**Root Headquarters**
*Bang!*
A wooden teacup was violently smashed to the ground by Shimura Danzo, his heart filled with uncontrollable rage.
"...that insolent Gojo Kaigetsu dares to speak to me in such a manner."
"To demand that I go to see him? The audacity! Who does he think he is? Hiruzen?"
It was no surprise that Shimura Danzo was so infuriated. Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, might have the authority to say, "I am the Hokage," but who did this Gojo Kaigetsu think he was? He was nothing.
In Danzo's mind, even Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, was merely a young upstart who had seized the Hokage position from him through luck, largely due to being the "husband of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki." But at least Minato's strength and reputation were undeniably Kage-level.
Gojo Kaigetsu, on the other hand, was merely a Chunin, daring to speak so boldly to the Shadow of the Ninja World, Shimura Danzo? Someone like him, if he were in Root, would be nothing more than cannon fodder.
What gave him such confidence? Minato? The laws of Konoha have protected him too well!
After venting his anger, Danzo fell into a contemplative silence.
After a long pause, he muttered to himself, "I can't act against him now. He is still someone valued by Minato, and he hasn't shown any signs of betraying Konoha..."
Danzo furrowed his brows. Gojo Kaigetsu was truly someone who didn't play by the rules. According to the unspoken rules of power, as an elder and veteran of Konoha, it was not demeaning for Gojo Kaigetsu to come to him in private.
These are the rules of the game of power!
After a simple exchange of interests and the satisfaction of each other's political demands, the matter of funds would be resolved, and he might even allocate more to him.
But Gojo Kaigetsu, like a reckless fool, was threatening to escalate the matter to the Fourth Hokage.
"Hmph, foolish child, it seems you have no understanding of how the game is played."
Although escalating the issue to the Fourth Hokage wouldn't cause any actual harm to Danzo, such underhanded actions would damage his dignity.
"Then I'll meet with you myself."
In the shadows, Danzo's expression became increasingly ominous.
- Gojo Kaigetsu.
During his time at the Ninja Academy and the Chunin Exams, he was unremarkable, one of those ninja without any notable talent, a small character not worth attention.
But ever since the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, he had become increasingly active, playing a significant role in Konoha's cultural and economic sectors. With Minato Namikaze's rise to power, he began to shine politically as well.
Aside from the "military" aspect, which was tightly controlled by the major ninja clans, Gojo Kaigetsu had dipped his toes into every field he could.
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Putting aside his lack of ninja talent, he was undoubtedly a capable individual.
But this guy... as a subordinate, he would be very satisfying, but as an opponent, he was quite vexing.
It was as if there was a thin, impenetrable veil over Gojo Kaigetsu, making it hard for Danzo to understand him.
"Gojo Kaigetsu, just what do you desire?"
Everyōne has desires.
Some ninjas are obsessed with training, aiming to become renowned powerhouses in the ninja world; some ordinary ninjas chase fame and fortune, seeking a position on the Hokage's advisory council; some crave wealth, doing whatever it takes to use their power to amass riches; and some lechers desire all sorts of play...
But these basic desires... Danzo couldn't find clear evidence of them in Gojo Kaigetsu.
He wasn't fixated on training; he never sought positions from the Third, Fourth, or even from Danzo himself in the higher echelons of Konoha; according to Root's investigations, he even invested his own money to maintain "orphanages," "publishing houses," and "ration pill shops"; and as for women... in his twenties, there hadn't been a single rumor about him and any kunoichi.
The most terrifying person is one without desires!
For this reason, Danzo once suspected that Gojo Kaigetsu was a spy from another country or a deeply ambitious person with plans to overthrow Konoha.
He intended to use this issue of funds to uncover Gojo Kaigetsu's true motives! Danzo was very curious. what mission would make Minato Namikaze, with his conservative nature, allocate an astounding 350 million ryō to Gojo Kaigetsu?
"If I find even a trace of disloyalty to Konoha in your heart... not even the Fourth Hokage can save you. I will personally cleanse Konoha."
"Report. !"
At this moment, a Root ninja wearing a standard mask knelt at the door of the secret room and reported: "Gojo Kaigetsu did not follow his usual route home. After leaving the official publishing house, he headed to the Uchiha clan's territory."
"Oh?"
"Did he try to conceal his movements?"
"His movements were public, and many people saw him on the way."
Danzo's eyes narrowed into slits. "Public movements? That's unexpected. But why are you associating with the inherently evil Uchiha? What are you planning, Gojo Kaigetsu..."
"Regardless, I will find out today."
"Keep a close watch on Gojo Kaigetsu's movements. Once he leaves the Uchiha clan's territory, I will meet with him personally."
...
...
"Gojo-kun, long time no see."
"Indeed, it has been a while, Clan Leader Fugaku."
Uchiha Fugaku, born in Year 19 of the Konoha calendar, was just barely someone Gojo Kaigetsu could consider a peer.
Gojo Kaigetsu greeted Uchiha Fugaku with a smile and a handshake.
Uchiha Fugaku was one of the rare, sane individuals in the otherwise mentally unstable Uchiha clan and was relatively moderate, belonging to the dove faction. In several collaborations, he had suppressed the hawks within the Uchiha clan on Gojo Kaigetsu's behalf.
He loved the Uchiha clan and felt a sense of belonging to Konoha. However, if forced to choose between the clan and the village, he would unhesitatingly choose the former.
If it weren't for Gojo Kaigetsu, in the future, under the constant pressure and distrust from Konoha's leadership, Fugaku would eventually choose to "fight for the honor of the Uchiha clan."
This was something Gojo Kaigetsu understood very well.
But before such a situation occurred, Uchiha Fugaku was a trustworthy partner.
As they walked side by side towards the Uchiha clan's territory, Fugaku spoke first:
"Gojo-kun, the voices of dissent... I can barely suppress them anymore. If it weren't for you, I might have already allowed those voices to spread throughout the clan and joined them myself."
Fugaku smiled bitterly.
The Konoha Police Force was the pride of the Uchiha clan, but it was also the source of their conflicts with the ordinary villagers and ninjas.
Policing is a thankless job. Konoha's public safety was better than that of other villages, but that didn't mean it was perfect.
The Konoha Police Force was housed together with the Konoha Prison, constantly dealing with criminals.
Over time, whether it was the slander from released criminals or the clan's own harsh enforcement methods, the Uchiha clan faced increasing criticism. Combined with the inherent "negative energy" associated with the Uchiha, these criticisms were like a fuse, igniting the darkness in the hearts of the Uchiha clan members.