Chapter 55: "Let It Spread"
In Konoha, Hokage Tower Office
As the news continued to spread it naturally reached Konoha's two advisory elders, first Homura and Koharu, after all they were still part of the upper leadership within the village.
Bang.
With a loud sound the door burst open as both of them entered the Hokage Tower office with great momentum, their breaths slightly uneven as sweat soaked their backs clearly they had rushed here at full speed immediately after hearing the news without even taking a moment to compose themselves.
The quiet atmosphere of the room was broken instantly.
"What the hell are you doing Hiruzen?"
The voice tore out from Koharu Utatane's mouth, almost a scream filled with both panic and rage.
On the other hand Homura's face looked extremely ugly, though he said nothing his eyes were glued on Hiruzen seated before him with an intense stare silently boring into him like a blade pressing closer.
"What the hell is he thinking…" Homura thought internally.
This move wasn't some child's play, it could have far more negative consequences than just a foreign village capturing Kenzo and getting their hands on the Sharingan.
No… far from it.
The consequences were much worse.
It was related to the stability of the village itself.
Just think about it, a ninja from a major clan defecting successfully and Konoha instead of suppressing such sensitive information had allowed it to spread, what would the shinobi of the village think? Or more importantly what would all the major and small clans within Konoha think. That even a core clan member could leave without restraint, that the village either lacked control or didn't bother to hide it, and once that kind of thought takes root it doesn't just disappear.
This wasn't something that could be easily brushed off, if anything went wrong the Sarutobi clan wouldn't be the only one to suffer, they would be dragged in as well after all they were deeply tied together.
All the while Sarutobi Hiruzen was perfectly calm as if he had already expected this kind of reaction, his gaze settling on Koharu as he spoke in a slightly deeper voice.
"Advisers mind your manners, you are in the Hokage Tower office, if there are any more disrespectful words or actions towards me the Hokage who represents the village, I will take it as a personal offense against the village."
Those words spoken with such direct bluntness struck the advisers like a hammer.
That's right, they were still only advisers not the Hokage itself, if they crossed the line their future might not be much different from the Uchiha. In the grand scheme of things the only reason Hiruzen kept them around was because their clans were useful and deeply allied, there was no such thing as friendship in politics only benefits.
At that realization all the momentum they came with vanished like smoke as a chill ran down their spine. What had they just done?
Years of Hiruzen's quiet indulgence had lowered their guard, making them forget the line they were never supposed to cross, and now this situation could turn light or grave entirely depending on Hiruzen's will.
Almost instinctively the two advisers lowered their heads without daring to say another word, they couldn't admit fault and give Hiruzen more leverage but they also couldn't remain defiant, politics was like walking on a thin edge where even a small misstep could cost everything.
A few seconds of tense silence passed as Hiruzen simply looked at them before waving his hand slightly in a dismissive gesture.
"It's fine, raise your heads, come have a seat, I will explain the reason to you."
The two of them slowly raised their heads, their earlier momentum gone completely as they walked forward and took their seats in a much more controlled manner, sitting upright as they listened.
"It all started about a month ago with my talks with Danzo."
——
A month ago, in the Hokage Tower Office.
Another day was passing by like any other, quiet and uneventful.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his Hokage seat leisurely checking the latest reports as he took repeated puffs from his old pipe.
The matter with Kenzo Uchiha had already been pushed aside for the time being, his expression looking more relaxed than before.
Hiruzen took another deep puff as he thought internally, "ahh… if only all days could be like this, calm and without new problems appearing every day."
Just as he was enjoying the quiet monotony—
Bang!!
The door burst open as Danzo entered with momentum, his voice cutting through the room.
"Hiruzen, you have to do something about the Uchiha."
Instantly the good mood was gone like smoke, replaced by a familiar numbness.
"Speak Danzo, what do you want now," Hiruzen said, giving him a sharp glance.
Danzo remained unmoved.
"It's about Uchiha Kenzo, we need to act on his situation."
The moment that name was spoken Hiruzen felt a slight headache, over the past month he had heard it far too many times.
Danzo continued.
"Listen carefully, if we keep this contained the problem will not disappear, it will only grow in the dark. Rumors will start forming inside the village first, not outside, and once that happens it won't just be about one missing-nin anymore."
"The Uchiha will question the village, other clans will observe, and once doubt spreads it will not stop."
"So instead of letting it spread uncontrolled… we release it ourselves."
"A missing-nin… that's enough."
"The outside will move on its own, bounty hunters, other villages… even the smaller ones won't stay still for something like this."
"No need for us to act, they'll do it for us."
"And inside…"
"The Uchiha won't like it."
"But they can't move either, not without drawing more attention to themselves."
"That kind of pressure… it doesn't disappear."
"It will build slowl"
"And when it builds long enough… something will give."
"We don't need to push them."
"Just let it sit where it is."
"It will move on its own."
"And the boy…"
"If he dies, it ends there."
"If he doesn't… then he's already proven more than most."
"In that case, letting him roam freely becomes the real risk."
"Root will watch."
"That's enough for now."
"…You still owe me."
"I remember."
"Then let it spread."
(A.N) skippable
Sorry guys… I feel like I just can't write anything right now.
Everything I write feels like trash, even though I'm not even that tired, even though I took a break, even though I already have the direction in mind… I just can't put it into words.
At this point I don't even remember how many times I've rewritten and deleted this chapter.
I really don't know anymore…
I don't understand how other people are so good, even on their first try.
Anyway… I'm sorry. My bad.😞