The moment Shimura Danzō finished speaking, Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Setsuna, and Uchiha Ya were all stunned. They stared at him with strange expressions.
Setsuna spoke first, showing no courtesy at all.
"Shimura Danzō, did you wake up too early today and forget to finish sleeping? Why don't you go wash your face first and listen carefully to the nonsense you just said?"
Danzō glanced at him indifferently.
"Are you the clan leader of the Uchiha, or are you the one currently in charge of the clan?"
"You—!"
Setsuna's anger flared instantly and he slammed his hands on the table as he stood up.
"Enough. The clan leader is here—sit down first."
Beside him, Uchiha Ya quickly pulled Setsuna back, stopping him from escalating the situation.
Setsuna snorted coldly. Although still furious, he sat down and remained silent.
Uchiha Ren finally spoke calmly.
"Danzō, since you want the support of the Uchiha clan, shouldn't you at least correct your attitude a little?"
Danzō shook his head.
"My attitude toward the Uchiha clan has always been the same—before, now, and in the future."
"I judge matters, not individuals."
"The temperament of your clan is too extreme. To the village, the Uchiha will always be a potential threat."
"For the sake of the village, I will never lower my guard against you."
His blunt words immediately changed the expressions of Setsuna, Fugaku, and Ya. The hostility in their gazes was no longer hidden.
Ren simply spread his hands.
"In that case, what is there left for us to discuss?"
"To be honest, although Namikaze Minato is not exactly the best choice for the Uchiha clan either…"
"Between Minato and you, Shimura Danzō…"
"We would obviously choose Minato."
Danzō showed no anger. Instead, he said mockingly:
"Earlier, that old man Hiruzen kept saying the Uchiha clan had finally produced a smart person. He even worried about it for quite some time."
"But looking at it now…"
"You, this 'smart person,' aren't that smart after all."
"What did you say?!"
Setsuna slammed the table and shouted furiously.
"Danzō! Don't forget you're standing in the Uchiha clan compound right now! If you keep talking like that, I'll make sure you never leave!"
Danzō showed no fear at all.
"Am I wrong?"
"When matters concern a clan or a village, truly intelligent people talk about interests and benefits."
"Only fools act according to personal preferences."
"If your clan hadn't finally produced such an anomaly…"
"Even if you invited me, I wouldn't have come."
Ren raised a hand, stopping Setsuna from speaking further.
Then he looked directly at Danzō.
"Since you're speaking so bluntly, I won't bother with pleasantries either."
"Everyone already understands the situation surrounding the Fourth Hokage selection."
"Behind Minato stands Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"In terms of status, Hiruzen is the Third Hokage, while you are merely a Konoha Elder and Hokage advisor."
"In terms of strength, he's known as the 'Strongest Hokage of all generations,' while you are a man with one eye and one arm missing."
"In terms of influence, Hiruzen controls the ANBU, the Academy system, the mission administration, and many other key departments."
"Meanwhile, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Nara Shikaku all stand on his side."
"And you?"
"You only have a single organization that can't even operate in the open—Root."
"The gap in strength between you two is enormous."
"No matter how we look at it, Hiruzen can offer greater benefits to the Uchiha clan."
"So I truly don't understand where your confidence comes from, thinking you can persuade us with 'benefits.'"
Danzō did not become angry.
After all, Ren was simply stating facts.
On paper, Hiruzen's strength and influence indeed far surpassed his own.
But things were not as simple as they appeared.
Danzō replied calmly:
"Everything you said is correct. Hiruzen's faction is indeed powerful."
"But precisely because of that…"
"There are also many more people sharing the cake on his side."
"That old man Hiruzen's attitude toward the Uchiha clan isn't very different from mine."
"The only reason he can maintain that hypocritical mask is because I stand in front attracting the hatred."
"In such circumstances, how much benefit could he truly give your clan?"
"But my situation is different."
"If the Uchiha clan supports me and helps me become the Fourth Hokage, I guarantee that the rewards will be so great your clan won't even be able to finish eating them."
"The difference between making a good thing even better and helping in a time of need should be obvious."
Ren looked at Danzō with slight surprise.
He hadn't expected that the usually gloomy Danzō would actually show a bit of leadership charisma once he stepped into the open.
Ren shook his head.
"The Uchiha clan has heard pretty words like these many times before."
"You'd better say something practical."
He also wanted to see just how low Danzō's bottom line had fallen.
Danzō was clearly prepared.
He spoke immediately.
"As far as I know, the conditions Hiruzen offered the Uchiha clan include only a few meaningful positions within the Border Defense Forces."
"The rest are merely several insignificant posts within the village."
"You all know that Namikaze Minato is nothing more than a puppet supported by Hiruzen."
"Even after Minato becomes Hokage, village policy will not change."
"And the situation of the Uchiha clan will remain exactly the same."
"You may gain some money…"
"But your status and circumstances will not change."
"Hiruzen will continue suppressing the Uchiha clan."
"And without entering the village's core decision-making circle, you will remain passive victims."
"But supporting me is different."
Danzō paused, his voice rising with intensity.
"For the sake of becoming the Fourth Hokage, I have already completely broken with Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura."
"When I become Hokage, the village's various departments will inevitably undergo a major reshuffle."
"I can make you this promise right now."
"Whatever benefits Hiruzen offered your clan—I will give you the same."
"And on top of that…"
"I will grant the Uchiha clan a seat among the Konoha Elders."
"You will truly enter the core leadership of the village."
Silence.
A deathly silence filled the room.
Fugaku, Setsuna, and Ya all stared at Danzō with widened eyes, unable to believe what they had just heard.
Even Uchiha Ren could not maintain his calm expression.
A look of surprise appeared on his face.
To secure the position of Hokage…
Shimura Danzō had practically sold even his underwear.
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