Chapter 163: Danzo! I... Am the Hokage!
Konoha Village, Hokage's Office.
An Anbu knelt on one knee, reporting the current situation.
"Lord Hokage! Emergency!"
"Inside the Uchiha compound… the Uchiha clan… they've all come back to life!"
"Is this confirmed?!"
"Confirmed!!!"
Dead silence. Silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.
The two advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, instantly lost all color in their faces. Homura gripped the corner of the desk for support, while Koharu breathed rapidly, nearly collapsing to the floor.
Danzo Shimura, leader of Konoha's "Root," first showed a flash of utter disbelief in his exposed eye, as if hearing a fairy tale. But that disbelief was quickly replaced by a more terrifying emotion—a slightly sickly excitement. After all, the Uchiha's eyes were ripe for harvest once again.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. The pipe that had been his constant companion for countless days and nights slipped from his fingers with a clack, hitting the polished wooden floor. Tobacco and dying embers scattered everywhere.
For a moment, Hiruzen was lost. His pupils contracted slightly, reflecting the young Anbu's fear-twisted face. The Uchiha… resurrected? The thought exploded in his aged but still sharp mind.
However, it was only for a moment.
He slowly bent down. His movements were a bit slow, but incredibly steady. He picked up his pipe, gently brushing off the dust and scattered tobacco. When he looked up again, the shock on his face had been forcefully suppressed, replaced by a weariness befitting his age.
In that single breath, he had already weighed his options on how to deal with a resurrected Uchiha clan.
"Danzo."
Hiruzen raised a hand, stopping the heated words about to erupt from Danzo's throat. "Now, more than ever, we need to be calm. Panic will only make the situation worse."
He rubbed his temples, a look of deep concern appearing on his face—concern for the village and his own future. "The Uchiha… returning in such a way. This is the trouble you caused. Hmph. You were too impulsive back then. I don't know what you were rushing for, but now… it's time you took responsibility."
A meaningful sigh echoed in the oppressive office.
"I did that for Konoha! Are you planning to—"
"Don't overthink it! And besides… Danzo! I… am the Hokage!"
The Third Hokage turned back to the kneeling Anbu, his voice returning to its usual calm authority. "Relay my orders immediately! All Jonin, emergency assembly! Konoha Village is now under highest alert level!"
His gaze swept over the two shell-shocked advisors, his tone leaving no room for argument. "But warn everyone! Until I and the council have made a clear decision, no one is to make a move! Especially do not provoke conflict with the Uchiha clan! Immediately seal off the former Uchiha compound and the surrounding area! Contain the situation to the smallest possible scope! Ensure… that until the truth is determined, no more 'accidents' occur!"
He stressed the word "accidents" very lightly, but it carried undeniable weight. This "accident" could refer to the Uchiha's uncontrollable rage and rebellion. Or it could refer to someone's untimely "initiative."
Hiruzen's gaze flicked almost imperceptibly toward Danzo. He knew his old friend and political rival's style all too well. Then, he turned to Danzo, his tone becoming earnest, carrying a complex "reflection" on the past.
"Danzo, the power of 'Root' is a vital asset to the village in critical times like this. But this time, I hope you will be more prudent. The priority is to coordinate with other departments to thoroughly investigate the true situation inside the Uchiha compound and ensure absolute control of the perimeter. You bear the primary responsibility for the tragedy back then. We cannot let similar mistakes happen again."
The word "responsibility," dropped so lightly, was like a needle pricking Danzo's heart. It was a reminder, a subtle pressure, and foreshadowing for certain "arrangements" to come.
The door to the Hokage's office opened. Hiruzen Sarutobi walked out, his expression calm. He had decided he must go to the front lines himself to understand the real situation. Only then could he make the decision most beneficial to Konoha.
"Danzo, come with me."
Danzo didn't reply, but he didn't object. The two advisors looked at each other and finally chose to follow.
The group walked silently through the streets of Konoha. The atmosphere was suffocating.
On the way, Hiruzen broke the silence. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was clearly heard by everyone, especially Danzo.
"Danzo… The Uchiha clan… their obsession with power, their thirst for glory, can even be called paranoia. We… are all aware of this."
He didn't directly comment on the bizarre resurrection event, instead reminiscing about the Uchiha's past. "If not for back then… Sigh, what's done is done, no use talking about it now." A sigh lightly glossed over certain sensitive words. "Now that they have returned from the dead, this obsession buried in their bloodline will likely only deepen. This is a huge hidden danger for Konoha."
Hiruzen paused, then his tone shifted subtly. "But it might also be… a special 'opportunity'."
He turned his head slightly, looking at the ashen-faced man beside him, his tone sincere and "confiding." "Having experienced a complete 'loss,' surely some of them will have a new understanding of the meaning of 'existence.' If we can show them a tangible hope of living peacefully in Konoha… make them feel the village's 'sincerity' in accepting them… perhaps not everyone will choose confrontation again. After all, hatred cannot truly solve problems. It only brings greater destruction."
This speech wrapped his intentions in the sugar coating of "giving hope" and "resolving hatred."
"Konoha cannot withstand another large-scale internal division. You and I both know this clearly. Our current goal is how to reintegrate this revived power back into Konoha's order. To transform a potential threat into a useful asset for the village."
Every sentence from the Third Hokage was from the standpoint of the village's stability and development. Devoid of personal emotion. Or so it seemed on the surface.
Danzo finally couldn't hold back. He suppressed his voice, cold and hard. "Hiruzen! The Uchiha are wolves that can never be tamed! The only way is complete elimination! Any leniency will only breed disaster!"
Hiruzen didn't get angry; he didn't even look at Danzo.
Wolves? Just a pack of desperate dogs. Throw them a bone and they'll settle down. Even if they're resurrected, they're just resurrected dogs.
He then cast his gaze into the distance, towards the Uchiha compound, putting on an expression of compassion for the world.
"Danzo! Do you want the blood of the past to flow again?"