Konoha Village, Hokage’s Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk.
He had just finished listening to a report from the Anbu.
Uchiha Chiya and Tsunade had eaten together at a barbecue restaurant, apparently getting along quite well.
They had even discussed the medical-ninja training program.
Hiruzen took two puffs from his pipe before speaking to the Anbu stationed outside.
“Bring Danzō, Homura, and Koharu here.”
“Yes, Lord Hokage!”
The Anbu shinobi vanished in a Body Flicker.
It wasn’t long before the three arrived.
“Hiruzen, Uchiha Chiya had a meal with Tsunade today.”
Danzō spoke first, his one visible eye flashing coldly.
“That Uchiha brat certainly knows how to exploit an opportunity.”
“Some members of the Uchiha genuinely care about the village.”
Hiruzen glanced at him.
“Don’t forget Kagami’s contributions.”
An unnatural expression flashed across Danzō’s face.
The name Uchiha Kagami was one Danzō neither wanted to mention nor hear mentioned.
Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses from his seat on the sofa.
“Hiruzen, why did you call us here today?”
“Has something happened on the battlefield?”
“We need to discuss the medical-ninja issue.”
Hiruzen withdrew his gaze and took a scroll from his desk.
“There is nothing inherently wrong with the medical-ninja proposal.”
“The question is whether this is the right time.”
“The right time?”
Danzō sneered.
“Resources are already scarce during wartime. Where are we supposed to find the manpower and resources to train medical ninjas?”
“And now the Uchiha have suddenly decided to involve themselves in the matter.”
“Who knows what they’re really planning?”
“Danzō!”
Hiruzen’s brow furrowed.
“The Uchiha are also part of Konoha!”
Danzō refused to back down.
His voice was low and sharp.
“Hiruzen, you’re too naïve!”
“The Uchiha have never genuinely cared about the village!”
“They’re simply exploiting Tsunade’s emotions to obtain benefits for themselves!”
Koharu Utatane interrupted him.
“Arguing about the Uchiha right now is pointless.”
“The medical-ninja issue is what requires a decision.”
“A decision?”
Danzō gave a cold snort.
“Then reject it outright.”
“During wartime, combat strength comes first!”
“Reject it?”
Hiruzen’s expression darkened.
“Danzō, do you want the shinobi on the front lines to die for nothing?”
The atmosphere in the office suddenly froze.
Homura sighed and attempted to ease the tension.
“Actually…”
“The short-term training proposal put forward by Uchiha Chiya is a reasonable compromise.”
“We could train a group of medical ninjas in a short period.”
“That would reduce pressure on the front lines without consuming too many resources.”
“A compromise?”
Danzō scoffed.
“Homura, when did you become so weak?”
“War isn’t child’s play.”
“What we need are shinobi who can be sent into battle immediately.”
“Not a group of half-trained medical ninjas!”
“Danzō!”
Hiruzen’s voice hardened.
“The ‘half-trained medical ninjas’ you’re talking about could become the very people who save countless lives in the future!”
“Are the lives of shinobi really that worthless to you?”
Danzō narrowed his eye, his voice turning cold.
“Hiruzen, you’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.”
“War requires an iron hand, not sentimental compassion.”
Koharu couldn’t take it anymore.
“If you two keep arguing, the only thing we’ll accomplish is making a spectacle of ourselves for the enemy.”
She took a deep breath and looked toward Hiruzen.
“Hiruzen, proceed with Tsunade’s proposal regarding the medical ninjas.”
“But the scale must be controlled.”
“Resources must remain prioritized for the front lines.”
Hiruzen remained silent for a moment before slowly nodding.
“I agree.”
“Let Tsunade handle the medical-ninja training program.”
Danzō snorted.
He was clearly dissatisfied with the decision, but he didn’t argue further.
Homura and Koharu picked up the scroll concerning the medical-ninja training program and left the office.
Only Hiruzen and Danzō remained.
“There is one more matter.”
Hiruzen’s voice became heavy as he looked at Danzō.
“Orochimaru’s human experimentation must stop.”
A strange glint flashed through Danzō’s eye.
“Stop?”
“Hiruzen, do you realize that our Wood Release research has reached a critical stage?”
“Konoha has already lost enough people recently.”
Danzō sneered.
“What does sacrificing a few test subjects matter if it is for the sake of the village’s strength?”
“The adult subjects may have failed.”
“But if we start with children and raise them accordingly…”
The moment he mentioned children, Hiruzen’s expression changed.
“Enough!”
“Children are the future of the village!”
“They are the ones who will inherit the Will of Fire!”
“What you’re doing is trampling upon the very foundation of Konoha!”
Danzō stared at the anger on Hiruzen’s face.
He finally reined himself in slightly, though the ambition in his eye remained undiminished.
He slowly took a step backward.
His voice was dark.
“…Fine.”
“If you insist, I’ll suspend it for now.”
“Not for now.”
“Permanently.”
Hiruzen’s voice was firm, each word clearly pronounced.
“Orochimaru’s experiments are to be completely terminated and sealed immediately.”
“Otherwise, don’t blame me for taking action.”
Danzō glared at Hiruzen.
“Wood Release is a power capable of pacifying an age of chaos!”
“More importantly, it is one of the most effective abilities for suppressing tailed beasts!”
“What will we do if a jinchūriki ever appears on a battlefield against Konoha?”
“How will we respond then?!”
Danzō’s face had become dark with anger.
He had coveted the power of Wood Release for a long time.
After everything he had invested into the experiments, the thought of abandoning them enraged him.
He slammed his fist onto the desk.
“You’ll regret this, Hiruzen!”
Hiruzen calmly looked at him.
“When we’re working, use our official titles.”
Danzō froze.
Hiruzen’s gaze remained calm.
“Danzō, you should remember something.”
“I am the Hokage.”
Danzō’s expression stiffened.
“Hmph!”
A nameless fury burned in his chest.
He turned around, slammed the door open, and stormed out.
Bang!
The office fell silent once more.
However, as Danzō walked away, the corner of his mouth curled into a cold smile.
Give up Wood Release?
He had no intention of doing that.
A power like that absolutely had to be under his control.
…
That evening, Uchiha compound.
Chiya was summoned to another clan meeting.
Unlike the tense confrontation of the previous day, the elders’ expressions were different this time.
There was even a hint of…
Expectation?
“Chiya.”
Uchiha Yashiro slowly spoke.
“After discussion, the clan has decided to support your interactions with Tsunade and your involvement in the medical-ninja program.”
Chiya raised an eyebrow.
He was secretly pleased, but his expression remained calm.
“Oh?”
“What exactly do you mean, Senior?”
“If the medical-ninja proposal succeeds, the Uchiha must have a share of it.”
“Since you’ve managed to get close to Tsunade, find a way to get the Uchiha involved as well.”
Chiya immediately understood what he meant.
Just as I thought.
The clan’s support is never unconditional.
But he had already anticipated this.
“I’ll do my best to persuade them.”
He bowed slightly, his tone respectful but carrying a hint of sharpness.
“However…”
“If we truly want the Uchiha to become part of Konoha’s inner circle, the medical-ninja program alone won’t be enough.”
“Oh?”
“You have another idea?”
Chiya raised his head.
His Sharingan unconsciously activated, its crimson glow illuminating the shadows around him.
“We should start by changing how the Konoha Military Police Force handles law enforcement.”
“There should be one principle above all.”
“We must uphold the village’s laws and regulations…”
“But we must never lose our humanity.”
“That should be the first step toward changing how the people of Konoha view the Uchiha clan as a whole.”