Chapter 84: The Third Hokage Awaiting Cleanup
The lights in the Hokage building still blazed in the night. Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen had barely touched his dinner before preparing to return to his office to handle documents—lately he simply had no appetite.
He sighed. The Hokage's workload remained heavy, but more exhausting than physical fatigue were the troubling matters concerning the Uchiha clan.
Not long ago, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, both Konoha ANBU members, had brought disturbing news. Within the Uchiha clan, some were planning to exploit Satsuki's close relationship with the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, luring Naruto to the Uchiha compound in an attempt to control the Nine-Tails and stage a coup.
Though still in planning stages, this news had already kept the Third Hokage tossing and turning. Through his Tōmegane no Jutsu, he'd personally witnessed the deepening bonds between Naruto and Satsuki.
If they were forcibly separated now... that child who'd finally developed a sense of belonging to Konoha would probably revert to the lonely "demon fox" of before.
Just as he struggled with this dilemma, Shisui had made a shocking proposal—he confessed his Mangekyō Sharingan's dōjutsu "Kotoamatsukami," the strongest genjutsu capable of silently altering others' wills.
'Silently alter will...?'
The Third Hokage could barely believe his ears. He understood all too well what such an ability meant. But ultimately, his indecisive nature prevailed.
He convinced himself using the reasoning that "Shisui is Uchiha Kagami's descendant," agreeing to Shisui's plan to correct the hawk faction's will during the clan meeting.
However...
On the day of action, Shisui mysteriously vanished. Neither alive nor dead could be found. The Third Hokage vaguely knew the answer—his old friend Shimura Danzō had likely moved against Shisui.
'How should I deal with Danzō?'
The Third Hokage fell into deep conflict. Konoha couldn't exist without "Root," and even though Danzō had once planned his assassination, he'd ultimately chosen forgiveness...
The Third Hokage pushed open his office door, but what he saw instantly tensed his nerves. In the dim interior, the Hokage chair that should have been empty now held a bone-chilling figure.
"You're back, Third Hokage."
The hoarse voice was particularly grating in the darkness. By moonlight streaming through the window, Sarutobi Hiruzen made out that iconic attire—pitch-black robes, sinister fox mask.
The Ember leader... Menma!
The man before him had single-handedly defeated the Kumogakure delegation and nearly killed the Fourth Raikage—a terrifying figure with the power to destroy all of Konoha.
Of course, this was only a shadow clone.
"Menma-san..." The Third's voice maintained remarkable steadiness. "I believe Konoha hasn't had diplomatic matters with your organization recently. If advance messengers had been sent, Konoha would gladly receive an official Ember visit."
Though polite, the subtext was clear—are you here as a guest or an invader?
Menma suddenly chuckled softly. "Don't be nervous, old man." He casually rolled his wrist. "I'm not some madman who kills innocents. This time I'm here... to help you."
"Help?"
"Your old friend's activities..." Menma's fingertips lightly tapped the armrest. "Have gotten a bit too loud. Thanks to him, tonight the Uchiha clan... was massacred. Since you can't bear to act, I'll help you sever Konoha's rotting roots."
The Third's body visibly stiffened.
"I can slowly explain the cause and effect here... but the condition is—you're not going anywhere. After everything ends..."
The mouth beneath the mask curved in a cruel arc.
"...you can go collect your old friend's corpse."
---
Menma walked slowly along the forest path, moonlight filtering through leaf gaps to fall in dappled patterns on the glass jar in his hand. Inside, a pair of crimson Mangekyō Sharingan floated in nutrient solution.
'This thing... thanks to Shisui's reminder.'
He gently shook the jar, the eyeballs slowly rotating within. Without Shisui's suggestion, he might have truly overlooked this detail—if Uchiha Itachi learned Fugaku hadn't died under Amaterasu, she might worry about her father's Mangekyō becoming a variable in her plan and return to silence him.
'As insurance...'
Menma had already used Gold Experience's ability to recreate ordinary eyes for Fugaku. After warning Uchiha Itachi, she probably wouldn't move against her parents either.
Night wind stirred, leaves rustling. Menma's thoughts drifted further.
'Actually... letting Itachi's plan continue would benefit me.'
Following the original trajectory, if he directly eliminated the Uchiha hawks as Menma, the results would be limited—either making Satsuki hate this identity with every fiber of her being, or branding the entire Uchiha clan as "traitors."
'Since Uchiha Itachi insists on executing the genocide plan... please bear this blame.'
Perfect timing—the Ember organization currently lacked reliable combat power. The rescued Uchiha clan members, whether from gratitude or disappointment with Konoha, would very likely become the organization's fresh blood. As a genius of the Uchiha clan and former Hokage-direct ANBU, Shisui carried tremendous influence within the clan. With him mediating, convincing clan members to join wouldn't be difficult.
'I hope Shisui can keep them stable...'
Menma stopped, looking up at the night sky. Stars dotted the heavens, moonlight flowing like water.
'Sorry, Clan Head Fugaku... I'll borrow these eyes temporarily.'
'I will achieve true peace... so for Satsuki's childhood that should have been lonely...'
'Please accompany her.'