The news that Konoha had extracted massive reparations from Kumogakure spread like wildfire.
The villagers were ecstatic.
Throughout the streets and alleys of Konoha, people talked of nothing but Uchiha Akihito.
"Have you heard?"
"Because of Lord Akihito's insistence, Kumogakure handed over the Raikage's exclusive secret technique!"
"That's not all."
"I heard he also secured the Amber Purifying Pot—the treasure they use to seal Tailed Beasts!"
"Forget that—fifteen billion ryo in war reparations! All thanks to Lord Akihito!"
Some even compared him to the legendary "White Fang of Konoha," Sakumo Hatake, and the "Yellow Flash," Minato Namikaze.
The public fervor didn't arise by chance. Behind the scenes, Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku and others were subtly fanning the flames.
Now Akihito possessed merit, fame, and strength.
What he lacked was only the final leap into Konoha's ruling core.
And since the higher-ups would never willingly offer him that step, he would create it himself.
The Push for Hokage's Advisor
As support for Akihito's elevation grew louder, the Hokage Tower became restless.
Inside the Hokage's office, the Konoha F4 convened once more.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grim as he reviewed the latest reports.
Akihito's popularity was eclipsing even his own.
For a man at the pinnacle of power, that was not a good sign.
"Regarding Uchiha Akihito," Hiruzen said slowly, exhaling smoke from his pipe, "what are your thoughts?"
Homura Mitokado spoke first.
"He harbors ambition. We must be cautious."
Koharu Utatane agreed.
"He manipulates public opinion. We should act preemptively."
Danzo, however, poured cold water on the idea.
"I once advocated eliminating the Uchiha entirely. But now I hold no office, no troops. Even if I wished to act, I lack the means."
He still resented Hiruzen for stripping him of the Hokage's Advisor title and ordering the disbandment of Root.
Hiruzen remained silent.
Direct confrontation with Akihito was too risky.
In the original timeline, the Uchiha clan had only been destroyed after first being labeled traitors—then others wielded the blade.
Hiruzen had kept his own hands clean.
Now, however, he said only:
"Akihito has grown powerful. We cannot move rashly. Control the narrative and wait."
But controlling the narrative was easier said than done.
Rumors began circulating that the Third Hokage intended to appoint Uchiha Akihito as Hokage's Advisor.
Some even claimed Hiruzen was preparing to step down and name Akihito the Fifth Hokage.
After two months of brewing pressure, Fugaku formally proposed in a high-level meeting that Akihito be appointed Hokage's Advisor.
Danzo and the two advisors objected, citing his youth.
Hiruzen hesitated.
But then Hiashi stood.
Then Shikaku.
Then Inuzuka. Aburame. Others.
Even many civilian shinobi voiced support.
Faced with overwhelming public sentiment, Hiruzen could no longer resist.
Reluctantly, he appointed Uchiha Akihito as Hokage's Advisor.
With that single decree, authority once belonging to Danzo shifted to Akihito.
Consolidating Power
Akihito did not rush to build his own organization.
Instead, per Hiruzen's arrangement, he inherited a squad from the original Anbu.
He trusted none of them.
It was obvious that Hiruzen's informants—and possibly former Root members—were embedded within.
On paper, he was Hokage's Advisor.
In reality, constraints remained everywhere.
Konoha's key departments were still divided:
Anbu answered directly to the Hokage.Administration and Medical Corps were controlled by the two advisors.Root still obeyed Danzo in secret.Intelligence Division was complex and riddled with competing loyalties.Only the Police Force was firmly under Akihito's control.
Rather than force confrontation, Akihito chose patience.
The position of Hokage's Advisor granted oversight across all departments.
He began quietly planting trusted individuals.
His childhood friends, Uchiha Masato and Uchiha Tetsuya, were reassigned—one to Logistics, one to Intelligence.
Other clans recommended capable youths. Akihito accepted them all.
Power required broad foundations.
The wider his alliances, the stronger his base.
Hiruzen watched but could only tolerate.
Danzo, during his tenure, had operated freely. To deny Akihito the same privileges would invite humiliation.
Besides—
Hiruzen still believed time favored him.
Even if he stepped down, there remained Jiraiya and Tsunade.
The Fifth Hokage would likely come from his own faction.
The Uchiha, in his mind, were still far from inevitable successors.
Danzo's Silence
Curiously, Danzo had grown unusually quiet.
That silence worried Akihito more than open hostility.
Soon enough, he noticed something.
From the Police Force headquarters to his own home, he was being watched constantly.
The method was subtle—too subtle for ordinary detection.
Aburame clan insects.
Following the trail, Akihito uncovered the culprit:
Aburame Ryoma, an elite Root operative and one of Danzo's most capable agents.
Surveillance. Reconnaissance. Tail work.
The pattern was clear.
Danzo intended another assassination attempt.
He had failed on the battlefield—but he had not given up.
In some ways, Danzo possessed more audacity than Hiruzen.
Yet he was also fatally flawed.
He preached sacrifice, but never practiced it.
Strict with others. Lenient with himself.
Ambitious—yet always stopping short when true risk demanded personal cost.
Cloud's Fourth Raikage and Killer B had failed to kill Akihito.
Did Danzo truly believe Root's remnants could succeed?
Akihito was not impressed.
If anything, he was waiting.
Waiting for Danzo to make a mistake.
Because once he did—
Akihito would not give him a second chance.
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