Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 225: The Night of Return, Convening the Clan Meeting!

Under the moonlit night, the Hokage Building was brightly illuminated.

The Third Hokage was busy with paperwork when the door to his office was abruptly pushed open. Danzo stormed in, his expression anxious.

Hearing the familiar, hurried footsteps, the Third Hokage immediately knew it was Danzo.

He finished processing the document in front of him before looking up.

"Is there some major incident in Iwagakure? Or perhaps Kumogakure?"

Danzo shook his head silently and turned his gaze toward the Hokage Rock visible from the window. Following his gaze, the Third Hokage spotted a black silhouette.

At that moment, Haneda stood silently, overlooking the village.

Danzo spoke in a deep voice:

"What are you going to do about this? He's returned."

"I've told you before, you'd regret your foolish decision one day, Hiruzen!"

The Third Hokage glanced at the photo of the Fourth Hokage hanging on the wall. After a moment of silence, he said:

"He won't destroy Konoha."

"This is, after all, his home."

Hearing this, Danzo fixed the Third Hokage with a piercing glare.

"He won't destroy it, but he'll oust you from your position as Hokage, kill me, and lead the Uchiha into ruling Konoha with an iron fist!"

"Hiruzen!"

The Third Hokage fell silent, and Danzo, seeing this, smirked inwardly.

He then made a suggestion:

"Leave this matter to me. I'll handle it for you and give you a satisfactory resolution."

"You're saying…"

"That's right. Only Shisui can save Konoha now! Hand him over to me, and I'll take care of this."

After Shisui awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and revealed his ability to alter someone's will, he immediately informed the Hokage and Danzo.

The Third Hokage easily guessed Danzo's plan.

Danzo intended to exploit Shisui's loyalty to Konoha and use Kotoamatsukami to indirectly control Haneda. This way, the village wouldn't lose the Uchiha and would gain a powerful combat force.

Danzo's actions weren't necessarily harmful to Konoha, but they would sacrifice both Haneda and Shisui. This left the Third Hokage hesitant.

Suddenly, a ninja wearing a cat-like mask appeared in a flash, bowing to the Hokage and Danzo.

"Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama."

"Shisui, is there something you need to report?"

The Third Hokage greeted Shisui warmly, a smile of kindness spreading across his face.

"Yes, Hokage-sama. Uchiha Haneda returned to the village tonight. According to Itachi, he's returned with the intention of running for Hokage."

After Shisui finished speaking, the Third Hokage's expression turned to one of astonishment.

Danzo, on the other hand, looked visibly grim.

Haneda wasn't here to destroy Konoha; he wanted to become Hokage!

If that were the case, Hiruzen might not agree to Danzo's plan.

"Hiruzen, it's time to make a decision. Are you still going to hesitate at a moment like this?!"

"Danzo, let's observe for a while longer. The Uchiha are still part of Konoha, and Haneda is a hero of the village."

Hearing Hiruzen leaning toward compromise with Haneda once again, Danzo's eyes flicked briefly to Shisui's, resolving himself.

"I understand. The Uchiha will always be part of Konoha."

"Shisui, for now, keep a close eye on Haneda's actions. Only you can monitor him at this time."

"You know what Haneda said before he left the village."

"Yes, Danzo-sama."

Shisui responded respectfully, and seeing that the Hokage didn't object, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

Just then, a crow flew into the office, landing gently on Shisui's shoulder. Tied to its claw was a rolled-up paper note.

Shisui recognized it as a message from Itachi. It was likely about an important matter within the clan.

"Is it about that seven-on-one match?" the Third Hokage joked with a smile.

Shisui nodded, unrolling the note and scanning its contents.

"The clan is convening a clan meeting. Itachi says that any Uchiha who doesn't attend will be considered a traitor."

"It must be about Uchiha Haneda, right? He's still the same as ever, fond of his dictatorship," Danzo muttered, taking the opportunity to disparage the inherently "evil" Uchiha. Then, returning to the matter at hand, he said:

"Shisui, this is urgent. You should return to the clan. This meeting is very likely related to Haneda.

"As the representative of the pacifist faction, he's bound to target you. Be careful."

Danzo's sudden concern for him made Shisui feel slightly uneasy.

However, remembering Danzo's relationship with his grandfather, Shisui chose to trust him.

He nodded, then bid farewell to Danzo and the Third Hokage before leaving the Hokage Building.

...

Naka Shrine.

When Shisui arrived at the secret meeting place, the basement was eerily quiet.

This was unlike any previous clan meeting Shisui had attended. Normally, before the clan head and elders arrived, the attending members would chat amongst themselves.

Carrying his doubts, Shisui walked to his designated spot.

Suddenly, he felt a pair of eyes on him. Instinctively, he turned toward the gaze.

It was Haneda and Itachi.

Itachi's eyelids twitched, and he blinked repeatedly, attempting to convey a message to Shisui.

Haneda, on the other hand, stared at Shisui for a brief moment before averting his gaze.

But even such a simple action from Haneda was enough to put enormous pressure on Shisui.

In that moment, Shisui understood why the other clan members were so quiet and serious.

Haneda's presence was overwhelming—it inspired fear and awe.

Once all the Uchiha jonin had arrived, Fugaku cleared his throat and stepped forward to address the clan.

"Tonight's emergency meeting isn't about anything major. Haneda has something he wants to say to everyone."

After giving a brief introduction, Fugaku stepped aside, yielding the floor to Haneda.

Shisui watched, puzzled. Typically, clan meetings required the approval of both the clan head and elders. How had Haneda managed to call one on his own?

Even with his strength and status, Haneda should have followed protocol, right?

As Haneda walked steadily to the front, both the hawks and doves within the clan grew visibly excited. Their admiration and respect for him were plain to see.

Haneda stood silently on the platform for a few seconds, meeting the gaze of everyone present.

Once the room had settled, he finally spoke:

"I'm here for two reasons.

"First, to denounce the inaction of Konoha's leadership and their targeting of the Uchiha.

"Second, to announce my candidacy for the position of Fifth Hokage, and to unify the Uchiha."

Haneda paused, sweeping his gaze across the room before finally settling it on Shisui.

"Uncle Sakumo, Minato-senpai, and their leadership led Konoha to victory in the Third Shinobi World War.

"All the great nations, without exception, signed peace agreements with Konoha.

"Yet in the three years that Minato-senpai and I were gone, Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure all declared war on Konoha in succession.

"When did Konoha become so weak?

"To the point where enemies we once crushed into the dirt now dare to act so arrogantly?

"This is the result of the incompetence and inaction of Konoha's leadership!"