Shut down by Uchiha Fugaku's imposing "presence," Shimura Daisuke was left speechless.
Naturally, he had heard of Uchiha Shisui's reputation as a prodigy. For the Uchiha clan to dispatch someone like him clearly demonstrated their determination and sincerity.
As for Shisui being the clan's mole—or more accurately, the village's secret agent within the Uchiha—this was not information Daisuke was privy to.
"Ahem... this matter requires careful consideration. Mobilizing such a large force all at once would severely disrupt the village's operations,"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, said with a cough from his seat at the head of the room.
Fugaku might be indifferent to the consequences, but Hiruzen was not.
While Shisui was indeed of the Uchiha clan, he was also someone whom Hiruzen had fully indoctrinated—completely loyal and one of his most trusted subordinates. He was the Hokage's mole within the Uchiha.
Although Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and reached Kage-level strength, their enemy wielded the Wood Release—a kekkei genkai that once belonged to the First Hokage himself.
If Shisui were to be killed during the operation, the loss would be devastating.
"I actually think Clan Head Fugaku's suggestion has merit,"
A sudden voice broke the silence—Shimura Danzo spoke up.
And to everyone's surprise, his opinion opposed that of his own clan head, Shimura Daisuke.
Danzo supported Fugaku's proposal not out of alliance, but calculation. He had received intelligence suggesting that Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and attained Kage-level strength.
Shisui's strength, however, represented an increase in Hiruzen's power—a development Danzo deeply resented.
Though he cooperated with the Hokage in many matters, Danzo also considered him a rival. Strengthening the Third Hokage's position was something he wished to avoid at all costs.
Thus, Danzo's true goal was to have Shisui and the Wood Release user destroy each other—ideally, dying together. In the process, he hoped to obtain Shisui's eyes for himself.
"Uhh…"
Shimura Daisuke looked visibly uncomfortable at Danzo's unexpected support for Fugaku's proposal.
Two conflicting voices from the same clan what an embarrassment.
Couldn't Danzo have discussed this with him beforehand? Now he looked like a fool.
"Konoha's strength has never relied on reputation it's always been built on power,"
Hiruzen said, casting a sharp glance at Danzo, his tone laced with a veiled warning.
After decades of dealing with Danzo, he knew exactly what the man was thinking.
It had taken considerable effort to nurture someone of Shisui's caliber. There was no way he would send him to face an opponent with the First Hokage's bloodline limit.
"If we don't respond to provocations with force, we only embolden our enemies. This time they dared to assassinate a jonin—next time, they'll infiltrate the village for high-profile assassinations!"
Danzo showed no sign of backing down despite the Hokage's subtle warning.
"How amusing—like two dogs snapping at each other,"
Fugaku found himself quietly entertained by the escalating tension.
He hadn't expected that his proposal would cause the Third Hokage and Danzo to turn on each other.
His original intent had been to use Uchiha Obito to eliminate Shisui.
If things went the other way and Shisui eliminated Obito instead, that was still a win.
Though the plan likely wouldn't work now, given Hiruzen's firm opposition, at least he'd succeeded in sowing discord between the Hokage and Danzo a worthy outcome in its own right.
"Hokage-sama, Advisor Danzo I have a suggestion,"
Nara Shikaku finally broke the silence. Everyone else had been hesitant to step into the fray between the two elder powerhouses.
"What kind of suggestion?"
Both Hiruzen and Danzo turned to him.
"The threat posed by the Wood Release user must be taken seriously. However, dispatching a twelve-man elite jonin squad is far too costly. I propose a middle-ground solution."
"I suggest we offer a substantial bounty and circulate a mission among the underground networks. Let the bounty hunters and mercenaries take on the task."
Under the heavy gazes of both elders, Shikaku braced himself and spoke resolutely.
"A bounty…?"
Danzo frowned.
That would ruin his plan to pit Shisui against the enemy. If someone else handled the target, it served him no purpose.
"I actually think that's a very sound idea. I support it."
Before Danzo could object, a calm, elderly voice spoke up. It was Koharu Utatane, one of Konoha's three senior advisors, identifiable by her signature beaded earrings.
She had no desire to see open conflict between the Hokage and Danzo. Supporting Shikaku's compromise would ease tensions without taking sides.
"I agree as well."
Homura Mitokado, the second advisor, echoed her sentiment, understanding Koharu's intent.
"With both advisors in agreement, it's settled,"
Hiruzen concluded.
"We'll allocate fifty million ryō from the village treasury to place a bounty on the Wood Release user."
This approach aligned with Hiruzen's goal keeping Shisui away from that dangerous confrontation. He had no reason to object.
With the Hokage and both advisors in agreement, Danzo's opposition was irrelevant. The proposal passed easily, and the meeting concluded.
"A shame my plan didn't go through,"
Fugaku thought to himself on the way back.
He hadn't managed to orchestrate a deadly clash between Shisui and Obito but he had expected this outcome.
Hiruzen would never allow Shisui to risk his life against such a formidable enemy.
"The bounty won't work,"
Fugaku muttered, shaking his head.
To him, the plan was useless.
Though the underground world did contain some powerful rogue ninja, few had the strength to take on a Kage-level opponent, especially one with the Wood Release. Even with a bounty as high as fifty million, it was unlikely anyone would dare accept it.
If Kakuzu were still alive, perhaps he would have been tempted—after all, he had once attempted to assassinate the First Hokage himself.
But Kakuzu had targeted him in the past, and Fugaku had killed him before this.
"The poison wasn't strong enough..."
A cold glint flashed in Fugaku's eyes.
If a few more elite jonin were killed, the pressure would be too much. Even if Hiruzen didn't want to send Shisui, he'd be forced to agree.
And the next targets?
Shimura Daisuke and Aburame Shizui the two clan heads who opposed him in today's meeting seemed like excellent candidates.