Naruto:This Time, I, Kotetsu Hagane, Will No Longer Be Lazy

Konoha Council

The room was dim, the weight of the conversation hanging heavily in the air. The private council meeting was underway, with only the most trusted figures in Konoha present: the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the three elders—Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, with the last seat being unoccupied. The room felt colder than usual, as though the walls themselves sensed the underlying tension between these three.

"Do you think it was Kumogakure? Are they not satisfied after we allowed one of our own to die for their greed?" Says Homura Mitokado

"What about Iwagakure? They might be testing the waters, not to mention they're hatred for us only grew after what Minato did to them in the last war, and they probably couldn't hold they're hatred while on the mission." Theories Koharu Utatane.

Hiruzen sat at the head of the table, his hands resting calmly in front of him, though his mind was a world away. The elders were deep in discussion, speaking with quiet urgency about the recent explosion that had rocked the village. The casualties were significant, and rumors of a breach in Konoha's defenses had started to spread like wildfire.

"Another explosion… in the heart of our village," Homura said, his voice low but filled with concern. "It seems we've grown weak in our security, Hiruzen. I've heard rumors that the Uchiha Police were directly involved, but we cannot ignore the possibility of an outside force as well."

"Indeed," Koharu added, adjusting her posture as she looked to Hiruzen. "The Uchiha Police were quick to act, but their internal operations have always been shrouded in secrecy. This explosion could very well be a symptom of a much deeper problem. We should consider all angles."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, staring out the window into the darkened village. His mind was clouded with doubts, not just about the explosion, but about the village as a whole. Since Minato's death and the departure of the Sannin, Konoha had been slowly losing its strength. The people no longer seemed to trust their leaders the way they once had, and the growing discontent among the clans was only making things worse.

"We've grown complacent," Hiruzen thought bitterly. "What would Minato have done? What would Jiraiya have done? Would they have allowed things to deteriorate like this?"

He sighed softly, lost in his own thoughts, but was quickly brought back to the present by Homura's voice.

"We need to know if the Uchiha are involved, Hiruzen," Homura said, his tone edged with impatience. "If there's any hint that they were complicit in this—"

Before he could finish, the door to the office burst open with a loud crash, causing everyone at the table to jump in surprise. Danzo Shimura, as usual, did not wait for an invitation. His cold, calculating gaze scanned the room as he strode in, his presence commanding.

"Hiruzen!" Danzo barked, cutting straight to the point. "Have you heard about the explosion? The Uchiha are incompetent, and I warned you about their lack of discipline. This—" he gestured sharply toward the door, as if the village itself were the source of his anger "—is the result of their inability to keep order. If this continues, Konoha will crumble from the inside."

Hiruzen's jaw tightened. He had expected this from Danzo. His old friend—if that's what he could still call him—had always been quick to point fingers, especially when it came to the Uchiha.

"Danzo," Hiruzen said quietly, his voice calm but firm. "Do not jump to conclusions without proper evidence. This explosion could have been caused by any number of factors. We cannot simply blame the Uchiha without knowing the full extent of the situation."

Danzo's eyes narrowed. "You're being naïve, Hiruzen. The Uchiha are the only clan in this village with the power to pull off something like this. And now, look at the casualties. We don't need to wait for more proof. It's clear that their discontent for the village has reached a breaking point."

Hiruzen's hands clenched in his lap, his calm exterior masking the simmering anger beneath. "I want to believe the Uchiha aren't responsible for this, but a part of me fears Danzo might be right," he thought, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. "The village is already on edge. The Nine-Tails attack still lingers in the memories of the people. If we can't protect Konoha from these internal threats, how can we possibly stand against any outside forces?"

Koharu spoke up, her voice more neutral than the others. "I understand both of your concerns," she said, addressing Hiruzen and Danzo in turn. "The situation with the Uchiha must be addressed. If they were involved in this, we need to take action. But we cannot act rashly. Not without concrete evidence."

Homura nodded in agreement. "The Uchiha have long been a necessary part of Konoha's defense, but their growing isolation within the village has always been a risk. If we find that they have been negligent, or worse, complicit in this attack, we may have no choice but to hold them accountable."

Hiruzen felt the weight of their words, but his heart ached at the thought of further antagonizing the Uchiha. He could already feel the distrust and resentment growing between the clan and the village, and if they pushed too far, it could have catastrophic consequences. But still, the lives lost in the explosion were a blow Konoha could not ignore.

"I agree," Hiruzen said at last, his voice barely above a whisper. "If the Uchiha are found responsible for this, they must be punished. But let us not act out of fear or anger. We must make sure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past."

Danzo snorted, unimpressed. "And how many more will die before you make up your mind, Hiruzen? How many more will suffer because of your hesitation?"

Hiruzen looked at his old friend, his eyes weary but resolute. "We have to consider the bigger picture, Danzo. We cannot allow Konoha to fall into chaos. That is why we must handle this carefully. I will trust the Uchiha Police to conduct a thorough investigation. In the meantime, let us prepare for all possibilities."

The elders nodded in agreement, though the room was thick with tension. The storm was gathering, and no one in the room could deny that Konoha's future hung in the balance.

As the meeting drew to a close, Hiruzen couldn't help but wonder if they were already too late. Would the village tear itself apart before they could find the truth? Or was this just the beginning of something far worse?

 Danzo's eyes bored into him, unblinking, as though he already knew the answer—or rather, the answer he wanted to hear. His words were a veiled ultimatum, designed to put Hiruzen in an uncomfortable position.

The room fell silent, all eyes on Hiruzen as he struggled with the choice before him. Koharu and Homura remained still, their expressions unreadable, but the tension in the room was palpable. They all knew the Uchiha were at the heart of this problem, but the deeper issue was whether Konoha's fragile peace could survive another internal conflict.

Hiruzen's lips parted, but before he could speak, Danzo slammed his fist on the table, the sound echoing through the room. His patience had clearly run out. "You always hedge your bets, Hiruzen," Danzo growled, rising from his seat. "You've become weak. Your reluctance to make hard decisions will be the end of this village." His voice was a sharp bark as he turned toward the door.

Hiruzen felt a familiar weight in his chest, a deep sense of loss. The Danzo he knew had always been unyielding, a force to be reckoned with. But now, his words were filled with a quiet venom. Hiruzen knew that Danzo's loyalty to Konoha was at odds with his methods.

And with each passing day, those methods became more dangerous, more extreme. "I will not act in haste," Hiruzen finally spoke, his voice steady, but carrying the weight of years of responsibility. "If we punish them, it must be for the right reasons.

Not because of fear or suspicion. "Danzo's lips curled into a grim smile, his one visible eye glinting with cold fury. "As the one that operates under the roots of the mighty tree I can say Fear and suspicion has always drawn human nature like a parent walking a child down a path.

 Hiruzen, you're just to complacent at top of your position to see how humans at the bottom operate, with your ideas of peace making you too blind to see it. And mark my words, Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

With that, Danzo turned and slammed the door to the room. His footsteps echoing in the silence he left behind. "Regret this," Hiruzen repeated under his breath, his gaze distant as he stared at the empty doorway. Homura and Koharu exchanged a glance, but neither spoke.

They were use to this back and fourth between the two for years, knowing they could never act so boldly with Sarutobi. Hiruzen knew Danzo would not back down. If the Uchiha were cleared of responsibility, Danzo would hold them personally accountable for failing to act swiftly enough. And deep down, Hiruzen knew that the village was teetering on the edge of something irreversible.