[Read up to 69 Chapters in advance on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
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"I've summoned you all here to discuss Uchiha Kanzou… and the lawless Uchiha Clan he commands."
"Discuss Uchiha Kanzou and the Uchiha Clan?" murmured Inoichi, echoing Hiruzen's words as the others exchanged uneasy glances. Though surprised by Hiruzen's sudden words, none of them were entirely shocked, given the Uchiha's growing arrogance, a discussion like this was inevitable.
Still, uncertainty lingered. Many of the patriarchs weren't confident about Hiruzen's ability to confront Kanzou, especially in his current state.
They all 'know' that Hiruzen is the strongest Hokage, but now, weakened and wounded, what can he possibly do against someone like Uchiha Kanzou?
Even if they were doubtful, none dared to voice that thought aloud, of course. After a brief silence, Hiashi stepped forward, speaking for them all, "May I ask, what exactly does Hokage-sama have in mind regarding Uchiha Kanzou and his clan?"
Hiruzen wanted to bring up the possibility of an Uchiha coup because that was clearly where things were heading, but he still lacked concrete proof, and despite all their lawlessness, the Uchiha Clan hadn't yet started their rebellion.
True, the Uchiha Clan has clashed with nearly every major clan in recent months due to their constant harassment and provocation. But that alone isn't a sign of rebellion, just escalating conflict and intimidation.
Even if he is worried about the possibility of a Coup, he couldn't accuse a founding clan of treason without certainty, nor could he openly use words like 'coup d'état' in front of so many clan heads.
Speaking lightly about eliminating an entire clan was out of the question.
One wrong word here could ignite the very conflict he was trying to avoid. Not to mention that if the matter of eliminating an entire Shinobi Clan is mentioned casually, it'd also raise concern in the eyes of the Patriarchs of the other Shinobi Clans.
Thus, after carefully considering his phrasing, Hiruzen finally spoke: "Personally, I would prefer to avoid such a scenario… but it appears to me that an unavoidable conflict within the village may occur in the foreseeable future," he said quietly. "I am doing everything in my power to prevent it. However… if the worst comes to pass, and this conflict truly becomes unavoidable, I would like all clan heads and your respective clans to stand with me to eliminate any threat to the village."
He spoke only of the possibility of a conflict and a threat to the village, never naming the source outright. But even without him saying it, every patriarch present was sharp enough to understand exactly which 'source' Hiruzen was referring to.
Yet again, his words didn't come as a surprise to the gathered patriarchs. The Uchiha Clan had truly grown uncontrollable. They not only harassed other clans constantly, demanding so-called protection fees, but continued to make life difficult for anyone who didn't bow to them. And then there were Kanzou's actions, attacking the Sandaime Hokage, severely injuring the two elder advisors, and even beating up Hyūga Hiashi.
Hiashi had escaped with relatively minor injuries only because Kanzou hadn't bothered to go all out on him, but Hiruzen and the two elders… their condition spoke for itself.
In fact, an act like that was already more than enough to classify someone as a traitor. In Konoha, attacking a fellow shinobi is treated as outright betrayal; fighting or killing comrades is strictly forbidden. If Kanzou had attacked an ordinary shinobi without just cause, that alone would have warranted being branded a traitor. Yet he had gone far beyond that, attacking the Hokage, two elder advisors, and even the Hyuga Patriarch, all without any legitimate justification.
The only reason he hadn't been officially labelled one yet was simple: he is the Uchiha Patriarch, and his strength is so overwhelming that branding him a traitor outright would immediately put the village at a severe disadvantage.
Having Uchiha Kanzou and his Uchiha Clan as enemies of the village is obviously not what anyone wants to see.
But even that tolerance had limits. And if the Uchiha Clan is truly preparing for a coup… then there would be no reason, or justification, to tolerate them any longer.
