Inside the Hokage’s office, arguments raged endlessly.
Danzo stood his ground firmly, taking on three opponents at once without losing an inch of momentum.
*You can talk until you’re blue in the face, but I still can’t produce a Mangekyo!* That was his unyielding stance.
In that moment, Danzo had his aura wide open, firing on all cylinders, without shrinking back in the slightest.
As for the bitterness in his heart…
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other two were convinced it was Danzo who had done it and insisted he hand it over.
*We severely injured two of the Uchiha’s geniuses, and I agreed to give you one eye—and you’re still not satisfied?
Danzo, don’t be too greedy!* Danzo, on the other hand, suspected Hiruzen Sarutobi had done it.
Just as Hiruzen said, this matter undoubtedly came from within.
It couldn’t have been ninjas from another village!
Inside Konoha, anyone capable of pulling off such a deed barely existed, and if there was one, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi alone.
That scheming old fox who had sat in the Hokage seat for decades—his tenure was longer than the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage’s terms combined—definitely had more than one hidden trump card up his sleeve.
Ghost only knew how much power he had under his command.
Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Danzo even better.
Danzo was even in contact with Orochimaru, who had betrayed the village, and who knew how many dangerous rogue ninjas he had colluded with in secret.
He definitely had the capacity to pull off something like this.
The argument lasted until Kakashi returned.
“What did the Uchiha say?” The four of them stared intently at Kakashi.
As Konoha’s greatest clan, who dared ignore them?
Especially those red-eyed folks—they were a bunch of lunatics!
Kakashi shook his head.
“They didn’t say much, just told me what happened.” Then he added, “They even permitted me to conduct an independent investigation, completely opened up the Uchiha’s core area, and didn’t assign anyone to follow me.
When I left, they merely gave a casual nod, not caring in the slightest.” The four fell silent.
This was definitely not a good sign.
Tranquility was merely the prelude to an explosion!
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his head and glared viciously at Danzo.
*Danzo, look at what you’ve done!* Danzo showed no weakness and glared right back.
Even with only one eye, his momentum was not inferior in the slightest.
*Hiruzen, if you keep shifting the blame, I’ll have to pull the plug and break off completely.* “Sigh!” The Third Hokage sighed.
“You all know the Uchiha’s recent situation.
And now this happened…” The Uchiha’s recent movements had gradually become transparent.
They were preparing to launch an armed coup to reclaim the Hokage position that rightfully belonged to them.
To the four currently holding the power of the village, that was suicidal.
Trying to snatch authority from their hands was asking for death.
The problem was that those red-eyed lunatics were extremely powerful.
That made things tricky.
Danzo said indifferently, “Strike first to gain the upper hand.
Exterminate them.” “Impossible!” “Objection!” “Shut your mouth!” His statement met with joint opposition from Hiruzen Sarutobi’s group of three.
After Kazuki and Shisui had their eyes stolen, the Uchiha’s vigilance must have reached its absolute peak.
Right now, the Uchiha clan grounds must have a guard every three steps and a sentry every five!
To deal with the Uchiha now, they could only launch a direct assault.
How many sacrifices would it take to wipe them out?
The Uchiha had over thirty Jonin on the surface!
And those were Uchiha Jonin!
It took at least three ordinary Konoha Jonin to tackle one.
And in the shadows?
Would the Uchiha foolishly lay all their cards on the table?
What worried them most was the Mangekyo!
If Shisui and Kazuki had the Mangekyo, could there be a third Mangekyo within the Uchiha?
Besides, the Uchiha were currently the victims here.
The two most talented geniuses in their clan had been gouged of their eyes.
If you go and attack them now, under what justification?
How many ninja clans would follow you?
Attacking the victims—is that how you bully people?
Not counting the other clans, relying solely on the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans?
Are you joking!
Their exclusive Will of Fire didn’t allow them to act so brazenly.
“Let’s appease them first,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice.
“However, everyone must prepare.
Danger is right at our doorstep.” The others couldn’t help but nod.
Only Danzo sneered.
*As weak-willed as ever, Hiruzen!
Even knowing danger is right at our doorstep, you still wait in silence.
Foolish!* Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the mocking Danzo and said coldly, “Danzo, think carefully about what to do next.
The Uchiha’s investigation into this will never stop.
You had better hope you haven’t slipped up, otherwise…” Danzo left in anger.
*When all is said and done, you still think I did it?* However, in the eyes of Hiruzen and the other two, his anger looked like a guilty conscience.
“Greedy fellow!” Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly.
…
When Kazuki opened his eyes and caught the pungent scent of disinfectant, he knew his plan had succeeded.
Although he couldn’t see anything right now and his whole body ached fiercely, he let out a silent sigh of relief in his heart.
Time to proceed to step two!
Indeed!
Both pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan had been gouged out by him.
The severe injuries of both men were also his doing.
He had two main objectives: one was Shisui’s life, and the other was the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan!
Kazuki remembered that in the original story, after Shisui revealed his Mangekyo ability, he was feared by the Hokage faction, leading to Danzo stepping in to steal the Mangekyo.
Although Shisui managed to escape, he lost an eye.
Furthermore, his heart suffered an immense blow.
He hated Danzo, lost trust even in the Hokage, and feared his eyes would spark a war.
So, after leaving his other eye to Itachi, he chose to commit suicide, faking that he had destroyed the Mangekyo Sharingan.
In addition, because of his death, the Uchiha, who were originally planning an armed coup to reclaim the Hokage position, were forced to put things on hold, causing the timeline to stretch out.
To Kazuki, however, that was far too foolish.
Kotoamatsukami!
To possess such a formidable ability and yet perform such a foolish deed.
What a pig!
If you want to change Konoha, use Kotoamatsukami!
Use one on Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Use the other on Fugaku Uchiha!
As long as these two brothers are in your hands, why worry about not stabilizing Konoha?
As for the proper way to use these two…
have them become sworn brothers, or just get married on the spot!
In the future, there would be no fighting or competing, and everything would be resolved!
Don’t say it’s impossible—once you use Kotoamatsukami, both of them will definitely listen to you.
What?
Others oppose the marriage?
Haha, two grown adults…
err, one old man and a middle-aged man with fierce eyes, bent on getting married, how could anyone oppose it?
If worst came to worst, for the sake of love, pick up a kunai and fight back!
All reactionaries are paper tigers!
The process of obstruction and resistance would surely be delightful.
Kazuki guaranteed it; even after dealing with those two, no matter the outcome, the Uchiha would most likely lose all motivation to launch an armed coup.
The Hokage faction wouldn’t have the energy to crack down on the Uchiha either.
Peace would arrive just like that!
The crisis resolved just like that!
How simple!
Kazuki kept shaking his head, irritated by his brother’s lack of ambition, yet forced to take action for his brother’s life.
Sigh!
Tearfully taking his blood brother’s Mangekyo!
I am so wronged.
Kazuki noted that Shisui’s eyes weren’t strictly necessary—with his system tasks, he could also upgrade to the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
It would just be a bit slower, delaying things by about half a year.
He was only fifteen years old; he could easily afford to wait half a year.
As for the potential Night of the Clan Downfall, don’t be ridiculous.
Preventing such a thing was actually quite easy, something he could do casually.
For instance, provoking a conflict between two villages…
“You’re awake.” A gentle voice sounded.
Kazuki kept his eyes closed and asked tentatively, “Kurenai?
Is that you?”