The Third Hokage spoke with authority: "No, you must not act against Uchiha Nanaya now!"
Danzo had just proposed eliminating Uchiha Nanaya and was surprised by Sarutobi Hiruzen's strong reaction.
For a seemingly incompetent ninja like Nanaya, Danzo considered it a trivial matter to erase him from existence. After all, Nanaya wasn't even a Jōnin—just a school dropout well past the typical age for graduation.
The Third Hokage continued sternly: "Danzo, I advise you to abandon this idea. If you act recklessly, Konoha could face ruin under your hand."
Danzo snorted coldly. "And is it so critical to protect an ordinary Uchiha who doesn't even have a Sharingan?"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "Danzo, do you understand the repercussions if Nanaya were to suddenly vanish? The villagers, the ninjas, and even the other clans would question Konoha's leadership. The aftermath would be chaos."
The massacre of the Uchiha clan had already spread across Konoha, stirring unease among the populace. The names Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Nanaya had become widely known as the only two survivors.
If Nanaya were to disappear, it would trigger panic among the villagers and deepen mistrust among the ninja clans. Eventually, the blame would fall upon Konoha's leadership—even threatening the Hokage's position.
Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned forward. "Right now, the village is in turmoil after the Uchiha tragedy. Stability is our highest priority. Any further incidents would worsen the situation. Is that what you want, Danzo?"
Danzo, his face hidden beneath white bandages, remained silent, deep in thought. Hiruzen's logic was sound. At this fragile moment, Konoha could not afford another disruption.
The Third Hokage's voice grew firm. "As Hokage, I order you to leave Uchiha Nanaya alone."
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane nodded in agreement.
"Danzo, we've reviewed Uchiha Nanaya's profile. He has no ninja talent. Let him live his life as an ordinary villager," Koharu added.
Homura chimed in, "Yes, there's no reason to waste energy on someone like him. He poses no threat to the village."
Danzo finally relented, albeit reluctantly. "Very well."
The meeting concluded with the Third Hokage's authority prevailing. For now, Uchiha Nanaya was safe from harm.
---
Later That Day
As the sun dipped below the horizon, its golden rays illuminated the forest surrounding Konoha. Birds chirped as they returned to their nests, signaling the approach of night.
Uchiha Nanaya and Uzuki Yugao walked in silence, the quiet of the forest soothing after the day's tension.
Before long, they reached Konoha's gates, where two familiar faces awaited them: Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu.
"Yo, Yugao, long time no see," Izumo greeted warmly.
Yugao, not wearing her Anbu mask, responded politely, "Hello, Izumo-kun, Kotetsu-kun."
Izumo's gaze shifted to Nanaya. "And who's this?"
Nanaya stepped forward. "Hello, I'm Nanaya."
"I see... Uchiha Nanaya!"
Izumo and Kotetsu exchanged glances, recognizing the name immediately. The Uchiha massacre had made Nanaya's name a topic of village-wide gossip.
For two gatekeepers with little excitement in their daily routines, seeing such a notorious figure in person was a surprise.
In their eyes, Uchiha Nanaya was a peculiar case—a 17-year-old still struggling to graduate from the ninja academy. To outsiders, the Uchiha clan was synonymous with genius. Nanaya's failure had turned him into an anomaly.
Izumo and Kotetsu resisted the urge to mock him outright, though their sneering expressions betrayed their amusement. They exchanged knowing smiles, silently deciding to save their jokes for later.
Nanaya, noticing their expressions, remained unbothered. He had grown used to such reactions.
Yugao, however, was not as tolerant. Her icy demeanor from her Anbu days returned as she cast a sharp glance at the pair.
"Ahem!" Izumo coughed, straightening up under her intimidating gaze.
Kotetsu quickly followed suit, wiping the smirk off his face and adopting a more serious expression.
Izumo, desperate to break the tension, blurted out, "Yugao, are you dating Nanaya?"
Yugao's glare intensified. "Are you asking me that?"
Izumo froze, shivering under her cold stare. The temperature seemed to drop.
Realizing his mistake, he backpedaled. "N-no! I was asking Kotetsu! Yeah, that's right, Kotetsu! Weren't you dating that girl in District D yesterday?"
Kotetsu looked utterly baffled. "What are you talking about? I was with you on a mission yesterday!"
Izumo's face flushed. "Oh... right, yes! I totally remember now. My mistake!"
Yugao let out a faint smile, amused by their antics. The sharp aura she had projected earlier had merely been a ploy to tease them.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared in the distance, walking toward them.
It was Moonlight Hayate.