The upper echelons of the ninja clans were no fools.
Though they didn't know the fine details, they keenly sensed that something about today's Uchiha affair wasn't quite right.
There was a whiff of orchestration behind it.
But—
since it didn't directly concern them, they couldn't be bothered to interfere.
So, in short order, the manor was cleared.
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi, the two elders, and a couple of Anbu remained—
alongside Shisui and the Uchiha who followed him.
Shisui's face was pale. Regret flickered in his eyes as he spoke softly to Hiruzen.
"Lord Hokage, I'm truly sorry.
I never expected Uchiha Kai to be so bold.
Today I gathered the dissatisfied Uchiha, but I had no intention of seizing power from him.
I merely wanted to unite our people for a meeting, to talk about the future."
"But who could have guessed—
Kai refused even to negotiate.
Instead, he rallied the entire clan, intending to wipe us out in a single stroke.
I was careless.
And, for now, my strength is no match for his."
"Now… sigh.
Those I worked so hard to rally are either dead or gravely wounded.
Elder Setsuna was killed, Elder Yashiro is severely injured, and I myself am badly hurt.
If not for you coming in person, Lord Hokage, every one of us here would have died."
"For that, I owe you my gratitude.
But now… we've been expelled from the Uchiha.
I don't even know how we're supposed to live going forward.
Lord Hokage, I ask for your help."
Shisui's voice was heavy.
He followed Kai's script to the letter:
first, stressing that his actions had Hokage's approval,
then insisting he wasn't reckless—it was Kai who played dirty.
All Shisui had wanted was to call his people together for a talk.
But Kai refused to "follow the code of honor," refusing even to hear him out, and attacked.
The cost was heavy.
Even a long-standing elder like Setsuna had fallen.
Now this splinter faction had been cast out entirely.
Survival itself was in doubt—so, Hokage-sama, it's all in your hands.
Koharu Utatane: "…"
Homura Mitokado: "…"
In the past, they would have backed Hiruzen.
At the very least, they would've chimed in to play "good cop," helping him win Shisui's loyalty.
But this time was different.
After last night and today, even the Hokage's closest circle was showing cracks.
The two elders exchanged a glance.
In the end, they chose silence.
And then—even more stunning—they each found an excuse and simply left.
Yes.
Unless the Uchiha were openly plotting rebellion or posed a direct threat to the village leadership,
they would no longer stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Hiruzen.
And clearly, today's matter hadn't reached that level.
So why bother?
Let Hiruzen deal with this mess himself.
Hiruzen was dumbfounded.
He stared at his two "old friends" walking away, eyes full of disbelief.
What happened to all those years of camaraderie?
You both just leave me here alone—how am I supposed to put on this act by myself?!
But… there was no helping it.
Shisui and these Uchiha couldn't just be abandoned.
Everyone had seen them defect to him.
Blood had been shed. An elder had died.
If he didn't take responsibility now, how would the other clans view him?
Who would ever dare defect to his side again?
No, he had to act.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally spoke in a low voice.
"Shisui, you've done well.
Kai's sudden attack was beyond anyone's expectations.
But it's understandable.
That man is ruthless—once he decides on something, there's no hesitation."
"Since you've been driven out of the Uchiha, then from today you are your own new clan.
For now, here's what we'll do:
I'll set aside land within the Sarutobi compound so you can settle temporarily.
Later, at the Jounin council, I will, in my capacity as Hokage, allocate official land for your clan to live and grow."
"And since you have no industry or means of survival for now…
I'll give you two hundred million as start-up capital."
Hiruzen spoke with commanding generosity.
Yes—
if he was taking these Uchiha under his wing, he would not be stingy.
Money? He had plenty.
He could skim double from the treasury later if he wanted.
What mattered was rewarding loyalty.
Shisui had publicly defected with his people, even spilling blood in the process.
Such loyalty must be rewarded handsomely—
to attract others to follow.
In short:
it was all for show.
A thousand gold pieces to buy a horse's bones.
Though the shinobi world had no such phrase, the principle still held.
Shisui, however, was dumbstruck.
Even though Kai had warned him beforehand, he still hadn't expected Hiruzen to be this rich.
Damn it all.
The entire annual budget of Konoha was only around 11 or 12 billion.
And in lean years, the daimyo sometimes gave just 8 or 9 billion.
Yet here, at the drop of a hat—
Hiruzen casually handed him two hundred million.
No wonder Kai had pushed him to cozy up to the Hokage for money.
Damn… the old man was loaded!
"Shisui, what's the matter?" Hiruzen asked with a smile.
Snapping back to his senses, Shisui dropped to one knee.
"Lord Hokage—thank you!
From this day forth, we Uchiha will follow your command without condition!"
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
Yes.
The price was steep, but worth it.
Shisui had shown the right attitude, so he could rest easy.
"Good.
See that the wounded are sent to Konoha Hospital—I'll have Anbu assist.
Shisui, take your people and follow me to the Sarutobi compound.
Night is falling.
I'll have lodgings arranged for you."
With that, Hiruzen gave instructions, and the Anbu immediately moved out.
Shisui and his people, of course, cooperated fully.
Once the wounded were seen to, he followed behind Hiruzen, heading toward the Sarutobi clan grounds.
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