What the hell is making games in the Ninja World?

When Shimura Danzo questioned him, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't answer right away. Instead, he couldn't help but think about the rumors and Danzo cross-dressing.

He remembered how Danzo was called the most handsome among his peers when he was younger. 

With Danzo's looks back then, if he really wore women's clothing, he could probably look very beautiful with just a little makeup.

As he thought about this, Hiruzen's mind drifted further, imagining Danzo as a courtesan in a brothel...

Danzo's anger grew when he saw Hiruzen daydreaming. He slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "Hiruzen, are you even listening to me?!"

Hiruzen snapped back to attention, startled. His eyes shifted nervously as he spoke, "Uh, how should I put this... the rumors, though exaggerated, are still spreading your name, aren't they?"

"Now, many people in Konoha know about you and regard you as the great protector of the village, someone willing to sacrifice himself for Konoha. With such fame, shouldn't you be happy?"

He didn't mention that the rumors were being spread by the Uchiha clan. Some things were better left unsaid, and as Hokage, he couldn't acknowledge them. If he didn't directly say it, then it didn't exist.

However, Hiruzen's attitude only made Danzo angrier. His blood pressure shot up, and he nearly fainted from the frustration.

"Do you think I want this kind of fame? I am the darkness of the Shinobi world, I don't need this!"

"Hiruzen, those Uchiha bastards are too much. They must be punished severely! Today they dared to slander me, what will they do tomorrow? I can't even imagine!!!"

At this, Hiruzen shook his head. "Danzo, why punish the Uchiha clan? What do they have to do with this?"

Danzo's eyes widened in shock. He pointed a trembling finger at Hiruzen, "Y-you..."

Hiruzen felt awkward and a little guilty being pointed at, but he knew he had to do this. After all, most of the ninjas in Konoha had "quietly accepted" the need for Danzo's retaliation.

Moreover, while the Uchiha clan's actions were abstract, they didn't actually harm Danzo Shimura and, in a way, even helped boost his reputation. In some sense, it was a beneficial thing.

In this situation, why should Sarutobi Hiruzen punish the Uchiha clan? Just because Danzo is his good friend? But the problem is, this whole incident was actually started by Danzo.

Seeing his good friend shaking with anger, Hiruzen realized that Danzo had no idea about the current "honeymoon period" between the Uchiha clan and the other major ninja clans.

So, Hiruzen said, "Danzo, don't forget who started this. Your little schemes are actually quite low-level. They worked before because no one wanted to get involved, but this time, your tactics have offended half of Konoha's ninja clans."

"That's why your tricks have failed, and when the backlash came, no one spoke up for you."

Danzo was stunned for a moment, then incredulously asked, "Why is this happening? Why would they help the Uchiha clan? When they saw us targeting the Uchiha, shouldn't they just stay out of it?"

Hiruzen was momentarily stunned as well, looking at his good friend with an expression of disbelief. He had said all of this, and Danzo still didn't understand?

But the Shimura clan wasn't small either. Back in the Warring States period, they had once been allies, bound by mutual interests, though at the time it was a matter of survival.

Now, though the Uchiha clan's methods were more sophisticated and strategic, they were essentially the same thing. Why didn't Danzo get this?

Could it be that after spending so much time in ROOT, dealing with darkness, he only understood schemes and conspiracies and no longer understood what "open and honest" methods were, or how interest exchanges worked?

Thinking about ROOT's training methods, the brainwashing, and how many people there had been raised as mere tools since childhood, Hiruzen couldn't help but frown deeply.

It seemed that... his good friend, having been immersed in darkness for too long, had completely forgotten what "upright" methods looked like...

Sighing inwardly, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt guilty towards his close friend once again. He said, "Anyway, don't target the Genjutsu game or the Uchiha clan anymore. It's not good for you."

"Danzo, listen to me. The situation in the ninja world is unstable. You should focus your energy and forces on the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth. If the Great Ninja War starts again, there's a high chance that these two countries will be the first to strike."

Shimura Danzo widened his single eye, clearly surprised by his close friend's words.

The darkness of the ninja world was furious.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

"Danzo, I am the Hokage."

Bang!

Danzo slammed the door and left.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked helpless, unable to stop himself from criticizing his close friend's narrow view and lack of wisdom.

Right now, the Uchiha clan was tied to the interests of the other major clans, and the core technology of the Genjutsu game was the Uchiha clan's secret techniques. 

It could only be created through the Sharingan, and no one could even think of taking it from them.

Haven't you noticed how many Uchiha, whose Sharingan isn't particularly strong, are working in the Genjutsu game production workshops, turning screws and providing chakra and ocular power?

This was irreplaceable, and the efficiency of producing Genjutsu games was limited by it. 

Now, all the major clans were hoping that more Uchiha would awaken their Sharingan, to improve the production efficiency of the Genjutsu games.

In this case, anyone who targeted the Uchiha clan would be attacking everyone's pocket, and even the Hokage had to go along with public opinion.

Moreover, even Hiruzen's own clan had a lot of interests involved. Unless the Uchiha clan went mad again, he, as the Hokage, would have to keep the peace and not make any moves against them.

Hiruzen's arrangement for Danzo was actually to protect him. If Danzo kept using those lowly methods, it wouldn't just be rumors about selling hooks he'd have to face later.

After all, the Uchiha clan's counterattack this time was a statement— they wouldn't start trouble, but if someone caused trouble, they would repay it in kind. 

Such retaliation was justified, and they'd warned everyone in advance. Even Konoha Council couldn't say anything about it.

Uchiha has truly changed completely now.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't dislike this change, because he understood that this was actually the will of Uchiha Kai. The more straightforward and open Kai's actions were, the more people liked him.

After all, the First Hokage, who founded Konoha, was someone like that. But while the First Hokage used absolute power to dominate others, Uchiha Kai used his superior vision and wisdom.

The Second Hokage, though a crafty person, would still appreciate someone who notified in advance and had a clear sense of timing before taking action.

It could be said that even though the rumors seemed vague, the Uchiha clan's actions this time were flawless to any higher-up.

"It's a pity, Kai is only a Chūnin. Sigh…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed again, growing even more regretful. With his vision, wisdom, and ability to stir things up, he seemed like the perfect candidate for the will of fire.

Then, Sarutobi Hiruzen directly issued a promotion letter, promoting Uchiha Kai to the rank of Jonin.

Though there was still a bit of a gap in raw power, since Uchiha Kai had already awakened the second-tomoe Sharingan and had top-tier intelligence, becoming a Jonin was more than enough for him.

In fact, if Uchiha Kai had completed an S-rank mission, he could have directly been promoted to an Elite Jonin.

This promotion was just a preparation—given Uchiha Kai's intelligence and vision, working in Konoha's police force was a waste of his talents. He would be more suited as a member of Konoha's think tank in the future.

Though having a Uchiha in the think tank went against the Second Hokage's last will, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had let Obito become a disciple of the future Hokage, didn't mind such things.

Besides, Sarutobi Hiruzen had even planned for Uchiha Shisui to become his personal guard in the future, a role much more special than that of the Second Hokage's guards, many of whom eventually became Konoha's upper echelons.

At that moment, Uchiha Kai was unaware that the Third Hokage had promoted him to Jonin and made future plans for him. Even if he knew, he would temporarily push it aside.

Because Uchiha Kai was busy creating a brand-new game, a game that included a second wave of countermeasures against Shimura Danzo and a new round of strengthening for the Uchiha clan.

And the name of this game was—

"Escape!"

**********

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