"The Fourth Hokage."
Shōgetsu froze in place, stunned as he read the words Veigar mouthed with a calm smile. A storm surged within his heart.
After all, the current Hokage was still the Third.
"Now then..."
Thirty minutes later.
No one but Veigar and Tomou knew what had been discussed between them.
While Veigar smirked inwardly, amused at how well he'd wielded his borrowed authority, Tomou was deep in thought, pondering the fate of the Uchiha clan.
Weakened by age, Tomou was seriously considering passing the title of clan head to Fugaku Uchiha.
Tomou, accompanied by Shōgetsu and trailed by Veigar, made their way unimpeded into the Hokage's office.
It was clear that the Third Hokage had given prior instructions to allow their entry, understanding that Tomou had urgent business.
And with the Uchiha's distinctive clan insignia emblazoned on their backs, no one dared stand in their way.
"Lord Third, Clan Head Tomou and his companions have arrived."
The Hokage's secretary, clearly uneasy, led the three to Hiruze's door, gesturing for them to wait as he stepped inside to announce them.
"Ah, they've come?"
"Let them in."
A warm voice echoed from the room.
The secretary returned and motioned for them to enter.
Veigar gave him a slight nod and walked in behind the Uchiha duo, noting the subtle tremble in the man's eyes.
Clack.
The office door shut quietly behind them.
Now, only four remained in the room: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tomou Uchiha, Shōgetsu Uchiha, and Veigar.
"Lord Third."
All three greeted Hiruzen with respectful bows.
Veigar fixed his gaze on the elderly man in the Hokage robe behind the desk.
Now in his early fifties, Hiruzen was already entering the twilight of his career. Once famed as the "God of Shinobi," he had mentored three of the most renowned shinobi in history: Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.
Yet now, as he looked upon Veigar, walking calmly behind Tomou, his brow twitched involuntarily.
"Clan Head Tomou, what brings you here today?"
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, a smile on his face as he addressed Tomou Uchiha.
Though tensions simmered beneath the surface, the Uchiha were still one of the village's founding clans and its most prominent dōjutsu users. Hiruzen had to maintain appearances.
But Tomou simply nodded, not bothering to respond to the small talk. These diplomatic pleasantries held little weight once seen through.
Hiruzen wasn't fazed. His hand holding the pipe paused mid-air as he turned to Veigar.
"Veigar, I assume it's you who has something to report?"
"That's right, Lord Third." Veigar stepped forward, voice devoid of emotion.
Since the Hokage had asked, he had to answer, after all, he was still a member of the ANBU.
"No need to be so stiff. Young men should learn to smile more."
Hiruzen chuckled lightly, then cleared his throat. His expression sharpened.
"Alright, let's skip the pleasantries. Go ahead, what's this about?"
Veigar gave a small nod.
"Lord Third, I am a member of the Root. Codename: Seventeen. Lord Danzō ordered me to assassinate Shōgetsu Uchiha and return with his Sharingan."
Hiruzen's face darkened the moment Veigar finished his sentence. He shot to his feet.
"What did you say?!"
But his alarm wasn't over the attempted assassination of Shōgetsu, it was over the fact that Veigar was a Root operative.
What was Danzō plotting?
Before Hiruzen could speak, Veigar continued.
"The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, I wonder how much you know about it, Lord Third?"
"I am the only one who has ever broken it."
Silence.
Utter stillness.
The air turned frigid.
Hiruzen's gaze, pipe clenched in his mouth, no longer held the warmth of moments ago. At that moment, he realized how little he truly knew about Veigar Koshima.
Weighing both Veigar's revelations and his actions, Hiruzen saw the underlying purpose.
This wasn't just a report, it was pressure.
Veigar was leveraging the name of the Uchiha.
He was offering Hiruzen a deal: support him in exchange for information on the Root.
The Root?
Veigar and the Uchiha?
Veigar had just handed Hiruzen an impossible dilemma.
The Hokage pressed a hand to his brow.
A headache was already forming.
"Lord Third," Tomou spoke calmly, eyes locked with Hiruzen's.
"A fellow shinobi tried to kill a member of our clan. This is no small matter. We expect an answer from the village."
His voice was composed, but his meaning could not have been clearer.
Given the longstanding tension between the Uchiha and the village, mishandling this matter could have dire consequences.
What Hiruzen hadn't yet realized was that Veigar's true purpose in involving the Uchiha… was to eliminate Danzō's chances of ever becoming the Fourth Hokage.
Once the truth spread, every major clan in Konoha would grow wary of Danzō. Even if Hiruzen stepped down, the seat of Hokage would never fall to him.
If Danzō was already scheming to kill fellow shinobi before attaining power, what chaos would follow if he actually became Hokage?
Veigar's word might have gone unheard, but the Uchiha's? Their voice held weight. Even if the clan leaders didn't believe every detail, they wouldn't ignore the warning.
A crisis.
For Hiruzen, this was a crisis of the highest order.
Yet it wasn't without its silver lining. With war looming, the Root's strength couldn't be dismissed so easily.
Still unsure of what course to take, Hiruzen finally spoke.
"Clan Head Tomou, this is a grave matter. I will need time to deliberate before making a decision."
"So I ask you, please, give me a little time."
"Rest assured, I will give the Uchiha Clan a full explanation."
Tomou met Hiruzen's eyes and slowly nodded.
"Understood."
"Lord Third, I trust you."
"But please, do not betray the Uchiha Clan's trust."
Hiruzen gave a solemn nod.
"Thank you, Clan Head Tomou, for your faith."
"For now, please return. I need to speak with Veigar in more detail."
At that, Tomou looked to Shōgetsu, who gave a silent nod.
The latter then turned back toward Hiruzen, his expression calm but resolute, and prepared to speak.
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