Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his voice, the softness gone from his tone as his gaze sharpened once more.
"Homura, Koharu—secretly gather the ninjas still loyal to us."
He turned to Danzo, enunciating each word with deliberate weight.
"As for Jiraiya, no matter what mission he's on, recall him immediately."
His eyes fixed on Danzo, cold and unwavering.
"Root will enter full combat readiness. I will temporarily transfer command of Anbu to you as well.
Remember—this operation must be flawless. We absolutely cannot alert the enemy."
Finally, the Third Hokage adjusted his robes, the fire emblem on his chest seeming heavier than before.
"As for the Uchiha… I will personally visit Fugaku tonight."
His voice dropped, carrying a dangerous edge.
"Once an agreement is reached, we act in two days.
Under the pretext of preparing for the Jonin Conference, summon Minato Namikaze and the others—and execute them on the spot for treason."
His finger traced the Konoha emblem carved into the conference table.
"At that time, the Uchiha Police Force will assume control of public order."
"When the Jonin Conference is convened," Hiruzen said slowly, resolve burning in his eyes,
"Jiraiya will announce that the four of us died in the line of duty while suppressing a rebellion, and he will temporarily assume the position of Hokage."
"Once our deaths are made public, even if the clans lose their leaders, they will have no choice but to accept the reality."
"At that point, Jiraiya will disband Root, merge its members into Anbu, lift their seals, and restore their identities.
That will stabilize the clans."
Homura Mitokado frowned deeply.
"Then what of Uzumaki Kushina? If Minato Namikaze dies, the Nine-Tails is very likely to go berserk.
Konoha has no reserve Jinchūriki."
Danzo let out a thin, sinister smile.
"Select a suitable candidate from the Uchiha and implant a Root curse seal."
"With the Sharingan's control over the Nine-Tails, combined with Uzumaki sealing techniques and secret medicines, there will be no risk."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed sharply.
"Didn't you already transfer three Uchiha into Root last time? Why are you recruiting more now?"
"—The Sharingan is extremely useful," Danzo replied smoothly.
"The previous three are currently on missions. With action scheduled in two days, they won't be able to return in time."
He naturally omitted the truth—that those three had been submerged in cultivation tanks the moment they entered Root.
Hiruzen stared at Danzo for a long moment, saying nothing.
Minato Namikaze stopped outside the Hokage Building and turned to face the assembled ninjas.
"Please return," he said gently but firmly.
"You may inform trusted companions of today's events. We will meet again at the Jonin Conference in three days."
Nara Shikaku stepped closer and lowered his voice.
"Minato… be careful of Danzo."
What he truly wanted to say was be careful of the Third Hokage, but the words stuck in his throat.
Hyuga Hiashi suddenly spoke.
"Before the Jonin Conference, we must know the full truth behind the interception incident."
Minato nodded first to Shikaku, then addressed everyone.
"Tomorrow at noon, I will be waiting at the Nara Clan compound.
I will answer all your questions—including the full truth behind the bounty."
Relief spread through the group. One by one, they nodded in agreement.
When everyone had dispersed, Minato remained alone beneath the Hokage Rock, gazing up at the stone faces of past Hokage.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and dusk deepened, his figure vanished without a sound.
Deep beneath the Nara Clan compound, in a sealed underground chamber, Nara Shikaku was recounting everything he had witnessed at the Sacrificial Shop.
"Cultivation methods that condense energy cores…
Ninjutsu and taijutsu that can be released without hand seals…
And those Spirit Masters…"
The elders of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans sat in a circle, expressions grave.
"So those Spirit Masters possess innate Spirits," one elder murmured, "similar to inborn Bloodline Limits?"
Elsewhere, the Hyuga Clan held its own internal assembly.
"These Spirit Masters…" an elder said in disbelief. "Their abilities defy common sense."
"Hmph. Useless trash."
The Second Hyuga Elder ignored the Sacrificial Shop entirely, fixing his glare on Hyuga Hizashi.
"You arrived first at the Dan Building. How did the Hidden Mist claim the Longevity Pill before us?
