Chapter:44

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"…"

Faced with Uchiha Fugaku's unexpected boldness, Shimura Daisuke was left speechless.

He had certainly heard of Uchiha Shisui, the famed genius of the Uchiha clan. For them to deploy such a talent showed a strong commitment and genuine intent. However, Daisuke was unaware of the deeper secrets concerning Shisui's loyalty and the internal dynamics of the Uchiha family.

"Ahem, this matter requires more thought. Mobilizing such a large force could severely impact the village's operations," the Third Hokage interjected, coughing lightly as he spoke from the main seat.

Hiruzen felt conflicted. While Uchiha Shisui was part of the Uchiha clan, Shisui had also been molded by his influence and was fiercely loyal to him. Shisui, having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and reached Kage-level strength, was a crucial asset. But the enemy possessed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai of the First Hokage. Losing Shisui in battle would be too great a price to pay.

"I think Fugaku's suggestion has merit. While mobilizing so many could be costly, failing to act would harm Konoha's reputation. What would the other ninja villages think of us if we stood idle?" Shimura Danzo, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke, contradicting Shimura Daisuke's earlier stance.

Danzo's reasons, of course, were self-serving. Through his intelligence network, he knew Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and attained Kage-level strength. Loyal to the Third Hokage, Shisui's growing power only served to bolster the Hokage's influence, something Danzo could not tolerate. He would prefer to see Shisui die in battle, and if possible, claim his eyes for himself.

"Well…" Daisuke Shimura hesitated, feeling uneasy. His position now clashed with Danzo's, and it seemed like his own family was divided. He silently cursed Danzo for not discussing this beforehand, leaving him in a difficult spot.

"Konoha's strength has never been just a matter of reputation—it's about real power," the Third Hokage said sternly. "If we lose too many resources while targeting the Wood Release user, the other villages might see it as a weakness."

The Third Hokage gave Danzo a pointed look, fully aware of Danzo's manipulative tendencies. He had been dealing with him for decades. Sending Shisui to confront the Wood Release user was not something the Hokage would agree to, no matter how dangerous the enemy might be.

"If we don't retaliate now, the enemy will only grow bolder. They killed an elite jonin today; tomorrow, they might sneak into the village to assassinate you," Danzo responded, unwilling to back down.

"Interesting. Dog bites dog," Fugaku thought to himself, watching the argument unfold. He hadn't anticipated that his proposal would lead to such a fierce dispute between Danzo and the Hokage. While his original aim was to maneuver Uchiha Obito into a confrontation with Shisui, he now found amusement in the growing tension between the two old rivals.

"Hokage-sama, advisor Danzo, I have a suggestion," Nara Shikaku spoke up, breaking the silence that had settled after the heated exchange.

Both the Third Hokage and Danzo turned their attention toward him.

"The threat posed by the Wood Release user is significant, but forming a twelve-member elite jonin squad would be an immense strain. I propose a compromise," Shikaku suggested, feeling the weight of their gaze on him.

"I propose we place a large bounty on the Wood Release user, attracting underground forces to deal with the threat."

"A bounty?" Danzo frowned. His true goal was to pit Shisui against the Wood Release user, and a bounty wouldn't accomplish that.

"I think it's a solid plan. I support this proposal," Utatane Koharu, one of Konoha's senior advisors, said before Danzo could object. She didn't want the internal conflict between Danzo and the Hokage to escalate any further. This compromise would keep things balanced without strengthening either side.

"I agree as well," Mitokado Homura, another advisor, chimed in, aligning with Koharu's stance.

"Since both advisors are in agreement, we'll allocate 50 million ryō from the village's funds to place a bounty on the Wood Release user," the Third Hokage concluded, satisfied that this solution avoided putting Shisui directly in harm's way.

With the Hokage and the advisors aligned, Danzo's opposition was moot, and the meeting ended with the bounty plan approved.

"Unfortunately, the real goal wasn't achieved," Fugaku thought on his way back. He had hoped to force a confrontation between Shisui and Obito, but as expected, the Hokage had stepped in to prevent that from happening.

"Putting a bounty on the Wood Release user is pointless," he muttered to himself. No mercenary from the underground would dare face a Kage-level opponent, no matter how high the reward. If Kakuzu were still alive, he might have taken the risk, given that he once attempted to assassinate the First Hokage. But Kakuzu had been eliminated by Fugaku himself long ago.

"The situation needs to escalate further. If a few more elite jonin die, even the Third Hokage will have no choice but to send Shisui into battle," Fugaku mused darkly, already considering his next targets: Shimura Daisuke and Aburame Shibi, who had opposed him during the meeting.

(End of the Chapter).

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