When Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Setsuna, and Uchiha Ya heard Shimura Danzō's words, they all froze on the spot, their mouths hanging open in shock.
An Acting Hokage was still the Hokage.
Yet Danzō was actually planning to ambush and assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi on his way to the Fire Daimyō's Court to report his duties.
The sheer audacity of it was astonishing.
Uchiha Ren , however, was not particularly surprised.
In his understanding, Shimura Danzō had always been bold to the point of recklessness—and attempting to assassinate a Hokage was hardly unprecedented for him.
In the original course of events, after the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, died during the Nine-Tails' Attack, the village had fallen into a transitional period. There was no suitable candidate immediately available to take the position of Hokage.
At that time, Danzō had stepped forward, believing the opportunity had finally come for him to become Hokage.
What he had never expected was that Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had already stepped down, would rise again and reclaim the position of Hokage.
Knowing he could not defeat Hiruzen in an open political struggle, Danzō had secretly sent assassins to intercept Hiruzen on his way to the Fire Daimyō's Court.
The situation now was strikingly similar.
Danzō continued speaking.
"You don't need to be so shocked. Hiruzen Sarutobi is merely serving as Acting Hokage right now. But even if he were still the Hokage, so what?"
"A person who aims to accomplish great things cannot be bound by trivialities. Without that level of resolve, how could anyone achieve anything meaningful?"
He snorted coldly.
"Hokage? So what? If he stands in our way—even the Hokage can be killed!"
Uchiha Ren raised an eyebrow slightly.
At this moment, Danzō actually carried a faint aura of a ruthless warlord.
Danzō continued,
"And besides, only something as significant as killing the Hokage can bind us together completely."
"If we join forces to assassinate the Hokage and the truth ever comes out, none of us will escape the consequences."
"With that kind of relationship between us, I won't have to worry about the Uchiha Clan taking the benefits without fulfilling their side of the agreement."
"And you won't need to worry about me going back on my promises after I take power."
"This is a win–win situation."
After a pause, Danzō added,
"Furthermore, Hiruzen's trip to the Fire Daimyō's Court isn't just for a routine report. He'll also be requesting funding to pay war compensation and village development funds."
"That's not a small amount of money."
"I can make you a promise: once the plan succeeds, we split the funds seventy–thirty."
"Your Uchiha Clan will take thirty percent."
"Only thirty percent?"
Uchiha Setsuna immediately frowned in dissatisfaction.
"We're taking the same risks. Why does the Uchiha Clan only get thirty percent? It should be fifty–fifty at the very least."
"Heh."
Danzō glanced at Setsuna with a cold look.
"Don't get greedy, Uchiha. The amount involved is astronomical. Thirty percent alone is enough to make your clan burst from excess."
"As for the seventy percent I take, it will be used for developing the village."
"Not enough."
At that moment, Uchiha Ren suddenly spoke.
"That alone isn't enough."
Danzō frowned.
After a moment of contemplation, he clenched his teeth.
"At most—thirty-five percent."
Ren shook his head.
"I'm not talking about the money."
"The problem is that your reason for killing Hiruzen Sarutobi isn't sufficient."
"If he were merely blocking your path, you might develop killing intent toward him—but you would never choose to act at such a critical moment."
"As for this so-called 'pledge of loyalty,' there's no need to repeat it. It's clearly just an excuse for you to drag the Uchiha Clan onto your war chariot."
"So there must be something else behind all this—something we don't know."
Danzō's expression immediately darkened.
His cold, predatory gaze locked onto Uchiha Ren .
Ren remained calm, meeting his stare without the slightest ripple of emotion.
After a long silence, Danzō finally spoke in a cold voice.
"It seems I underestimated you."
"I didn't expect you to see through that much."
Ren replied calmly,
"When something behaves abnormally, there's always a reason behind it."
"For someone like Shimura Danzō to lower himself and court cooperation with the Uchiha Clan—while even risking assassinating Hiruzen Sarutobi—there must be a deeper cause."
"Danzō, if you truly want to cooperate with the Uchiha Clan, then it would be better to be honest."
Danzō slowly exhaled.
After remaining silent for a moment, he finally said,
"Last night, I received intelligence."
"Hiruzen Sarutobi's visit to the Fire Daimyō's Court isn't only to report his duties and request funding."
"He also intends to recommend Minato Namikaze to the Daimyō as the Fourth Hokage."
"Although the Daimyō does not participate directly in the village's Hokage selection, two facts remain."
"First, the Hokage's appointment must ultimately be formally approved by the Daimyō. That is the legitimate procedure."
"Second, the Daimyō's financial support is a major source of the village's income. His attitude can influence many people within the village who are still undecided."
"Hiruzen's actions may not change the overall outcome—but they are extremely disgusting."
"And since Hiruzen has already broken the rules, I naturally cannot sit and wait for my fate."
Hearing this explanation, Uchiha Ren finally understood.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's move this time was indeed somewhat underhanded.
It was no wonder Danzō was so furious.
At this moment, Uchiha Fugaku asked with confusion,
"Danzō, if you already know the Third Hokage has another purpose for visiting the Daimyō, why wait until his return journey to intercept him?"
Earlier, Danzō had said that besides assassinating Hiruzen, they would also seize the funds he obtained from the Daimyō.
But that meant they could only attack after Hiruzen met the Daimyō.
By then, Hiruzen would have already recommended Minato Namikaze. Killing him afterward would seem meaningless.
Danzō explained,
"There's no choice. I received the intelligence too late."
"Hiruzen is already on the road to the Daimyō's Court, and mobilizing forces takes time. Intercepting him before he arrives is impossible."
"As for him meeting the Daimyō—it doesn't matter."
"As long as Hiruzen dies on the road, and the information never returns to the village, there will still be a chance to reverse everything."
"After Hiruzen dies, I will personally go negotiate with the Daimyō."
Then Danzō turned to Uchiha Ren .
"I've said everything that needs to be said."
"Clan Head of the Uchiha, please give your answer as soon as possible."
"Time is running out."
The reception room fell silent.
Everyone's gaze turned toward Uchiha Ren , waiting for his decision.
Ren closed his eyes and pondered for a long time.
Only after several moments did he slowly open them again.
"Cooperation is possible."
"But only on the condition that Hiruzen Sarutobi is successfully killed."
"Our Uchiha Clan can send one Kage-level shinobi to participate in the assassination."
"If the mission succeeds, then everyone benefits."
"But if the operation fails, the Uchiha Clan will deny any involvement."
"One Kage-level shinobi is enough to demonstrate the sincerity of the Uchiha Clan."
"So the three jutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals must be handed over to us in advance."
Danzō's eyes widened instantly.
He had not expected that the Uchiha Clan still had a hidden Kage-level expert.
That revelation had truly caught him off guard.
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