It's just that, even if they can no longer tolerate Kanzou and his Uchiha Clan, many of them are still deeply worried. And that worry doesn't come only from the Clan's overwhelming strength. It also arises from the consequences that would follow if the village and the nation truly went to war with the Uchiha.
Shikaku, already running through countless scenarios in his mind, couldn't help but voice the most pressing concern. "Hokage-sama… if such a conflict breaks out, it will shatter the backbone of the village. And once that happens, the Land of Fire will be left in a desperate position. It's hard to say whether Konoha, or even the Land of Fire itself, would survive."
The other great nations were already preparing for war. If internal conflict erupted on top of that, it would leave the Land of Fire in an impossibly dangerous, almost hopeless situation.
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "I'm aware… which is why I'm hoping it never comes to that. But if it truly does… I fear we'll have no other choice."
In truth, no one wanted to avoid a clash with the Uchiha Clan more than Hiruzen himself. Even knowing that Kanzou had a hand in his eldest son's death, he was willing to swallow that hatred for the sake of the village and the nation.
But what troubled him was the simple fact that Kanzou might not feel the same. That madman could very well choose conflict regardless of the consequences.
"…Is that so?" murmured Shikaku. He understood all too well how dire the situation was. And in this mess, even with his exceptional intellect, he couldn't see a clear answer. After all, Uchiha Kanzou was a completely unpredictable piece. Even now, Shikaku hasn't been able to understand Kanzou's motive for what he is doing.
He thought back on Kanzou's recent actions, demanding protection fees, provoking other clans, and stirring unnecessary conflict. On the surface, it all seemed foolish, especially given how sharply it was driving a wedge between the Uchiha and the rest of the village.
But Shikaku knew Kanzou from their Academy days. Kanzou was many things: dangerous, violent, unpredictable, but he was not a fool.
'What is he really after? The Hokage's seat?' Shikaku wondered. It was the most straightforward conclusion: a power-hungry man aiming for the highest position. It would neatly explain a potential coup as well.
But his instincts rejected it.
'He should know better than anyone that a coup or open conflict won't earn him the Hokage's seat, nor the loyalty of Konoha's shinobi,' Shikaku thought, shaking his head. Kanzou was reckless, but not stupid. He had to understand this.
'Which means… Uchiha Kanzou is definitely not interested in becoming the Hokage; rather, something else was driving him.'
He could feel it. Kanzou had some other goal in mind. He just couldn't discern what that 'something else' was.
Of course, with no knowledge of the Evil System or Evil Points that Kanzou possessed, there was no way Shikaku could ever hope to understand Kanzou's true motives.
While Shikaku was still lost in thought, Inuzuka Gaku stepped forward without hesitation and said firmly, "Of course, Hokage-sama. It's only natural for us Inuzuka Clansmen who are proud and loyal Konoha shinobi to stand by your side and eliminate any threat to the village, no matter who they are or what background they come from."
As he said those words, he struggled to hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. 'Finally… there's an opportunity to crush that self-absorbed egoistical bastard's head underneath my feet, no way I am letting go of this opportunity.'
If he were being completely honest, he was eagerly looking forward to the day everyone would join forces against Uchiha Kanzou and his insufferably arrogant clan. A part of him couldn't even wait; he wanted to take action right now.
Takemichi Tanaka was just as eager as Inuzuka Gaku to put Uchiha Kanzou in his place.
'If I can have the opportunity to show that Uchiha bastard his place… I'll cooperate gladly,' he thought with a spark of anticipation and nodded firmly, "My Clan and I will also follow Hokage-sama's orders."
Receiving the nods from the Inuzuka and Takemichi patriarchs, Hiruzen's expression eased slightly. He then shifted his gaze to the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, waiting for their decision.
Under the weight of the Hokage's stare, Shikaku exchanged a look with Inoichi and Chōza before speaking.
"We would prefer this matter be resolved through discussion," he said calmly. "An internal conflict will only harm the village…" He paused, then added with a resigned firmness, "But… if it truly comes down to it, our clans will follow your lead, Hokage-sama."
