"Yes, Third Hokage, after Uzumaki Naruto entered the Uchiha Clan Compound, I was afraid of attracting the attention of Uchiha ninja, so I didn't go in to continue following him. I returned to report to you."
The Anbu ninja, kneeling on one knee, reported loyally.
"Alright, you've worked hard. Just continue waiting outside the Uchiha Clan Compound for Naruto to come out. If you see Uchiha Itachi during this time, just tell him Naruto is in the Uchiha Clan Compound. No need to say too much."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped pacing back and forth and instructed the ninja in front of him.
Since things had come to this, this was the only way without damaging Hiruzen Sarutobi's image.
Have the Anbu ninja in front of him tell Uchiha Itachi the news that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was in the Uchiha Clan Compound.
Then, when Uchiha Itachi made his move, he would prioritize preventing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki from causing trouble, to prevent him from rampaging.
And this also wouldn't indicate that Hiruzen Sarutobi knew about Itachi's plan to massacre the clan. After all, Sasuke and Naruto were classmates, so it could be explained as Sasuke bringing his classmate Naruto home to play.
If he could gloss over the matter, with Itachi's way of thinking, he wouldn't suspect his glorious and upright Third Hokage!
"Itachi has the Mangekyo Sharingan, he is the Nine-Tails' bane. If he hypnotizes Naruto immediately, it shouldn't cause the Nine-Tails to rampage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself. He needed to give Danzo Shimura a heads-up.
Lest the Root ninja cause any more trouble tonight.
"Yes!"
The Anbu ninja acknowledged the order and vanished from the spot, heading towards the Uchiha Clan Compound.
At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi sent a message to the Root base.
"This old monkey, he knows everything, yet he remains silent. What a treacherous old fox."
In the Root base, upon receiving the message, the insidious man with bandages wrapped around his face sneered.
He was Danzo Shimura, the darkness of konoha, the Root of Konoha. The dark matters that Konoha generally found difficult to resolve were handled by him, Danzo Shimura, leading the Root.
Regarding his old friend Hiruzen Sarutobi's true character, no one was more familiar with it than Danzo Shimura.
"It's good that the monkey isn't interfering. This way, I can get a large number of Sharingan immediately and give them to Orochimaru to integrate into a Wood Release arm, then transplant it. My strength will completely surpass the monkey's, and the position of Hokage will be within reach."
At this thought, Danzo Shimura's old face continuously sneered.
Moreover, his right eye, covered by bandages, also held Uchiha Shisui's other Mangekyo Sharingan!
It was a pity that this Mangekyo Sharingan, although it had dōjutsu genjutsu, was not Uchiha Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.
Otherwise, Danzo would have acted long ago, using Kotoamatsukami to modify Hiruzen Sarutobi's will, making Hiruzen Sarutobi abdicate, and he would rightfully inherit the Hokage position.
"However, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki actually ran to the Uchiha Clan Compound. For my grand plan to become Hokage, I must send Root ninja to observe the Uchiha tonight and act if anything goes wrong!"
"Someone, go inform Uchiha Itachi that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is in the Uchiha Clan Compound, and tell him to use his Mangekyo Sharingan to hypnotize the Jinchuriki immediately!"
Danzo Shimura summoned a Root ninja to act before Hiruzen Sarutobi and instruct Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi dared to guarantee to Danzo that he would eliminate the Uchiha clan, so he naturally had to demonstrate his strength.
Therefore, Danzo Shimura also knew that Uchiha Itachi possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, and it was awakened due to Uchiha Shisui's death.
Although Shisui was killed by Danzo, he didn't know if Uchiha Itachi knew.
Even if Uchiha Itachi knew, Danzo didn't care. If Uchiha Itachi had wanted to act, he would have done so long ago, not hidden until now.
"That kid's mind has been completely brainwashed by the Will of Fire. Killing me, the darkness of konoha, would bring even greater losses to Konoha, which is why he's holding back!"
"He would even kill all the clan members who are about to rebel, for the sake of Konoha."
Danzo Shimura sighed, if everyone was like Uchiha Itachi, it would be easy for him to become Hokage!
...In the Uchiha Clan Compound, at the home of the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku.
"Sasuke, why are you bullying your classmate? Is this how you behave at school?! You've disappointed your father greatly!"
