Shinsuke swept his gaze across the remaining five people and said in a deep voice, “The rest of you will follow your respective squad leaders’ orders.
Remember this, your life always comes first.
The mission comes second.
Strike fast, retreat even faster, and finish the battle quickly.
Under no circumstances are you allowed to drag things out!” “Yes!
We will obey Young Lord Shinsuke’s command!” The voices of all sixteen people merged into one, carrying unwavering resolve as they echoed through the underground chamber.
The flickering lamplight reflected pairs of scarlet Sharingan, like sparks burning in the darkness, waiting to ignite all of Konoha three days later.
Late at night, the Hokage Building remained brilliantly lit.
Inside the top floor office, the smoke had become so thick it was almost impossible to see through.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk.
The tobacco in his pipe had long since burned out, but he didn’t notice.
His fingers gripped an intelligence report that had just arrived from the ANBU, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Stacks of urgent reports from the border covered his desk.
Each crimson wax seal looked more alarming than the last.
The tension that had eased over the past month had tightened once again.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The ANBU reports grew more frequent by the day, and so did the suspicious details.
Aside from a few storefronts facing the street, almost no members of the Uchiha Clan had stepped outside their compound.
Even routine shopping and ninja mission handovers had completely stopped.
The chakra fluctuations around Naka Shrine had also become stronger every day.
The sensory ANBU reported that a massive sealing array was operating beneath the shrine, but every attempt to investigate was firmly blocked by Uchiha patrols.
Even the Ninja Cats, who had been tied to the Uchiha Clan for generations, were constantly entering and leaving the compound through the Summoning Technique.
The ANBU had watched them for half a month, yet still couldn’t figure out what they were transporting inside.
The reassurance Hiruzen had felt when Fugaku voluntarily surrendered his authority and requested surveillance had long since disappeared under the weight of these growing doubts.
“Hiruzen!
We can’t wait any longer!” Koharu Utatane slammed the table, her face dark with anger.
“The ANBU has already confirmed that the Underground Exchange has posted dozens of high paying assassination bounties on Uchiha clan members!” “But look at them.
Instead of investigating, they’ve locked every single clan member inside the compound.
Does that seem normal to you?!
They’re definitely planning something!” “What’s even worse is the border situation,” Homura Mitokado continued as he pushed the top two reports toward Hiruzen.
“The Fourth Raikage A of Kumogakure has personally led Killer B and two thousand elite shinobi to the border of the Land of Fire.
Officially, they claim it’s just a routine military exercise, but they’ve brought enough supplies and provisions for a real campaign.
They’re obviously waiting for internal chaos to break out.” “On top of that, Ōnoki has also mobilized Iwagakure.
Their Earth Release forces are already gathering near the border.
One in the north, one in the south.
They’re both waiting for the chance to take a bite out of us.” Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes as his temples throbbed.
Only five years had passed since the Third Shinobi World War ended.
Konoha had lost nearly half of its elite forces and still hadn’t recovered.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure were already among the strongest hidden villages in the shinobi world.
Now that both were applying pressure at the same time, the cards he held simply weren’t enough.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally opened his eyes and turned to the ANBU Commander.
“Deliver my orders.
Have Kakashi lead ANBU First Squad, along with the elite members of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, to the northern border and prepare for Kumogakure.” “Then have Asuma lead ANBU Second Squad to the western border and keep a close watch on Iwagakure’s movements.” “Lord Hokage!” The ANBU Commander’s expression changed.
“If we do that, there won’t even be enough ANBU left in the village to maintain normal patrols!” “I know.” Hiruzen’s voice was filled with exhaustion.
“But the border cannot fall.
If Kumogakure and Iwagakure break through, Konoha will truly be finished.” Homura Mitokado urgently said, “If the village’s defenses are weakened, what about the Uchiha?
If they really choose this moment to rebel, who will stop them?!” Hiruzen lightly tapped his fingers against the desk, a calculating glint flashing across his eyes.
The Uchiha still had nearly a thousand shinobi under their command, including many elite Jonin.
If he could send that force to the border, it would solve two problems at once.
First, it would reinforce the front lines.
Second, it would draw the Uchiha’s core fighting force out of Konoha and split their strength.
Even if they truly harbored rebellious intentions, they wouldn’t be able to accomplish much without their main force.
“Pass on my written order.” He looked toward the ANBU messenger.
“Go to the Uchiha compound and find Uchiha Fugaku.
Tell him the border is in crisis and Konoha is in grave danger.
Order him to immediately dispatch two hundred elite Uchiha shinobi to the northern border within three days to assist Kakashi in defending against Kumogakure.” The ANBU accepted the order and departed, leaving the office temporarily silent.
But to everyone’s surprise, only half an hour later, the ANBU messenger returned with an ugly expression.
“Lord Hokage…
Uchiha Fugaku refused.” “What did you say?!” Koharu Utatane shot to her feet and shouted.
“Uchiha Fugaku said…” The ANBU lowered his head, his voice tense.
“Right now, the Underground Exchange is filled with high value bounties targeting Uchiha clan members.
The moment our shinobi leave the compound, bounty hunters from across the shinobi world will be watching them.
He cannot send his clansmen to die just to fill the gap at the border.” “He also said the entire clan is preparing for the once in a century ancestral ceremony.
All core clan members must take part, so they simply cannot spare the manpower.” “And finally…
he said that if Lord Hokage truly lacks troops, he should deploy Lord Danzō’s Root forces to the border first.
Root’s combat strength is no weaker than the Uchiha’s.” “Outrageous!” Hiruzen slammed the desk with a thunderous bang, his pipe crashing onto the tabletop as overwhelming fury surged through his eyes.
He had served as Hokage his entire life, and no one had ever dared reject his orders so openly.
Fugaku’s words sounded like excuses, but in truth they made his position crystal clear.
He wouldn’t send a single shinobi, even as Konoha came under increasing pressure from the border.
If Hiruzen still couldn’t see that something was wrong with the Uchiha, then all his years as Hokage had been for nothing.
Yet he had no good solution.
The pressure at the borders was already unbearable.
Every elite force under his command had been dispatched.
He simply didn’t have the strength to openly turn against the Uchiha now.
If war broke out between Konoha and the Uchiha, Kumogakure and Iwagakure would immediately march south.
Konoha would be attacked from both front and rear, with no hope of recovery.
Deathly silence filled the office.
At last, Hiruzen drew a deep breath and looked toward the figure standing in the shadows by the window, his voice as cold as ice.
“Danzō.” Shimura Danzō stepped out of the darkness, the lone eye beneath his bandages filled with unconcealed mockery.
“What is it, Lord Hokage?
Finally remembered me?” “I told you long ago that the Uchiha are nothing but ungrateful wolves.
You insisted on preserving the bigger picture.
Well, now you’ve seen it for yourself.
They don’t appreciate your goodwill at all.” “Enough.” Hiruzen’s face darkened.
“I order you to immediately mobilize every elite member of Root and completely surround the Uchiha compound.” “Seal all four entrances.
Set up three layers of guard posts at each one, and station sensory shinobi around the clock.” “Not even a fly from the Uchiha Clan is to leave.” ━━━━━━━━━━━━ ❤️ Enjoying the Story?