After the dust settled, a solemn silence hung over the Konoha Shinobi as they surveyed the aftermath. Sarutobi Hiruzen joined them, his brows furrowed as he took a contemplative drag from his pipe.
The rebellion had reached its conclusion, but something nagged at him. Where was Uchiha Shirogane? Why was there no trace of him? Had he vanished, leaving no sign behind? The absence left an unsettling void within him.
"Hokage-sama!" Uchiha Shisui approached, weariness evident in his demeanor as he knelt down. His voice carried a note of disappointment and sorrow. "I take full responsibility. I failed to quell the uprising within the Uchiha clan."
He hadn't anticipated the outcome, and the weight of failure pressed heavily upon him.
"Don't blame yourself. None of us foresaw the extent of this conflict," Sarutobi Hiruzen reassured Shisui with a shake of his head, his sigh heavy with regret. He hadn't anticipated the extent of the conflict and turmoil that unfolded either.
Speaking of which, Reflecting on the intensity of the battle, he marveled at Shisui's remarkable prowess. The young Uchiha had surpassed his expectations.
At that moment, another thought crossed his mind, prompting him to inquire, "And what of Uchiha Fugaku?"
"Fugaku-sama..." Shisui's voice remained subdued as he responded, "He made the ultimate sacrifice. He chose to end his own life."
"I see..." Hiruzen fell silent for a moment, processing the news. "You look weary; go and rest."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Shisui nodded, weariness was evident in his movements. With a heavy sigh, he departed, leaving behind a somber atmosphere. Speaking of which, Itachi… undoubtedly, would also be deeply affected by recent events.
"Hiruzen!" As Mitokado saw Shisui leaving his demeanor shifted to seriousness as he approached, intending to say something. However, Sarutobi Hiruzen gestured to him to remain silent right now, his expression contemplative. After a moment, he inquired, "What of Danzo?"
"Ah, yes, Danzo," Mitokado nodded, recalling an important detail, and scanned the surroundings. "And what of the surviving Uchiha clan members?"
An ANBU ninja stepped forward to report, "Hokage-sama, we've dispatched teams to locate them."
With a sense of relief, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. It appeared that the rebellion had concluded, hopefully without any further surprises from Uchiha's 'ancestors'.
Though unexpected events had unfolded, casualties were minimized, and it was now time to assess the extent of the losses and injuries. Furthermore, despite the devastation wrought upon the Uchiha clan's territory, its considerable value could offset some of Konoha's recent losses.
"Following this, Konoha can finally initiate a period of comprehensive recuperation. Combined with the Wind Daimyo's recent commission during the Third Great Ninja War, despite the significant losses suffered by Konoha, I'm confident in our swift recovery," Mitokado remarked, casting his gaze forward. "Do other ninja villages still harbor ambitions of surpassing Konoha? It's preposterous. Unfortunately, this rebellion took an unforeseen turn."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed deeply. "For some reason, I... have a foreboding sense."
"Is it due to the so-called Ancestor Uchiha Tetsuna and Shirogane?" Mitokado's brow furrowed at Hiruzen's words. "It's highly probable that they were dispatched by the Grass Village, but... what could be their motive for involvement?"
As if a revelation struck him, his gaze sharpened. "The ordinary Uchiha clan members and Danzo..." However, before he could conclude.
"Hokage-sama, All secret chambers, and passages have been thoroughly searched. There's no trace of Danzo-sama or any surviving Uchiha clan members." An ANBU ninja hurried over, delivering a letter. "However, we've found a letter, suspected to be from Danzo-sama."
"A letter?" Hearing the ANBU ninja's report, Hiruzen and Mitokado exchanged puzzled glances. Why would Danzo, who had been taken captive by the Uchiha clan, leave behind a letter? Accepting the letter handed over by the ANBU operative, Hiruzen's expression tightened at the sight of the envelope marked "To my dear friend, Hiruzen."
An eerie sense of familiarity washed over him. Without hesitation, he swiftly unsealed the letter and perused its contents.
"Ah, Hiruzen, I've arranged a guided tour with a group from Grass Village. Top-tier service, utmost luxury. Please rest assured, I am fine. Though, I'll be away on holiday for a few days. Although the tour package comes at a steep cost, I'm prepared to indulge."
Reading the contents, both men were left speechless. 'A tour package, really?' With this confirmation, It was now clear to Hiruzen and Mitokado: Danzo had once again fallen into the clutches of Grass Village.
