Chapter 74: The Meeting

The Hokage Building.

This three-story structure is not only the landmark of Konoha village, but also a symbol of power.

However.

Its barrel-shaped exterior, red-painted walls, and the black cables wrapped around the building make it look like a giant...rice cooker.

"Dan, what are you looking at?"

Outside the building, Fugaku noticed his nephew had stopped and couldn't help but ask.

Dan was sizing up the Hokage Building, stroking his chin:

"If I become Hokage, the first thing I'll do is tear down this old building and build a nine-story watchtower instead. I'll call it the Tenshu Tower. Then I'll stand on top with a folding fan, looking down at everyone, considering myself a celestial being."

Upon hearing this, Fugaku's face changed immediately, and he hurriedly said, "Don't talk nonsense."

Fortunately, there was no one else around.

"I'm just joking, brother-in-law. I have no interest in becoming Hokage."

Dan chuckled, it was just a casual remark.

But the speaker had no intention, the listener had a heart.

Dan's words fell into Fugaku and Shisui's ears, shaking their minds.

Was Dan really just joking?

The three of them then entered the first-floor lobby.

A female ANBU ninja wearing a cat mask came up to them and bowed slightly to Fugaku: "Captain Fugaku, the Hokage and all the clan leaders are waiting in the conference room, we're just waiting for you."

Oh?

Isn't it not time yet?

Fugaku looked up at the wall clock, it was only half past eight, there was still a full half hour before the meeting was supposed to start.

These guys really can't wait, can they?

Thinking about this, Fugaku sneered in his heart, but his face remained calm, he said to the ANBU ninja:

"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

"Please follow me."

The ANBU ninja turned around and led the three of them to the third floor, through the corridor, and to the conference room.

Next to the conference room, there was a special waiting room, prepared for the guards and accompanying personnel of the clan leaders.

The ANBU ninja stretched out her hand to stop Dan and Shisui, signaling them to stop.

"Don't worry, I will clearly express the collective will of the Uchiha clan."

Fugaku said to the two of them, then followed the ANBU ninja into the conference room.

Creak.

Dan pushed open the door of the waiting room, and a wave of noisy voices immediately rushed towards him.

At a glance, there were quite a few people in the room, roughly more than thirty.

So, according to the rule that each clan leader can bring two followers, the number of people attending the clan leader meeting next door, including the top echelon of Konoha, must have exceeded twenty.

Does Konoha have so many clans?

Dan was slightly puzzled, he only knew of a few Konoha ninja clans, today was quite an eye-opener.

There were several sofas in the waiting room, but obviously not enough for everyone in the room to sit.

So the ninjas from the major clans with high seniority sat on the sofas, and the rest stood, either chatting in groups of three or five, or looking at the scenery outside the window.

"Make way."

As soon as Dan entered the room, he pushed through the crowd and went straight to the sofa in the center of the room.

His gaze fell on a long-haired fat man, who had a "food" character on his clothes, clearly a ninja from the Akimichi clan.

"You're taking up three people's space all by yourself, don't you feel ashamed? Get up." Dan urged.

"Why should I listen to you?"

Akimichi Dōtō looked up, surprised at Dan's imposing figure, and retorted, "You're not any slimmer than me. If I give up my seat, would you have the nerve to sit?"

The reason Akimichi Dōtō had the privilege to sit on this sofa was because he participated in the Third Great Ninja War, and he was partnered with the Fourth Hokage. He made significant contributions on the front line against Kumogakure.

Everyone in this room had to call him a senior.

Seeing that the other party didn't want to give up his seat, Dan directly stretched out his hand, pulled Shisui from behind him, and said to Akimichi Dōtō without expression:

"See, this is a disabled person. You're not even willing to give up your seat for a disabled person. Do you still have the Will of Fire in your heart? Do you still dare to call yourself a ninja of Konoha?"

"Uh..."Akimichi Dōtō was momentarily speechless. He wanted to say something, but Nara Shuzen pulled him aside, and he reluctantly stood up.

He moved to the side.

Dan sat on the sofa in a relaxed manner, looked at Shisui who was still standing there, and patted the sofa: "Come on."

Shisui felt a bit uncomfortable, hesitated for a moment, but eventually sat down next to Dan.

This scene made the people in the room whisper to each other.

"That tall and strong guy is Uchiha Dan, right? I heard he defeated Shisui and is now the top fighter of the Uchiha clan." Many people's gazes were attracted and fell on Dan.

"Heh, Shisui was just a name-dropper. During the Third War, he was just over ten years old. He just killed a few Kirigakure ninjas on the battlefield and was highly praised by the Uchiha clan. This Dan is said to be the nephew of the Uchiha clan leader, probably just a figurehead." Someone was being sarcastic.

"But speaking of which, why is Shisui's eyes bandaged? An Uchiha without the Sharingan is like a toothless tiger, isn't it?"

"..."

The discussion was endless.

Moreover, when Dan and Shisui sat down, the surrounding area suddenly cleared, everyone consciously kept their distance, not wanting to get close to the two.

On the one hand, it was because the Uchiha were not well-liked in the village.

Not to mention, everyone in this room knew that today's clan leader meeting was to punish the Uchiha clan and the Police Force.

Nara Shuzen lowered his voice, looking at Dan's back, and said to Akimichi Dōtō:

"The Uchiha clan won't be arrogant for long, pity that guy doesn't know it, he really is brainless."

Ever since Shisui had his eyes gouged out, his ears had become particularly sharp.

So, after hearing the discussions of the people, he was very worried.

Worried that Dan would get angry and beat up everyone here.

He knew that Dan really had this strength.

Fortunately through his perception, Shisui found that Dan's breathing was very steady, it turned out that the latter had crossed his arms and entered a state of closed-eye rest.

At this time.

In the conference room next door.

As soon as Fugaku entered the room, a series of sharp gazes were cast, falling on him, giving him a great deal of pressure.

As if surrounded by a pack of wolves.

And the "wolf pack" leader was undoubtedly the Third Hokage sitting in the main seat.

The old man glanced at Fugaku lightly, his gaze deep, no one knew what he was thinking.

The one in charge of hosting this meeting was Danzo, standing next to the Third Hokage.

Danzo, leaning on his cane with one hand and pointing to an empty seat in the room with the other, said to Fugaku in a deep voice: "Captain Fugaku, please take your seat, everyone has been waiting for you for a long time."

That seat was the furthest from the main seat, close to a corner of the room, with no one around, only a water dispenser.

It looked bleak and desolate.

The intention of the people in the meeting to isolate Fugaku had reached an unabashed level.