Danzo and the others frowned deeply.
Though puzzled at first, they still unfolded Nara Shikaku's letter and read it quickly.
After a long silence, they understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts.
And they had to admit—Nara Shikaku wasn't wrong.
The struggle with the Uchiha had already become a quagmire.
Even if they managed to win in the end… What meaning would that victory hold?
"Shikaku is right. I support this plan," Homura Mitokado was the first to speak. "Let the Uchiha laugh for now. After the war, we'll settle accounts."
Koharu Utatane hesitated, her expression conflicted.
She too knew that Shikaku's reasoning was sound.
A high-ranking leader couldn't be confined to short-term gains or the loss of a single district.
But still—how bitter it felt!
They had never regarded the Uchiha as anything but pawns.
A stupid clan, to be molded and crushed at will.
And now?
Uchiha Kai's rise had overturned all of that.
"Uchiha Kai is a bastard," Koharu said coldly. "We may swallow our pride and yield this time, but he must die. He's too dangerous. No matter the cost, we must get rid of him."
Yes. She understood priorities. Even if it stung, she could bend.
But Kai—this Uchiha—unsettled her.
His strength was one thing. Mangekyo Sharingan? They had seen those before.
What chilled her was his mind.
Honestly—she couldn't comprehend it.
This man hadn't undergone elite training. His academy years were unremarkable. No one had ever seen him study strategy.
So why?
How had he mastered such cunning and insight?
The Uchiha's Mangekyo was already a threat. But this man also wielded a mind to rival the Nara clan's.
Damn it.
How were they supposed to live with such a monster?
Koharu's eyes hardened.
Homura nodded coldly. "She's right. Uchiha Kai must be eliminated. Even if it costs us, it will be worth it. If we let him live, the damage to the village will be immeasurable."
"I propose we send him to the front at once. Better yet, let him 'accidentally' wander into Hidden Cloud Village's core territory. Whether he meets the Raikage's son, the Eight-Tails' jinchuriki, or even the Third Raikage himself, one way or another, his Mangekyo will be crippled."
"This can't be delayed."
They finally understood just how troublesome Uchiha Kai truly was.
And now, they had one goal:
Even if the war turned harder—Uchiha Kai had to die.
Danzo let out a derisive snort.
"I've said from the start—the Uchiha are a curse. When we dealt with the Senju, we should have crushed the Uchiha completely. Even if our reputation took a hit, we could have rebuilt it later."
"But you didn't believe me."
"And now? Regret?"
The others fell silent.
How could they have expected such a figure to suddenly emerge from the Uchiha?
Hiruzen sighed, his gaze sweeping over the three.
"So, we agreed."
"Since Shikaku is absent, but has given me temporary authority to convene the Jounin Assembly, we'll act. Notify everyone—two hours from now, we'll hold the meeting. Every Jounin still in the village must attend."
Yes—in the shinobi world, even the Hokage's word wasn't absolute.
This wasn't like Kai's past life, where an emperor ruled unchecked.
Even convening a Jounin Assembly required Nara Shikaku's authorization.
One could imagine then—when Hatake Sakumo once commanded Anbu, the Jounin Assembly, the Interrogation Corps, and even bore the title of "Half-Hokage" granted by the Daimyō—how uneasy Sarutobi must have felt.
"Alright, I'll see to the notifications," Koharu agreed immediately.
Homura also nodded.
Only Danzo sneered.
"You handle it. I have no interest in humiliating myself by apologizing to the Uchiha."
"My part is simple—get Kai to the front. Once he's there, Root will ensure he 'accidentally' enters Hidden Cloud Village's core stronghold."
"And even if he survives, rumors of defection will spread throughout Konoha. Stripped of righteousness, even the other Uchiha won't dare shield him."
"After that, Hiruzen—I expect you to declare Uchiha Kai a traitor."
"Gather your three students, Namikaze Minato, even the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki. Bring every weapon we have. Spare nothing. Kill Uchiha Kai."
Having spoken, Danzo turned on his heel and left without hesitation.
Yes—as he said, he had long lingered in shadows. But at his core, he still had pride.
To attend a Jounin Assembly and apologize to the Uchiha? Ha!
Shimura Danzo would never.
Even watching would make his blood boil. Better not to go at all—otherwise, he feared he might snap and lash out at Kai right there.
So, he left.
The others didn't try to stop him. They had known each other too long—each understood the other's temperament.
Only after Danzo departed did Hiruzen speak again, voice low.
"In truth, Danzo has a point. Uchiha Kai cannot be allowed to remain. By any means, he must be dealt with."
"How Root handles it, that's their business. Our concern is only this—under what pretext do we send Kai to the front?"
"Think carefully. At the Jounin Assembly, we must nail it down at once. We cannot give him even a moment to maneuver."
"Even if we must force his hand, we must drive him to the battlefield. Every extra day he stays in Konoha will cost us dearly."
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