Uchiha Gate: From Konoha to One Piece

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"They wouldn't dare to refuse the Hokage's orders!"

Hearing this, Danzo's eyebrows shot up as he snarled.

"They wouldn't? What makes you think that?"

The Third Hokage sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're blatantly trying to brainwash and train their new generation. You think they wouldn't do anything?"

"What if they don't give a damn about the bigger picture! why do you assume they're obligated to play along? You're so shameless!"

Danzo's face flushed red with anger at Hiruzen's cutting remarks. He clenched his fists, almost ready to lunge across the room.

Shameless?

If I'm shameless, then what are you, Sarutobi Hiruzen?

You dump every dirty, shady task on me, yet you sit back acting like some saintly figure? If there's anyone here whose shamelessness is unrivaled, it's you!

Danzo sucked in several deep breaths, trying to calm himself. His voice low but insistent, he said, "So, there's no room for negotiation? What if I ask for just a small fraction? The Root needs fresh recruits!"

The Third Hokage kept his stern expression and shook his head. "No room for discussion."

"Also, stop targeting talented children from those clans! Especially the ones graduating this year. Hands off, Danzo!"

"You've already caused an uproar. The other Clans are complaining to me about how overbearing and unreasonable you've been."

"Clearly, they've got issues with you—and now they're starting to direct those frustrations at me too!"

"Do you really want to push things to the point where we're completely isolated, alienated from everyone, and I'm forced out of office?"

"You might want to consider how your actions affect me as Hokage before you act."

Not that Hiruzen was necessarily against recruiting talented children for Root—he had tolerated it in the past as a way to weaken the clans. But couldn't Danzo be a little more subtle about it? At least leave him out of the crossfire!

Danzo's eye twitched at the hypocritical lecture. He exploded. "You're blaming me for this? Do you think I did this for my own benefit?"

"This was all done with your approval!"

"And now they're whining to you? Push back! What are you afraid of?"

"Don't forget, Hiruzen—you're the Hokage!"

Hiruzen: "... …"

That's supposed to be MY line, you bastard!

Danzo stole the words right out of his mouth, leaving Hiruzen speechless. What was he supposed to say now? That Danzo might regret this later? That didn't feel right either.

"Hokage or not, I can't act recklessly!"

"Anyway, the current graduating class is off-limits. And stop harassing those clans for recruits!"

"If you need to expand Root, figure something else out! Pull from the orphanage if you have to!"

"Or find a way during the war. You've always been resourceful."

Danzo laughed bitterly.

So, you're giving me no support, no resources, and I'm expected to figure it out on my own?

But you still want me to handle all the dirty work?

Convenient, isn't it?

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this."

Danzo shot him a glare filled with resentment, left a parting jab, and stormed out of the Hokage's office, his anger boiling over.

As he exited the building, Hiruzen shouted after him, "Danzo! I am the Hokage!"

Danzo nearly tripped as those words hit him. His fury skyrocketed.

'Hokage? Hokage?!'

'Do you think I need to be reminded? I've heard it enough! I'm sick of it! Stop throwing that in my face!'

He clenched his fists tighter, veins bulging on his neck and forehead. His rage threatened to consume what little composure he had left.

Fearing he'd turn back and start a fight, Danzo quickened his pace and disappeared into the distance.

After Danzo left, Utatane Koharu sighed heavily and turned to Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, that last jab wasn't necessary. You know how bitter Danzo is about the Hokage seat."

"Those words were the last thing he wanted to hear."

"You're not afraid of provoking him into doing something reckless, are you?"

Sometimes, Koharu felt like Hiruzen and Danzo were a pair of feuding siblings—constantly at each other's throats, never truly resolving their issues.

"She's right," added Mitokado Homura, nodding. "I could feel Danzo's anger boiling over just now. This time, you really pushed him to the limit."

Hiruzen took out his pipe, packed it with tobacco, and lit it with deliberate slowness. Taking a few puffs, he sighed deeply. "Do you think I wanted this?"

"Do you think I don't want to weaken the Uchiha, Uzumaki, or even the Senju?"

"I want to but I can't!"

"Those three clans have openly allied themselves with each other. Their strength is growing every day."

"If we follow Danzo's reckless suggestions, we won't even make it to the battlefield—they'll crush us first!"

"The truth is, with their growing power, all they need is the right excuse to strike."

"The more desperate we act, the closer we push them to taking action."

"No, we have to wait. Be patient. When we win this war and eliminate a few of their elites, the balance of power will shift back in our favor."

"At that point, public opinion and the initiative will be back in our hands!"

