"Foolish!"
"Killing you means all that stuff becomes ours too!"
At Sarutobi Hakuto's words,
everyone present froze in place.
Mito Monen, the one directly involved, didn't even react at first.
"Ah…ah?"
Not just Monen—
even Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo exchanged glances,
surprised that Sarutobi Hakuto could play it this way.
How had they not thought of this?
They had even considered sparing Monen…
Truly, age had dulled their thinking.
"Good, good, good!"
"This approach is excellent!"
In no time, the two couldn't help but praise Sarutobi Hakuto,
which terrified Monen even further.
He immediately wanted to beg Hiruzen and Danzo for mercy.
But neither gave him the chance.
After all,
removing these two advisors' families would definitely strengthen the Sarutobi clan again.
No need for Sarutobi Hakuto to lift a finger—
two ANBU appeared instantly, silencing Monen's protests.
Following Hiruzen's signal,
they quickly cleared the office,
including the already dead Tenjin Koharu and the captured Monen.
Soon,
the office looked as if nothing had ever happened.
The two troublesome advisors were completely erased.
With everything settled,
Sarutobi Hakuto saw no reason to linger.
After all, the remaining paperwork was a headache.
After greeting the Third Hokage and Danzo,
he left the Hokage building with Izumi.
Watching Sarutobi Hakuto return home,
Hiruzen and Danzo exchanged a helpless glance.
Their grandson was perfect in many ways…
but his personality? Absolutely intolerable.
However, now was not the time for complaints.
The real matter was the families of the two eliminated advisors—
those were the valuable targets.
"Danzo, I'll leave this to you~"
"After all, the ANBU can't act directly."
Danzo had no objection.
This was exactly the kind of task he was born for.
"Leave it to me~"
Soon, the entire ANBU unit was mobilized.
They quickly surrounded the two advisors' families,
and as night fell,
a one-sided massacre was about to begin.
By the end of tonight,
these two families would cease to exist.
The resources, jutsu, and secret techniques of the families
were all seized by the Third Hokage and Danzo,
directly enriching the Sarutobi and Shimura clans,
making both clans stronger than ever.
Although the ANBU operation was fast and covert,
the disappearance of two families could not remain secret.
Soon, news spread through Konoha,
and all the ninja clans were aware.
Among the Ino-Shika-Cho trio,
Nara Shikaku, the strategist, sighed resignedly:
"Carry on as usual~"
"Don't try investigating! Everything stays the same!"
"I trust you understand."
Shikaku's instructions were clear to Choza Akimichi and Inoichi Yamanaka,
members loyal to the Hokage faction.
As long as they did nothing reckless, they were safe.
Smaller clans might not even hear the news,
and those that did—like the Aburame or Inuzuka—
were loyal to the Hokage faction and would stay neutral.
After all, every clan knew:
as long as the Third Hokage sat in power,
no one dared act against the rules.
What is rightfully yours will come to you;
what isn't, you cannot take.
Compared to other clans, the Uchiha and Hyuga were far more excited.
Inside the Uchiha Southern Shrine,
Uchiha Fugaku and the clan elders read the news and were immediately thrilled:
"So the two advisor positions are now vacant!"
"Fugaku, this is our chance!"
"As long as we secure the advisor seats, we'll gain influence in the village!"
"Exactly! This will greatly improve our clan's standing!"
The elders eagerly encouraged Fugaku,
as if the positions were already guaranteed for the Uchiha.
Fugaku, as clan head, thought the same.
As Konoha's foremost clan,
how could they not hold even a single advisor seat?
Thus, he decided proactively:
"I understand. Tomorrow, I'll propose this to the Third Hokage."
"I'll also have Uchiha Izumi speak on our behalf in front of Sarutobi Sarutobi Hakuto~"
"But I don't want to hear any disharmony in the clan during this period!"
He swept his gaze over the elders,
and they all readily agreed.
This was a matter of utmost importance for the Uchiha, leaving no room for carelessness.
The Hyuga clan shared similar intentions.
Once they learned of the news,
the main and branch family elders convened.
Compared to the Uchiha,
the Hyuga situation was simpler,
because the Hyuga had remained relatively obedient.
That didn't mean the Hokage had no concerns, however.
The peculiar main-branch system meant the branch family obeyed the main family, not the Hokage,
and the main family rarely went on missions,
leaving assignments to the branch family.
Though the branch family was technically a "caged bird,"
all the Hyuga power remained firmly in the clan's hands.
"What do you all think?"
"Should we intervene for this advisor position?"
Hyuga Hizashi posed the question,
and the elders began deliberating.
They ultimately decided to participate.
Even if the Hyuga didn't act,
other clans, especially the Uchiha, would claim the positions.
Both were dōjutsu clans—
why should the Hyuga be left behind?
This seat must be taken!
Seeing the decision, Hizashi already knew what he would propose to the Hokage tomorrow.