Before dawn the next morning, Orochimaru sent a summoned beast carrying a sealed letter.
Uchiha Gen, who hadn't even had time to make breakfast, bought some food on the way before heading to the designated meeting spot.
When they met, Orochimaru handed him detailed structural maps of both Root headquarters and Danzo's personal residence. He then summoned a small group of his most loyal followers, fifteen shinobi in total, ranging from Jonin to Special Jonin to Chunin.
Orochimaru certainly had more supporters, including those stationed on the borders, but such ninja couldn't leave their posts without permission.
Since Gen was Orochimaru's disciple and already a well-known force in the shinobi world, the preparations had been thorough. The handover went smoothly, without accidents or interference. Nobody was foolish enough to cause trouble; everyone present treated the matter with respect.
Once everything was settled, the group dispersed.
By afternoon, the news had spread across Konoha like wildfire; Orochimaru had officially withdrawn from the Hokage succession.
It was a shockwave.
Many ninja were left stunned, whispering in disbelief. Orochimaru's supporters in particular could not fathom why. To them, their master had been a single step away from becoming Hokage.
And he truly was only one step away but that final step was an impassable gulf. The schemes of Konoha's high council and the invisible struggles between master and disciple were not things ordinary ninja could perceive, let alone influence.
Even among Jonin, few sensed the hidden currents. And as for clan leaders, only the most astute had pieced together subtle clues from recent high-level decisions during the war.
Unable to understand, many of Orochimaru's supporters drifted away in disappointment.
That evening, after dinner, Uchiha Itachi invited Gen to attend a clan meeting at Fugaku's house.
Inside the tea room, the air was heavy with steam and the fragrance of freshly steeped tea. Gathered around the long table were the Uchiha Clan's high officials; Clan Head Fugaku, the three elders, Mikoto, Shisui, and Gen himself.
Ordinary squad leaders weren't qualified to be here.
Gen and Shisui held seats thanks not only to their talent, but also to their unique status. At this time, their strength already exceeded most Jonin of the clan, though the difference was not yet unbridgeable.
Fugaku exhaled a long sigh. "Even though Gen warned us beforehand, it's still hard to accept. Why is fate always so cruel to the Uchiha? Both candidates for Hokage have fallen one after another."
"Heaven is unjust," Elder Setsuna muttered darkly. His lifelong dream had been to see an Uchiha finally rise as Hokage. The other two elders echoed his grief with heavy sighs.
"Clan Head, Elders, please don't lose hope," Gen said with a calm smile. "Shisui and I are still here, and we're young. The road ahead is long, there will be opportunities yet."
"That's right," Shisui agreed firmly.
Mikoto offered a gentle smile to ease the tension. "With Gen and Shisui now, and Itachi and Sasuke in the future, our clan will surely produce a Hokage."
"I pray you're right," one elder murmured.
"As long as it isn't Danzo," another added coldly.
"Rest assured," Gen reassured them. "Danzo can never surpass the Third Hokage. So long as Hiruzen-sama still draws breath, Danzo will remain in the shadows. He cannot stand in the light."
Fugaku nodded. "I, too, trust in the Third Hokage's judgment."
After a pause, he looked to Gen. "Do you have any suggestions for the clan?"
The others turned their attention toward him.
Gen spoke evenly. "It's not a new idea. Clan Head-sama and the Elders have pursued it before. We need more Uchiha positioned beyond the Police Force. While the Police Force grants authority and stability, it also isolates us. Isolation narrows perspective and breeds resentment. Without wider support, a Hokage candidate backed only by the Police Force will find it almost impossible to succeed."
Fugaku's brows furrowed. "We understand, but it's not so simple. You and Shisui are the only ones who've broken past that barrier. Everyone else is blocked by the village leadership."
"As the saying goes, there's no gain without sacrifice," Gen countered. "What if we opened the Police Force to shinobi from outside the clan?"
The room fell silent. Fugaku's eyes widened slightly, and even the elders looked startled. The idea had never been considered.
After a long pause, Shisui spoke. "It's bold but perhaps worth attempting."
Fugaku frowned. "This affects every clan member's livelihood. If the Hokage's advisors refuse, and our people lose positions, it could spark unrest. Our members need stability and income. Too much idleness only breeds problems."
He wasn't wrong. While the clan members received financial support, wealth only pooled at the top.
Most ninja survived on modest stipends, supplemented mainly by their Police Force salaries.
The elders voiced similar concerns. Their stance was unanimous; secure the foundation first, then think about expansion.
Gen nearly sighed aloud. Did that mean they would give up entirely if the Hokage's advisors said no?
The Police Force was self-contained. It had the right to recruit its own.
More members would only strengthen security and expand reach at worst, some tasks could be divided or restructured. Even if positions were filled, there were always other avenues; border patrols, administration, education, the hospital.
Negotiation with the leadership wasn't impossible especially now, when prejudice against the Uchiha was far milder than in the timeline he remembered.
But perhaps that was precisely why there was so little urgency. Without pressure, few were willing to leave their comfort zone. And the leadership, without incentives, had no reason to let the Uchiha expand influence.
They wanted progress, yet balked at offering anything in exchange. How could such progress ever be real?
Gen leaned back slightly, letting the discussion pass. He wasn't the Clan Head or an elder. He had no intention of fighting a futile battle. His life was comfortable enough.
The atmosphere shifted subtly, but remained cordial. Disagreements between youthful ambition and elder caution were nothing new. Families, clans, nations, all wrestled with the same dynamic. There was no absolute right or wrong; boldness could be reckless, conservatism could be shortsighted.
Only context decided which approach was best.
No one pressed further, and no one took offense. The conversation moved on, circling around Police Force affairs until the meeting drew to a natural close.
That night, when Gen returned home, he didn't sleep immediately. Instead, he sat in the quiet of his room, his mind turning to one matter:
How best to strip Danzo of his hoarded wealth and use it to lift the poor.