After arranging the pursuit unit, Sarutobi Hiruzen slumped back in his chair, his entire posture showing fatigue.
Beside him, Danzō leaned on his cane, gazing out the window. His expressionless face made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Turning to Koharu and Homura, both wore troubled looks as they sat quietly on the bench, not intending to speak.
Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hiashi stood where they were—the former seething with anger at the radical clan members who had fled, while the latter remained utterly unmoved, as if everything that had happened today held no weight for him at all.
"Uchiha clan..."
In the silent room, Danzō's voice suddenly broke out.
Hearing him immediately bring up the Uchiha, Fugaku's heart clenched.
By now, he already knew about Sakumo's severe injuries. Realizing that the duo of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō might be reemerging into power, Fugaku felt as if he had been thrown back into those precarious years when he was forced to tread carefully.
Fortunately, Danzō did not seem intent on exploiting the situation. He merely ordered Fugaku to list all those who had fled with Yōwan, to be marked as missing-nin.
"I believe these people can no longer be considered shinobi of Konoha—or members of the Uchiha clan."
Danzō was deeply displeased that Sakumo had left behind so many unstable elements. If his own advice had been followed back then—secretly executing all the radicals—today's disaster never would have occurred.
It was their obstruction that prevented reinforcements from arriving in time, leaving Sakumo gravely injured.
"Yes, Danzō-sama."
Seeing that Hiruzen made no objections either, Fugaku nodded, accepting the decision.
After stressing again that the Police Force must maintain the village's order, Danzō returned to his place. His drooping eyelids closed once more, slipping back into silence.
"In that case, I'll leave it to you all."
Rubbing his temple, Hiruzen finally spoke once Danzō had finished with arrangements, signaling that the others were free to attend to their duties.
When the last person, Hizashi, closed the door behind him, Danzō opened his eyes. With the sharp tap of his cane against the floor, he slowly walked toward the portraits of past Hokage.
"Hiruzen, I believe it is time to recall the jōnin teams we sent to track down the Uchiha."
Raising his head toward Senju Tobirama's portrait, Danzō spoke, casting a sidelong glance at the silent Hiruzen.
Hearing him, Hiruzen's hand, which had just reached for his pipe, froze. He instantly lost any desire to smoke.
"The Fourth isn't dead yet, Danzō. Don't you think it's too early to be plotting such things?"
Hiruzen understood Danzō's intentions perfectly—but he believed the time had not yet come.
"I went to the Medical Corps. The Fourth's spine was critically damaged. Even if he survives, there's a high chance he'll lose his ability to fight. Are we really going to let a gravely wounded man serve as Hokage?"
Danzō's words were brutally blunt—so blunt that Hiruzen could barely listen.
"Danzō! The Fourth fought desperately to protect the village! Watch your attitude!"
Hiruzen slammed the table, leaping to his feet, his fiery gaze fixed on Danzō.
"I am not denying the Fourth's achievements. But facts are facts. Kumogakure only just yielded under pressure. If they learn of this, who's to say they won't rekindle their ambitions? And let's not forget—we have another restless 'ally' right next door..."
Danzō's tone remained unchanged, as if Hiruzen's anger wasn't even directed at him. He continued coldly:
"Don't forget what our so-called ally did while we were at war with Kumogakure."
The ally Danzō referred to was Sunagakure, under the leadership of Rasa.
During Konoha's conflict with Kumogakure, that Kazekage had mobilized troops. Though outwardly claiming it was to aid an ally, both Hiruzen and Danzō knew perfectly well what his real intentions were.
"Or is it that the man who claims not to crave power intends to take up the Hokage's mantle once more?"
That final jab immediately smothered Hiruzen's fury.
"The Hokage title was entrusted to me by my teacher. Since I've already retired, I won't cling to the position so long as there's a suitable successor. But Danzō... he's still too young. Right now—"
"We were young once too."
Danzō turned to face Hiruzen directly.
The two locked eyes for a long moment. At last, Hiruzen chose to yield.
"Very well. Recall them first."
Slumping back into his chair, Hiruzen knew that if he didn't compromise, this stubborn old friend might act rashly in Sakumo's absence.
His obsession ran too deep—deep enough to drive him to madness.
"I'll make arrangements for the pursuit units."
Hearing Hiruzen's concession, Danzō's expression finally loosened. After years of scheming, he could at last glimpse a sliver of dawn.
Under Sakumo's management, the village had prospered greatly in recent years. If Danzō failed to strike decisively now, the Hokage's seat might well end up in the hands of another outstanding young candidate.
That was why he insisted on recalling the teams at this exact moment.
He had to ensure that if anything happened to Sakumo, Takeshi would immediately step into the spotlight.
As the sound of the cane gradually receded, Hiruzen stared at the tightly shut door and sighed heavily.
"Please... let nothing happen to you, Fourth."
...
The once-prosperous Land of Whirlpools had, after its destruction, become a haven for bandits and missing-nin.
Missing-nin fleeing from hunter-nin, pirates terrorizing the seas, commoners who had offended nobles and been driven from their homes—those abandoned by the world gathered here, where there were no daimyo or nobles, and established their own law.
The law of the jungle.
That said, to avoid needless conflict, they maintained at least a basic level of order. Ordinary people who drifted here were not slaughtered indiscriminately.
Most of the Uzumaki clan perished in that war. The few survivors fled this place of sorrow, and so red hair was now a rare sight here.
Takeshi's group, boarding a smuggler's ship from the Land of Waves, reached this uncharted land in just half a day.
Unlike Kakuzu, Takeshi and his companions did not resort to theft, but paid their fare in full.
They were only here to gather intelligence—they had no desire to stir up trouble.
However, after a full day of searching, they found no trace of the Uchiha.
What troubled them even more was that since their battle with Sasori, they had gone an entire week without receiving a single response from the Intelligence Division.
Such a long silence could no longer be excused as mere busyness.