chapter 189 part 1
### SECTION 4: EDITED ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Chapter 189: On the Eve of the Uchiha Rebellion, the Three Forces
In the assembly hall of the Uchiha Clan, the atmosphere was as heavy as the impending storm, with faint, yellowish light illuminating the angry and anxious faces of the clan members.
Everyone sat together, expressing their strong dissatisfaction towards the Konoha higher-ups, especially Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a cacophony of voices.
"The Konoha higher-ups are too unfair to *our* Uchiha Clan! For years, they've suppressed us and restricted our power!" A member of the Uchiha Clan stood up fiercely, slamming his fists on the table. The muscles on his face trembled slightly with anger.
"That's right! We've made great contributions for Konoha, yet now we're being marginalized. How can we swallow this indignation!" another person chimed in excitedly, his eyes burning with rage.
"Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi completely disregards us, treating us like outsiders! We must take action and fight for the Uchiha Clan's rightful place!" Another angry shout erupted from the crowd.
Uchiha Fugaku sat in the main seat, listening to the clan members' protests and discussions, his brow furrowed, and he sighed helplessly.
He knew the clan members' pent-up resentment well, but initiating rebellion was undoubtedly a perilous path.
At the very back of the crowd, Uchiha Ren stood quietly, his gaze complex and profound.
He watched the agitated clan members with no ripple on his face.
Listening to the radical remarks, his heart was writhing in painful struggle.
He knew that once rebellion erupted, it would bring the disaster of annihilation to both Konoha and the Uchiha Clan.
A moment later, Uchiha Ren turned around silently and quietly left the room.
On the other side, inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his spacious desk, holding a crystal ball emitting a mysterious glow.
His gaze was focused on the crystal ball, peering into the situation in various corners of Konoha, especially near the women's bathhouse. A hint of unusual interest flashed in his eyes.
Just then, a soft knock came from the door.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression remained unchanged. He quickly put away the crystal ball, cleared his throat, and said, "Come in."
Uchiha Ren pushed open the door and entered the office.
He lowered his head slightly and said respectfully, "Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Uchiha Ren, a hint of imperceptible sharpness flashing in his eyes. "Ren, what brings you here?"
Uchiha Ren took a deep breath and said slowly, "The Uchiha clan's rebellion may happen in the next few days. They lack a spark. Once ignited, they will launch an attack on Konoha. It is not yet determined whether they will execute the Hokage assassination plan or the destruction plan. According to Uchiha Fugaku, they need to wait for all the Uchiha Clan members currently outside to return to the clan before making further deliberations."
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened quietly, his expression extremely grim.
Everyone knew what Ren's words meant.
The foundation of Konoha was about to be destroyed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and said, "I understand. You may leave."
Uchiha Ren bowed slightly, turned, and left the office.
Not long after, the door to the Hokage's office was pushed open again.
Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado entered one after another.
Danzo Shimura's expression was as gloomy as dark clouds before a storm. He walked to the front and did not sit down, directly opening his mouth and saying,
"Hiruzen, the Uchiha clan's rebellion is imminent. We can no longer afford to sit idly by. I propose that we immediately take action and directly carry out a massacre against the Uchiha clan!" His voice was low and icy, as if devoid of any emotion.
Homura Mitokado frowned upon hearing this and took a step forward, saying, "Danzo, this matter cannot be treated lightly. The Uchiha clan has extremely high prestige in the village; they are a prominent clan that existed since the founding of the village. Once such a massacre occurs, it cannot be justified, morally or logically. The other clans in the village will inevitably become suspicious, and it may even incite more turmoil."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "I believe we still have room for negotiation."
Hiruzen Sarutobi cast his gaze towards Koharu Utatane and asked, "Koharu, what do you think?"
Koharu Utatane pondered for a moment and said slowly, "I think it's best to directly take down the leader of the Uchiha clan's rebellion, Uchiha Fugaku. This way, it will serve as an explanation to the other clans, and also won't cause too much uproar."
Danzo Shimura listened and stared with wide eyes, angrily slamming his fist on the table and roaring, "You two muddle-headed fools! All the people of the Uchiha clan deserve to die! Their hearts harbor ill intent, and they have long harbored thoughts of rebellion. If they are not eliminated today, they will certainly become a great hidden danger!"
Homura Mitokado's brows furrowed even tighter, and he retorted, "Danzo, how can you speak of such deserving-to-die talk? If we truly follow your words, using the Hyuga clan to restrain them, and have Root, Anbu, and the village's Jonin collectively carry out a massacre against the Uchiha clan, Konoha's reputation will surely be ruined! We cannot destroy the reputation that Konoha has built over the years for a temporary solution."
"Reputation? In the face of absolute power, reputation is worthless!" Danzo Shimura retorted, roaring loudly, "If the Uchiha clan is not completely eradicated, once they initiate rebellion, Konoha will fall into a state of eternal damnation! At that time, what qualifications will we have to talk about reputation?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to their arguments quietly, his expression grim.
He knew this matter was of great importance, and a slight carelessness could lead to irreversible consequences.
He raised his hand, signaling for everyone to calm down, and said, "Everyone, please be quiet. This matter requires long-term deliberation. We cannot act rashly. The Uchiha clan is powerful, and we must handle them cautiously."
Danzo Shimura snorted coldly and said, "Hiruzen, you are too naive! Lenience towards enemies is cruelty towards oneself. Didn't your teacher Tobirama Senju teach you these things?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo Shimura and said firmly, "I am the Hokage! I have a responsibility to protect every person in Konoha, including the Uchiha clan. We cannot, out of fear and suspicion, ruthlessly attack our own people. We must find a way that can resolve the crisis and maintain peace for Konoha."
Danzo Shimura's face was as gloomy as water; the staff in his hand heavily struck the ground, emitting a dull yet powerful sound, that sound seemingly a vent for his inner anger and unwillingness.
His eyes, like icy blades, swept across the faces of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado. Then, he slowly said, "I have a plan."
As soon as these words came out, the other three were all stunned.
They knew that Danzo Shimura's actions were always ruthless, but at this moment, they were full of curiosity about the plan he was about to propose.
Danzo Shimura's lips curved slightly, revealing a sinister smile. He continued, "As our pawn, Toge has deeply infiltrated the Uchiha clan. We possess all their rebellion information. Disseminating this information to the public will make the suppression much more justifiable. As for the Uchiha clansmen's thoughts, they are nothing to worry about. We only need to embellish the secret letters, claiming they tried to destroy Konoha and massacre the villagers."
"Danzo! Enough! Stop talking." Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly changed, and he roared angrily.
A look of heartache and disappointment flashed in his eyes. He never expected that Danzo Shimura would actually come up with such a despicable method.
Danzo Shimura, however, seemed not to have heard Hiruzen Sarutobi's angry rebuke. His eyes flashed with a hint of grim determination, and he turned fiercely, walking towards the office door.