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"Do you seek power? I can make you the leader of the Root!"
"If you wish, I can give you a legitimate position and support you to become the Fifth Hokage after the Third Hokage passes away!"
"As for honor, I can grant you all of that too!"
"Do you desire wealth? I've accumulated a vast fortune over the years. If you want it, I'll give it all to you!"
"Do you want my life? I've taken so many, just leave one for me!"
"Power, wealth, status—whatever you desire, I will do my utmost to provide it for you. Don't forget, I am Konoha's second-in-command!"
But Obito was not interested in power. The young boy who once dreamed of becoming Hokage was long dead.
Money? Even all of Konoha combined couldn't rival Kakuzu's secret stash.
And women? No one could ever replace Rin in his heart.
Danzo had nothing to offer Obito, and so, today, Danzo had to die.
Outside, the sound of commotion could be heard.
Four members of the Root, wearing animal masks, rushed over.
"Danzo-sama?!"
"Danzo-sama!!"
"There are signs of a struggle!"
"Danzo-sama is missing!"
"Hurry and report to the Third Hokage!"
The blood-red moon hung high in the sky. Tonight was originally meant to be the night of the Uchiha massacre, but because of Sasuke's unexpected appearance and Shisui's intervention with Kotoamatsukami, tonight had become the anniversary of Danzo's death instead.
The noise caused by the Root and ANBU members grew louder and louder.
The lights throughout Konoha flickered on.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arrived at the Hokage building with a grave expression. Alongside him were the Hokage Advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. The heads of the Hyuga, Aburame, Nara, and Yamanaka clans followed suit.
With a stern face, Hiruzen spoke, "Danzo has disappeared. There are traces of his blood, and signs of a fight. We've searched all of Konoha, but there's no trace of him."
"Hokage-sama, there are no signs of any intruders within Konoha's barriers. This could only have been done by someone within the village. Which clan is not present?"
An ANBU member stepped forward, "The Uchiha clan's representative has not yet arrived."
Upon hearing the name Uchiha, Hiruzen's face darkened.
The Uchiha… always causing unrest. Hiruzen had known of Danzo's plan but hadn't stopped him, as the Uchiha were indeed a threat. But had Danzo failed? Didn't he claim that the plan had a 99.9% chance of success? Could it be that the 0.1% had led to his downfall?
Suddenly, a member of the Root called out, "The Uchiha clan is here!"
Uchiha Fugaku, followed by Itachi and Sasuke, entered, accompanied by thirteen elite Uchiha members. Their faces were filled with pride.
Fugaku stood before the Third Hokage and spoke with a smirk, "Hokage-sama, I apologize for our tardiness. The Uchiha compound is on the outskirts of Konoha, so we took longer to arrive. I heard Danzo-sama is missing; how unfortunate."
Fugaku's tone was arrogant, confident in his victory.
Hiruzen gritted his teeth, "Fugaku, does Danzo's disappearance have anything to do with the Uchiha?"
Fugaku responded, "Hokage-sama, you don't even want to address me as the Captain of the Military Police Force, making it difficult for me to answer your question."
Swallowing his pride, Hiruzen said, "Captain Fugaku! Does Danzo's disappearance have anything to do with the Uchiha?"
Fugaku replied calmly, "It doesn't."
Hiruzen clenched his fists, "I don't believe you! I want to see the entry and exit records of all Uchiha members tonight. Until Danzo is found, you and Itachi will be placed under house arrest!"
Fugaku laughed, "Hokage-sama, why should Itachi and I be confined? Is it simply because you suspect the Uchiha?"
Hiruzen raised his voice, "Of course! Tonight was supposed to be…"
Hiruzen abruptly stopped himself. He couldn't mention the massacre plan; it would alienate the other clans. He had originally intended to feign ignorance.
Itachi, now utterly disappointed with the Third Hokage, spoke up, "Hokage-sama, what was Danzo planning to do tonight? With your approval, he intended to wipe out our Uchiha clan, didn't he? Just because of your suspicions, you wanted to annihilate the Uchiha, who have faithfully served Konoha, correct? Don't forget, Konoha still owes the Uchiha a Hokage!"
Hiruzen trembled with anger at Itachi's accusations. He shouted hysterically, "Are you Uchiha planning a coup tonight?!"
Itachi responded, "The Uchiha have no intention of staging a coup, nor do we wish to engage in conflict with Konoha. Konoha shinobi should not kill their own. The Uchiha only seek to reclaim the rights that are rightfully ours!"
Red chakra erupted from Itachi's body, forming the shape of a red Susanoo. Sasuke stood between the two Susanoo figures.
He addressed the Third Hokage, "Hokage-sama, today, the Uchiha demand negotiations with Konoha's leadership!
''First:'' Return the Uchiha clan's land, and we will move back to the heart of Konoha.
''Second:'' Reinstate the Konoha Military Police Force to its former status.
''Third:'' Allow the Uchiha clan to establish our own intelligence organization, similar to ANBU!"
Hiruzen trembled with rage, "Why don't you just take the Hokage seat while you're at it?!"
Sasuke calmly replied, "Very well, after all, Konoha does owe the Uchiha a Hokage."
Seeing the tension between the Uchiha and the Third Hokage, Nara Shikaku stepped forward to mediate. He couldn't allow Konoha to fall into internal conflict at such a critical time.
Nara Shikaku suggested, "Let's find a middle ground. Hokage-sama, let's return the Uchiha clan's land to them. After all, it's their home. As for the second and third demands, let's set them aside for now. ANBU is currently handling Konoha's internal security, and as for establishing a separate intelligence organization…"
Before Shikaku could finish, one of the Uchiha members behind Fugaku shouted, "Nara Shikaku, how dare you! Who do you think you are? These are the Uchiha's rights, and we are simply reclaiming what is ours!"
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