"Only then, riding the momentum, can we truly suppress the three clans again, further weakening their strength and influence."

"Ultimately, we'll seize complete control of Konoha's power!"

"Not just the Rain Country battlefield—if the other villages don't plan to start a war with us later, I'll deliberately guide them into doing so."

"When that happens, we can mobilize another batch of elites from the three clans to the battlefield."

"We'll repeat what we've done before—grind down their elite forces completely."

"At the same time, we'll crush the four other great villages."

"When that happens, we won't be stuck in this passive position anymore."

"Danzo just doesn't understand this; he's too impulsive, unable to stomach even a little setback! That's not how this works!"

Hiruzen said, while inwardly thinking of Danzo, 'Danzo's personality simply isn't suited to being Hokage.'

"He thinks being Hokage is about being supreme, issuing orders without resistance."

"But in my experience, being Hokage means being a punching bag and a mediator."

"You constantly have to balance the village's factions, handle disputes, and endure endless blame."

— — — 

"Do you really think this plan will succeed? Uchiha Naori and Lady Mito aren't idiots!"

Utatane Koharu frowned slightly, her tone filled with concern.

"If we screw this up, it'll backfire spectacularly."

"Maybe it's better to keep tolerating things, avoid conflict, and just give them some leeway."

"As long as we don't make a huge mistake, they won't be able to rally enough support to overthrow us, right?"

She thought Hiruzen and Danzo's plan was way too optimistic.

Taking such risks—one misstep, and it could lead to total disaster.

Too reckless.

"Heh, do you think I want this?"

Hiruzen let out a bitter laugh. "It's because we've been forced into a corner—we have no other choice!"

"Ever since the Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha clans joined forces, their strength has been growing abnormally fast."

"It's clear—they've gained access to some major resources, likely from the Uchiha clan or maybe the Uzumaki Clan!"

"We can't compete with them in development."

"And with our past conflicts, it's only a matter of time before things escalate into a life-or-death struggle."

"We don't have a choice!"

"This war is our only chance to turn the tables."

"I suspect the three clans view this war as their opportunity too."

"It all comes down to who can seize the upper hand."

"This game of strategy—whoever wins will dominate Konoha completely!"

The victor takes all; the loser is cast aside.

"Hiss!"

Koharu and Homura gasped, their faces pale as they finally realized the gravity of the situation.

"This is already happening?" Koharu muttered, disbelief etched on her face.

"You thought we still had options?"

Hiruzen shook his head. "We've been out of options for a long time. Ever since the three clans began their alliance and their unnatural growth started, we've been backed into a corner!"

"Unfortunately, we haven't been able to uncover the secrets behind the Uchiha clan's medicinal advancements. If we had, we might have gained more leverage."

"We're just unlucky!"

"As for why I provoked Danzo earlier, it's because we can't afford to provoke the three clans—or even the other smaller clans—right now."

"If we push too hard, they might all join forces and flip the table early, removing us from power before we even get a chance to fight back."

"If that happens, we won't even get to take our shot at turning things around."

"The reason Danzo didn't completely blow up earlier is that, deep down, he knows this too."

Danzo's earlier suggestion?

It was just his impulsive, aggressive nature trying to test the waters.

He thought that by taking hostages, there might be a chance of success.

But Hiruzen couldn't agree to such a risky move.

That wasn't his style.

Testing the waters could very well end in disaster.

"I see."

Koharu frowned deeply, her expression serious. "Looks like there's no turning back. Then let's do it."

"I'll start preparing the supplies. You handle the rest."

"Me too," Homura added, nodding.

The two left the Hokage's office and exited the building.

But instead of immediately handling the supplies, they found a secluded spot, set up a sound barrier, and sat down for a private conversation.

"Koharu," Homura began cautiously, "What are you thinking? Should we really get deeply involved in this?"

"Hmm?"

Homura's brows furrowed in confusion as he studied her face.

"Don't bother playing dumb," Koharu rolled her eyes. "I just think Hiruzen and Danzo's plan is too reckless."

"Getting too involved could drag us and our families into an irreversible disaster."

"That's not something I want to see, and I don't think you do either."

After all, their positions of influence were built on their ties to the Second Hokage, along with their loyalty to Hiruzen and Danzo. Their families had gradually prospered because of it.

But they were still small players in the grand scheme of things.

They couldn't afford to take such a gamble.

Especially since their involvement in suppressing the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki clans had been minimal—barely scratching the surface.

They weren't mortal enemies of those clans and saw no reason to risk everything on Hiruzen and Danzo's grand schemes.

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