Naruto: Unhinged Uchiha

[Read up to Chapter - 98 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]

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"All of you… Return to your duties." Hiruzen instructed the surrounding shinobi.

As the Hokage, his word was absolute, and the assembled ninjas dispersed without hesitation.

However, Kanzou didn't leave immediately. Instead, he suddenly offered an apology to Hiruzen.

"Hokagay-sama, I just received word—Araki was actually the one who killed Sarutobi Shinnosuke. I truly had no idea… My condolences, Hokagay-sama. He might have been an incompetent son like his father and brother… but… to lose your beloved son like that…"

His words were like salt in an open wound, and though Hiruzen managed to restrain himself, the mention of his son's death again, while calling him incompetent, tested his patience.

"Uchiha Kanzou, I'd like to speak with you privately."

With other shinobi still nearby, Hiruzen couldn't afford to lose his composure.

His reputation, carefully built over the years, mattered too much to risk.

"Of course, Hokagay-sama. If you wish to speak, how could I refuse?" Kanzou replied calmly.

The two entered the Hokage building together, and even the ANBU, who typically remained by Hiruzen's side, did not follow them in.

…

Meanwhile, Akimichi Chōza couldn't help but ask, "Shikaku, what exactly is going on today…?"

'Hokagay—ahem… Hokage-sama's eldest son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, is dead... and it seems he was killed by Uchiha Araki. But Uchiha Araki was also a traitor to the Uchiha clan—and supposedly working for the Hokage… and Hokage-sama seems to have given up on Uchiha Araki… and then… umm…'

Although the matter was far too complicated to understand at the surface, Shikaku still managed to deduce things and thought to himself, 'A bit too much if you ask me…'

And shook his head to his two friends, "It's best not to know too much."

There wasn't much concrete information to go on, and Shikaku could only rely on deduction.

With his sharp mind, he had pieced together parts of the truth—but chose not to share them with his two friends.

After all, there is a very good reason why it is said that ignorance is bliss.

Sometimes, knowing too much was dangerous and could lead to disaster.

…

On the way back, members of other clans remained silent, deep in thought.

If the Sandaime Hokage could plant an Elite Jōnin of the Uchiha as a spy within the Uchiha clan, then could he have done the same with their clan too?

They have to be careful and figure out who the spy might be.

As for the civilian ninjas, they didn't think too deeply about it.

…

Meanwhile, in the Hokage Office, signs of destruction were everywhere—splintered wood, cracks in the walls, and scorched marks. But Sarutobi Hiruzen paid no attention. He simply sat there, raising his head to glare coldly at Kanzou.

"Uchiha Kanzou, does Shinnosuke's death have anything to do with you?" Hiruzen's voice was laced with killing intent.

"What nonsense are you talking about, Hokagay-sama? Wasn't your son killed by Uchiha Araki?" Kanzou replied calmly and asked him, "To ask me such a question… surely you're not letting your grief cloud your judgement, right?"

There was no way Kanzou would admit to anything.

"If you don't believe me, I can provide evidence. I can personally help you prove that Uchiha Araki was the one who killed Sarutobi Shinnosuke," Kanzou said with a composed smile.

And he really could—if Hiruzen wanted proof, Kanzou was more than capable of supplying it.

But even if Kanzou did present evidence, it would only deepen Hiruzen's bitterness.

The Sandaime Hokage was certain Kanzou was involved, even if he couldn't prove it.

"Even if you're the Hokagay, you have no right to slander me, the Patriarch of the Uchiha Clan," Kanzou continued. "If you insist on doing so, I'll have no choice but to accuse you of defamation."

Hiruzen took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his fury.

"Uchiha Kanzou, don't test my patience. Don't think I won't act against the Uchiha clan. This is your final warning."

"Words can mean a lot of things, and sometimes… something spoken while not being in control of emotion can often cause bad results… it can even become a fuse for war… I'd advise Hokagay-sama to be mindful of that," chuckled Kanzou in response.

Hiruzen clenched his fist.

"But… Hokagay-sama's warning—I'll keep it in mind," Kanzou replied with a faint smile.

"By the way, let me also remind you to protect your younge—ah, I apologize for the mistake… your ONLY son. If something were to happen to Sarutobi Asuma next… Oh, dear… I can only imagine it… But I am certain that you might not survive the blow."

It was a counter-threat—but one that was well calculated.

Kanzou spoke so boldly because he understood what Sarutobi Hiruzen truly valued.

The man might be hypocritical down to his bones, but his love for Konoha ran deep—deeper even than his love for his own children.

For the sake of the village, Hiruzen couldn't afford to fight Kanzou even if the Uchiha might threaten his youn—only son.

Not unless he was willing to accept massive losses or risk the outbreak of the third Great Shinobi War.

In reality, Hiruzen wasn't especially afraid of confronting the Uchiha clan alone.

What he truly feared was that other ninja villages might seize the opportunity to strike when Konoha was weakened.

As for taking down the Uchiha clan without casualties—that was something Hiruzen didn't even dare to imagine.

Given the clan's current strength and the fact that most Uchiha ninjas were elite among elites, there was simply no way Konoha could subdue them without suffering heavy losses.

Especially now, with Kanzou possessing Kage-level power and Uchiha Mikoto having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't risk open conflict with the Uchiha.

Kanzou understood Hiruzen's psychology perfectly—and that's exactly why he acted with such boldness.

"If Hokagay-sama has nothing else to say, I'll take my leave," Kanzou said, turning to go.

"Uchiha Kanzou," Hiruzen growled, "if you dare lay a hand on Asuma, I don't care if it costs Konoha its existence—I'll make the Uchiha clan pay."

Kanzou stopped and glanced back, smirking.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen… you're already getting old. And you don't have that kind of courage anymore after having been seated on that seat."

If it had been Sarutobi Hiruzen during the First Great Shinobi War or perhaps even the Second Great Shinobi War… he might have truly possessed that kind of spirit.

But now? Kanzou could only laugh at what he had become.

"Even if Hokagay-sama really wants to go to war with the Uchiha… do you think we, the Uchiha, would be afraid of a mere Monkey??"

A terrifying surge of chakra burst forth from Kanzou, shaking the office like a violent storm. The pressure forced Hiruzen to step back instinctively.

By the time Hiruzen regained his composure, Kanzou was already gone.

"Uchiha Kanzou…" Hiruzen clenched his fists, seething with helpless fury.

He was the Hokage, the leader of Konoha, and yet he had no way to deal with Kanzou.

"Uchiha… is the cancer of Konoha Village…"

Had Kanzou heard that, he might have laughed outright.

If anything could be called a true tumour in Konoha, it was Shimura Danzō.

And Sarutobi Hiruzen himself was no less than half of one.

…

Upon returning to the Uchiha compound, Kanzou was handed Araki's Three Tomoe Sharingan by Hazuki, who had already followed Kanzou's earlier instructions to retrieve them.

The Three Tomoe Sharingan wouldn't go to waste.

Mikoto's Mangekyō Sharingan had a special ability to absorb visual prowess, and Kanzou hoped to help her evolve it into the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan someday.

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Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!

[Read up to Chapter - 98 on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]