By the end of it, Shisui broke down in tears.
It was clear how deeply he loved both the village and his clan.
Seeing him pushed to that point, Konosuke felt a weight settle in his chest.
He stood and gently placed a hand on Shisui's shoulder.
"Go call Itachi and Clan Head Fugaku to the Hokage's office. I'll speak with them. It hasn't reached the worst-case scenario yet. Don't panic."
Then he left.
As he made his way toward the Hokage Tower at an unhurried pace, he couldn't help but think—if not for Shisui, he wouldn't be getting involved in this mess.
And if not for Danzo stirring chaos behind the scenes, maybe none of this would have escalated this far.
The Hokage's office door was open. Konosuke walked straight in.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was buried in paperwork. Without looking up, he spoke.
"The Ichiraku bill is coming out of your stipend. Don't pull that nonsense again. If you're short on money, go bother Asuma. I don't have time to deal with your petty tricks."
This wasn't new.
Whenever Konosuke lacked funds, he had shopkeepers send the bill to the Hokage's office. Hiruzen would pay it—then deduct the amount from Konosuke's allowance while scolding him.
Normally, Konosuke would argue back. It was part of their rhythm.
But today, he said nothing.
After finishing several documents, Hiruzen sensed something was off. Too quiet.
He looked up.
Konosuke was leaning against the doorway, smoking silently.
Hiruzen lit his pipe as well.
After a few puffs, he asked casually,
"What is it this time? If you need money, Asuma just took some from me earlier. Go ask him."
He paused, correcting himself.
"Borrowed."
Konosuke crushed his cigarette beneath his heel.
"Clan Head," he said quietly, "have things between the Uchiha and Konoha truly reached the point of no return?"
Hiruzen stiffened slightly.
When Konosuke addressed him as Clan Head instead of Hokage, it wasn't casual.
"You shouldn't involve yourself in this," Hiruzen replied evenly. "The conflict between the Uchiha and the village isn't as simple as you think."
Konosuke let out a humorless laugh.
"Not simple? From where I stand, it's very simple. The Uchiha are emotionally volatile, yes. But you and Danzo have been suppressing them for years. Of course the calls for a coup are growing louder."
"Don't tell me you're unaware. Itachi has probably already reported everything to you."
He stepped closer to the desk, locking eyes with Hiruzen.
"Right now, Konoha can't tolerate the Uchiha. In the future, it won't tolerate the Sarutobi either."
His voice rose without him realizing it.
"Wake up, Clan Head. Stop indulging Danzo. You know better than I do whether he truly acts for the village. Is your friendship more important than the village's future?"
"The only reason the Uchiha haven't exploded is because their clan head is too restrained. If I were the Uchiha leader, even if I died, I'd drag the Sarutobi clan down with me."
Hiruzen's brows tightened.
"You—"
He exhaled slowly.
"Perhaps you're right. Perhaps I have been too indulgent."
Konosuke waved it off.
"Shisui went to bring Itachi and Fugaku. Talk to them properly. If it comes to war, at least give me a front-row seat."
"I came today because Shisui's about to break. He loves both sides. He doesn't want either one destroyed."
Silence filled the office.
Hiruzen rested his chin on his clasped hands, contemplating.
A knock broke the tension.
Fugaku entered, followed by Itachi and Shisui.
"Come in, Fugaku," Hiruzen said calmly.
Konosuke turned to Fugaku.
"I've said what I can. The rest is between you and the Hokage. Shisui and I will leave you to it."
Fugaku bowed slightly.
"Thank you. The wisest thing Shisui ever did was becoming your friend."
Konosuke didn't respond. He simply pulled Shisui out of the office.
In the hallway, he stopped and squeezed Shisui's shoulder.
"This is all I can do."
"Whatever happens next, we've done what we could. The rest is up to fate."
As he left the Hokage Tower, he glanced back once—then walked away without hesitation.
He had spent whatever goodwill remained between himself and Hiruzen today.
From now on, it would be strictly business.
Inside the office, tension lingered.
Hiruzen finally broke the silence.
"Fugaku. If the village ceases its suppression of the Uchiha, can you eliminate the hardliners?"
"If not, there's no point in continuing this discussion. I'm only taking this risk because of Konosuke—and what he said."
Fugaku's response was immediate.
"I can. If the village stops targeting the Uchiha, I will personally purge the hardliners."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened.
Konosuke's words echoed in his mind.
If Konoha can't tolerate the Uchiha now, it won't tolerate the Sarutobi later.
He was Hokage.
But he was also the head of the Sarutobi clan.
He couldn't ignore the future of his bloodline.
Because of that sentence, he decided to give the Uchiha a chance.
If the hardliners were removed, it would strengthen his control over the village as well.