Despite his unease, his suspicion that Uchiha Kanzou was planning something far more complex than anyone realized, and his uncertainty about the Hokage's chances in his current condition, Shikaku knew one thing: if the entire village united against the Uchiha, even Kanzou's odds would plummet.
And the Uchiha had offended them and their clans far too many times to earn their sympathy.
If he had to fight the Uchiha Clan for the sake of the village, the Hokage, the Will of Fire, and his own clan… then he would fight.
He just wasn't sure how the battle would end.
'Uchiha Kanzou… the Uchiha Clan… It's not as if he's Uchiha Madara… right?' he thought, though the uncertainty gnawed at him.
Hiruzen felt genuinely relieved when Shikaku agreed. The combined strength of the Ino–Shika–Cho trio would be invaluable if conflict with the Uchiha Clan truly broke out.
Following their agreement, he turned to the remaining patriarchs, the Aburame, Kurama, and several others. One by one, each of them nodded in support. Their simmering resentment toward the Uchiha Clan made their cooperation almost guaranteed; if the Uchiha really intended to rebel, they would not hesitate to help eliminate the threat.
Before long, almost every clan head had agreed.
Almost, except for one.
The Hyuga Clan.
Hiashi had remained silent throughout the discussion.
With all other patriarchs settled, Hiruzen finally turned to him, his gaze steady and hopeful.
At this point, Hiruzen didn't believe Hiashi would outright refuse. He only needed to understand what was holding him back. So he addressed him directly: "Hiashi-kun… I hope the Hyuga Clan will also lend us their aid."
Hiashi hesitated, remaining silent for a moment.
That pause alone told Hiruzen everything; 'something was definitely holding him back.'
Leaning forward slightly, he pressed gently, "Hiashi-kun… is there a reason you are hesitating to provide aid against a threat to the village?"
It wasn't just Hiruzen watching him now.
Several other patriarchs had turned their eyes toward Hiashi as well, their gazes sharp and questioning.
Being put on the spot like that, he could no longer stay silent. He answered carefully, "Hokage-sama, it's not that I'm unwilling to help… It's just that with so many of my clansmen currently imprisoned by the Uchiha Policemen, I'm not sure I'm in any position to commit."
If a list of top haters of Uchiha Kanzou and his clan were ever made, Hyūga Hiashi would undoubtedly rank near the very top.
Ever since the Council meeting where the new ANBU Commander was appointed, and where Kanzou had publicly declared he had no intention of opposing the Hyūga Clan, the Uchiha Police Force had done the exact opposite. They spared no effort in arresting Hyūga clan members at every turn. In fact, no clan in Konoha suffered more harassment than the Hyūga.
These days, any Hyūga who so much as stepped outside their compound was immediately detained.
The reasons for arrest varied wildly and were always arbitrary:
— "Violation of village regulations."
— "Suspicious movement."
— "Peeping on women with the Byakugan."
— Or simply "acting suspicious."
Once, the Uchiha Police even stormed into the Hyūga compound itself to drag someone out, trampling the clan's dignity without the slightest hesitation.
The situation had grown so dire that Hiashi lived in a near-constant state of simmering fury. Every waking moment, he wanted nothing more than to tear Kanzou and his clansmen apart with his own hands.
But he couldn't.
His strength simply wasn't enough, and he knew it. Not just him; even the Hokage, the elder advisors, and even the Sannin Jiraiya lacked the power to do anything meaningful against Uchiha Kanzou.
Faced with that reality, Hiashi had no choice but to swallow his anger and endure.
Hearing Hiashi's words, Hiruzen fell silent. Because of his own weakened state, he hadn't been keeping a close eye on everything happening in the village. He knew, in vague terms, that the Hyuga Clan had been suffering harassment, but he hadn't realized the situation had deteriorated so badly that the Hyuga couldn't even offer him support.
