Minato looked at Wen Lan for a long moment, then took out a sealing scroll and placed it on the table.
"The five ninja blades are inside. I'm returning them to you."
Wen Lan picked up the scroll, weighed it in his hand, then placed it back on the table and pushed it toward Minato.
"Senior Minato, consider these five ninja blades a congratulatory gift for you becoming Hokage.
If I truly cared about their value, I wouldn't have waited until today to ask where they went."
Indeed, Wen Lan had never cared about the monetary value of the ninja blades.
He had only wanted to use those five blades to stir things up.
The blades could belong to the village—but they absolutely could not belong to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As long as they weren't in that old man's hands, it didn't matter who held them.
Minato was slightly stunned, then broke into a relieved smile.
"…Alright."
Wen Lan turned to Hyūga Hiashi and Hyūga Hizashi.
"I didn't expect Clan Head Hiashi and Senior Hizashi to come as well."
Hiashi sat upright in seiza, the dignity of a clan head evident in every movement—he truly resembled Fugaku in that regard.
"The Uchiha being sent to the Kirigakure battlefield ultimately stemmed from our clan's Byakugan.
If not for that, the Uchiha would not have been dragged into so many troubles.
And on the Iwagakure battlefield, you saved my brother, as well as the lives of many Hyūga clansmen.
Moreover, the fact that the Uchiha dared to speak up for the Hyūga before the Hokage—
That alone is something our clan will never forget.
By reason and by emotion, we should come today.
However, Wen Lan… you are still young. Impulsiveness is understandable, but today you went too far.
The Third Hokage may use methods that don't stand up to scrutiny, but in the end, he has not committed a grave mistake.
Do not forget the Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans are not easy targets.
Their greatest weapon is rumor and slander—killing without bloodshed.
One misstep, and you may follow the path of the White Fang."
"Heh—thanks for the warning, Clan Head Hiashi."
Wen Lan smiled indifferently.
"A sharp tongue can be a hidden blade—I understand that.
But I believe even more firmly in one truth:
before absolute strength, all schemes and conspiracies are meaningless.
Tell me if I chose to wipe out those three clans, how long do you think it would take?"
The moment those words fell, everyone's expression changed dramatically.
Minato immediately barked, "Wen Lan, that's going too far!"
Wen Lan's expression remained calm, but his gaze was as sharp as a blade as it swept across the room.
"Having strength and not using it is different from having no strength and being trampled.
If others don't provoke me, I won't provoke them.
If they provoke me—I will strike back.
If someone respects me by foot, I'll return to the yard.
If someone offends me by an inch—I'll wipe out their entire family."
This wasn't a threat.
It was a declaration of the bottom line.
Strength is the foundation of peace.
Tolerance must have limits—retreat leads nowhere.
History had proven it countless times:
seek unity through struggle, and unity survives; seek unity through compromise, and unity dies.
The room fell silent.
After a long while, Minato finally spoke:
"In four days, Konoha and Iwagakure will sign a peace treaty at the Fire Daimyō's estate.
Come with me."
Minato was genuinely afraid that the moment he and Hiruzen turned their backs, Wen Lan would grab his blade and annihilate the Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans.
"Sure. I don't mind."
With that, everyone rose and took their leave.
Only Fugaku and Mikoto remained seated.
After everyone else had gone, Wen Lan looked at Fugaku.
"See? Opportunities are seized—not begged for through patience.
As long as you show irreplaceable value, no one dares to squeeze you.
Those high-level positions you've been yearning for?
Hiruzen handed three of them to the Uchiha in one go today."
A flash of realization passed through Fugaku's eyes, and he nodded heavily.
At last, he understood:
power never favors the obedient.
Only by wielding strength as a blade and merit as a shield could one stand firm in the bloody world of the ninja.
"Wen Lan," Mikoto said softly, "I'd like Itachi to follow you and learn."
"Let Itachi follow me?" Wen Lan was momentarily surprised, then thought it over and nodded.
"Alright. No problem."
"Attend tomorrow night's clan meeting," Fugaku said as he stood up.
"I'll formally announce you as the Third Elder."
After saying that, he left.
Mikoto looked at Wen Lan, her eyes filled with anticipation and unease.
"I hope you can teach him what true strength really is."
Wen Lan smiled.
"Don't worry, Aunt Mikoto."
After they left, Wen Lan sat alone, deep in thought.
To be honest, Minato and Kushina had always treated him well.
In the past, he lacked the strength to help them.
But now?
With Kage-level power and the Eight Gates it wasn't impossible for him to clash head-on with the Nine-Tails.
He might even win.
Still, there were uncertainties.
Obito's Kamui was troublesome beyond measure.
That space–time ability—shifting between intangibility and reality at will—was perfect for assassination.
If Kushina were giving birth to Naruto and Obito used Kamui to break the seal directly…
Kushina wouldn't be able to hold on.
Wen Lan glanced at his palm, narrowing his eyes.
Looks like I need to have a talk with Orochimaru.
He stood up, intending to go rest, only to notice Yagura still nearby.
"Eh? You haven't left yet?"
Yagura stared at him blankly.
"…You never told me to leave."
Wen Lan burst out laughing.
"Go rest already."
"Oh."
Yagura stood up and headed to her room.
The night passed quietly.
Early the next morning, Wen Lan first went to the Konoha Police Force Prison.
The Police Force was under Uchiha control, and the prison stood near the Uchiha district.
It housed only the most vicious criminals.
Spies captured infiltrating the village were often placed here after interrogation, awaiting further judgment.
Two Uchiha jōnin stood guard at the entrance. Upon seeing Wen Lan, they saluted respectfully.
Wen Lan put his hands in his pockets and asked casually,
"That old dog Danzo—is he inside?"
One of the jōnin grinned.
"Don't worry, Lord Wen Lan. The brothers gave that old dog a warm welcome last night.
He should be sleeping soundly right about now."
At dusk the previous day, many Uchiha had rushed to the Hokage Tower.
When Danzo's illegal Sharingan implants were exposed on the spot, the Uchiha nearly went berserk.
If not for Fugaku ordering his arrest, Danzo would've been torn to pieces.
"I won't go in," Wen Lan said.
"You two stay alert. Root may be disbanded, but Danzo still has diehard loyalists. A jailbreak is possible.
Torture him if you like—but don't kill him.
Let him live every day and night in fear.
Only then will it repay the suffering the Uchiha endured all these years."
"Understood!"
Wen Lan nodded and left.
He walked through the morning streets, dew dampening the tips of his shoes.
Shopkeepers were opening for the day, smoke rising from cooking fires, and the smell of grilled fish drifted through the air.
Before long, he spotted a figure strolling toward the Hokage Tower
Orochimaru.
Orochimaru sensed someone watching him and turned his head. When he saw Wen Lan, he paused in surprise.
Wen Lan walked over with a smile.
"Orochimaru-Sir…
interested in having a talk about immortality?"
—------------------------------
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