The announcement came at midday.
Not whispered.
Not sealed.
Not routed through council intermediaries.
It was delivered through official channels.
All clan heads were summoned to the Hokage's courtyard.
The message was phrased carefully:
"Preventative consultation regarding internal security."
The wording was neutral.
The timing was not.
By the time Fugaku arrived at the courtyard, the air already felt heavier than usual. The other clan leaders stood in measured clusters—Hyūga, Nara, Aburame, Akimichi—each watching the others more than the building itself.
Public visibility was intentional.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward without ceremony.
He did not raise his voice.
He did not display anger.
That made it worse.
"The village is experiencing increased tension," the Hokage began calmly. "External interference has been confirmed. Internal mistrust has grown."
He paused, letting the statement settle across the courtyard.
"As Hokage, it is my responsibility to ensure stability before escalation."
Several clan heads exchanged subtle glances.
No one spoke.
"Recent findings," Hiruzen continued, "suggest that certain discussions within the Uchiha district may be interpreted as mobilization."
There it was.
Not accusation.
Interpretation.
Fugaku's posture remained steady.
"Interpretation," he repeated quietly.
Hiruzen met his gaze directly.
"I am not declaring guilt," he said. "I am issuing caution."
The courtyard fell silent.
"This is a formal warning," Hiruzen stated. "Any unauthorized mobilization, strategic assembly, or violation of village security will be met with decisive response."
The word decisive was not emphasized.
It didn't need to be.
It carried weight on its own.
The Hyūga clan head remained expressionless.
The Nara's eyes narrowed slightly in calculation.
No one challenged the Hokage.
But no one looked entirely comfortable either.
Fugaku stepped forward half a pace.
"The Uchiha clan has not mobilized," he said evenly.
"I hope that remains true," Hiruzen replied.
Hope.
A careful choice.
Because hope implied uncertainty.
And uncertainty implied distrust.
The meeting ended without escalation.
But the message was clear.
The village now watched openly.
Back in the district, word spread quickly.
Not exaggerated.
Not distorted.
Simply reported.
"It was a warning."
"Public."
"Before other clans."
The younger Uchiha felt the shift immediately.
This was no longer Root pressure.
This was village posture.
Ren found Kuroto near the training grounds again that evening.
"They've drawn a line," Ren said tightly.
"Yes."
"Are we supposed to stand still again?"
Kuroto considered the question calmly.
"Not still," he said. "Precise."
Ren frowned.
"They're accusing us."
"They are preparing to justify something," Kuroto corrected.
That distinction mattered.
Across the rooftops, Itachi stood once more, watching the district settle into uneasy quiet.
The Hokage's warning had not prevented escalation.
It had formalized it.
And Danzō would see opportunity in that.
Kuroto looked toward the village center, expression unreadable.
The system was tightening itself publicly now.
Which meant subtle manipulation would no longer be enough.
The next move would not be paper.
It would be pressure.