The Uchiha clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, was at home. He had a stern face and an extremely severe tone, reprimanding little Sasuke, who had his head bowed.
Beside little Sasuke was the beautiful woman, Uchiha Mikoto, holding medicine and applying it to the bruised and swollen little Naruto. She was a woman with long, straight black hair, a devoted housewife who cared for her family.
"It was him… he provoked me first. He said you all…"
Little Sasuke's face was full of defiance. He wanted to tell the truth, but seeing the stern look on his father Fugaku's face, he felt wronged and dared not speak the truth. He could only pout his little mouth to express his inner defiance.
During the time little Naruto arrived at his doorstep and knocked, little Sasuke finally caught up and pinned little Naruto to the ground, giving him a good beating.
While he was beating him, the front door happened to open, and both his father and mother witnessed little Sasuke beating his classmate, little Naruto.
And so, they had the current scene.
"Uncle, Auntie, it's not Sasuke's fault. I made Sasuke angry."
"I just wanted to come and see Uncle and Auntie, and meet Sasuke's parents, so I dragged Sasuke along to bring me here."
Little Naruto scratched his golden hair, a sunny smile on his face, explaining for little Sasuke.
His smile made Fugaku and Mikoto momentarily dazed, as if they saw the Fourth Hokage and his wife, Uzumaki Kushina.
During the Fourth Hokage's tenure, the Uchiha clan had the most comfortable period since the Third Hokage took office.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, truly worked for the peace of the Uchiha and the village, and he was a true friend to Uchiha Fugaku.
Uchiha Mikoto and Uzumaki Kushina were also very good friends.
They were two of the few people in the entire Konoha who knew the true circumstances of little Naruto's parents, but they were Uchiha, and their situation was special. They couldn't approach little Naruto, or it would increase the Hokage's wariness and make life even harder for the Uchiha.
That's why they could only watch as little Naruto lived such a hard life for so many years.
"You've worked hard all these years, truly hard."
Uchiha Mikoto felt increasingly guilty. She reached out and ruffled little Naruto's hair, then stroked his little face, making little Sasuke feel a pang of jealousy.
"Not hard, not hard at all, I'm not working hard!"
Little Naruto's nose twitched, and he almost cried out of instinct. He forced himself to hold back, took a few deep breaths, and then wore a forced smile.
This action made Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku feel extremely guilty, truly feeling that they had let down their two good friends, Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina.
When they died, they wouldn't know how to face their two good friends!
"Stay for dinner tonight. Auntie will make you something delicious."
Uchiha Mikoto looked at little Naruto and extended an invitation.
Uchiha Fugaku, beside her, didn't refuse. The situation between the Uchiha and Konoha was becoming increasingly tense, and the Uchiha already had thoughts of rebellion and reforming Konoha.
If little Naruto stayed, then so be it. After all, no matter how wary or tense the Hokage's side was, their relationship with the Uchiha was already at that point.
Uchiha Fugaku had completely given up caring by now.
"No, we have to review at school tonight, we need to go back quickly."
Little Sasuke, however, looked up and said weakly. Looking at little Naruto, who was so doted on by his mother, he really disliked him more and more and wanted to drag Naruto away from his house quickly.
Lest he steal his parents.
"You can review anytime. What's wrong with staying for one meal?"
Uchiha Fugaku, seeing little Sasuke's weak demeanor, felt a surge of anger and sternly lectured him.
This made little Sasuke so wronged that tears fell one by one, like a wronged little loli. He could only sulk alone, not daring to speak back.
"It's okay, I've asked the teacher for leave, and I also helped Sasuke ask for leave. The teacher will understand."
"I also want to stay and have a meal."
Little Naruto quickly spoke up, not wanting his plan to be disrupted.
"That's great! I'll go cook right away. What does little Naruto like to eat? Auntie will make it for you."
Uchiha Mikoto was delighted. After applying medicine to little Naruto, she went to the kitchen, bustling about.
Nine-Tailed Fox: "Plan complete (^～^)!"
Little Naruto, who was being glared at angrily by little Sasuke, showed a cheeky yet sunny smile and sent a message in the group chat.
All is ready, all that's missing is little Sasuke Onii-san!