Inside the Hokage's Office at the Hokage Tower.
"Huruzen, are you really going to wait any longer? If the Uchiha launch their coup, Konoha will suffer tremendous losses. Other villages might even seize the opportunity to attack us again!"
Koharu couldn't sit still. After years of slacking off, she had never been this proactive before.
"Trust Itachi. I see hope in his eyes," Hiruzen replied calmly, showing no urgency.
Koharu then looked at Danzo, who was usually the most vocal, only to find him hunched over, eye closed, motionless.
Now, not only was Koharu baffled, but Homura was also confused. 'It's such significant news, but the two who were usually the most anxious were actually the calmest now?'
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Danzo glanced at Hiruzen, who was quietly smoking, their eyes briefly meeting before parting.
They had already understood each other's intentions without needing to say much.
"This…"
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances and saw each other's confusion, 'These two... had they taken the wrong medicine today?'
But their anxiety was pointless. While Konoha had three Advisors, the Hokage ultimately held the final say. If the Hokage didn't listen, the Advisors' opinions were irrelevant. Only Danzo, with his Root, could act first and report later.
This time, the two who usually led the discussions remained silent, leaving Koharu and Homura no choice but to continue their usual slacking.
Seeing that the other three had nothing to say, Danzo stood up and shuffled out of the room.
'Hiruzen, since you're unwilling to act, I'll handle this. That's what Root exists for.'
'Besides, I just happen to be in need of some Sharingan.'
Danzo's eye narrowed slightly, while Hiruzen's eyes opened just as Danzo left.
As Itachi left the Hokage Towe, a Root Ninja intercepted him.
---
Inside the prison of the Military Police Force, a very different conversation was taking place.
"Setsuna, why did you insist on calling me here?"
Fugaku frowned as he looked at the frail, gaunt old man. If it weren't for Setsuna repeatedly sending Inabi and Tekka to summon him, he wouldn't have come.
Setsuna had been a member of the Konoha's Military Police Force during the Second Hokage's reign. He was a cunning and deceitful man, one who carried on Madara's will and had once dragged the Uchiha Clan into the abyss.
He had once incited the Uchiha Clan to rebel, but the Second Hokage caught wind of it and had him arrested by the Anbu, imprisoning him ever since.
"Fugaku, have your eyes truly seen the future of the Uchiha?"
In the dark cell, the old man's raspy voice was grating, but his cloudy eyes now gleamed with a menacing light.
That gaze made Fugaku's heart tighten, but he kept his expression stern.
"What do you mean, Setsuna? I am the leader of the Uchiha Clan!"
"Haha, you want Itachi to help you stage a coup, but that boy is already in cahoots with Sarutobi Hiruzen. Don't you know that?"
Setsuna's tone had been calm, but by the end, he was on his feet, glaring directly at Fugaku.
"You... "
"You're placing the clan's hopes on a traitor. What are you really planning?!"
Setsuna interrupted Fugaku's words with another angry roar.
Fugaku fell silent. For the current Uchiha, a coup would not bring any benefits. Even if they succeed, the sacrifices would be unimaginable. He only hoped to pressure Konoha into easing its oppression of the Uchiha Clan.
"How do you know that?"
"Of course, I told him."
A voice from behind startled Fugaku. He immediately drew a kunai and spun around to strike.
But his attack hit nothing but air.
"Clan head Fugaku, you have quite the temper."
The teasing voice came from behind again. Fugaku turned to see a cat-masked figure standing beside Setsuna.
"It's you!"
Uchiha recognized the person in front of him, or to be more precise, recognized the mask. After all, Danzo had personally drawn the other person's appearance.
His expression darkened. He hadn't expected this masked man to actually have ties to the Uchiha Clan.
"Uchiha Setsuna, do you truly intend to drag the Uchiha into the abyss again?"
"You're the one dragging the Uchiha Clan into the abyss! Your own son, Itachi, is the blade aimed at the Uchiha Clan, and you're the one wielding it!"
Setsuna stood his ground against Fugaku. Despite his advanced age, his presence was no less imposing than Fugaku's. He was worthy of being the one who inherited Madara's will.
Even in old age, the arrow remains sharp.
"You..."
Fugaku was left speechless. His Sharingan could glimpse the future, but not far enough. He couldn't predict how things would ultimately unfold.
"It seems clan head Fugaku has finished venting. Now, perhaps we can talk."
Seeing Fugaku at a loss for words, Naruto, who had been watching the drama unfold, finally spoke.
"What do you want to discuss?"
Fugaku stared at Naruto. He wasn't sure if he had used a Space-Time Ninjutsu or Genjutsu earlier, but Fugaku realized he might not be able to defeat him.
"I'm here to offer the Uchiha a glimmer of hope."