At the entrance of the Uchiha clan compound, three elderly Uchiha stood silently beneath the cold moonlight, clad in battle armor.
They had been waiting there for quite some time.
Uchiha Setsuna was the first to move. He rolled his stiff shoulders slightly, and the overlapping plates of his armor gave off a faint metallic clink.
He glanced toward the distant Police Force headquarters, where faint cheers drifted through the night.
Clicking his tongue in disappointment, he muttered,
"Looks like we wasted our effort."
"At this rate, there won't be a fight tonight."
Beside him, Uchiha Hokage immediately turned and glared at his longtime rival.
"Put away that battle-crazed mindset of yours."
"At the end of the day, we're still fellow villagers of Konoha."
"If things can be resolved at the negotiation table, that's far better than drawing swords."
"Fellow villagers?"
Setsuna scoffed.
A flash of crimson flickered in the darkness as his Sharingan briefly glowed.
"Those cowards only push their luck because we've held back all these years."
"If you ask me, we should've done what we did against the Senju back then—"
"A proper battle to decide once and for all who truly deserves to be Hokage."
"Decide your head."
Hokage snapped back immediately.
"You think the lives of our clansmen mean nothing?"
"Are the Uchiha afraid of death?"
Setsuna shot him a sideways glance.
"You saying I'm afraid of death?"
Before the argument could escalate, the old clan head spoke calmly.
"Enough."
"With enemies outside the village, fighting among ourselves would only benefit outsiders."
"The current outcome is something both Aran and the clan are willing to accept."
The old man had no interest in continuing the quarrel between the two veteran warriors.
"The storm hasn't passed yet."
"Neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Shimura Danzo are easy opponents."
"We must remain relaxed outwardly but vigilant within."
"We cannot give anyone an opportunity."
"Of course."
Setsuna waved his hand dismissively, signaling the Uchiha behind them to disperse.
Then he looked back at the old clan head.
His weathered eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness.
"Without a head, birds cannot fly."
"Without a leader, beasts cannot move."
"Everyone saw Aran's performance today."
He paused meaningfully.
"The arrangements decided at the clan meeting earlier…"
"Should we reconsider them?"
The old clan head remained silent.
Seeing this, Hokage stepped in to smooth things over.
"Changing decisions too quickly isn't good for stability."
"The road ahead is long."
"Let's… observe a little longer."
He looked toward Setsuna.
"When people's hearts naturally follow someone, the title will come sooner or later."
"There's no need to rush."
The night wind swept through the compound, stirring the silver hair of the three elders.
Yet their bodies remained upright and firm beneath their armor—like three ancient pine trees rooted deep in the earth.
Setsuna did not press the matter further.
Instead, he looked toward the brightly lit Police Force headquarters in the distance.
A faint smile appeared on his face—half pride, half helplessness.
"That brat Aran caused such a huge commotion in there."
"And he couldn't even send someone to inform us."
"We three old men stood here in the cold wind for half the night for nothing."
The old clan head sighed quietly.
He was relieved that Setsuna had dropped the topic.
At the same time, a complicated feeling rose in his chest.
The time I could buy for Fugaku…
That's probably all there is.
The road ahead will prove everything.
If he can walk it, he can walk it.
If he cannot…
Then he should not force himself.
Putting aside his thoughts, the old man smiled gently and changed the subject.
"Fugaku is the same."
"Come to think of it…"
"Among the three of them, Mikoto is still the most thoughtful child."
"She didn't send anyone either."
Hokage laughed and shook his head.
"Thoughtful?"
"When that girl gets stubborn, she practically turns the world upside down."
"My old bones can't control her anymore."
Laughing, he stepped forward and grabbed the arms of his two old friends.
"Come on!"
"Stop standing here drinking the cold wind!"
"Let's go back and warm up some good wine."
"We three old men deserve a proper drink tonight!"
Deep beneath Konoha, inside the hidden Root headquarters—
A massive underground cavern had been carved into an orderly fortress.
Cold stone walls reflected flickering torchlight.
The shadows stretched and twisted like ghosts.
The air carried a heavy smell—a mixture of old bloodstains and chemical reagents.
At the top of a raised platform stood Shimura Danzo.
Earlier, in the Hokage's office, his face had twisted with fury.
Now—
It was eerily calm.
"Danzo-sama."
"The Third Hokage's negotiations at the Uchiha Police Force headquarters have concluded."
A Root ninja knelt on one knee and delivered the report in a flat, emotionless voice.
"Understood."
Danzo's reply was calm.
As though the conflict shaking all of Konoha had nothing to do with him.
His gaze shifted into the shadows.
"How are the ninja forces?"
Another figure stepped forward silently.
"The Hokage's ANBU and the ninja recruited from various clans have already assembled at the northeastern gate of the village."
"They are awaiting your arrival."
"Good."
Danzo slowly rubbed the smooth top of his cane.
His expression remained indifferent.
He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi far too well.
That old friend of his was always indecisive.
Always trying to maintain some ridiculous balance among the village's factions.
He also understood the ninja clans perfectly.
They appeared united around the Hokage—
But in reality, each pursued their own interests.
No benefit.
No cooperation.
This time, he had acted rashly in front of everyone.
He had been publicly scolded and forced to head to the northeastern border.
His reputation had taken a hit.
But had he truly lost anything?
Eight Root operatives.
That was all.
Disposable tools.
If they died, they died.
The only thing that bothered him was that they had died at the hands of the Uchiha.
Still—
Thanks to the Tongue-Sealing Curse Mark and the Yamanaka clan interrogation arranged by Hiruzen, there was no risk of secrets leaking.
He had made a scene.
Thrown a tantrum.
Even humiliated himself.
But the truly important prize—
The support of the ninja clans.
Command of the border army.
And the opportunity to recruit new Root members from the battlefield—
All of those benefits had landed squarely in Shimura Danzo's hands.
When Hiruzen eventually tried to take command back—
If Danzo didn't squeeze something valuable in return to strengthen Root—
Then he would change his surname to Sarutobi.
He had won big.
Too bad I can't bring the Nine-Tails onto the battlefield…
Otherwise Kumogakure wouldn't even be a threat.
Thinking of that, a trace of regret crossed his mind.
But so did caution.
"Send the Shin surveillance team."
"Monitor the Nine-Tails jinchūriki."
"If any Uchiha attempt contact with her—"
"Report to me immediately."
At the Valley of the End, Uchiha Madara had once controlled the Nine-Tails like a god of destruction.
Danzo had seen it with his own eyes when Tobirama Senju brought him there.
That sight had burned itself into his memory.
He feared the Uchiha.
He desired their power.
And he worshipped the Wood Release that could defeat them.
Danzo slowly touched the arm wrapped in white bandages.
His mind drifted.
If I combine both powers…
I will personally cut down Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And become the strongest Hokage in history.
"Let's go."
Danzo turned and began walking toward the exit.
"Time to meet Kumogakure."
His ambition burned fiercely in the darkness.