Konohagakure.
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was sorting through a pile of documents.
As Hokage, there were countless matters that required his attention each day. And since he was still in his prime, he handled most affairs personally.
"Lord Hokage, there's a problem with Uchiha Sannao, Captain of the Uchiha Police Force."
A masked ANBU operative appeared silently before him.
Sarutobi looked up, his brows knitting slightly. "What happened?"
"Uchiha Sannao accepted a mission and left the village. But the direction he took doesn't match the mission's description. We've tracked him near the border of the Land of Fire," the ANBU reported.
"Hm?"
Sarutobi fell silent, his eEXPression growing heavy. It was clear that Uchiha Sannao had deliberately gone to the Fire Country's border. But why?
The border of the Land of Fire!
Sarutobi suddenly froze.
—Wasn't that the region where Leo was currently carrying out his mission?
That damned Uchiha clan! Were they throwing out another smokescreen? Stirring up trouble again?
A flicker of rage flashed through Sarutobi's eyes. The bad blood between the Uchiha clan and Leo was no secret.
When Leo left the village with Might Duy, the eternal Genin, to carry out a mission near the Fire Country's border, Sarutobi had already suspected that the Uchiha would try something.
But he hadn't eEXPected them to be this bold—sending a jonin to assassinate Leo.
Uchiha Sannao, Konoha jonin.
He once single-handedly killed two enemy village jonin.
Even among elite jonin, few would dare relax against him. A Uchiha with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was among the most dangerous shinobi at that level.
If someone like that went after Leo, it would be a death sentence—no chance of survival.
Even if Leo was monstrously talented, there was no way he could withstand a jonin's pursuit!
Too late to stop it now.
Very well… very well.
Sarutobi took a deep breath. The fury in his eyes slowly cooled, replaced by an icy calm.
Ever since Leo had joined the ANBU and revealed his near-demonic potential, Sarutobi had made his stance clear—no one was to touch him, especially not the Uchiha.
After all, Leo was part of the ANBU—his people. Surely the Uchiha wouldn't dare target one of his subordinates?
Yet this time, the Uchiha clan had chosen to defy him outright, willing even to slap the Hokage's face just to kill Leo.
That was what enraged him the most!
Was it that he, the Hokage, could no longer wield his blade?
Or had the Uchiha clan simply grown too arrogant?
Now that the situation had spiraled beyond control, Sarutobi would make sure the Uchiha understood what the title Hokage truly meant within Konoha.
The Hokage was the supreme authority of the village—the one whose will could not be defied!
"Go," Sarutobi said coldly. "Summon the Captain of the Uchiha Police Force."
"Yes, sir."
With a puff of white smoke, the ANBU vanished.
Sarutobi walked to the window, gazing out into the distance.
The troubles in the village weren't limited to Leo. There was another matter—Uzumaki Kushina, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
White Fang had already led the ANBU to rescue her, but the outcome was still unknown.
To be honest, Sarutobi didn't want open conflict with the Land of Lightning. The strength of the Cloud Shinobi was not inferior to Konoha's current power.
What Konoha needed most was time—to grow and develop.
Before long, Uchiha Dunyama, Captain of the Uchiha Police Force and current clan head, entered the Hokage's office.
His eEXPression was calm, as if he had foreseen everything that was happening.
Since he dared to manipulate Sarutobi and send a jonin to kill Leo, he had clearly come prepared.
The air in the office grew tense, the calm before a brewing storm.
Both men were powerful figures—neither spoke first.
After the time it took to sip a cup of tea, Uchiha Dunyama finally met Sarutobi's gaze and said evenly, "A few days ago, I discovered something."
He placed a scroll on the desk before the Hokage.
Sarutobi cast it a brief glance, keeping his face eEXPressionless, though a cold feeling stirred in his heart.
So this was the Uchiha's leverage—their reason to act so boldly against him.
What could possibly be in that scroll?
Sarutobi unrolled it and read. His pupils shrank slightly.
"…Quite the move," he said in a low voice, taking a long drag from his pipe. "Was it worth it?"
"The Uchiha Clan cannot allow any blemish on its name," Dunyama said calmly. "Surely the Hokage understands. This isn't about one man—it's about the honor of our entire clan."
Sarutobi was silent.
The scroll contained invitations from enemy nations of the Fire Country, openly courting the Uchiha clan.
Dunyama's meaning was clear—they could leave Konoha at any time.
The Uchiha's strength far surpassed that of any other clan in the village. If they defected, Konoha would suffer irreparable damage.
Of course, that would only happen if the Hokage forced them to that point.
Dunyama lifted his chin slightly, pride gleaming in his eyes.
The Uchiha didn't truly fear Leo.
Even if he grew stronger, so what? The Uchiha had never feared anyone.
Their true goal was to remind everyone in Konoha—the Uchiha were not to be trifled with.
This was their pride, their presence as one of the founding clans of Konoha.
Time had dulled memories, and many had forgotten the Uchiha's former glory.
If this had happened at any other time, Sarutobi would have suppressed them with absolute authority.
If they dared leave—he'd dare annihilate them.
But not now. The Second Great Ninja War was looming.
The three great ninja villages had already crushed the smaller ones around them, converging toward the Land of Rain at the border of their territories.
This war was inevitable.
If he broke with the Uchiha now, the price would be far too high.
As Hokage, he could not afford to think only of personal grudges.
Between a single promising genius and an entire powerful clan—he chose the latter.
Sarutobi's face returned to calm as he finally said,
"Dunyama, the Uchiha have always been the backbone of Konoha. The Second Great Ninja War is about to begin. You will lead the vanguard—march to the Land of Rain."
At this, Dunyama smiled faintly.
"Protecting Konoha is the Uchiha's duty. There's no need for the Hokage to remind us. We will fight for the village's honor.
Likewise, there are some matters that Lord Hokage need not concern himself with too much. After all—" His eyes gleamed coldly. "—we stand on the same side."
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