Shuoye Uchiha let out a faint laugh, as though he had already seen through Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts.
"Hokage-sama, rest assured. The Uchiha are not reckless fools. The Eight-Tails' power is, naturally, the village's power."
He paused, eyes gleaming.
"As for when it will be handed over… that depends on the Uchiha's mood."
There was deliberate playfulness in his tone, a quiet challenge wrapped in courtesy.
Then his voice softened.
"Surely the Hokage would not press heroes who have just returned from the battlefield? After all, the Uchiha are an indispensable part of the Hidden Leaf Village."
Hiruzen's expression darkened further.
He understood perfectly. Shuoye was using the Nine-Tails incident as leverage.
It was a reminder—and a threat.
Yet Hiruzen had little room to maneuver.
"Shuoye," he said evenly, "the village respects those who contribute to its safety. The matter of the Eight-Tails… we will discuss it again."
The concession was subtle.
But it was a concession nonetheless.
Shuoye had offered the village a step down.
At the same time, he had placed them in an uncomfortable position—because everyone knew the Uchiha's "mood" was rarely pleasant.
Hiruzen forced a thin smile.
He cursed inwardly.
What a method.
Yet outwardly, he could only exchange empty pleasantries. Any aggressive move now could fracture the village further.
Around them, shinobi watched in silence.
Some were stunned by Shuoye's composure.
Others were confused—disappointed even—by the Hokage's restraint.
" Hiruzen!"
Danzō Shimura stood rigid at his side, face darker than before.
He felt like a fool.
Half of Root's resources had slipped away, and in return, he gained nothing.
His nails bit into his palm.
—
Far away, in the Hidden Cloud Village—
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist onto the table.
Wood splintered.
The news of the Eight-Tails' capture burned like wildfire through his veins.
"This is a direct provocation!" he roared.
The entire chamber trembled.
"We will send an official demand to the Hidden Leaf immediately. They will return the Eight-Tails—or we will consider all treaties void!"
A shinobi hesitated.
"Raikage-sama… our losses were severe. Perhaps negotiation first—"
"Negotiation?" The Raikage's voice turned cold.
"They dare seize our jinchūriki. That Uchiha brat has made their stance clear."
"Uchiha is unstable. And we will not tolerate their arrogance."
The order was given.
Envoys would depart at once.
—
Back in the Hokage Tower—
The atmosphere was heavy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the head of the table, fingers pressed against his temple.
"The Uchiha's actions are becoming increasingly intolerable," he said gravely. "They acted independently. They captured the Hidden Cloud's Eight-Tails jinchūriki and refused to hand him over."
"This puts the entire village in a precarious position."
Danzō did not miss the opportunity.
"Hokage-sama," he said pointedly, "you must take responsibility. Our efforts to isolate the Uchiha are unraveling. This situation is the result of your hesitation."
His tone carried thinly veiled accusation.
The room fell silent.
Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly.
Danzō was not entirely wrong.
But assigning blame would solve nothing.
"The Eight-Tails may be in Shuoye's hands," Hiruzen replied steadily, "but we do not control it."
"What concerns us now is the Hidden Cloud's response. We must proceed cautiously."
The council began to argue.
Some advocated handing over the Uchiha to appease the Hidden Cloud.
Others insisted such weakness would only embolden them.
The tension thickened.
Then a calm voice cut through the noise.
"We cannot remain passive."
All eyes turned.
Koharu Utatane spoke evenly.
"The Uchiha are drifting beyond our control. We must act."
She paused.
"But open confrontation is unwise."
Her gaze sharpened.
"We may consider… outside leverage."
The room grew still again.
The game had entered a new phase.
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