"It can't be stopped!!! "
Hearing the latest report back from the Anbu, the Third Hokage collapsed into his chair.
Too many people already knew. And many, even under threat of punishment, were willing to spread the truth regardless. Instead of silencing the rumor, it had only spread further and faster.
This was beyond containment!
He couldn't possibly order the Anbu to arrest everyone who knew.
There weren't enough cells to hold them, and if he truly tried such a thing, it would only spark outrage among the people, creating a disaster beyond control.
"Uchiha Fugaku…"
His voice was cold, his teeth clenched in fury.
He knew that after this, his prestige in the village would plummet to rock bottom.
The flawless image he had built over decades could no longer be sustained.
And it was all thanks to Uchiha Fugaku.
He wanted nothing more than to gather every Anbu he had left, wipe out Fugaku, and exterminate the Uchiha clan entirely.
But he couldn't.
Not because he feared backlash—but because he simply didn't have the power anymore.
The truth was, with the forces he currently controlled, he was no longer a match for Fugaku or the Uchiha clan.
In just the past year, his power had shrunk too drastically.
With Shimura Danzō, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado all dead one after another, his influence had been gutted.
By contrast, as Fugaku displayed overwhelming strength, the Uchiha clan's power had surged.
A sense of helplessness welled up in him.
In this struggle with the Uchiha, he was now at an absolute disadvantage.
A few days later, at the Nanga Shrine.
Uchiha Fugaku sat with the three clan elders and Uchiha Yakumi—four of the clan's elite jōnin gathered together.
"Refreshing—so refreshing! "
The Great Elder, Uchiha Shana, burst into hearty laughter.
For years, the Uchiha had been suppressed by the Third Hokage's faction.
He had long worried for the clan's future, carrying a constant weight on his heart.
But now, for the first time, he felt unrestrained joy.
"Haha, indeed refreshing! "
The Third Elder, Uchiha Shi, laughed along.
"Third Hokage—how does it feel to have a taste of your own medicine? "
The Second Elder, Uchiha Mamoru, tried to hold back his grin, but his delight was obvious.
"The news that Naruto Uzumaki is the orphan of the Fourth Hokage has spread throughout the entire village. For persecuting the Fourth Hokage's son, the Third Hokage is now infamous."
"And there are already voices calling for his resignation."
Uchiha Yakumi said with a smile.
"This is exactly the outcome we wanted."
Fugaku himself smiled faintly.
With his current strength, assassinating the Third Hokage would not be difficult.
But he had deliberately held back. Beyond aiming for the Hokage's seat, he wanted the Third's reputation destroyed to vent the Uchiha clan's resentment built up over years of suppression.
"At present, the calls for his resignation are not overwhelming. But if this continues to ferment, soon the village will demand in great numbers that he step down."
"By then, he might become the first Hokage in Konoha's history to be forced into abdication."
"Uchiha Hoshi," she said with anticipation.
"To be the first Hokage ever driven from power—that would hurt more than killing him outright."
Uchiha Min added, his face filled with the same eager expectation.
"With his thick skin, the Third won't resign willingly."
Uchiha Onko shook her head. She didn't believe the Third Hokage would give up power on his own.
"Then when that time comes, whether he wants to or not—he'll have no choice but to step down."
Fugaku sneered, his gaze turning to the Second Elder.
"Elder Mamoru, tomorrow you'll leave the village and visit the Iwai clan, as well as several other families who are on good terms with us."
"Visit those clans? Clan Leader—you mean to leverage their ties to persuade the Daimyō? "
Mamoru immediately understood Fugaku's intent.
"Exactly. These clans hold influence within the Fire Country's government. With the Third Hokage's name now disgraced, we can convince the Daimyō to select a new Hokage."
Fugaku nodded.
"But the Third Hokage won't obey."
Onko frowned.
The Daimyō's position in every nation was awkward.
In name, they were the sovereign rulers—the highest authority, with the right to manage state affairs.
But in reality, nearly ninety percent of a nation's military power lay in the shinobi village. The Kage was the one who truly wielded authority.
Thus, many of the Daimyō's appointments were ignored by shinobi villages.
"Normally, no, he wouldn't listen. But in this situation, the Daimyō's decree would be the final straw—the one to break the camel's back."
Fugaku's smile was cold.
"The Clan Leader is right. A decree from the Daimyō would be the final blow."
Elder Mamoru nodded in agreement.
Voices in the village were already demanding the Hokage's resignation. Against that, the Third could still stand firm.
But against the Daimyō's dismissal? That he could not simply ignore.
"But can we really persuade the Daimyō? "
Uchiha Hoshi asked with a frown.
"The discontent with the Third isn't ours alone. As the nominal ruler of the Fire Country, the Daimyō has long been overshadowed by the Hokage, his authority rendered meaningless. He has long harbored resentment."
"As long as someone pushes, as long as he sees the chance of success, the Daimyō would gladly deliver the killing blow himself."
Fugaku chuckled.
"Indeed. The resentment the Daimyō has built over the years is no less than ours."
Mamoru nodded.
"In that case, the chances of forcing the Third to resign are very high."
Excitement flickered in everyone's eyes—the prospect of deposing the Third Hokage and beginning the selection of the Fifth Hokage.
"Clan Leader, if you intend to run for Hokage, the Daimyō's support would make things far smoother."
Elder Shana said.
"Exactly. So when you leave, Mamoru, not only should you persuade the Daimyō to dismiss the Third Hokage but also to support me as the next Hokage."
Fugaku nodded.
"That may not be easy."
Mamoru thought aloud.
Fugaku paused, then said,
"Tell the Daimyō this: if I become Hokage, aside from matters of the village, I will not interfere in any other affairs."
What he wanted was the Hokage's seat, to wield the military might of the Hidden Leaf.
As for the Fire Country's political affairs—those were better left to those trained in governance.
The Daimyō had managed to run the country in an orderly fashion for years. Clearly, he was capable enough. Fugaku had no desire to meddle.
"If that's the case, then persuading him may truly be possible."
Mamoru nodded firmly.
What the Daimyō feared most was the Hokage interfering in state politics. With such a condition, they could almost certainly win his support.