Hiashi bowed his head slightly. "Hokage-sama, I do wish to provide aid… but first, I must retrieve my clansmen from the Uchiha prison."
It was clear why he had raised the issue now; without the Hokage's intervention, there was no way he could free his Clansmen from the Uchiha's grasp.
Hiruzen understood Hiashi's position, but he also felt helpless. Kanzou clearly had no intention of giving him face. If Hiruzen had the ability to pull someone out of the Uchiha prison, he would have already freed Jiraiya. But Kanzou had refused to release even a Sannin. Still, Hiruzen couldn't refuse Hiashi, not when he desperately needed the Hyuga Clan's cooperation. And to gain their support, he would have to offer something in return.
With that in mind, he asked, "Hiashi-kun… have you formally requested the release of your clansmen from the Uchiha Police?"
Hiashi exhaled heavily. "I have… but their conditions are unreasonably high." He hesitated, then added, "If Hokage-sama could intervene… perhaps there might be a chance."
'So… Is Uchiha Kanzou willing to release them? Under certain terms?' Hiruzen wondered, a faint crease forming in his brow. Still, he nodded. "Very well. The village will assist you. Try to negotiate their release."
Hiashi's eyes lit with immediate relief. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I will head to the Police Station first thing in the morning."
Seeing Hiruzen grant aid to the Hyuga, several other clan heads immediately wanted to step forward; their own clansmen had been imprisoned as well. Anticipating this, Hiruzen raised a hand and spoke before they could voice their demands: "Everyone… once the threat facing the village is resolved, your clansmen will also be freed."
The meaning behind his words was clear; he couldn't offer that level of aid to every clan right now. Taking things slowly was the only option. Besides, keeping their imprisoned clansmen as leverage ensured they wouldn't rashly side with the Uchiha, and would remain in conflict with the Uchiha Clan, at least that's what he hopes.
Hearing this, the other clan heads could only fall silent and accept Hiruzen's decision, much to his relief.
He continued, "Well then… I ask that everyone remain vigilant. If conflict does break out, we'll need to move quickly. Of course, I will try to resolve this peacefully… but in the worst-case scenario…"
The others nodded solemnly. "We will do what's necessary."
Satisfied with their response, Hiruzen dismissed them. One by one, the patriarchs left the Hokage residence.
Once alone, Hiruzen let out a long, tired sigh. "I hope Tsunade is found soon…"
Without her, there was little hope of recovery. Only Tsunade could heal injuries of this scale. And unless he was healed, it didn't matter how many clans supported him, if a confrontation broke out, the outcome for him would be disastrous.
"Minato, you have to be quick…"
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Somewhere in the Land of Fire
"Anything so far?" Minato asked, glancing at the ANBU surrounding him.
Almost all of them shook their heads. "Nothing. She hasn't been sighted in a long time…"
"How is that possible? She has to be somewhere," Minato muttered, brows tightening.
"We've searched nearly the entire Land of Fire. At this point… she might not even be in the Land of Fire," another ANBU suggested.
Minato tapped his finger against the wooden table, considering it. "That's… very likely. She's probably outside the country."
He straightened. "If that's the case, we need to widen the search perimeter. Start looking in the neighbouring nations as well."
"But that range is enormous…" one ANBU said hesitantly. Even with Minato's Flying Raijin, their reach wasn't limitless.
"I know," Minato admitted. "So let's start with nations where she's most likely to be, places that aren't dangerous for her. Countries allied with the Land of Fire, or at least neutral."
"Allies and neutral nations…" the ANBU murmured, thinking it through.
"In that case…"
Minato nodded. "Good. Begin gathering intelligence on Tsunade-sama's whereabouts in the countries bordering the Land of Fire. Spread out accordingly."
Orders were relayed immediately.
Even after narrowing the search, the area was still massive. Minato knew this would take time, and a tremendous amount of effort, but he had no intention of giving up.
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Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Read up to 69 Chapters in advance on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]