Meanwhile, on the other side.
Danzo was feeling refreshed today. After waking up, he headed to the various Ninja Clan, ready to take command of his future subordinates.
His mind began to fantasize: once he took control of this group, he would immediately implant the Tongue Restriction Curse Seal. The revitalized Root would then figure out how to deal with the Uchiha.
The first Ninja Clan he visited was obviously the most important one: Ino–Shika–Chō!
"Shikaku, Inoichi, Chōza."
"It's been a while!"
"Where are the people I requested?"
The Ino–Shika–Chō were quite cooperative.
Looking at Danzo, whose face was full of arrogance, Nara Shikaku immediately waved his hand, and a group of people stepped forward.
Danzo looked at the group before him, a faint smile appearing on his face.
"Very good. Farewell!"
After speaking.
He led the group away, turning and heading out of the Ino–Shika–Chō Clan Compound.
Regarding this.
Watching Danzo and his group slowly depart, Inoichi Yamanaka's expression was quite grim: "Danzo really is an idiot. Has he still not realized that more than half of the Ninja Clan have already pledged allegiance to the Uchiha side?"
"I actually think this is completely normal," Akimichi Choza said slowly. "The Village High Command has been too arrogant these past few years!"
"Whether it was the annihilation of the Senju and Uzumaki clans in the past, or the deaths of Senju Nawaki, Kato Dan, and Hatake Sakumo, countless successes have made them overestimate their own abilities. They long forgot that without the joint efforts of the major Ninja Clan back then, they couldn't have accomplished any of this."
"I imagine that in their minds now, they feel they have already mastered all the major Ninja Clan, and only the Uchiha Clan, that troublesome outlier, is worth the attention of the Konoha High Command."
Nara Shikaku remained silent.
His brows were slightly furrowed as his mind began to work furiously.
Honestly... he also felt that the current Konoha High Command was increasingly unworthy of his closeness, as if their demise was already predetermined.
Therefore.
Should he defect to the Uchiha?
No, absolutely not!
He suddenly remembered Minato Namikaze from before. His authority back then was even greater than the Uchiha's, yet in the end, didn't the Nine-Tails Attack Night suddenly occur, and that gentle-faced 'Little Sun' die?
It's better to play it safe.
Who knows if the Uchiha will face such a sudden catastrophe next.
"You two, keep your voices down."
"Actually, it's normal that the Village hasn't paid attention. After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi doesn't know that Danzo dared to change his authorized order. If we were talking about a normal situation, merely mobilizing seven people from each clan..."
"It might cause a headache for the Ninja Clan, but they could grudgingly tolerate it."
"Danzo is too arrogant!"
"He actually dared to add a ten in front of the number seven. It's completely normal that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't anticipate this."
"And given Danzo's arrogance, he probably didn't think the Ninja Clan would dare to act presumptuously; even if they saw through his little scheme, they would likely continue to endure it."
"But, unfortunately."
"Danzo was wrong. Things are not like they used to be."
"Before, the Ninja Clan had no choice, but now, with the rise of the Uchiha, how could the major Ninja Clan, having gained an alternative, continue to put up with this?"
Nara Shikaku let out a soft sigh.
His tone remained completely calm, as if nothing could possibly make him panic.
Hearing this, Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Choza shook their heads, too lazy to dwell on these troublesome matters.
Inoichi Yamanaka asked, "Shikaku, are you going to work today?"
"Maybe you should just take the day off," Akimichi Choza suggested. "There's definitely going to be a huge commotion at the Hokage Building today. Hiruzen Sarutobi is probably going to lose it."
Unfortunately.
Hearing this, Nara Shikaku still shook his head.
His eyes were profound, and he then sneered, "The more something like this happens, the more I must not be absent, Since we chose to stay, we need to show our loyalty!"
"Furthermore, I need to grasp the Konoha High Command's next moves. What exactly the remaining half of Ino–Shika–Chō should do in the future—I'll know that once I return from the Hokage Building."
"You two should go back and rest."
After saying that.
Nara Shikaku left the Clan Compound directly and walked toward the Hokage Building.
Regarding this.
Inoichi Yamanaka and Akimichi Choza's expressions also became serious.
"I think we need to prepare for what comes next."
"The Konoha High Command aren't idiots either; they will surely figure out the Ino–Shika–Chō's arrangement. To prevent the Konoha High Command from jumping the gun, we must quickly prepare for the worst."
Inoichi Yamanaka's tone was solemn.
Akimichi Choza, hearing this, also became extremely cautious: "I'll go back and consult the Old Ancestor. This matter might require his presence."
"Mm, that works." Inoichi Yamanaka had no objection.
Immediately after.
The two who had made their decision began to act separately... Meanwhile, on the other side.
Danzo, feeling refreshed, led this group of Ino–Shika–Chō experts away from the Nara Clan Compound, preparing to head toward the Aburame Clan Compound.
However.
Just as they passed the Uchiha Clan Compound, all the Ino–Shika–Chō members frantically bolted toward the Uchiha.
Danzo: "..."
He was completely dumbfounded.
His mind was blank, and he just stood there stunned, subconsciously forgetting to even give chase.
There was nothing he could do!
He truly hadn't expected something like this to happen right before his eyes!
At that moment, he had only one thought: Had this group of Ino–Shika–Chō gone insane?
Ten seconds later.
Just as he prepared to try and pursue them, he realized the group had already reached the Uchiha Clan Compound, and a large crowd of Uchiha had surrounded them.
"Damn it! Bastards!"
"This must be Nara Shikaku's scheme. This old man will settle the score with him later."
"First, I'll go to the Aburame Clan Compound!"
Danzo spoke with a sinister, fierce expression.
Yes!
Deeply understanding the essence of the 'Way of the Coward', he, being alone, had no interest in confronting the Uchiha head-on.
Even if he wanted to pick a fight with the Uchiha, he first needed to gather some experts.
Therefore, he retreated.
He even immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and quickly arrived at the Aburame Clan Compound.
And then... he froze!
Looking at the empty, ghost-like Aburame Clan Compound, Danzo felt his brain wasn't processing fast enough.
Where are the people?
He suddenly had a terrible feeling, and in his urgency, he rushed to the Inuzuka Clan.
Haha, it was still empty!
Danzo: "..."
His face grew uglier and uglier, and then he ran to the other Ninja Clan.
But, damn it.
Empty!
Still empty!
Every single Ninja Clan he had visited yesterday—their compounds were now completely deserted.
Why?
Danzo felt his brain was about to explode, and just as he was about to head to the next compound, an Anbu stopped him on the road.
"Lord Danzo!"
"Hokage-sama requests your presence. Please proceed to the Hokage Office immediately!"