Konoha: We, the Uchiha, are ready to give up!

"The first person to die, Uchiha Setsuna, was actually Uchiha Jin's enemy."

"Furthermore, taking advantage of this incident, Uchiha Jin completely wiped out everyone in the clan who opposed him."

"In other words, the Uchiha clan is now a single, unbreakable unit."

"As for letting these people leave, at best it's just making use of their waste."

“Killing them all directly would be bad for our reputation, but keeping them in the Uchiha clan would be a waste of food and manpower.”

"Besides, if we keep these people around and feed them every day, they might stab us in the back one day."

"So, it's all over now."

"Just drive these people out of the Uchiha clan, and while you're at it, you can use Shisui to get some more money and resources from the Hokage."

"Even if the Hokage falls for it."

"Then the Uchiha can also put on a show, constantly faking battles to deceive you, sir, and make you lower your guard against the Uchiha."

"And during this period, the Uchiha clan can develop in secret."

"It's a huge profit!"

Yes.

After truly understanding the matter, even Nara Shikaku couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and reflection).

That's a brilliant move!

Such a simple plan can not only eliminate unstable factors within the clan, but also take the opportunity to kill one's own enemies, slightly lower the enemy's guard, and even take the opportunity to make a fortune...

Even if I were to do it myself, I might not be able to come up with such a plan.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."

He looked completely bewildered.

He was clearly dumbfounded after hearing this speculation.

It seems that it really is true.

Things I couldn't understand before suddenly became clear to me after Nara Shikaku's analysis.

But doesn't this prove that he was deceived by the Uchiha?

Was Zhi Shui's allegiance merely a calculated move?

Once he understood this, his face instantly darkened.

He was extremely aroused!

After all, he had never suffered such a great loss since he became Hokage.

To know.

Just before Nara Shikaku didn't return, he gave Shisui a huge sum of 200 million ryo!

They even provided them with clan land, and in the future, they planned to use the Hokage's authority to secure more benefits for these people.

This is... numb.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but tremble with anger.

Even the shrewd and composed Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but slam his fist on the table in anger.

"Asshole, you're looking for death!"

"How dare they scheme against me like this? The Uchiha are courting death!"

"I swear, I'll kill them!"

"U! Chi! Ha! Jin!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi roared.

only.

After venting his frustrations a little, he managed to hold back.

After all, as the Hokage, he knew what was important and what was urgent.

So, take a deep breath.

He made no attempt to hide anything from Nara Shikaku in front of him.

He then explained his arrangements for Zhishui and the benefits he had given her, before speaking coldly.

"Let's leave the rest aside for now."

"Lu Jiu, do you think it's possible for me to get those two hundred million taels back now?"

"Even if it's feeding the dogs, I don't want to give this money to the Uchiha!"

"Even if it means losing face, I want to expose this and let the whole of Konoha know how cunning and shameless the Uchiha are."

"..."

Yes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi has his own pride.

How could he possibly tolerate being schemed against by Uchiha Jin this time?

Must take revenge!

He doesn't even want to wait a quarter of an hour now, and he doesn't even care about his reputation. He seems determined to completely destroy Uchiha Jin.

There's nothing we can do about it!

This time, Uchiha Jin went too far; he was practically treating him like a fool.

If he doesn't retaliate, and if this gets out, won't Hiruzen Sarutobi become a walking victim of injustice?

only.

Upon hearing these words, Nara Shikaku couldn't help but panic.

"No, absolutely not!" Nara Shikaku exclaimed immediately, "Hokage-sama, please calm down!"

"We absolutely cannot do this. Otherwise, not to mention the Uchiha, we simply cannot bear the consequences."

"First of all, this is just speculation; there is actually no evidence at all."

"How can anyone believe something just by talking nonsense?"

"And even if we have evidence, we can't do that, because the most important thing is the other ninja clans."

"Even if we can produce evidence, we won't be able to convince the other ninja clans!"

"For small and medium-sized ninja clans, choosing sides is a very serious matter, and credibility is the most important thing."

"Regardless of whether it's the real or fake Hokage, if you dare to do this, then other ninja clans, out of self-preservation, will absolutely not dare to trust us unless they can prove with absolute certainty that this evidence is genuine."

"The reason is very simple!"

"Since you dare to abandon Shisui, who has no use to you, Hokage-sama."

"Then they'll be even more worried that if they join us, what if we fabricate evidence to discard them like expendable pawns once they're no longer of any use to us?"

"As long as they have this idea, they won't dare to approach us. In fact, to protect themselves, they will have to seek refuge with the Uchiha clan."

"Lord Hokage, this is an open conspiracy!"

"Whatever choice we make, it will benefit Uchiha Jin. We're prepared to take the loss!"

"Even in order to win over other ninja clans."

"We must also set Shisui as a role model and treat Shisui and the other Uchiha even better."

"Only by doing these things can we attract other ninja clans and let them see our magnanimity, so that they might be willing to join us."

"So, Lord Hokage!"

“I know you’re very angry right now, but this is absolutely unacceptable.”

"You can't even have any wicked thoughts about getting Shisui and the others to their deaths."

"This pass is very important!"

“Any small move we make will be scrutinized by the other ninja clans with a magnifying glass.”

"Because for other ninja clans, the future of Shisui and the Uchiha clan is their potential future!"

"Lord Hokage, a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan!"

Nara Shikaku is deeply affectionate.

Yes.

He was able to become a Jonin class leader because of his sincerity.

Now that he's in this position, it doesn't matter what he thinks in private.

But, on the surface...

He could only selflessly plan for Hiruzen Sarutobi.