Just as Kakashi had anticipated, Chōza Akimichi's resignation and Shikaku Nara's confinement stirred up quite a commotion within the Hidden Leaf.
Although many people discussed it, due to the hardline methods Kakashi had consistently displayed, no major upheaval occurred.
Although Kakashi temporarily suppressed the turmoil within the Hidden Leaf, the position of Anbu Commander was genuinely vacant. This caused many with restless ambitions to cast their eyes upon that position, which stood below only one man and above ten thousand.
"Anbu Commander..."
In a dim underground base, Danzō Shimura, dressed in black, looked absent-mindedly at the mission in his hand—yet another task Root had recently seized from the Anbu.
Over the past three years, the scope of authority originally obtained from the Anbu had allowed Root to grow significantly stronger.
Now, the vacancy of the Anbu Commander position made his mind stir once again.
However, the timing right now was simply too coincidental.
Clan meetings within the Uchiha Clan were becoming increasingly frequent, and as Hokage, Kakashi had no reason not to be aware of it.
Given Kakashi's hardline stance, the fact that he was silently watching the Uchiha's internal unrest grow was likely because he had previously been Acting Hokage. His position hadn't been stable, so he had sat by and ignored the Uchiha.
Now that his position as the Fifth Hokage was as stable as Mount Tai, given Kakashi's personality, it was impossible for him to let things slide any longer.
And in this critical period, the position of Anbu Commander had become vacant once again.
If I were to intervene, would it...
Danzō Shimura fell into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons.
Although he considered Kakashi, this young Hokage, to be of no great concern, he had to admit that Kakashi's methods against enemies were always cold-blooded and ruthless.
And he always maximized the benefits involved.
If he were pushed too far, it was inevitable that he would choose mutual destruction rather than compromise.
No, not inevitable—it was certain.
Thinking of this, Danzō Shimura immediately stood up and walked toward the Hokage Residence.
At this critical moment, as the personal disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, he naturally had to lead by example, hold high the banner of the Will of Fire, and firmly support the current Hokage.
It would be better not to touch the position of Anbu Commander for the time being.
Hokage Office.
At this moment, Kakashi looked at Danzō Shimura before him with slight surprise.
"The clan meetings within the Uchiha Clan are becoming increasingly frequent."
"According to intelligence, every meeting discusses how to attain the Hokage position. They have even set their sights on the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
"Such behavior is undoubtedly treason."
"I hope you will make plans early, Lord Hokage."
"This old man will spare no effort to support you, Lord Hokage."
Danzō Shimura's words were sonorous and forceful, his expression grave. If one didn't know his true character, they might have thought he was a peerlessly loyal minister with iron bones and a faithful heart.
Kakashi hadn't expected that the vacancy of the Anbu Commander position not only failed to bait Danzō Shimura but instead prompted him to put on such a performance.
It seemed the other party was wary of his previous hardline methods and decided not to act rashly.
He even deliberately placed the Uchiha issue out in the open between the two of them.
This forced Kakashi to state his position.
"Elder Danzō, you speak too heavily."
"I have naturally never doubted your capabilities, Elder."
"Since we are confiding in each other, how could I ever let you down?"
"I have my own plans regarding the Uchiha issue. When the time comes, I ask that you lend me a hand, Elder Danzō."
Hearing Kakashi's words, the tension in Danzō Shimura's brow relaxed slightly.
Ask him to lend a hand?
This meant Kakashi had already planned to eliminate that gang of rebels in the Uchiha.
This made Danzō Shimura sneer in his heart.
As expected of the heavy-handed Kakashi; his eyes could not tolerate a single grain of sand.
He was likely going to pull up the entire Uchiha Clan by the roots.
When that happened, he could use the incident to petition the Daimyō. He would claim that the first thing the new Hokage did upon taking office was to force a major village clan into rebellion, and then spread public opinion to force Kakashi to step down.
The youngest Hokage would also be the one to abdicate the fastest.
Danzō Shimura immediately expressed his full support for any measure the Hokage took, stating he wouldn't hesitate even if it meant Root had to engage in an all-out firefight with the Uchiha.
Looking at the old man before him, Kakashi spoke:
"Recently, the Anbu Commander resigned, and there is no suitable candidate in the village. Elder Shimura, perhaps..."
However, before Kakashi could finish, Danzō Shimura hurriedly spoke up:
"This old man is already advanced in years. Managing Root already leaves me somewhat unable to do as much as I would like, and I have long since begun cultivating a successor."
"As for the position of Anbu Commander, count this old man out."
He didn't take the bait.
Kakashi didn't care about this. It was just an idle move; whether Danzō Shimura took the bait or not didn't matter at all.
Since the other party had shifted the topic of conflict to the Uchiha, Kakashi didn't dwell on the Anbu issue any longer.
"In that case, I will consider the Uchiha issue."
Kakashi nodded slightly. This made Danzō Shimura smile with satisfaction before he excused himself and left.
Watching Danzō Shimura leave, Kakashi leaned back in his chair and spoke as if at leisure:
"You heard that, didn't you?"
As his voice fell, a boy dressed in Anbu attire, but not wearing a mask, appeared and knelt on one knee before Kakashi.
Itachi Uchiha.
It had to be said that Fugaku Uchiha's brain was as useless as ever.
Just because Kakashi had slightly relaxed the recruitment conditions for the Anbu.
Fugaku Uchiha, despite being a member of the Elder Council himself, had actually sent his own son into the Anbu.
"Lord Hokage."
Itachi Uchiha knelt before Kakashi, his expression heavy.
"Itachi, what do you think I should do?"
Looking at the boy before him, Kakashi's tone was flat, as if chatting about a trivial matter.
"Many ninja within the Uchiha Clan refuse to accept the Hokage and even attempt to seize the position of Hokage through violent means."
"Their crimes deserve execution."
There was a trace of trembling in Itachi Uchiha's voice at this moment, and his heart was filled with agony.
Why...
Why did it have to be like this?
Lord Hokage had clearly been tolerant enough toward the Uchiha.
Even knowing that the true culprit of the Nine-Tails incident was likely an Uchiha, he was still willing to let Father become a member of the Elder Council.
And he had not infringed upon the Konoha Military Police Force in the slightest.
Wasn't such a Hokage good enough?
Did they really have to fight for this position of Hokage?
Just because the Senju and the Uchiha founded the Hidden Leaf together, and the Uchiha have never held the title of Hokage, must they drag the Hidden Leaf into the fires of war?
This was simply... too narrow-minded!
"Are you thinking about how the Uchiha also participated in the founding of the Hidden Leaf, yet there has never been an Uchiha Hokage?"
The words coming from in front of him made Itachi Uchiha hurriedly bow his head and say he dared not think so.
"Itachi, do you really think that without the Uchiha, the Hidden Leaf could not have been founded?"
Kakashi's words were calm and leisurely, causing Itachi Uchiha's heart to tremble.
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