"Uchiha Kawasaki tried to bribe me, but I refused."
The Anbu member showed no suspicion and left quickly after receiving the information.
Kakashi watched the Anbu's retreating figure and let out a cold smirk.
..
Mountain Graveyard.
Black Zetsu was observing Danzo, whose body modification was complete.
The current Danzo didn't look much different from before, except for his grayish-white skin. Additionally, he had a Sharingan embedded on each side of his collarbone, and his right eye was also a Sharingan.
His mental activity remained minimal.
Black Zetsu continued to gather intelligence, planning his next move. Obito's identity being exposed ahead of schedule had introduced a great deal of uncertainty for Nagato. If things became difficult to control, he would need to activate his backup plan early.
The White Zetsu arranged by Hyuga Kaito had already dispersed numerous clones throughout Konoha, and important news was frequently relayed back.
Today, another White Zetsu returned, reporting the contents of Hizashi and Hiashi's conversation.
"Do the Uchiha want to seize the position of Hokage?" White Zetsu asked after processing the intelligence.
Black Zetsu replied uncertainly, "It's not clear yet, but Konoha is likely about to make a major move."
"At this rate, when will I ever get to experience that satisfying feeling!?" White Zetsu asked with some dissatisfaction.
Although Black Zetsu had lived for over a thousand years, there were still some questions from White Zetsu he couldn't answer. His gaze shifted to Danzo's inert form...
"The Hashirama cells have already fused deeply with Danzo. When the time comes, you'll be able to control his body too."
"Perhaps you can experience that wonderful feeling a little early."
The moment Black Zetsu finished speaking, White Zetsu grew excited.
"Wow! I can't wait!" he exclaimed, eager to break free from Black Zetsu's hold.
Black Zetsu grabbed him. "Don't be so hasty. If you use Danzo without permission, it will displease Obito."
"Although Obito was defeated, he has yet to return. It's clear his guard against us is even higher now. This is not the time to cause trouble for ourselves."
Dejected, White Zetsu could only merge back with Black Zetsu. "But I really can't wait much longer."
Black Zetsu offered a few more words of comfort before saying, "Obito is becoming more and more cunning. It seems we need to find other allies."
White Zetsu asked, confused, "Are there any other suitable allies?"
Black Zetsu chuckled deeply. "The shinobi world is vast. There's always a way."
.....
In Konoha Village.
The Hyuga clan had been responsible for guard duties for some time now and had grown quite proficient. Moreover, the mild-mannered nature of the Hyuga allowed them to get along exceptionally well with the villagers.
Lately, the Hyuga clansmen had become particularly talkative.
But during their conversations, they always intentionally or unintentionally steered the topic in certain directions.
For instance, they would say, "Lord Hokage is getting on in years. The heavy burden of his duties is extraordinarily taxing. We often see him still working late into the night. I truly worry his body won't be able to bear it if this continues."
The topic would naturally shift to how long the Third Hokage had held his position.
Other Hyuga members, in their conversations, would bring up the fact that Konoha had lost many powerful shinobi over the years. By the end of the discussion, it was as if everything was Danzo's doing.
The rise of the Uchiha clan could have brought a tremendous opportunity for Konoha's development, but because of Danzo, the Uchiha were forced to leave the village.
Could the Hokage have been completely unaware of this? Although the Hyuga never said it outright, everyone had already reached their own conclusions.
.....
In Konoha Village.
Several days passed in a flash.
During this time, Kawasaki had his subordinates organize the rosters of Konoha's various clans. He was preparing to make a move at today's Konoha high-level meeting.
Fugaku could have returned to the Uchiha clan grounds, but he was worried about Itachi, so he chose to remain at Orochimaru's location. After all, his cloned eyes frequently required his cooperation for calibration, making it more convenient to stay there.
.....
Today was Konoha's monthly high-level meeting, and this one was rather special.
A few days ago, the Third Hokage had used his authority to secure an honorary elder position for the Uchiha, taking it from a smaller shinobi clan. The number of honorary elders was fixed, so the Third Hokage's move had taken considerable effort. Whether it was achieved through coercion or a balanced trade, outsiders had no way of knowing.
The situation was sensitive, and everyone understood the Third Hokage's intentions. They were also curious about what Uchiha Kawasaki was planning.
As the elders filed in one by one, all eyes were drawn to the Uchiha's designated seats, where two chairs sat empty.
The Third Hokage sat at the head of the table. He wanted to see if the Uchiha would attend. This would be crucial in determining how to handle them going forward.
As the meeting time approached, an Anbu member leaned in and whispered to the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage nodded slightly and waved the Anbu away.
He then looked toward the entrance, and the other clan leaders also wondered if the Uchiha had arrived.
Sure enough, just as the meeting was about to start, Kawasaki entered the room with Fugaku, who had his eyes closed in contemplation.
Kawasaki guided Fugaku to his seat...
This was Fugaku's first public appearance since the attack on the Uchiha. Everyone's gaze was drawn to his tightly shut eyes. His eye sockets, sunken from his blindness, gave him a somewhat terrifying appearance.
The elders each had their own thoughts, but they revealed nothing on their faces.
After Fugaku was seated, Kawasaki addressed the room. "My apologies, everyone. Elder Fugaku was slightly delayed due to his eye injury."
He then gave a slight nod to Hiashi and Hizashi of the Hyuga clan as a greeting.
The elders replied politely, "Elder Kawasaki, you're too kind. You've arrived right on time. It is we who were early."
After a few brief pleasantries, Kawasaki took his seat.
This was the first time the Uchiha had ever stepped into a meeting of Konoha's leadership. For Fugaku, however, it only stirred a faint ripple in his heart before he returned to his state of calm. To him, a seat at Konoha's high-level meetings was no longer the prize he had once desired.
For Kawasaki, attending the meeting was merely a means to an end, not the ultimate goal. Therefore, he felt little emotional fluctuation.
The gazes of several elders occasionally flickered across Fugaku's sunken eye sockets, their expressions uncertain as various thoughts ran through their minds.
The Third Hokage tapped his pipe, and the room quickly fell silent.
The Third Hokage spoke first. "To begin, the first item on this meeting's agenda is the war between the Hidden Cloud and the Hidden Mist. We will discuss the progress of the war and the countermeasures Konoha should take."
All the elders turned their eyes to Uchiha Kawasaki, as it was his first time attending. They wanted to see what the Uchiha's stance would be. The blind Fugaku was present mainly to show their position; for the rest of the time, he was a symbolic figure.
Kawasaki rose slowly and spoke with unhurried composure.
"I predict the war between the Hidden Cloud and the Hidden Mist will be a prolonged one. The Hidden Cloud's invasion is on a grand scale. With both of their jinchuriki and the Raikage himself on the front lines, they are determined to win."
"The Hidden Mist's current resistance suggests that there's a problem with their jinchuriki. If the Hidden Mist suffers heavy losses in the initial assault, they will likely resort to decentralized guerrilla tactics to counterattack."
"As for how far this war will escalate, it remains unclear. But the Hidden Mist will certainly not go down without a fight. The other shinobi villages are actively preparing for war."
"I believe Konoha should not allow the Hidden Stone to pass through our lands. We must wait until the situation becomes clearer before making a decision. The Uchiha have already taken action. We have dispatched our forces to the Shikoku Road to prevent the Hidden Stone from advancing another step."
"Konoha must begin its own battle preparations immediately, lest we are caught unprepared later."
Kawasaki's words were stern and righteous.