Truth be told, even if Konosuke wanted to interfere in Uchiha affairs, he didn't have the standing. He was still living off subsidies from the Sarutobi clan himself.
But Shisui was his friend. And that alone was enough to make him try.
Time ticked by. One minute at a time.
Konosuke had already gone through three cigarettes.
During that time, Shisui said nothing. He knew this was a difficult matter. Perhaps he shouldn't have come at all.
Just as the third cigarette was burning down to the filter, Konosuke finally looked up, his expression turning serious.
"Shisui, what's Clan Head Fugaku's stance? Is he indulging the hardliners—or suppressing them?"
"Clan Head Fugaku is suppressing them," Shisui replied. "But I don't think he can hold them back for long. More and more people in the clan are supporting the hardliners."
The answer didn't surprise Konosuke. Fugaku was bold enough to restrain his own clan, but nowhere near bold enough to gamble everything against Konoha.
If the Uchiha truly united outwardly, Konoha wouldn't dare suppress them so easily. The strongest clan in the shinobi world wasn't something to trifle with.
"Shisui, I'll give you two suggestions. Which one you choose—that's up to you."
"Go ahead. I'm listening. No matter what, I'll be grateful."
Konosuke waved dismissively. "No need for gratitude. I'm only saying this because you're my friend. Besides you, the only other friends I've got are Guy and Asuma."
He exhaled slowly before continuing.
"First option: remove the leaders of the hardliners. Stabilize the Uchiha for six or seven years. After that, I promise you, your clan won't be targeted anymore. As for how, I can only say—when I grow strong enough, I'll resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and the village."
It was half a bluff.
In six or seven years, Orochimaru would stir up chaos, Tsunade would become Hokage, and the political landscape would shift. The pressure on the Uchiha would ease on its own.
As for Konosuke personally? He had no intention of cleaning up the Uchiha's mess.
Still, when Shisui heard that the conflict could be resolved, his eyes lit up.
Konosuke's strength might not be overwhelming, but Shisui believed he was far smarter than himself. Maybe… maybe it was possible.
Then hesitation flickered across Shisui's face. He didn't want to see Uchiha killing Uchiha.
"And the second option?"
"Second option—meet force with force. Stand needle to needle. If the Uchiha unite as one, the village will be forced to reconsider its stance. There might be concessions. But the Uchiha must not push too far—no thoughts of rebellion, no coup."
Konosuke paused.
"But I don't think Clan Head Fugaku has it in him to take that kind of hard line. So the first option is more realistic. The choice is yours."
He stood and clapped Shisui on the shoulder.
"Don't carry everything on your back. There are plenty of Uchiha. The burden doesn't have to fall on you."
"For the Uchiha, you're a blade to be used against Konoha. For Konoha, it's the same idea. Don't be naïve enough to think otherwise."
Shisui left. His steps were unsteady, his thoughts clearly in turmoil.
Watching his friend's retreating figure, Konosuke felt helpless. A sense of urgency crept into his chest.
If he were strong enough to suppress all dissent, this would be easy.
Honestly, if he could choose, he'd have Orochimaru start the Konoha Crush this very year—just to get the Uchiha crisis resolved sooner.
At the end of the day, the Uchiha were part of Konoha. With them intact, the village's strength would only grow.
At the same time—inside the Hokage's office…
" Hiruzen," Danzo said coldly, "that brat Konosuke has grown too arrogant. He dared threaten me—and he's entangled with Uchiha Shisui. Hand them over. We cannot allow such danger to grow unchecked."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze turned sharp. His voice dropped to a freezing calm.
"Danzo… are you reaching your hand toward the Sarutobi clan now?"
Danzo froze.
He knew Hiruzen indulged him—not just out of decades of friendship, but because Danzo had never targeted the Sarutobi clan.
This time, he had crossed a line.
"Fine. Leave Konosuke aside. Give me Shisui. I guarantee—"
"No." Hiruzen cut him off. "Shisui has rarely involved himself in Uchiha affairs lately. That's a good sign."
"And he is Kagami's descendant. I will not allow you to lay a hand on that child. Danzo, the authority you wield was granted by me. If I can give it, I can take it away. Even if it means losing Root entirely—don't force my hand."
Danzo had been going too far lately. This was a warning.
"You'll regret this."
The door slammed as Danzo stormed out.
Once he was gone, Hiruzen picked up a file from his desk. It was Konosuke's.
The reason Hiruzen tolerated him so much wasn't just because they shared the Sarutobi name.
He saw a shadow of Jiraiya in the boy.
The same optimism. The same refusal to speak ill of his own clan, even when ostracized.
And like Jiraiya, Konosuke had once been dead last.
But sometimes, it was the underdogs who rose the highest—stronger even than the so-called geniuses.
Hiruzen didn't mind that Konosuke had befriended Shisui.
Those two boys reminded him of his youth—back when Kagami was still alive.
At that moment, Kakashi stepped into the office, a folder in hand. The door was open, so he didn't knock.
"Hokage-sama, I've completed the investigation you requested. This contains all of Konosuke's records from the past three years at the Academy."
As he placed the file on the desk, Kakashi added, "Before age nine, he was a genius. After that day… he became lethargic."
Hiruzen knew. He had been paying attention to the boy from the start.
A genius from the Sarutobi clan would have been a blessing for him as Hokage.
But after the Nine-Tails' attack, that genius faded from sight.
As Hiruzen skimmed the file, he frowned faintly.
Konosuke wasn't like Jiraiya at all.
If anything, he resembled Tsunade. Smoking. Drinking. Gambling.
He was already blacklisted from every gambling house in Konoha—for one simple reason: he never lost.
Closing the file, Hiruzen looked at Kakashi.
"You've done well. You may go. Tomorrow, observe Konosuke's teaching. He's only fifteen, but his ninjutsu aptitude is excellent. He should be capable of instructing those students."
After Kakashi left, Hiruzen opened a drawer and took out a crystal ball.
A lecherous grin spread across his face.