If you can't even manage this, what value does the branch family have?"
"This subordinate accepts punishment," Hizashi replied calmly, bowing his head.
Behind him, four branch family jōnin removed their forehead protectors, knelt, and pressed their foreheads to the ground in silent submission.
"That's enough," Hyuga Hiashi cut in, intervening decisively.
"Now is not the time to pursue this."
He looked toward the gathered elders.
"At the Jonin Conference in three days—should the Hyuga Clan support Lady Tsunade and Minato Namikaze, or continue following the Third Hokage?"
In the Nara chamber, Shikaku spoke solemnly.
"We should do neither."
His words startled the elders.
"The wisest course for our clans is to fully support the Sacrificial Shop."
He continued steadily.
"Bloodline pills, Spirit Bones, cultivation scriptures—these are ordinary goods to Boss Li.
What's already circulating is enough to overturn the Ninja World, not to mention what appears only at auctions."
"When the shop fully opens, unprecedented change is inevitable.
This is both the greatest crisis and the greatest opportunity our clans will ever face."
Hyuga Hizashi nodded in agreement.
"Boss Li has openly placed a bounty on the Sandaime and accepted Orochimaru as a formal employee.
His stance could not be clearer. The Hyuga have no reason to continue supporting the Sandaime."
"There are only two ways to obtain rare goods," he continued.
"Luck—or Boss Li's approval."
"If we want Longevity Pills, we must never antagonize him."
The Hyuga First Elder slowly opened his eyes.
"Young people who gain Boss Li's approval receive special rewards… Is this reliable?"
"Absolutely," Hizashi replied.
"Two Spirit Masters in Boss Li's entourage received pill rewards that dramatically enhanced their talent."
He hesitated, then added,
"I privately exchanged flowing taijutsu insights with one of them.
We agreed to cooperate—Hyuga provides taijutsu research and sparring partners, and he provides internal shop intelligence.
Nothing involving Boss Li directly will be disclosed."
"That is sufficient."
The First Elder nodded.
"Once the camp officially opens:
Station elite members there permanently.
Accumulate sacrificial coins at all costs.
Build an intelligence network.
Monitor rare items—especially Longevity Pills.
Seize initiative at all times."
"Hizashi will lead the branch family jōnin stationed there," Hiashi declared.
The elders approved. Quietly, they also resolved to place their own people among the delegation.
Back with the Nara elders, one voice asked quietly,
"The Sandaime values the Hokage's reputation above all else.
With the Jonin Conference approaching, he will not remain idle.
What should we do?"
Shikaku thought carefully before replying.
"If he acts, he will first attempt to silence the Four Great Villages' representatives, then eliminate Minato.
He will move in secret."
"We should instead form a covert alliance with the Four Villages.
When the Sandaime moves, we expose him publicly."
"With witnesses from four villages, clan testimonies, Lady Tsunade's token, and Jiraiya's disciple as proof—
there will be no need to wait for the Jonin Conference."
The First Elder nodded slowly.
"And you must personally explain everything to Boss Li when the Four Villages claim their reward.
Bring Tsunade back to assume the Hokage position."
"Also—ensure the Five Kage Summit can only be held in Konoha."
"We understand."
Inside the Uchiha compound, Fugaku stared at the letter of appointment in his hands.
After seeing Hiruzen off, he immediately sought out the clan's First Elder.
Uchiha Shin—seventy years old, survivor of the Warring States era, once a follower of Madara himself—regarded Fugaku silently for a long time.
Finally, he sighed.
"Working with the Hokage… what does the Uchiha gain?"
"We enter Konoha's true core of power," Fugaku answered quickly.
"And the cost?" Shin's voice turned cold.
"We may offend Tsunade and the Hyuga, Ino–Shika–Chō, and others," Fugaku admitted.
"But Jiraiya will become Hokage. With Uchiha strength and his backing, it won't matter."
Disappointment flickered in the old man's eyes.
"…How did I ever choose you as clan head?"
Fugaku's heart sank.
For the first time, he realized—something had gone terribly wrong.
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