Chapter 11 - Hiruzen, You'll Regret It! Danzo, I'm the Hokage!
"The Uchiha Clan has changed leaders; Bai Ye has become the new Clan Head."
Itachi and Shisui knelt on one knee, recounting the events within the clan to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After hearing their report, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered, and his heart was involuntarily startled.
Changing Clan Head at this time?
The Uchiha Clan is likely not coming with good intentions, are they?
"That child Bai Ye, I remember he and Itachi were once called the Uchiha Twin Stars back in the Ninja Academy, weren't you? I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, he would become the Uchiha Clan Head."
A hint of emotion flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. He hadn't expected that child, Bai Ye, to become the Clan Head.
So, what is his attitude towards Konoha?
"Shisui, have you asked Bai Ye how he intends to handle the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
"Apologies, Hokage-sama, we haven't yet. We also didn't participate in today's clan meeting, so we're not very clear."
The clan's internal affairs were no longer discussed with them.
So Shisui also didn't know what Bai Ye's attitude truly was.
However, after just listening to Itachi's analysis, he felt that Bai Ye indeed had a high possibility of being a radical. But before confirming, Shisui didn't intend to voice his speculation.
After all, it was just his own guess.
"I understand. If there's no other way later, I will find Bai Ye and ask for his opinion. I hope this child is also like you two."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, a bad premonition forming in his heart.
After chatting with the two for a while longer, Shisui and Itachi also left the Hokage's office. The moment they left, a figure emerged from a shadow in the corner.
Danzo glared darkly at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Wasn't what they just said obvious? The Uchiha Clan changing their Clan Head at this time means their radical faction has risen! Fugaku is truly useless; he was actually driven out by a brat!"
He had originally planned to use a gradual approach, but if the radical faction took power, then solving the problem later would likely not be so simple.
Ultimately, regarding the Uchiha Clan, Danzo had long since made up his mind: if the moderate faction gained the upper hand, he would slowly eliminate them; if the radical faction rose, he would eliminate them immediately.
In short, the Uchiha Clan must be eliminated.
Who told them they were the evil Uchiha Clan?
"Hiruzen, why aren't you saying anything!"
Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been silently smoking, and instantly became enraged.
He had been talking for so long; had Hiruzen Sarutobi even listened to any of it?
"I know what you want to say, but for now, I still hope for peaceful coexistence between the Village and the Uchiha. If there's room for maneuver, I don't want to go down that path!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a long puff of smoke, then slowly looked up at Danzo and said.
"You're truly hypocritical, Hiruzen!"
Danzo looked coldly at Hiruzen Sarutobi, unable to help but mock Hiruzen Sarutobi's hypocrisy in his heart.
He did everything for him.
But he was the white lotus, and all the blame was borne by himself.
However, Danzo also accepted it; at least occasionally, he could enjoy a semblance of the Hokage's authority.
The Hokage is under the light and needs no stains, while he is the Root of Konoha, so he should bear all the darkness.
"Sarutobi, act now, before the Uchiha Clan reacts. The radical faction has already risen; if we act later, the losses will be maximized. The Uchiha Clan has become the most unstable factor in Konoha. Have you forgotten the Second Hokage's dying wish?"
Danzo's expression was slightly agitated. In his understanding, Senju Tobirama's dying wish was to target the Uchiha Clan.
Moreover, he had his own agenda.
So, on the matter of the Uchiha's extermination, Danzo had always been pushing it relentlessly.
"I said no action! At least not now!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, clearly forbidding Danzo from acting.
In his opinion, if Danzo acted now, what reason would they use?
Although the Uchiha Clan was arrogant, if you directly wiped out an entire clan, what would other clans think?
After the Uchiha Clan was annihilated, the Hyuga Clan would be next. If they didn't rebel then, it would truly be strange!
"Sarutobi, I told you, I will bear the darkness! I can have Root do this!"
Danzo thought Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want to take the blame.
Fine!
If he didn't want to, Danzo would!
"Danzo, if you dare to act against the Uchiha Clan now, I will immediately relieve you of your positions as Hokage's Assistant and Root Commander!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Danzo a deep look, and that gaze made Danzo feel Fa Mao.
This was clearly a warning to Danzo not to act rashly.
After all, he could truly strip him of his authority.
"Good, good, good!" With that, Danzo almost exploded with rage and turned to leave. As he reached the door, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became, so he didn't look back and simply dropped a faint remark: "Sarutobi, you will regret this!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Bang!
The door was slammed shut by Danzo, who was filled with immense fury at that moment.
In his mind, he involuntarily recalled the time when the Second Hokage covered their retreat and asked who would step forward.
It was because of that moment of hesitation that Hiruzen Sarutobi ultimately became the Hokage.
For Danzo, he had always regretted not being one second faster over the years. If only he had been one second faster, he would have been in that position.
And not dismissed today by Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, "I am the Hokage," when he offered his opinion.
Good!
Danzo could still wait, and Hiruzen, you forced his hand.
Danzo's eyes were gloomy, and he began to scheme how to eliminate Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He knew very well that as long as Hiruzen Sarutobi was in power, he would have no chance.
A figure suddenly appeared in his mind.
Orochimaru!
A plan immediately formed in his mind. Thinking of this, he decided he would need to talk to Orochimaru later.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, looking at the bustling crowd below, and then his gaze involuntarily turned towards the Uchiha Clan's direction.
"A time of trouble. Why can't you dissolve your clan like the Senju and directly integrate into Konoha?"
Although he didn't fully agree with Danzo's plan, in Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, the existence of the Uchiha indeed affected his rule over Konoha.