After receiving the village's orders, Tobitake Tonbo put aside his thoughts of decoding the cipher, planning to study it more carefully once he returned to the village.
Meanwhile, within the Uchiha clan compound.
Fugaku had just finished compiling the list of defectors. Looking at the scroll with more than thirty names written on it, the good mood he had enjoyed ever since the Fourth Hokage took office completely vanished today.
He hadn't expected that aside from the radical faction already under house arrest, several other clan members had also taken advantage of the chaos to defect from Konoha.
Removing those who had been killed on the spot, and adding in the new defectors, the final tally formed this long list of more than thirty people.
And that wasn't the most terrifying part.
What worried Fugaku the most was the possibility of the Third Hokage stepping back out from behind the scenes to the front stage, and, together with Danzō, continuing to rule Konoha.
Back in the days of the Third's rule, when something as major as the Hokage being gravely injured occurred, the Uchiha clan was almost always the last to know.
At that time, the only clans qualified to participate in the high-level council meetings were the Ino–Shika–Chō trio and the Hyūga.
"Sigh." Recalling the Uchiha clan's circumstances in those days, Fugaku let out a heartfelt sigh.
He could only hope the Fourth would be alright.
...
In stark contrast to Fugaku's deep worries, Hyūga Hiashi remained as calm as ever.
Standing in the courtyard, he gazed toward the front gate.
Outside the gate, the footsteps of Sarutobi Hiruzen were clearly audible.
"The Third has arrived. I've already said what needed to be said—you may leave now."
Without glancing at Hizashi, who was kneeling in the house, Hiashi's tone was so cold that no emotion could be detected.
"Yes."
Hizashi respectfully bowed and silently left through the side door.
"Troublesome times indeed."
Hearing the sound of his younger brother departing, Hiashi finally turned, his expression complex as he looked at the place where Hizashi had just been kneeling. But before Hiruzen entered the house, he had already restored his face to its earlier impassivity.
The two men's discussion did not last long. Soon, under the escort of the Anbu, Hiruzen departed from the Hyūga compound and immediately proceeded toward the Uchiha compound.
When Hiruzen arrived at Fugaku's house, the clan head, his face dark with frustration, was in the middle of earnestly lecturing his son. He was telling him not to go seek out Might Guy to train so often.
If Itachi wanted to practice taijutsu, Fugaku could easily introduce him to far better teachers.
Clearly, Fugaku had failed to recognize Guy's potential.
Just as Itachi was about to refuse, a knock sounded on the door.
Mikoto opened it, her voice tinged with surprise and delight as she greeted Hiruzen and led him inside.
The two Anbu accompanying him tactfully remained outside, standing guard.
...
"I won't beat around the bush."
Brought into the study by Fugaku, Hiruzen dispensed with pleasantries and went straight to the point.
"If the village were to be led by a young Acting Hokage, would the Uchiha clan accept it?"
Fugaku's mind immediately began racing.
A young Acting Hokage?
This was indeed a path he had never considered.
All this time, he had only worried about the Third seizing power again, overlooking the possibility that the village could instead appoint a new Hokage as leader.
But Sakumo's injuries...
"The Fourth-sama, he..." Whether for public or personal reasons, Fugaku had to ask about Sakumo's condition.
Hiruzen waved a hand, signaling that Fugaku need not worry about Sakumo.
"Sakumo is alive, but he likely won't wake up anytime soon. Even if he does, he will need a long period of recovery."
"I have no objections. But may I ask who exactly this Acting Hokage would be?"
Though Fugaku spoke as if uncertain, in his heart he already had two guesses.
Namikaze Minato, or Shimura Takeshi.
If Hiruzen had wished to propose one of the Sannin as Hokage, there would be no need to use the word 'acting.'
With their reputation, any of the three could have become the Fifth Hokage outright.
Therefore, the appointment of an Acting Hokage was partly due to waiting for Sakumo's recovery, but more likely because the candidate's reputation or youth might cause hesitation from the Daimyō's office.
Nevertheless, whether it was Minato or Takeshi, either would be advantageous for the Uchiha clan.
The former was Fugaku's friend, the latter his son's teacher.
So long as the Third did not return to power, the Uchiha clan could remain steady as a mountain.
"Minato is still away on a mission and will not be able to return soon."
Hiruzen's reply made everything clear.
"I understand. The Uchiha clan will fully support this decision."
...
Three days later.
Those who had rushed back to the village as quickly as possible immediately noticed the greatly heightened security at the gates.
Aside from the familiar faces of Kotetsu and Izumo, a full squad from the Military Police Force was also stationed there, conducting strict inspections on all who attempted to enter.
"Takeshi-senpai!"
Kotetsu spotted Takeshi from afar this time and hurried forward to greet him.
"Hokage-sama instructed that once you returned, you were not to register but go directly to the Hokage's office."
Just as Takeshi was about to take out a pen to sign, he froze, surprised by Kotetsu's words.
"Why the urgency? Did the Fourth say anything else?"
At this moment, Takeshi still assumed it was the Fourth Hokage, Sakumo, who had summoned him.
"He didn't specify. But... the one who summoned you is not the Fourth, it's the Third."
...
"So, you too encountered the enemy, and they used Wood Release?"
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen, having heard Takeshi's report, placed his pipe in his mouth but did not light it.
"To think that Wood Release, long lost to Konoha, would reappear in the hands of our enemy... fate is truly unpredictable."
Sighing, Hiruzen studied his youngest disciple carefully.
"Speaking of which, it's already been thirteen years since you first came to Konoha with the Fourth, hasn't it?"
He raised his hand to indicate Takeshi's height back then, his tone full of emotion.
"At that time, you were only about this tall, uh..."
Before he could finish, Hiruzen awkwardly withdrew his hand.
Yes, he had only grown just a little.
"Sarutobi-sensei, has something happened to the Fourth?"
Takeshi couldn't shake the sense that something was off today—especially the odd look on Hiruzen's face whenever Sakumo was mentioned. It only confirmed his suspicions.
"Come with me."
Hiruzen had no intention of concealing the truth. It was only out of consideration for their relationship that he hadn't said it outright at the start.
Led by Hiruzen, Takeshi followed him to the headquarters of the Medical Corps.
The moment he stepped inside, Takeshi's fist clenched tightly.
The Medical Corps not only carried out treatment during wartime—they also handled the autopsies for the Anbu.
Could it be...
No. That was impossible.
With Sakumo's strength, there was no way anyone could have killed him within the village.
Not even those two Uchiha could have done it.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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