Naruto: Saving the Uchiha - Chapter 292.Waiting for an Opportunity
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"Will the Advisor blame us?"
The Anbu ninjas exchanged uneasy glances, their hearts filled with guilt.
After all, it was their overthinking that led them to seek out Shizune, only to discover...
Damn it, it was just a massage and bone relaxation!
Just a massageâwas there any need to moan so exaggeratedly?
Anyone who didnât know better would think something indecent was happening inside.
What a sin...
Putting aside the affairs of the Hokageâs office, back at the Sarutobi ancestral residence, the Third Hokage had returned home and gathered the clanâs core members for a family meeting.
With the loss of over a hundred elite shinobi in the Land of Rain and many others still stationed at the borders, the Sarutobi clanâs meeting appeared noticeably shabbier than beforeâat least far less impressive than in the past.
"Lord Third has finally returned!"
The clansmen looked at the Third Hokage sitting at the head of the table with excitement, thinking that at last, someone would stand up for the family.
What they didnât expect was for the Third Hokage to suddenly slam the table, stand up in fury, and roar:
"What are you all doing? What exactly are you trying to doâstart a rebellion?!"
A barrage of accusations left the Sarutobi clan members completely stunned.
What was going on?
Shouldnât Lord Third have first comforted the clan and then worked on resolving the familyâs issues?
Why was he lashing out the moment he returned, using such terrifying wordsâeven mentioning "rebellion"?
Had the Sarutobi clan ever done such a thing?
Seeing the blank looks on his clansmenâs faces, as if they had no idea what he was talking about, the Third Hokage let out an infuriated laugh:
"It was my suggestion for the village to send the clanâs elites to the battlefieldânot Tsunadeâs decision. I was the one who led them into battle. Though I never wished for their deaths, the situation at the time left me no choice but to watch them fall. And yet, you all stormed into the Hokageâs office to confront Tsunadeâwas that an attempted coup?! Or do you think the Sarutobi clan has had it too easy, so you decided to stir up trouble? What the hell were you thinking?! Do you even realize how much trouble your actions could bring upon the clan?"
"..."
Was simply going to the Hokageâs office to ask questions considered a coup or rebellion?
While some were still struggling to grasp the situation, those who understood the severity of the matter had already turned pale with anger, glaring at the ones who had suggested the confrontation in the first place.
If not for you, none of this would have happened!
If the clan ends up targeted, youâll be the ones to blame!
After his furious tirade, leaving the clansmen thoroughly chastised, the Third Hokage finally felt some of his rage subside:
"Since Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, the clanâs situation has been clear. Youâve all grown accustomed to high benefits and privilegesânow that theyâre gone, you canât handle it? Let me make this clear: the worst is yet to come. The fact that Tsunade hasnât pursued this matter further is already out of respect for past relations. Otherwise, the Sarutobi clan would have become the second Uchiha!"
Hearing this, even the most indifferent Sarutobi clansmen finally realized the gravity of the situation.
"Lord Third, surely itâs not that serious? The Hokage didnât seem to blame us..."
"Because she left it to me to handle out of respect, rather than taking action herselfâor worse, letting Uchiha Kazuki deal with it. If he were in charge, what do you think he would do?"
Even if the Sarutobi clan didnât respect the Third Hokage or care about Tsunadeâs authority, the moment Kazuki got involved...
Gulp.
Recalling the Uchiha clanâs past sufferingâthe systematic oppression, the slow, deliberate cutsâmany Sarutobi clansmen broke out in cold sweat.
The Uchihaâs resentment wasnât something that would just fade away.
Just look at the Shimura clan nowâutterly miserable, trembling at the mere mention of Uchiha Kazukiâs name.
They lived in constant fear that Hiroshi would find another way to target them.
If he turned his focus to the Sarutobi clan, theyâd become the next Shimura.
What did it matter if the clan had many shinobi or strong overall power? Could they stand against the entire Leaf Village?
Once the targeting beganâwith traps, exploitation, and slow suffocationâtheyâd have no choice but to endure.
Each time, a little more would be taken from them, leaving them frustrated but powerless to resist.
And rebellion? Impossible. Theyâd be forced to yield again and again.
If the same methods used against the Uchiha were applied to the Sarutobi, their lives would only grow harder with each passing day.
Taking a deep breath and lighting a cigarette to calm himself, the Third Hokage continued his scolding:
"Let me make this clearâthe Uchiha still hold deep hostility and resentment toward us. Uchiha Kazuki has been opposing me at every turn, looking for any chance to suppress and target us.All heâs lacked is the right opportunityâand you idiots handed it to him on a silver platter! Look at all the recent village projects. How many involve the Sarutobi clan? Have you still not realized whatâs happening?"
"Lord Third... surely that Uchiha brat wouldnât dare go that far?"
"I think the Hokage wouldnât just stand by and let it happen."
"Fools!"
Hearing these naĂŻve words, the Third Hokageâs barely contained fury flared up again.
"Have you ever stopped to think why he dares to act so boldly? As the Hokageâs Advisor, he handles over half of the villageâs affairs. Do you really think Tsunade can shield us forever if he decides to target us? By the time the Sarutobi clan realizes itâs being suppressed, Tsunade might not even know. Do you expect to run to the Hokageâs office and complain every single time? Have you forgotten what happened to the Shimura clan?"
Complain once, and it might be addressed. Complain twice, and patience wears thinâsuddenly, youâre the problem.
By the third or fourth time, itâs clear: the issue lies with you.
Otherwise, why would you keep getting targeted?
At this point, the Sarutobi clansmen finally fell into a heavy silence.
They had come to understand the severity of their mistakeâa mistake that could plunge the entire clan into crisis.
Fortunately, Tsunade hadnât handed the matter to Kazuki. Otherwise, the Sarutobi clan wouldnât have even needed to wait for the Third Hokageâs return before suffering the consequences.
"Because of your reckless actions, the clanâs compensation and subsidies have been reduced to the bare minimum! Reflect on what youâve done!"
First, he crushed them with moral authority, leaving them no room to argue. Only then did he reveal the cuts to their benefits.
Now, even if they were unhappy, the Sarutobi clan had no choice but to grit their teeth and accept it.
Had the Third Hokage led with the reduced compensation, the clan would have erupted in protest.
But by setting the stage, building up the tension, and then delivering the final blow, he ensured their compliance.
Now, the Sarutobi clan could only swallow their grievances in silence.
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