IN NARUTO AS KURAMA

Uchiha Fugaku sat stiffly, staring blankly at Sarutobi Hiruzen. The Third Hokage's decision hung in the air, and Fugaku couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from a positive development.

Fugaku scratched the back of his neck awkwardly before addressing the Hokage. "Hokage-sama, don't you think appointing Itachi to your personal guard will cause unnecessary complications? The boy is still young and clumsy. How can he fulfill such an important role effectively?"

Lowering his voice, Fugaku leaned closer to the Hokage's ear and added, "And won't people in the village start talking? It might raise suspicions among certain factions."

Shimura Danzo, standing nearby, scowled at Fugaku's words. His irritation was palpable. Why are you being so cautious? Danzo thought. There are only three of us here, and yet you're still pretending to whisper as if I can't hear you. Annoying.

Hiruzen, ever composed, glanced at Danzo before turning back to Fugaku. "Fugaku, you worry too much. Itachi is more than capable, and I trust him. Don't you trust the judgment of your Hokage?"

Fugaku knew there was no point in pushing further. He bowed deeply, his face blank but his thoughts churning. "I understand, Hokage-sama. Thank you for your trust."

"Good. You may go now."

"Yes," Fugaku said, his voice calm. Without another word, he disappeared into the shadows.

After Fugaku's departure, Hiruzen turned to Danzo. "What do you think?"

Danzo crossed his arms, glaring at the now-empty doorway. "What do I think? That Uchiha is desperate, cutting off an arm just to save the rest of his body. Do you think someone leaked our plans to strike the Uchiha? It seems he knows too much."

Hiruzen took a long puff from his pipe, exhaling slowly. "Perhaps, but now is not the time to act. If we wipe out the Uchiha clan now, the village will descend into chaos. Fear will spread, and our positions will be jeopardized."

Danzo's eyes gleamed with frustration and greed. "You're being too cautious, Hiruzen. Letting them live is a risk we can't afford. They're too dangerous."

Hiruzen's tone grew sharper. "Danzo, I won't repeat myself. We will continue monitoring them for now. If we must act, we'll wait for the opportune moment—perhaps during the chaos of war. Until then, leave them be."

With that, Hiruzen's figure vanished into the darkness, leaving Danzo behind. Danzo's frown deepened as he muttered to himself, "Hiruzen, you've grown soft."

---

Back at the Uchiha Ancestral Hall

Fugaku returned to find his personal guards waiting for him. The bodies of the slain clan members had been cleared, and the hall now looked eerily pristine. One of the guards stepped forward. "Master Patriarch, the cleanup is complete. Please review it."

Fugaku glanced around, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he nodded. "You've done well. I won't explain further—you all understand why this had to happen. Tonight, you'll each receive compensation from the treasury. Rest and prepare for what's next."

"Yes, Patriarch. Thank you."

As the guards left, the heavy wooden doors creaked shut. From the shadows, Shiro emerged, his piercing eyes fixed on Fugaku.

"Senior," Fugaku said respectfully, lowering his head. "I followed your instructions. I've reduced our numbers."

Shiro's tone was icy. "Good. But remember: hesitation is your greatest enemy. Any hesitation could lead to your death."

"Yes, sir."

Shiro continued, his voice carrying an ominous weight. "I overheard your conversation with Hiruzen and Danzo. For now, they won't move against you. As long as you remain subtle and avoid overstepping, they'll grow complacent. Let them believe you're harmless."

Fugaku remained silent, his hands trembling slightly. After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Sir, who… who are you?"

The question, though simple, carried the weight of all Fugaku's suppressed fears and doubts. Sweat dripped from his brow as he awaited Shiro's response.

Shiro's presence darkened, and his aura filled the room with suffocating pressure. "Remember this, Fugaku: you do not choose me. I choose you. You may take what I offer, but you cannot take what I withhold."

With those words, Shiro vanished in a puff of white smoke, leaving behind only a fox-shaped mask. Fugaku slid to the floor, gasping for breath. The oppressive presence of Shiro's aura had been more terrifying than even the full force of Susano'o.

Above Konoha, on Hokage Rock

Shiro stood atop the stone monument, gazing out over the village. The lights of Konoha twinkled below, a stark contrast to the darkness festering within. He sighed softly.

"Konoha, beneath its prosperous surface, is drowning in irreversible darkness."

From the woods behind him, a voice interrupted. "What do you mean by that?"

Turning, Shiro saw a middle-aged man stepping into the moonlight, holding a fox-shaped note. The man's piercing eyes and regal demeanor left no doubt—it was Hyuga Hiashi, the current head of the Hyuga clan.

The note in his hand read: Do you want to know the secret of the Sharingan?

Hiashi's tone was cold as he continued, "Do you truly think the Hyuga clan will tolerate such games? Or do you take us for fools?"

Shiro didn't bother turning to face Hiashi. Instead, he chuckled. "Ah, the great Hyuga clan. I had hoped your intelligence would surpass that of the Uchiha, but it seems I overestimated you."

Hiashi's eyes narrowed. Without another word, he assumed a stance. "Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Hiashi lunged, his strikes precise and relentless.

But Shiro simply shook his head, unimpressed. "Not confident enough. No wonder Sarutobi Hiruzen manipulates you like a puppet."

Hiashi's strikes landed—but with a loud bang, Shiro disappeared in a puff of smoke. Substitution Jutsu.

---

In the Sealed Space

Shiro reappeared, his expression one of deep disappointment. Minato Namikaze, lounging atop Kurama, raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? You've never looked this disheartened in the six years I've known you."

Shiro sighed heavily. "Minato, what's your honest opinion of Konoha's clan leaders?"

Minato thought for a moment. "They're self-serving, but they're also cunning. Each one has their own ambitions, but they know how to play the game."

Shiro shook his head. "Self-serving? Yes. Cunning? Not even close. Watching them stumble about, I finally understand why Hiruzen Sarutobi managed to rise as Konoha's 'ninja hero.'"

Minato smiled faintly. "You sound disappointed."

"Disappointed? Perhaps. Or maybe I've just realized the depth of the rot in Konoha's foundation."