Hiruzen's body suddenly tensed, his pipe nearly slipping from his hand.
He spun around abruptly, only to see a black-haired man dressed in black, with a cold expression, standing silently in the center of the office at some unknown time, just a few meters away from him.
The door was tightly shut, and there was no sound outside. The ANBU who should have been guarding had not noticed or reported anything!
"Who are you?!" Hiruzen demanded sharply, his expression extremely grave.
To breach the Hokage building's defenses without a sound—this person's strength was absolutely extraordinary.
"About the Uchiha and the village…" Uchiha Sasuke ignored his vigilance and got straight to the point.
His tone was calm, yet left no room for doubt. "We need to talk…"
Hiruzen's pupils shrank slightly.
Uchiha? At this time, with such a sensitive topic…
Could it be that he was a member of the Uchiha clan?!
But in the intelligence provided by Itachi, there didn't seem to be such a person.
Because Sasuke had not activated his Sharingan, Hiruzen couldn't immediately determine his identity.
But he had roughly guessed…
"Young man of the Uchiha, you have trespassed into the Hokage's office and brought up such a sensitive matter. What exactly are your intentions?"
Hiruzen said in a low voice, trying to seize the initiative.
Sasuke did not answer his question, only slowly raised his head.
Buzz—
A massive ocular power instantly filled the entire room!
Hiruzen's breathing suddenly halted, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Uchiha Sasuke had clearly activated the Mangekyō Sharingan, staring at him coldly, radiating a terrifying pressure!
Mangekyō Sharingan!
His shock was beyond measure—when did the Uchiha produce another pair of Mangekyō?
Why had Itachi never mentioned this?!
Sasuke's Mangekyō silently observed the shocked Third, his voice still calm.
"Negotiation, or…"
He paused slightly, then released killing intent.
"I don't mind destroying all of Konoha. Don't doubt it—I can definitely do it."
He was not joking. In this spacetime, truly no one could stop him.
Hiruzen fell silent.
"Young man," he slowly spoke, his voice regaining its usual steadiness, though the gravity in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.
"Power is indeed strong, but destruction is not the way to solve problems. Konoha and the Uchiha… are ultimately branches of the same great tree."
As he spoke, he secretly observed Sasuke's reaction. The latter showed no expression, only quietly staring at him.
"If branches are long covered in shadow, they will eventually wither—or… ignite, taking the entire tree with them."
Uchiha Sasuke said.
"What I want is very simple: the Uchiha must truly integrate into Konoha, not be isolated, monitored, and ultimately forced into extremity."
He took a small step forward, and the invisible pressure increased.
"The authority of the Police Force must be substantively expanded, allowing participation in the village's defense and diplomatic decisions.
Uchiha talents should have the qualification to enter the ANBU, and even compete for the Hokage's direct guard.
The high-level meetings of Konoha must include a fixed seat for the Uchiha. The secret surveillance targeting the Uchiha must stop immediately."
Each point struck directly at the core of the long-standing conflict between the Uchiha and the village, as well as the rights the Uchiha hardliners had long demanded but never obtained.
If the village had given the clan trust and respect, things would not have reached this point.
Hiruzen fell silent upon hearing this.
These demands touched the village's fundamental power structure and decades-long policy of guarding against the Uchiha.
If he agreed…
After a long while, Hiruzen took a deep breath, as if he had aged several years in an instant.
"…The Uchiha are indeed an indispensable part of Konoha."
He said slowly, his tone solemn. "The long-standing estrangement and suspicion—it is time to make a change."
He looked at Sasuke and spoke word by word:
"In the name of the Third Hokage, I promise: starting today, the extraordinary surveillance over the Uchiha district will be lifted.
The authority of the Police Force will be re-evaluated and expanded within three months, covering security in certain key areas and protection of foreign guests.
The next ANBU selection will open specific quotas to outstanding Uchiha youths. As for high-level meeting seats…"
Hiruzen paused. "I will propose adding a special advisory seat, to be held by a representative recommended by the Uchiha clan, participating in discussions of major village decisions. However, final resolutions will still require collective decision by the high council."
If this could exchange for peaceful coexistence between the village and the Uchiha, what harm was there in sacrificing some authority?
Sasuke's gaze flickered. He knew this was already the greatest concession Hiruzen could offer under the current circumstances…
"Remember your promise, Third."
Sasuke withdrew his Mangekyō, and the terrifying ocular pressure dissipated.
"What the Uchiha want is not privilege, but fairness and space to survive.
If Konoha's 'great tree' still treats the Uchiha merely as 'branches' to be pruned…"
He did not finish, but the warning in his unfinished words was crystal clear to Hiruzen.
"I will push for these changes," Hiruzen said in a deep voice. "But the Uchiha must also show loyalty to the village and sincerity in integration. Peace requires effort from both sides."
Sasuke did not respond, only nodded slightly.
...
Uchiha clan district, clan head residence.
It was late at night, yet the study was brightly lit.
Uchiha Fugaku sat at the main seat, his expression calm yet imposing without anger.
Opposite him stood Uchiha Sasuke, who had just returned from the Hokage's office.
Sasuke concisely and clearly recounted the promises made by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen.
Fugaku listened quietly, the muscles on his face slightly tensing. At some point, his three-tomoe Sharingan had already activated, slowly rotating as he examined this mysterious and powerful "clansman" before him.
When he heard those conditions—conditions he had strived for over many years, yet had always been deflected or rejected by the higher-ups—now personally promised by the Third Hokage, the shock in his heart far exceeded joy!
Why had the Third suddenly made such a major concession?
And how had this clansman before him accomplished it?
What kind of power or leverage had he displayed?
"What are the conditions?" Fugaku asked in a deep voice, his tone dry.
He did not believe in free lunches, especially when it came to the deep resentment between the village and the Uchiha.
"Keep the hawks in the clan under control. Let the Uchiha and the village coexist peacefully."
Uchiha Sasuke looked into Fugaku's eyes and said calmly.
"If you still want to protect your wife, your children, and your clansmen…"
After speaking, he turned and prepared to leave.
What needed to be conveyed had been conveyed. What needed to be warned had been warned.
The future of the Uchiha in this spacetime would ultimately be chosen by those of this era themselves.
"Wait."
Fugaku called out to him.
"You… who exactly are you?"
Sasuke paused slightly, his back facing him, his voice calm.
"Someone… who doesn't want to see history repeat itself…"
As his words fell, he had already vanished without a trace.