Mitokado couldn't help but notice the change in Hiruzen's demeanor and inquired, "Hiruzen, is everything alright?"
"It's nothing major, just a fleeting sense of unease," Hiruzen replied, trying to brush off the concern with a wave of his hand. "I've grown accustomed to such moments."
Drawing in a deep breath, he steadied himself and took another puff from his pipe. Despite a slight tremble in his hand, he continued, "How many times must this happen..."
When Danzo returned, he resolved to admonish him sternly: "Stay away from Grass Village!"
Cursing under his breath at Grass Village's interference, Hiruzen felt a surge of frustration. If this pattern persisted, Konoha's recovery would be hindered indefinitely. After exhaling a cloud of smoke, he felt a measure of calm wash over him.
Witnessing Hiruzen's composure, Mitokado felt a sense of relief wash over him. "What about Danzo and the surviving Uchiha clan..." he ventured cautiously.
"Based on the intelligence provided by Itachi, most of the surviving Uchiha are civilians who lack the ability to awaken the Sharingan. The number of shinobi among them is minimal and there aren't many skilled shinobi among them, so it shouldn't pose a significant problem." Hiruzen explained, his gaze drifting towards the desolate expanse of the Uchiha clan's territory. "As for Danzo... Well, Danzo..." He let out a heavy sigh, contemplating the situation.
"Thankfully, the Uchiha clan's land is expansive enough. We'll need to make arrangements swiftly," he instructed Mitokado.
"Understood!" Homura acknowledged, a mixture of relief and admiration flickering in his gaze as he regarded Hiruzen.
Hiruzen's resilience was truly remarkable. Despite the gravity of the situation, he swiftly regained his composure. It was the third such instance. If it were anyone else, they might have succumbed to frustration. It was no wonder their sensei had chosen Hiruzen as Hokage. Despite the tremble in his hands, Hiruzen exuded an air of magnanimity and broad-mindedness that was truly commendable.
"Don't worry, I'll handle it as soon as possible!" Mitokado assured, but his words were cut short by another urgent arrival.
Suddenly, another ANBU ninja rushed over, breathless. "Hokage-sama! The Konoha treasury has been looted!"
Both Hiruzen and Mitokado froze at the news, momentarily unable to react. But the ANBU's report wasn't over yet. "And... and..."
The shock on Hiruzen and Mitokado's faces deepened as they waited for the continuation.
Before the ANBU could finish, they both broke out of their daze, their voices trembling with disbelief. "There's more?!"
Despite his hesitation, the ANBU knew he had to relay the news. "The Sarutobi clan's treasury has... also been stolen. Uh, Hokage-sama? Hokage-sama! What's wrong with you?"
"Hiruzen! Stay calm!" Concerned, Homura also cried out to Hiruzen, urging him to remain calm amidst the chaos.
Hiruzen struggled to compose himself, his hand trembling as he pointed in the direction of Grass Village. "Grass!"
It dawned on them that Grass Village's true intention might have been to plunder them all along?!
…
"Achoo!" Akihiko instinctively rubbed his nose, accustomed to receiving scoldings; it was nothing new to him.
Turning to face the silent Danzō, Akihiko spoke warmly, "Don't worry. We'll be heading to Grass Village soon. Everyone has missed you dearly during these months you've been away. Hanzō, in particular, was deeply saddened that he didn't get to treat you to the delicacies of the Land of Rain last time."
With his mouth still obstructed, Danzō could only mutter, "Woo... woo..." in a helpless attempt to reply.
Akihiko instead chuckled like he was unaware of Danzō's plight. "Haha, look at you, speechless with joy."
However, Inside, Danzō seethed with frustration. He longed to unleash a tirade of curses at Akihiko, but all he could do was roll his eyes and seethe silently.
At that moment, a figure approached nearby. Disregarding Danzō, Disregarding Danzō, Akihiko frowned at Obito. "Where have you been? Don't you realize... time is of the essence now?"
'Do you even have the right to say that?' Obito rolled his eyes at Akihiko's admonishment and retrieved an eyeball, tossing it to Akihiko.
Akihiko caught the eye but was puzzled by Obito's action. 'An eye? Why did he bring this?' His confusion was evident.
Seeing Akihiko's perplexed expression, Obito mouthed his words silently, mindful of Danzō's presence, 'It's Shisui's eye.'
Akihiko's eyes widened in shock, 'What the...'