However, Obito had merely amplified Danzo's own thoughts.
Danzo thought to himself that with the foundation the Third Hokage had left for the Sarutobi clan, it would be child's play for him to live a few more years and cultivate another successor. Looking at Orochimaru's actions since taking office, it was clear he was aligned with the Third. At this rate, even if the next Hokage wasn't a Sarutobi, they would undoubtedly be a close ally.
Danzo was unreconciled. He had spent his entire life doing Hiruzen Sarutobi's dirty work. He had to find a way to get his revenge, no matter what.
Obito hadn't expected Danzo to be thinking so far ahead.
Kazuma and Kakuzu, whom he had recruited earlier, were still gathering the clay needed for reanimation. The Undead Corps was not yet a formidable force. It would take more time for Kazuma's preparations to be complete. Killing Hiruzen Sarutobi now would easily expose Black Zetsu's plan.
Obito rejected Danzo outright.
"The situation is still unclear. Let's wait until the Uchiha clan has left Konoha."
"Once the Uchiha are gone from the village, Konoha won't be able to stop me."
Danzo was rebuffed, but he showed no sign of it, only saying faintly, "Alright, I understand. We'll speak of this later."
Inwardly, Danzo cursed. Ignorant fool. To pass up such a perfect opportunity. There won't be another chance like this once Hiruzen has groomed a new successor.
Having failed to achieve his goal, Danzo didn't linger. He used the Mayfly Technique and departed.
After Danzo left, Black Zetsu spoke in a cold voice, "What is that old fossil plotting?"
Obito sneered. "Don't worry about him. He'll be gone soon enough."
Black Zetsu let out a sinister chuckle. Did Danzo really think Tobi would coexist peacefully with him?
"Hss..."
A sharp pain shot through Obito's eye.
A psychic backlash struck his mind.
Obito's face twisted in agony as he clutched his eye, forcefully suppressing the pain with his willpower.
Black Zetsu witnessed the entire episode from the side.
"It's happening again?"
Obito took a deep breath. Although he had grown used to the mental assaults from his eye recently, it was still difficult to fully adapt.
"It's a recent transplant. There's bound to be an adjustment period."
Obito now had a new respect for Nagato, wondering if he had ever gone through this stage.
Black Zetsu knew this was a necessary step, and seeing that Obito could endure it, he said nothing more.
"The Uchiha clan is planning to move their entire clan. What are your plans?"
Although he hadn't gained any advantage the last few times, the Uchiha were now moving their entire clan, a massive number of people. He decided to go and assess the situation.
"I'll go take a look first. Kawasaki wouldn't dare do this if he wasn't confident."
"With so many clansmen, I wonder how many he can protect."
In the Hyuga compound, inside Kaito's room.
"Understood, I'll handle it."
Kaito received the message and sent White Zetsu away.
White Zetsu had just delivered some information, instructing him to search the clan archives for records regarding the lineage on the moon.
At Kaito's current standing within the clan, there were no longer any restricted areas for him.
He went directly to the clan's archives and began searching for the relevant documents.
However, Kaito had no memory of such things. After all, not everyone was interested in myth-like ancient records.
He had no choice but to start flipping through the books on the shelves one by one.
But after searching the entire archives, he found no records on the matter.
Just then, the sound of a door opening came from behind him.
It was the Great Elder who had entered.
"Kaito, what are you doing here?"
Kaito had been mentoring the younger generation for the past few years and was quite well-regarded within the clan. However, he wasn't known for his reading habits, so the Great Elder was surprised to see him in the archives.
Kaito leaned in conspiratorially.
"Great Elder, a few days ago, I sensed a massive fluctuation of power coming from the sky..."
The Great Elder's expression changed. "You sensed it too?"
Kaito feigned surprise.
"You felt it as well, Great Elder?"
The Great Elder nodded. "How did you know to look for the ancient texts here? How did you know the fluctuations from the moon were related to our Hyuga clan?"
Kaito laughed awkwardly. "I heard stories about our ancestor Hamura when I was a child, but my memory is a bit hazy now. I came here to see if there were any records."
The Great Elder smiled. "You should have just told me. I have all the books right here."
The Great Elder rarely went out, so Kaito had never had a chance to use his Spore Technique on him. However, it seemed the elder had already organized the relevant books.
"Come, let's go to my quarters."
The Great Elder had been frustrated by Hiashi and Hizashi's refusal to contact the branch family on the moon. Learning that Kaito had also noticed the disturbance, he became exceptionally enthusiastic.
The Great Elder led the way, bringing Kaito to his room. He entered his bedroom and retrieved several books, their covers dark with age.
"I took these from the archives a while ago. They are the only copies."
"These books record the origins of our Hyuga clan, as well as the information about the branch family on the moon." The Great Elder carefully opened one of the books and began to explain.
Kaito, intending to fish for more information, feigned shock. "The records are nearly a thousand years old. Could that branch family on the moon still exist?"
The Great Elder nodded in agreement. "I'm also very curious about what has become of them on the moon after a thousand years."
"Moreover, it seems the branch family on the moon possesses some abilities that we do not."
Kaito looked on with longing. "Great Elder, how can a shinobi possibly reach the heavens?"
The Great Elder gently patted the books. "I only found some clues after reading through all of these."
"What kind of clues, Great Elder?"
But at that moment, the Great Elder stopped speaking. He stroked his beard and said, "Hiashi and Hizashi are against us contacting the people of the heavens, so I cannot tell you what these clues are for now."
To have the clues cut off just as they were within reach was incredibly frustrating for Kaito, but the man before him was a clan patriarch. He couldn't act rashly.
"Why did the Clan Head disagree?"
A flash of displeasure crossed the Great Elder's face. "Hiashi fears that the branch family on the moon harbors ill intentions, so he forbids any contact."
Kaito, knowing the Great Elder's personality well, frowned and said, "The Hyuga have developed well over the years, but we have fallen far behind the Uchiha clan."
"If this continues, we will never be able to catch up to them."
The Great Elder was very pleased with Kaito's way of thinking. "It's wonderful that you think this way."
"I have poured the clan's resources into the most talented of our younger generation over the years, but it is still difficult to catch up to the Uchiha."
"Hiashi is too conservative, to actually forbid contact with the moon clan."
Kaito fully displayed his spirit of doing anything for the sake of the Hyuga, just as he had when he stole the Uchiha's dietary secrets.
He spoke to the Great Elder with some agitation. "Ever since Uchiha Kawasaki rose to prominence, the Susanoo has become their clan's signature."
"Now, when people talk about the strongest shinobi clan, the first one they think of is the Uchiha."
"The Hyuga clan, once considered their equals, has been gradually forgotten."