When Renji Uchiha received the news in the Land of Fire, his first instinct was to rush back to Konoha.
This was the chance he had been waiting for. At the very least, he would force the village to reveal its hypocrisy, to show everyone how the Hokage faction treated its own heroes.
If possible, he would use the chaos to have Mitokado Homura eliminated.
He first sought out Hatake Yasuo, told him what had happened, and made his position clear: the Uchiha would stand firmly on White Fang's side.
Then he summoned the Guardian Twelve. All twelve had been chosen by Hatake Sakumo himself, each bearing his mark. Several of the sword clans had even tied their fates to his name.
Renji left Uchiha Xingye in charge temporarily, then set out with Uchiha Yan and Uchiha Retsu for Konoha.
The moment they reached the gates, he felt something was wrong. Normally the entrance was full of chatter and movement. Today, silence. Even fellow clansmen avoided their eyes.
A cold thought struck him. Don't tell me… we're too late? It's only been three days.
Without pause, he rushed to the Police Force headquarters. The door swung open and his voice was sharp with urgency.
"Uncle, is White Fang still alive?"
Uchiha Nobunaga's face was heavy with gloom. "Alive… but just as you expected. It is already too late."
Renji clenched his fists. "Uncle, simply arresting gossipers isn't enough. That only shows we are loyal. But loyalty alone will never…"
Nobunaga cut him off with a weary shake of his head.
"We've done all we can. Yesterday, the Third stripped Hatake Sakumo of his position as Head of the Anbu. The sword clans that once spoke for him have fallen silent. Compared to the rest, we've already done more than enough. Push further and we risk turning the village against us."
Renji's eyes blazed. "Uncle, we are not here to simply hand out charity. Whether we help White Fang or not is beside the point. Our true purpose is to make everyone see the truth. Sakumo is a hero of the Hokage's own faction.
He commanded forces in the Second War. He was Head of the Anbu. He completed thousands of missions, hundreds of A-rank assignments, dozens of S-rank operations.
And yet look how quickly they turn on him. That is what must be revealed.
We must make the clans of the Hokage faction feel the weight of despair, the sense that if even their brightest can be cast aside, none of them are safe.
If not this time, then the next. We will keep pressing until their unity breaks apart. As for fear of offending the high council, do not delude yourself.
They have never loved us, never trusted us. To them we are obedient watchdogs, nothing more.
But we are the Uchiha, the strongest clan in Konoha. We are not dogs to be chained. We do not want a comfortable cage. We want what is ours by right. We want the title of Hokage.
For our children, for those yet to come, so they may live under the sun in laughter instead of shadows, I swear this on my blood: the Uchiha will one day hold the seat of Hokage."
Nobunaga's eyes widened. The fire in his nephew's voice reignited something buried deep within him. For years he had thought only of compromise, of preserving the clan's place, of trying endlessly to dissolve old grudges.
To blend into Konoha, those four words had weighed on him like a curse.
But now… Renji's defiance tore the fog away. He saw a road ahead. A road paved with thorns and fire, yet one his clan could walk with heads held high.
"How do we begin?" Nobunaga asked simply.
Renji met his gaze and understood. His uncle, the clan head himself, had become his comrade in this vision. He was no longer alone.
"First, we keep up appearances, but quietly trace the rumors back to their source. Someone is spreading them, and we need names.
Second, demand a jonin council, or even a full clan assembly. Force the issue into the open.
Third, rally the sword clans. Make them speak, make them stand. If they hide now, they will be slaughtered when the Hatake fall.
Fourth, Uncle, you must personally meet Hatake Sakumo and declare our support. Bring his family into the room if possible, make it clear where we stand.
And when White Fang inevitably falls, we will honor him, proclaim him a hero, and denounce the Hokage faction for betraying him.
The more scorn he suffers now, the heavier the backlash when we clear his name later. Hiruzen Sarutobi will try to cast the blame onto Danzo, but that suits us perfectly.
Then we strike. With Homura dead, Sarutobi will lose his left hand. With White Fang destroyed by Danzo, he loses his right.
The triangle of power will shatter. Without middlemen, Sarutobi will be forced to either bow to Danzo or fight him head-on. Either way, their unity crumbles.
Clans who feel abandoned will begin drifting. Discontent will fester. And when the time is right, when Uchiha power burns brightest, they will turn to us. Only then will the Uchiha truly rise."
Nobunaga drew a long breath. "Very well. We will proceed. I will summon the elders immediately. As for the assassination of Homura… you already have preparations in place, don't you?"
Renji's lips curved into a sharp smile.
"I do. Every step, every contingency, accounted for. This is the gift I have prepared for the Hokage faction. A gift one year in the making."
Nobunaga placed his hand firmly on Renji's shoulder.
"Then it is settled. Do what must be done. The rest we old men will handle. Your instincts are sharper than any in our clan. We are too straightforward, too easily used. But with you, we have a chance.
Go, Renji. And if you need allies… speak with Kirito. He will be more than willing to help."
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