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"Ah… I really hope it doesn't come to that."
Fugaku lifted his head and looked at the sky as it slowly darkened, murmuring to himself.
Somewhere in a dimly lit room.
A low table sat in the center, a single candle burning at its heart. The weak flame was the only source of light, barely pushing back the shadows.
At the table, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Hyūga Hiashi sat facing each other.
"So, Hiashi," the Third Hokage said, his voice low and raspy as it slowly filled the room. "What is this important matter you wanted to discuss with me?"
"This place is absolutely secure. No third party will ever learn of what we say here. Speak freely."
Hyūga Hiashi took a deep breath and spoke with a grave expression.
"The matter you mentioned to me last time… I agree."
At that moment, his eyes burned with hatred, intense and unrestrained.
"The Hyūga clan will officially join the plan to wipe out the Uchiha, starting now."
Hearing this, the Third Hokage once again broke into that wrinkled, chrysanthemum-like smile of his.
Though his authority as Hokage had been seriously challenged today, he had gained a powerful ally in return.
More than a month ago, he had personally visited the Hyūga clan and subtly brought up the Uchiha extermination plan. Back then, Hiashi's stance had been crystal clear: neutrality. No help for either side.
Yet now, Hiashi had chosen to stand against the Uchiha.
How did this outcome come about?
Wasn't it all thanks to the Uchiha themselves?
Thinking of that arrogant Uchiha brat, Sarutobi couldn't help but feel secretly delighted. He really ought to thank him.
"Hiashi," Sarutobi said solemnly, "I welcome the Hyūga clan's participation wholeheartedly. But this is no small matter. Do you really not need to return and discuss it with your clan elders before making such a decision?"
Something as serious as a clan extermination required absolute unity on their side. If dissent suddenly surfaced midway through the operation, it would be a nightmare to deal with.
He needed to be sure of where the rest of the Hyūga leadership stood.
"Third Hokage, you can rest easy on that point," Hiashi replied firmly. "After the humiliation our clan suffered, I don't believe there's anyone left who would dare oppose this."
If there is, I'll kill him on the spot.
He kept that last thought to himself.
"Good. Very good."
Seeing how resolute Hiashi was, Sarutobi finally nodded in satisfaction.
"An excellent decision. It seems you've finally recognized the Uchiha's true nature, Hiashi."
"Exactly," Hiashi said righteously. "The Uchiha are rotten to the core. A clan steeped in such evil deserves to be eradicated, to restore peace and clarity to Konoha."
Then why didn't you agree when I invited you before?
Sarutobi sneered inwardly. As a seasoned political veteran, he saw straight through it. This wasn't about justice. It was revenge, driven by clan interests.
Of course, he had no intention of saying that out loud. The last thing he wanted was to scare off a newly secured ally.
"Then tell me, Third Hokage," Hiashi asked, eyes glinting with anticipation. "When exactly are we moving against the Uchiha? The sooner, the better."
He looked eager, almost impatient.
"Heh heh," Sarutobi chuckled. "According to the original plan, we were going to act in five days."
"But circumstances have changed. For some reason, a monster has suddenly appeared among the Uchiha."
"So," Sarutobi said, his expression turning grave as he spoke each word carefully, "we move tonight."
"What? Tonight?!"
Hiashi jolted in shock.
"I do want to act quickly, but tonight feels far too rushed. The Hyūga clan hasn't prepared anything at all!"
"I know," Sarutobi sighed, shaking his head. "I would prefer to delay as well, but there's no time left.
"If we let tonight pass, even greater variables may arise. We must act now."
"Variables?" Hiashi frowned. "Other than Uchiha Akira, is there something else we should be worried about?"
Sarutobi slowly spoke a single name.
"Uchiha Itachi."
"Ah. I've heard that name often," Hiashi said thoughtfully. "A prodigy who became a chūnin at ten years old."
"Compared to ordinary ninja, he's certainly exceptional. But next to his monster of a younger brother, can he really be called a variable?"
After witnessing Akira's absurd strength, Itachi had started to seem almost… normal.
"No," Sarutobi said, shaking his head. "Your understanding of Itachi is still too shallow, Hiashi. He's only thirteen, yet he has awakened the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan."
"The Uchiha truly are a cradle of geniuses," he added with heartfelt admiration.
Hiashi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What?! The Mangekyō Sharingan?! The eye said to have been awakened only by Uchiha Madara himself!"
"This is bad," he said grimly. "If that's the case, wiping out the Uchiha will be extremely difficult. Our losses could be enormous."
After a moment of thought, he proposed, "Why not recall Tsunade and Jiraiya before we act? That would ensure absolute success."
Sarutobi shook his head and gave a small laugh.
"There's no need to be so tense, Hiashi. Itachi may be an Uchiha, but more importantly, he is an outstanding inheritor of the Will of Fire. For now, he stands with us."
"He will help us deal with the Uchiha."
Hiashi let out a quiet breath of relief, but when he looked at Sarutobi again, his eyes were filled with wariness.
This level of indoctrination was terrifying. To make an Uchiha, the clan head's own son no less, turn against his family…
That old fox was dangerous.
From now on, he'd have to keep the younger members of his clan far away from him.
"The Third Hokage truly is impressive," Hiashi said aloud.
Sarutobi, however, shook his head.
"Even so, Itachi remains an uncertain factor."
He paused, then continued gravely.
"Itachi doesn't yet know that his younger brother's strength has skyrocketed. I can't be sure whether his faith in the Will of Fire will waver once he learns the truth."
"Therefore," Sarutobi said firmly, "we must strike before Itachi receives that information.
"If we delay too long, we may lose a top-tier combatant."
Hiashi nodded in understanding at last, finally grasping why the Third Hokage was in such a hurry to act.
"..."
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