Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 14 The Internal Storm of the Uchiha Clan

The underground training ground of "Root".

This place has expanded several times compared to two years ago, and now has all kinds of training facilities.

However, unlike the other areas under Danzo's supervision, one of the separate training areas had a particularly different atmosphere.

There was no gloomy or oppressive feeling here; instead, it was filled with high morale.

Ten young ninjas dressed in black outfits were engaged in intense sparring.

Their movements were as swift as the wind, their attacks ruthless and precise, and their teamwork was seamless.

What is most striking are their blood-red eyes, which flash with three tomoe marks from time to time during the battle.

Sharingan!

These ten people are all Uchiha!

They were the "Hokage's Direct Guard" reserve selected from the security forces two years ago by order of Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, and are now known as the Uchiha Special Response Team.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kagami Uchiha were standing on a high platform in the training ground, quietly watching the drills below.

"Lord Hokage, their progress has exceeded my expectations." Uchiha Kagami's tone was full of emotion and satisfaction.

In the past two years, he has devoted all his energy to this team.

Hiruzen, on the other hand, provided them with unprecedented support.

The best equipment, the most abundant resources, and even some advanced ninjutsu scrolls that only the core members of the Anbu could access were all made available to them.

More importantly, Hiruzen would personally come every month to guide their training.

This kindness and recognition is more important than anything else to these young Uchiha men who were once ostracized and overlooked in the security forces.

They were filled with fanatical worship and loyalty to the Third Hokage who gave them new life and dignity.

"No, Kagami, this is all thanks to you." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "Without your guidance, they couldn't have grown so quickly."

He looked down at the young and determined faces below and felt very satisfied.

These people were the sharpest wedge he drove into the Uchiha clan.

Just then, the drill ended.

The team leader, a young man named Uchiha Tokumitsu, appeared instantly on the high platform and knelt on one knee.

"Hokage-sama! Kagami-sama!"

"Get up, Tokumitsu," Hiruzen Sarutobi said gently. "Good drill, your teamwork has improved since last time."

"Thank you for the compliment, Hokage-sama!" Uchiha Tokumitsu raised his head, his eyes filled with fervor. "Everything we have is a gift from you, Hokage-sama. We are ready to give our lives for you at any time!"

"What I need is not your lives, but your eyes and minds." Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand. "Now, tell me, how's the matter I assigned you going?"

"I have fulfilled my mission!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu took out a scroll from his pocket and respectfully handed it over.

"Following your and Lord Kagami's instructions, we used our positions to successfully obtain evidence that several elders of the Uchiha Elders' Council had been in private contact with important retainers close to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took the scroll and slowly unrolled it.

The document details how several hardline elders of the Uchiha clan exaggerated the situation to the daimyo's confidants, impeaching the Third Hokage for "excessive military spending" and "wasting the national treasury" (mainly referring to the establishment of the medical department and the expansion of Root), attempting to undermine the daimyo's trust in him.

Looking at the contents of the scroll, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed a cold smile.

"Have the old fogies finally had enough?"

Uchiha Kagami's expression turned somewhat grim upon seeing this information.

"Lord Hokage, it is my dereliction of duty. I failed to restrain the clan elders."

"No, it's not your fault." Hiruzen Sarutobi closed the scroll. "The imprint of ideas isn't so easily erased. They live in the glory of the past, unable to see the village's future, let alone the Uchiha's future."

"Since they're determined to walk down a path to their own doom, I'll see them off."

A chill flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.

He handed the scroll back to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"De Guang, next, I'll give you another task."

"Please give your orders, Hokage-sama!"

"Make a copy of this information. Then, find a way to accidentally leak it to the vice-captain of the security forces, Uchiha Tetsuka."

"Uchiha Tetsuka?" Uchiha Kagami was taken aback.

He knew this person.

Uchiha Tetsuka was quite influential and capable within the police force, but because he wasn't part of the hawkish elders' faction, he was always suppressed and couldn't rise in rank.

He had long harbored resentment towards those elders who relied on their seniority.

Uchiha Kagami instantly understood the Hokage's intention.

This...this is making the Uchiha clan fight each other.

"Lord Hokage, this..." Kagami hesitated.

"Kagami, I know what you're thinking." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him. "To make the rotting flesh fall off, we need to use a sharper blade to cut it. We can't do it ourselves; that will only deepen the conflict between the Uchiha and the village."

"But if it's a purge within the Uchiha clan due to power struggles, then it's none of our business."

"This is their own choice."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was calm, but the content of his words sent a chill down Kagami Uchiha's spine.

Looking at the Hokage before him, he realized for the first time how ruthless and cunning this gentle leader was in terms of political maneuvering.

Uchiha Tokumitsu did not hesitate at all; he only obeyed the Hokage's orders.

"Yes, Hokage! I guarantee that within three days, this information will unexpectedly appear on Uchiha Tetsuka's desk!"

"Very good, go ahead."

De Guang's figure disappeared.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kagami Uchiha remained in the training ground.

"Hiruzen..."

Jing's feelings were complicated. "Are we really doing the right thing?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.

"Kagami, remember, our goal is to save the entire Uchiha clan, not a few old guys blinded by power."

"Sometimes, sacrificing a small number of people is a necessary price to pay in order to save the majority."

"This is the resolve of a Hokage."

Uchiha Kagami remained silent.

He looked at Hiruzen's profile, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew that a storm was about to break out within the Uchiha clan.

The person who stirred up this storm stood calmly beside him, as if he had only done something insignificant.

……

three days later.

Konoha Police Headquarters.

From the office of Vice Captain Uchiha Tekka, came the sound of a cup being smashed violently.

"Outrageous! These old geezers!"

He stared at the intelligence report in his hand, which appeared out of nowhere, and trembled with rage.

"They actually went to the Daimyo to complain about the Hokage? Are they trying to drag the entire Uchiha clan into this?!"

His eyes burned with the flames of ambition.

An internal storm targeting the Uchiha Elders' Council was thus set in motion.

The mastermind behind all of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is currently sitting in the Hokage's office, leisurely drinking tea, as if he knows nothing.