c116: Hiruzen, You Will Regret It
After the intense discussion concluded, the atmosphere settled. Everyone quietly drank the remaining tea in their cups before departing.
Uchiha Gen returned home and took a nap, allowing himself a moment of rest. Upon waking, he prepared a simple dinner. That night, he shared a lively and warm meal of malatang with Yuhi Kurenai and Uzuki Yugao, laughter filling the room despite the tense times.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku acted swiftly. By 11:00 a.m. the next morning, he had personally gathered signatures from nearly the entire clan. Without delay, he made his way to the Hokage Building, hoping to meet with the Third Hokage before the day's official duties ended.
Fugaku reached the top floor where the Hokage's office was located. Taking a steady breath, he raised his hand and knocked three times on the thick wooden door.
"Come in," came a calm but aged voice.
Fugaku opened the door and respectfully stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Hokage-sama."
"Ah, Fugaku," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a welcoming smile, the familiar pipe clenched between his teeth. Smoke curled gently in the air. "What brings you here?"
"Hokage-sama," Fugaku began, eyes slightly downcast, "I must inform you that the Uchiha clan cannot comply with the relocation order."
Hiruzen's smile faded. His eyebrows furrowed. "Oh? Why is that?"
Backing out of an agreement with the village leadership so soon, especially after discussions involving Danzo, Homura, and Koharu, would not be taken lightly.
Fugaku's expression turned grave, tinged with what appeared to be genuine shame.
"It is like this," he explained. "When I returned to inform the clan, I initially assumed that the majority would follow the directive. But the reality was quite different. The idea of leaving our ancestral grounds stirred strong resistance."
"The three elders of the clan Uchiha Inabi, Tekka, and Yashiro led the opposition. They quickly rallied those uncertain and even swayed some of the supportive members. Under their pressure, nearly the entire clan stood against the move."
Fugaku paused, then continued: "This is a joint letter, signed by all members of the Uchiha clan. I present it now for your review."
He formed a seal with practiced precision. Poof! A white cloud of smoke erupted, and from it, a thick scroll emerged. Fugaku stepped forward and offered it with both hands.
Hiruzen took the scroll silently and began to read. The first half detailed arguments against the relocation: emotional ties to the Naka River district, the symbolic importance of the clan's homeland, and concerns over being segregated to the village outskirts specifically near the outskirts adjacent to the Nakano Shrine.
Would forcing an entire founding clan to relocate not contradict Konoha's ideals of unity and the Will of Fire?
The middle portion offered appeals couched in respect, asking Hiruzen to reconsider the order for the sake of harmony. The second half of the scroll, however, was far more striking it contained a dense collection of bloody handprints. Not ink, but blood fresh and red, the scent faint but unmistakable.
These were not merely names. These were oaths in blood.
This idea had been proposed jointly by Fugaku and Mikoto. Clan shinobi, both active and retired, had bit their thumbs and signed with their own blood. Civilian members had used pig blood to show solidarity. It was a psychological and visual message: If you force us out, it will be as if you are bleeding us dry.
Hiruzen took a long draw from his pipe as he absorbed the implications. He studied Fugaku closely, wondering silently: Has Fugaku lost control of his people? Or has this order struck at a deep-rooted nerve within the Uchiha psyche one tied to pride, history, and suspicion of Konoha's leadership?
Regardless, the will of the people could not be ignored. With tensions high following the Nine-Tails' attack, the last thing the village needed was civil unrest.
"Very well," Hiruzen finally said. "If the opposition is so unanimous, I see no benefit in pressing the matter further."
"I will handle the administrative side and suspend the relocation order."
Fugaku's eyes widened in sincere relief. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I am deeply grateful."
"Anything else?"
"No, Hokage-sama. I will take my leave."
Hiruzen nodded. "Go ahead."
Once Fugaku departed, Hiruzen exhaled deeply. "Summon the three elders," he ordered.
A masked ANBU appeared at once. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
Fifteen minutes later, Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Danzo Shimura arrived one by one.
"Hiruzen, what's going on?" Danzo asked, last to arrive, as he shut the door behind him.
Hiruzen motioned to the thick scroll on his desk. "Take a look."
Homura picked it up and unrolled it. The three read it together, their expressions darkening as they reached the section of blood oaths.
"This is unacceptable," Homura muttered.
"They're threatening us," Koharu added, scandalized.
Danzo's jaw clenched, the veins on his temple throbbing. "You cannot allow this, Hiruzen! Government orders can't be overturned like this it undermines our authority!"
"I see no threat," Hiruzen replied coolly. "What I see is a unified plea. And let's be precise—the administrative department has not yet formally published the relocation plan."
"As Hokage, I simply decided that the preliminary draft was flawed and made adjustments."
Danzo stepped forward. "You're setting a dangerous precedent. You think this will be the end of it?"
"I've made my decision," Hiruzen cut him off. "You were all there the night we discussed this. I said then: we cannot force it."
Homura and Koharu exchanged glances but remained silent. Danzo, on the other hand, trembled with rage.
"You're making a mistake. Mark my words you will regret it, Hiruzen."
He turned sharply and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Unfazed, Hiruzen stood. "None of you are to disclose the original plan. And do not target Fugaku or the Uchiha."
"I know some of you hoped to manipulate the situation during that meeting, but don't think I didn't notice. Now is not the time for power plays."
"The village is strained. Internal stability is more important than ever. And I will personally deal with anyone who threatens it."
His words weren't loud, but the edge in them was sharp unmistakably Hokage in tone.
Danzo's muffled voice echoed through the hallway: "Hmph. You'll regret it, Hiruzen!"
Back in the office, Koharu and Homura nodded. "We understand. We'll begin revising the reconstruction draft immediately."
"Good. I want the new version on my desk within two days."
As they exited, Hiruzen returned to his desk, lit his pipe again, and turned his attention to the growing pile of paperwork.
Three days later, the updated reconstruction plan was released by the administrative department. It formally stated that the Uchiha clan would remain in their current district near the Naka River, in the heart of the village.
Danzo, recognizing Hiruzen's resolve, refrained from taking retaliatory action. His "Root" operatives remained quiet. For the time being, his ambitions were on pause.
Meanwhile, tensions around the village eased. The extended lockdown that had gripped Konoha following the Nine-Tails attack was finally lifted. Merchants, foreign visitors, and stranded travelers were allowed to leave.
Though a few disguised spies from other villages managed to slip out with the crowds and relay what they had learned, no major damage was done.
The Ninth Detachment of the Uchiha Police Force, which had been stretched thin maintaining the village's internal order, was now relieved of much of its stress. Uchiha Gen's patrol duties were reduced he now only needed to make morning rounds. The deputy captain handled day-to-day matters.
Two days later, two familiar figures returned to Konoha: Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, and Orochimaru, the Snake Sannin. Tsunade, however, remained absent, having withdrawn from the village long ago.
From her distant location, she merely lamented to a passing courier: Another comrade lost to the tragedy surrounding that boy Naruto…
Only two chapters were released today.
Apologies I've reached the end of my current plot arc and need to rework the upcoming outline.
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