The Naka Shrine.
This place was protected by a powerful barrier, sufficient to block all prying eyes and sensory perception. It was the forbidden ground where the core leadership of the Uchiha Clan held their meetings.
At this moment, the hall was filled with people.
At the head seat, Uchiha Fugaku sat motionless, not uttering a word, simply listening quietly to the discussions of the clansmen below.
There were over twenty people in the room, each one a genuine Jonin.
The depth of Konohagakure's largest clan was on full display here.
"Have you heard? Uchiha Shinji."
"Originally just an ordinary person, he actually awakened the Sharingan directly on the battlefield."
"The clan leader was too careless, actually sending him to the front lines. If he had died in battle, it would have been a loss for our clan."
"And what about that Sharingan in Hatake Kakashi's possession? What should we do? Should we take it back?"
"We must take it back! The eyes of our Uchiha Clan absolutely cannot be left for outsiders to covet!"
"But!"
Everyone was talking over each other, arguing incessantly.
Fugaku frowned slightly and gave a light, deliberate cough.
The clamor instantly quieted down.
He slowly looked toward the council of elders. "What do the elders think about Shinji's matter?"
The elders exchanged glances, and Uchiha Yashiro slowly stepped forward.
His face was gaunt, his eyes sharp as knives, his tone calm:
"The clan's previous judgment was mistaken. Since he has awakened his eyes, and it's the Three Tomoe, he is qualified to attend clan meetings and should be included in key cultivation efforts from now on."
They didn't care that it was this very group who had personally pushed Shinji to the edge of the battlefield.
In the eyes of the vast majority of the Uchiha Clan, the Sharingan was the only credential for entering the inner circle.
Not just Shinji, even Obito was one they had silently given up on.
At that time, the flames of war had not yet died down, and the village's conflicts were still focused externally. The villagers of Konohagakure were far from reaching the point of wariness and rejection toward the Uchiha.
But no one had expected that this time on the front lines, two people they considered dispensable had instead earned some prestige for the Uchiha.
Fugaku gave a slight nod, accepting this. "Then, regarding Kakashi's Sharingan, what do you all think?"
The meeting hall fell into silence once again.
Uchiha Fūka's expression darkened, his voice cold and hard. "That is the Sharingan of our Uchiha Clan. It absolutely cannot remain in the hands of an outsider."
"We must take it back!"
"I second the elder!"
Voices of agreement rose one after another.
Fugaku frowned slightly. "Kakashi is the student of Minato Namikaze, and Minato is the direct disciple of the Sannin Jiraiya."
The implication was clear enough.
Behind Kakashi stood Konohagakure's top-tier combat power and prestige.
Upon hearing the names Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya, the previously indignant crowd immediately fell silent.
Forget Jiraiya; just Minato Namikaze alone, whose prestige was currently at its peak and whose strength was unfathomable, was enough to make even the Uchiha Clan have to weigh their actions carefully.
"In that case," Uchiha Yashiro slowly spoke, "not forcibly reclaiming Kakashi's Sharingan might instead preserve some dignity for the Uchiha and leave us with a good reputation."
"Then let it be so!"
Fugaku nodded in agreement.
His gaze then shifted to the figure standing quietly in the corner. "Shisui, go inform Shinji of today's clan meeting decision."
"Also, have him find time to come see me. I recall you've had interactions with Shinji before."
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
Shisui, standing in the corner, responded, secretly relieved.
He never liked the atmosphere of clan meetings but had to attend due to the clan leader and elders' demands.
Throughout the entire meeting, he remained silent.
Shisui was genuinely happy that Shinji had returned safely.
He had always believed it was his fault that Shinji was forced onto the battlefield. Now that Shinji was unharmed, the guilt weighing on his heart had finally lessened somewhat.
...
Outside Hiruzen Sarutobi's office in the Hokage Building.
"Lord Danzo, are you here to see the Hokage? I'll inform him right away!"
"Get out of my way. I have urgent business with Hiruzen. None of you are to follow."
Bang—!
The heavy wooden door was kicked open roughly.
Danzo strode in, his face still wearing that cold, indifferent expression. But the moment his eyes fell on Hiruzen Sarutobi, the indifference instantly transformed into undisguised disdain.
"How could someone like this become Hokage? Lord Tobirama must have misjudged back then."
"Danzo, you bastard, couldn't you knock before entering?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi panicked, hurriedly grabbing the blue velvet cloth on the table and frantically covering the crystal ball in front of him.
Avoiding eye contact, he coughed twice and looked at Danzo. "What... what do you want?"
Danzo snorted coldly, his tone sharp. "You were peeping just now, weren't you? At your age, still doing such things, you old pervert!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi choked on his cough, his old face flushing red. He didn't dare retort, forcing a serious expression instead. "Get to the point!"
Danzo inwardly scorned his old friend once more.
With their years of friendship, how could he not know Hiruzen Sarutobi's little hobby?
Back in the day, even Jiraiya often joined him in secretly reading vulgar material, only for both to be thoroughly disciplined by Tsunade.
How ridiculous.
How could Lord Tobirama have chosen someone like this?
The position of Hokage should have been mine.
Suppressing his dissatisfaction, Danzo got straight to the point. "The Uchiha have gained plenty of reputation this time. To prevent them from developing rebellious thoughts, I plan to plant operatives within the Uchiha as Root's eyes and ears."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, his expression hesitant. "Isn't that inappropriate?"
"Prevention is better than cure. Have you forgotten Lord Tobirama's teachings?" Danzo rebuked sharply. "The Uchiha are inherently an evil clan!"
He stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi, enunciating each word:
"Hand Uchiha Shinji over to me. Transfer him to Root, to be personally trained by me."
Over the past few days, he had already gathered all the information on Shinji.
Shinji had progressed rapidly from an ordinary ninja in a short time, with talent comparable to Shisui's.
Previously, when he asked Hiruzen for Shisui, he was flatly refused.
Now, asking for Shinji, who still has little fame, the other party should have no reason to refuse again.
The Sharingan.
At the thought of that power, Danzo's heart couldn't help but race wildly, a burning desire almost bursting from his chest.
He wanted power.
By any means necessary, he would obtain it.
"No!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi refused outright.
"Why?!"
Danzo instantly flared with anger. Even requesting a single person was proving so difficult.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag of his cigarette, then slowly exhaled. "Shinji is a talent I've taken notice of. He possesses the Will of Fire. I originally intended to transfer him into the Anbu."
"Hand him over to me. Root is the most suitable place for him."
"Impossible. Sending Shinji to your Root would be a complete waste."
"What did you say?!"
"I said no, and that's final."
"Don't forget, I am the Hokage. On this matter, I do not agree."
"Hiruzen, you—!"
Danzo was furious. Every time, this guy used the same line.
He pointed at Hiruzen, his face somewhat contorted. "You'll regret this, Hiruzen."
Bang—!
Without looking back, Danzo slammed the door shut with force and stormed out.
The moment he stepped out of the Hokage Building, his heart turned as cold as ice.
"I must become Hokage."
"
Since I cannot obtain the Sharingan, I'll initiate another plan."
In Danzo's mind, the face of the First Hokage suddenly surfaced. His obsession with power deepened even further.
He raised his head, glaring fixedly at the Konohagakure emblem atop the building.
"I must obtain power."