Rebuilding Uchiha By Removing Fugaku

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Shimura Danzo led Uchiha Toki to wander around the Root base without a smile.

"Fortunately, I've already transferred Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan to Orochimaru," Danzo thought to himself.

He sneered, "Search, search as much as you want! If you find anything useful, I'll even give you my surname!"

Meanwhile, Toki stared at Danzo with his Sharingan while shaking his head. During this time, Toki had never encountered this shadowy figure of Konoha before. Yet now, he could sense Uchiha's pupil power residues all over the man's body. Residues from the base? No, the only plausible explanation was that this Danzo had likely fallen victim to Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, just like Mifune in the Land of Iron.

In the anime, Shisui naively revealed his ability to manipulate people's wills to Hiruzen Sarutobi, a cunning politician. Sarutobi, in turn, betrayed him by handing him over to Danzo, while also informing Danzo of Kotoamatsukami's terrifying potential.

For any political leader, such a power is intolerable. No emperor could tolerate a subordinate who might manipulate their will at any moment. Even loyalty couldn't guarantee immunity. The mere presence of such an ability would always keep one on edge.

Moreover, Shisui directly hinted to Danzo that Kotoamatsukami would be used against anyone who jeopardized the peace between Konoha and the Uchiha clan. This made it even clearer why Danzo took Shisui's eye without hesitation.

According to official game lore, Kotoamatsukami's true ability to control others' wills resided in Shisui's left eye—the one Danzo didn't manage to take. His right eye, on the other hand, housed a more aggressive pupil technique: "Amatsukami Light," which reflected Shisui's deepest desire—to eliminate those beyond the influence of Kotoamatsukami.

In the original story, Danzo, aware of Shisui's abilities, guarded himself against being affected. However, in this alternate reality, Danzo had no prior knowledge of Kotoamatsukami. Thus, if Shisui activated his eye in desperation, it made sense that he could have used Kotoamatsukami against Tuan Zang.

With Shisui's pacifist personality, he might have changed Danzo's will to a conviction of protecting Konoha at all costs.

This was why Toki refrained from killing Danzo outright—there was more to uncover. He opted instead to shadow Danzo and explore the Root base.

Following closely behind was Yamato (Tenzo), Danzo's subordinate. Danzo and Hiruzen both had an inexplicable reverence for the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. In the anime, Danzo even sent a young Yamato to assassinate Hiruzen—a baffling decision, given Yamato's limited strength compared to the Third Hokage.

Despite that failure, Danzo clearly still had plans for Yamato. But Toki couldn't help but wonder: if Danzo really thought he could rely on Yamato to achieve his ambitions, wasn't that just delusion?

---

As they wandered the base, Toki touched his chin thoughtfully.

"I need to find Shisui to get to the bottom of this. This guy's eyes aren't Shisui's anymore. Did Shisui manage to escape?"

Danzo, unable to contain his frustration, scowled. "How long are you going to loiter here?"

Toki raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Until you send a congratulatory gift to the Uchiha clan."

Danzo's face darkened, barely restraining himself from kicking Danzo. But remembering the intelligence he received, he gritted his teeth and said, "We're busy now, but the Root will send a congratulatory gift soon!"

Toki nodded. "And make sure the Shimura clan sends one too. Saves me the trouble of coming back later."

Danzo almost coughed up blood. "You're not asking for a gift—you're just extorting me!" he thought bitterly.

But swallowing his anger, he forced out: "Fine! Two gifts!"

This interaction left Danzo feeling the same fear and helplessness he had felt under Hiruzen Sarutobi's authority. Toki's sheer presence made him feel inferior.

Toki patted Danzo's shoulder and smirked. "Good. Now don't disturb Lord Danzo at work. Just focus on keeping Konoha safe, will you? It's a time of peace, after all. Missing people might raise eyebrows."

The sharp pain from Toki's firm pat made Danzo grimace. But before he could react, Toki vanished.

Danzo's face darkened. "It's really the Flying Thunder God Technique... That fool Sarutobi gave him access to it?"

Turning to Yamato, he asked in a low voice, "If you made a move just now, how confident are you in stopping him?"

Under the mask, Yamato muttered internally, "Zero percent," but outwardly, he respectfully replied, "None, sir."

Danzo: "..."

---

Meanwhile, in an indoor training ground, Mitarashi Anko successfully executed the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands technique. The snake shot out from her wrist, biting a wooden dummy in half.

"Teacher! I did it!" Anko exclaimed, beaming with excitement.

Standing nearby, her mentor, Orochimaru, clapped his hands with a smile. "As expected of my disciple. You've improved greatly. You're now ready to learn that forbidden technique."

Anko's eyes lit up. "Really, sensei? Then I can show off to Kurenai!"

Orochimaru glanced at her and shook his head. "Not now. I need to leave for a while."

"Leave? Where to?"

Before Orochimaru could answer, an ANBU appeared. "Lord Orochimaru, the Third Hokage requests your presence."

Orochimaru patted Anko's head before disappearing with the ANBU.

---

In the Sarutobi clan's residence, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the backyard, his figure frail and aged beyond his years. The defeat of his son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, at the hands of Uchiha Toki had completely broken his spirit.

