Thus, a discussion targeting the Uchiha ultimately ended without any conclusion.
On his way out, Danzo didn't forget to throw out a couple of harsh words.
"The Uchiha problem absolutely cannot be tolerated!"
"If there truly is no solution, I'll have Root find an opportunity to eliminate the culprit."
The "culprit" Danzo referred to was, of course, Yusuke.
The Uchiha's two great geniuses—"Flame Demon" Yusuke and "Shunshin" Shisui—had both already been placed on his assassination list.
In the face of Danzo's loud posturing, Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing.
If things went well, the credit would naturally belong to him, the Hokage.
If things went wrong?
Then the blame would fall on Danzo.
…
Time flew. In the blink of an eye, it was Konoha Year 51.
Over the past six months, under Uchiha Yusuke's leadership, Konoha's civilian impression of the Uchiha had improved dramatically.
Conflicts had been successfully shifted elsewhere. Within Konoha, fewer and fewer people cursed the Uchiha behind their backs.
The Uchiha might still carry themselves loftily, but if any clan member abused power to bully others, the clan head would punish them harshly without exception.
To make that idea sink in, Yusuke even had Inabi and Tekka stage a "self-inflicted wound" act alongside him!
The Uchiha's reputation kept rising. When people mentioned Clan Head Yusuke, many couldn't help praising him.
"A son should be like Yusuke-kun!"
…
Konoha's main street.
A cheerful atmosphere filled the air.
The long, drawn-out conflict had finally come to an end.
A Kumogakure delegation had arrived in Konoha, discussing the signing of a peace treaty.
Hokage Building.
To show respect to the Kumogakure delegation, Konoha's leadership and the heads of all major clans attended the meeting together.
Uchiha Yusuke was naturally among them.
The meeting passed without incident.
In the last war, Kumogakure and Konoha had not truly come to blows in any meaningful sense.
With no deep grudges, there were naturally few issues that couldn't be settled.
When the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the leader of the Kumogakure delegation signed on paper, the peace treaty officially took effect.
With the matter settled, everyone in Konoha felt genuinely delighted.
After years of war, who didn't want a few days of peace?
"Hokage-sama, I bring you greetings on behalf of the Raikage-sama."
"At your age, still working so diligently for the village—my admiration for you knows no bounds!"
With official matters concluded, the Kumogakure leader smiled and began flattering the Third Hokage.
On the surface, the words sounded polite—
But between the lines was mockery: Hiruzen was an old man clinging to the post because Konoha had no successors.
The smile on Hiruzen's face stiffened for an instant before smoothing out again.
"Not at all. How could I compare to Ōnoki of Iwagakure?"
"I'm just an old man with one foot in the grave. He's the one who's truly vigorous despite his years!"
Everyone knew the Third Raikage had died at Iwagakure's hands—an unhealed wound for every shinobi of Kumogakure.
You want to curse me in a roundabout way?
Then I'll tear open your scar in return.
The Third Raikage had held the rear alone, fighting for three days and three nights until he died of exhaustion.
Kumogakure's recognized hero—how could outsiders sneer at him?
The expression of the Kumogakure leader turned sour.
"Hmph. We're leaving."
He snorted, then pushed the door open and stormed out without even a parting word.
Hiruzen wasn't worried in the slightest that they'd cause trouble.
This was Konoha's home ground. With only that handful of people, did they dare make waves here?
Smiling warmly, Hiruzen announced the meeting's end.
"Alright. The war is over. We must restore Konoha's prosperity as soon as possible."
"Everyone, go back. Tomorrow, we'll work hard together again."
A peace treaty with Kumogakure was a tremendous piece of good news.
Everyone wanted to hurry home and celebrate.
"Let's go, let's go—now we can finally relax for a while."
"The war is finally over. All thanks to the Third Hokage-sama's brilliant leadership!"
"Long live Konoha! Long live the Third Hokage-sama!"
Joy lingered everywhere, and Hiruzen—the Hokage—was praised to the skies.
Sweeping his gaze over Konoha's leadership and the heads of the major clans, Uchiha Yusuke's eyes flickered with faint scorn.
He folded his arms, lips curving into a cold smile.
"Heh…"
Was the Kumogakure delegation really here to sign a peace treaty?
Since when had that warlike nation ever honored something as flimsy as ink on paper?
Last time Konoha formed an alliance with Kumogakure, it had cost them the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
The warning was still fresh—yet these people had learned nothing at all!
…
That night, a Kumogakure shinobi secretly crept toward the Hyuga compound, following a script identical to the one used years ago to kidnap the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, Kushina Uzumaki.
Unfortunately, this shinobi's execution was truly sloppy.
He had only just grabbed Hinata and fled a short distance when Hyuga Hiashi caught up and killed him on the spot!
As soon as the incident occurred, Konoha ANBU sealed off the scene tightly.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, also rushed over upon hearing the news.
When he saw the Kumogakure shinobi already cold and dead, his expression turned ugly to the extreme.
"Hiashi—tell me everything that happened tonight. How exactly did the Kumogakure shinobi die?"
Facing the Hokage's questioning, Hiashi didn't dare hide anything.
He held Hinata, who was still under genjutsu, his brows heavy with gloom.
This time, the Hyuga clan's face had been completely thrown away!
The Hyuga—always boasting of being Konoha's strongest—had been infiltrated so easily by an outsider, and their eldest daughter had nearly been abducted.
If this spread, wouldn't they become a laughingstock?
With that thought, Hiashi spoke with barely restrained fury.
"Tonight, I noticed my daughter Hinata was missing and immediately went out to search. I discovered this man in black carrying her, preparing to leave. I moved to stop him, and he fought me. During the battle, I accidentally killed him. When I removed his mask, I realized he was a shinobi of Kumogakure…"
Hiashi's fists clenched tightly. He knew the matter was sensitive, but he still wanted justice for his daughter.
Hearing this, the Third Hokage immediately let out a breath of relief.
Kumogakure was at fault first. As long as he soothed the Hyuga's emotions, the matter could be handled lightly.
As for "seeking justice" for the Hyuga—
Hiruzen didn't consider it at all.
They had just signed a peace treaty. How could he tear it apart over the Hyuga?
…
The next day.
Another meeting was convened in the Hokage Building.
Only this time, there was no joy—just the sharp scent of gunpowder in the air.
Hiruzen had thought Kumogakure, having done wrong, would back down.
Instead, they shamelessly bit back.
They insisted Konoha had deliberately murdered their man as a provocation—and demanded the Hyuga hand over the killer.
With that, the situation instantly escalated.
The clouds of war…
Once again began to gather over Konoha's sky.
Kumogakure's attitude was extremely hardline.
If Konoha didn't hand over the culprit, they would declare war immediately.
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