blade set for a specific warrior. But the man died before he could claim it. It
remained in the Mist vaults until the Mizukage recovered it from a rogue
faction."
"As the student of the man who 'vanquished' the Uchiha's greatest rivals, it is
only fitting that you possess the blade of the enemy your Master defeated."
The room went cold.
Isshin Uchiha's face turned into a mask of suppressed fury. Fugaku looked
confused—he didn't recognize the blade—but Isshin knew.
That sword was an exact replica of the blade Izuna Uchiha had used. The
"Mother-and-Son" set was the twin-blade style Izuna had been developing to
counter Tobirama's speed. The Flying Raijin had ended that project before it
could begin.
Genji's "gift" was a calculated psychological strike. He was handing Hiruzen a
trophy made of Uchiha blood, effectively forcing the Hokage to insult his own
High Commissioners to accept the gift. It was designed to shatter the fragile
unity Hiruzen had built.
Hiruzen looked at the blade, then at the livid Isshin. He let out a soft,
appreciative hum.
"A magnificent blade. I'm certain my Master would have found the irony...
educational."
Hiruzen reached out and gripped the hilt. He performed a sharp, stylish
flourish, the blade humming with a low, grey fire as he channeled a spark of
chakra.
"However," Hiruzen said, looking Genji in the eye. "Using this as a personal
trophy would be a waste."
"Konoha has moved past the grudges of the Warring States. We don't carry the
blades of our brothers as 'trophies of war.' We carry them as Legacies of the
Leaf."
Hiruzen sheathed the sword and handed the box directly to Isshin Uchiha.
"Lord Hokage? What is this?" Isshin stammered, stunned.
"The village is establishing a new institution: The Konoha Orphanage," Hiruzen
announced. "We are going to provide a home for the children of the war,
regardless of their origin."
"This blade is a national treasure. It belongs to the village, but the Uchiha
are its traditional keepers. Isshin, I want the Uchiha clan to 'purchase' this
blade from the village treasury. The funds will go directly toward the
construction and endowment of the orphanage."
"A blade used for war in the past will now build a future for our children. I
think that is a much better way to honor the 'Will of the Kage,' don't you?"
Isshin stared at the Hokage. The resentment vanished, replaced by a surge of
pure, fanatical respect. Hiruzen had just taken a "Poisoned Gift" and used it
to:
1. Fund a social project.
2. Restore the Uchiha's lost heritage.
3. Publicly signal that he didn't view the Uchiha as enemies.
"Lord Hokage..." Isshin bowed his head, his voice thick with emotion. "The
Uchiha will cover the entire cost of the construction. This blade... will return
home with honor."
Genji's smile faltered. He looked at the unified front before him and felt a
sudden, sinking feeling in his gut.
Did I just give the Uchiha a reason to love the Hokage?
☆☆☆
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