Decades of suppression and control over the Uchiha clan had been undone by the emergence of a single, overwhelming force. Toki's strength was reminiscent of Madara Uchiha himself, instilling fear and despair in Hiruzen.

Orochimaru arrived, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. While his master appeared weak and defeated, Orochimaru, ever the dutiful student, remained loyal to Konoha—even if it was for his own inscrutable reasons.

Even after being made a scapegoat for the exposure of the experiments, Orochimaru left without complaint, but not before warning Hiruzen Sarutobi that this would be the last chance.

Later, even after founding his own village, Orochimaru never entirely abandoned his ties to Konoha. In fact, he masterminded a revival plan for Konoha that shocked the ninja world.

On one hand, his plan inflicted heavy losses on Sunagakure, which was plotting to ambush Konoha to gain military resources, while isolating their operatives already inside Konoha. On the other hand, he removed the "time bomb" known as Uchiha Sasuke and drew Uchiha Itachi's ire onto himself.

At the same time, he orchestrated the heroic death of his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, while ensuring that Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, and Konoha's retired elites, such as the Ino-Shika-Cho clan heads and others, returned to active duty. This revitalized Konoha, restoring its strength to an unprecedented level and securing a wealth of missions.

In essence, Orochimaru single-handedly turned Konoha's decay into a new era of prosperity.

When Sasuke later questioned Orochimaru about why he once sought to destroy Konoha, Orochimaru initially dismissed it as a passing whim. However, after Sasuke saw Itachi's memories, he realized the deeper truth.

Orochimaru remained silent, unwilling to elaborate. Instead, Sasuke questioned him further, asking, "What is a ninja? What is a village?"

Ultimately, Orochimaru's actions reflected his loyalty to Konoha, even if he did not align with its leadership. Otherwise, Naruto would not have gone to great lengths to save him from execution.

At this moment, Orochimaru looked at the frail Hiruzen Sarutobi sitting in the Sarutobi clan's courtyard.

Hiruzen's aged figure now matched that of his former advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. His once strong and commanding presence had withered into a shadow of his former self, much like his despair after witnessing the devastation brought by Uchiha Toki.

Unlike the diplomatic negotiations with Onoki and the Raikage during peace treaties, Hiruzen had witnessed firsthand the colossal battle that shook the heavens and the earth—the scale of the Battle of the Valley of the End.

He understood better than anyone else the terror of a powerful Uchiha. It was a chasm of power so vast that no schemes or numbers could hope to bridge it.

The Second Hokage had suppressed the Uchiha clan to prevent such a calamity from arising. But now, those fears had come true.

Uchiha Toki had risen, and with him, an overwhelming force that could obliterate Konoha's elite with ease—a power reminiscent of Madara Uchiha himself.

Hiruzen's spirit had been crushed overnight, leaving him a mere shadow of his former self.

Orochimaru observed his former teacher with a complex mix of emotions: satisfaction at Toki's transformation of Konoha, pity at Hiruzen's decline, and a trace of schadenfreude.

"Did you call for me, Sensei?" Orochimaru asked.

Hiruzen sighed and placed a sealed scroll on the table.

"I want you to deliver this gift to the Uchiha clan on my behalf," he said wearily.

Toki had formed strong bonds with Tsunade and, by extension, maintained good relations with Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Hiruzen hoped to use Orochimaru as a mediator to repair relations with the Uchiha.

Orochimaru glanced at the scroll, a hint of derision playing on his lips.

"Apologies, Sensei," Orochimaru replied. "I think it would be more appropriate for you to deliver this gift yourself. Besides, I have my own preparations to make for Toki."

Without another word, Orochimaru turned and left.

Though he had yet to openly betray Konoha, his allegiance to Danzo had already severed the bond between master and student.

Hiruzen watched Orochimaru's retreating figure, his heart heavy with disappointment.

As he prepared to personally deliver the gift, his son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, emerged with anger in his eyes.

"He's nothing but an ingrate!" Shinnosuke fumed. "And as for the Uchiha clan, they won't dare to oppose us. Our Sarutobi clan controls most of Konoha's grassroots ninja operations!"

"Enough!" Hiruzen snapped, silencing his son.

He knew all too well that if he failed to mend relations with the Uchiha, the Sarutobi clan's influence would crumble.

With a heavy heart, Hiruzen took the scroll and made his way to the Uchiha compound.

Upon his arrival, the Uchiha guards exchanged mocking glances.

Hiruzen swallowed his pride and declared, "I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, patriarch of the Sarutobi clan, have come to present a gift to the Uchiha clan."

The guards sneered. "Leave the gift in that shed over there," one said dismissively.

Hiruzen clenched his fists but complied, depositing the scroll in the designated shed.

For the next three days, he repeated this humiliating routine, each time delivering gifts without being acknowledged.

On the fourth day, Uchiha Toki finally appeared at the gate, a smile playing on his lips.

"My apologies, Sarutobi-dono," Toki said. "I've been occupied responding to Kumogakure's proposed peace treaty. I didn't mean to neglect you."

Hiruzen froze, his face a mix of frustration and defeat.

"A peace treaty?" he echoed.