Chapter 217: Power Struggles

Hiruzen called his secretary.

"Yes, Lord Third?"

"Send a letter to the Uchiha clan that I am free at 6 PM, and we can have the meeting at that time." 

"But sir, you have a meeting with the elders at 6," the secretary said. 

"Oh! Then postpone that meeting. I have something important to discuss with the Uchiha," Hiruzen said. 

'Anyway, they are only going to ask if letting the Uchiha kill a former elder of Konoha and not even giving him a proper burial is a proper thing for a Hokage. I am tired of their nonsense at this point,' Hiruzen thought. 

The secretary just bowed her head and went back to send the message to the Uchiha clan. 

... 

"Good evening, Hokage-sama," Fugaku said, sitting in front of Hiruzen in the Hokage's office. 

"Good evening, Fugaku. So, what did you want to discuss?" Hiruzen asked. 

Only the two of them were present in the office. Even the ANBU guards were sent out since it was an official meeting requested by a clan head. 

"Lord Third, as you know, the relations between the clans are getting turbulent during recent weeks," Fugaku said. 

Hiruzen nodded his head. As Hokage, there were few things in Konoha he didn't know, and something this big was not news that could be hidden from him. But it was not at a level where Fugaku had to make a move.

Heck, with their recent strength, they could have it easy for a couple of years, even with the other clans pressuring them. So Hiruzen couldn't understand why Fugaku was sitting in front of him regarding this matter. Fugaku also understood that, so he continued. 

"Even though it doesn't affect my clan at all for now, due to recent events, I know how much of an effect these small things like public opinion matter for a clan. 

"And we Uchiha don't particularly have a good image among the general populace. But it is different for the other clans.

We don't have any major problems with them, and I would like to keep it that way. So I decided to handle this issue before it becomes too big," Fugaku said. 

Hiruzen nodded his head. 

'So, the Uchiha are now finally going to maintain a proper image for themselves, huh!' Hiruzen thought. 

Both the Hyuga and Uchiha were founding clans of Konoha along with the Senju clan, but the Hyuga had a better image and respect among the general people of Konoha, even known as the Noble clan of Konoha. 

Whereas the Uchiha were somewhat seen as a group of highly arrogant people who usually bullied normal people, even though Danzo played a major role in making and maintaining this image, the arrogant behavior of the Uchiha clan ninja didn't help either. 

Along with them being the police force of Konoha, who from time to time read the memories of normal people to find out the culprit, also didn't help. Even though it was the most efficient way, those who were innocent didn't feel good about their privacy being invaded by someone. 

And for a very long time, the Uchiha didn't care at all about this image. But maybe now things were going to change. 

"So, what are you planning to do?" Hiruzen asked. 

"Lord, you also know what the major reason for this sudden friction is," Fugaku said. Hiruzen nodded his head. 

"They are just afraid of me and Shisui both being part of the Uchiha," Fugaku said. He didn't say "Kage-level ninja" because he was talking to Hiruzen.

Even though it may not look like it, Hiruzen was a very powerful ninja. Even when his strength declined due to old age, he was still able to fight weaker versions of the Senju brothers along with Orochimaru on almost equal footing. 

In his prime, Hiruzen was surely among upper Kage level. Both Fugaku and Shisui combined may not reach that level, but Hiruzen understood what Fugaku was trying to say. 

Seeing Hiruzen nodding, Fugaku continued, "So Shisui and I came to the conclusion that Shisui will leave the Uchiha clan and join the ANBU. This should help others with this whole power balance thing." 

"Shisui will 'leave' the Uchiha clan?" Hiruzen asked. 

"He will not be under my direct order. You will be able to send him on any mission, and I will not have any say in that. But I am not going to force him to sever every tie he has with his own clan, and I hope you will do the same," Fugaku asked. 

Hiruzen was not new to this power struggle. When Fugaku mentioned his and Shisui's names, Hiruzen had already guessed what he was going to say, and even according to him, this was a good move. 

"Fine, we can go with this. I will make arrangements to add Shisui to the ANBU. You can handle the documentation of him leaving the Uchiha clan.

We can tell the others about this in the next meeting if they haven't gotten the news by then already," Hiruzen said, as he knew Fugaku would spread this news as soon as the procedure was complete. Otherwise, he would have waited for the next clan meeting. 

"Well, we can use this to say that we Uchiha are helping the village by sending our prodigy to the ANBU for the village. I don't think Lord Third will have any problem with that," Fugaku asked with a smile. 

"Sure, go ahead. Oh! I want to ask you something. Kaida and Shisui visited Naruto's apartment area today. Can you tell me what is going on?" Hiruzen brought up the main reason he called Fugaku for the meeting. 

"Well, this will be a little long story," Fugaku said. 

"Oh! Luckily, I have some free time," Hiruzen said with an old neighborhood grandpa smile on his face. 

Fugaku nodded and began telling Hiruzen how Kaida found out the Root base location from Kakashi, how he used Naruto as a bargaining chip when he found out about him from Mikoto and Hae talking, and then about how Kakashi was worried about his sensei's son. Also, how Kaida thought that their house would be best for Naruto. 

"I think I don't have to tell you how many elders will reject this idea without even listening to it completely. I can somehow influence the decision of some clans, but the majority of them will also be against this. Because no matter what, Shisui will still be an Uchiha, and directly or indirectly, Naruto will be going to the Uchiha clan," Hiruzen said. 

"The clan matter can be handled by us, Lord Third, as we Uchiha are already taking a step back in this matter. Also, about the elders, please don't get me wrong, but I don't think they have any say in this matter," Fugaku said. 

Hiruzen could see a little anger in his voice, and all he could do was sigh. Till now, both Hiruzen and Fugaku, along with some others, knew about the elders' involvement in some of Danzo's acts. They either took money to keep their mouths shut or even supported him. 

Due to this, many of them had to resign. Those who were too high in position and had to be retained had to pay a heavy fine for this. 

But this was still a light punishment, and was done because the power vacuum created by Danzo's death had made Konoha a little unstable. So they needed some time to regain their stability, which was why they could not create a bigger power vacuum at the moment. 

Hiruzen this time just nodded his head and said, "Okay, let's just say that I handle the elders and some of the clans. What about the other clans?" 

"We both know you and I are only worried about the Hyuga clan, Lord Third. With the Ino–Shika–Chō trio along with the Sarutobi clan, with some influence, even the Senju clan will tell what you ask them to tell. With the Inuzuka and Aburame alliance with us Uchiha, and even the Hatake clan being in favor of this proposal, only the Hyuga are the ones who could cause any problem. 

Other clans just nod when all major clans put forth this proposal," Hiruzen said.

"And the Hyuga are not a little problem, Fugaku. They have a say in how the village runs. I assume you don't want to go against them on this matter," Hiruzen asked. 

It is not that difficult for him to send Naruto to Shisui's house when he has so many votes. But now that the Uchiha are paying attention to their image, they surely don't want to create any animosity between the next biggest clan of Konoha. 

"Lord Third, before coming here, I exchanged some letters with Hiashi. He was the one who was handling the elders of the Hyuga clan complaining about the Uchiha's increasing strength.

So when I offered a deal of sending Shisui to the ANBU in return for Shisui getting to take care of Naruto, with a promise that we Uchiha are never going to use Naruto for our clan, and him being allowed to check this from time to time, he agreed quite easily," Fugaku said, pushing some letters in front of Hiruzen.

"It's all good then. Since you have already called a council meeting, I think this time, I myself have to call one.

sigh

Wait for a week. After that, I will call one, then we can send Naruto to Shisui's house," Hiruzen said.