The Uchiha and Inuzuka clans arrived at the Hokage Tower with great fanfare, seeking an audience with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. As expected, the charismatic Nobunaga Uchiha anticipated the outcome. When the Inuzuka clan formally requested land for expansion, the Hokage granted them territory near the Forest of Death. Pleased with the decision, both clans returned to their respective compounds. The Uchiha clan expressed their gratitude, praising the Third Hokage's wisdom and comparing his leadership style to that of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
With this resolved, both clans immediately began construction. The Inuzuka clan prioritized the relocation of their members, with only the elderly and children staying behind for now. Their goal was clear—revitalize their combat strength by breeding and training new ninja dogs. If successful, their clan's power could be restored within two to three years, perhaps even surpassing their previous state.
Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan assigned the project to three elders, occasionally enlisting the help of Uchiha Yang. This was more than just manual labor; it was an intentional effort to train the next generation, exposing them to leadership and high-level ninja politics beyond combat alone.
After careful consideration, Uchiha Yang decided to consult his uncle, Nobunaga Uchiha, and his mentor, Uchiha Yu, about a new strategy—the Assassination Plan.
Arriving at the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters, Yang found that his uncle and teacher were already expecting him. After exchanging formal greetings, he spoke with solemn conviction.
"Uncle, sensei, I have a new plan. Before I explain it, I want to ask: who do you think will be the next Hokage? Or rather, who among the candidates has the best chance?"
From a meritocratic and strength-based perspective, the answer was clear—it had to be one of the Legendary Sannin or Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha.
The Hatake clan had existed for generations, famed for their mastery of kenjutsu. Sakumo was their strongest warrior, a shinobi whose skills rivaled the Sannin. However, the fact that he hailed from the Hatake clan meant his Hokage candidacy was unlikely. No minor clan had ever produced a Hokage, and if Sakumo's reputation continued to outshine the Sannin, he would be seen as a political threat.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi were as tolerant as Hashirama, the powerful clans allied with the Hokage would not accept the rise of a Hatake. The ascension of Sakumo would mean a drastic shift in Konoha's political power, and older factions within the village would never willingly relinquish their influence.
And then there was Danzo Shimura.
Would Danzo, a man obsessed with eliminating threats to his own power, simply ignore Sakumo? Impossible. He would be the first to act. As head of ANBU, Sakumo technically had authority over all ANBU squads. Yet, Root—Danzo's personal black-ops force—operated outside his command. Such an arrangement was absurd. What kind of ANBU Commander couldn't control his entire force?
"Our move is simple," Yang continued. "We establish ties with the Hatake clan while rallying other kenjutsu-focused ninja clans under the guise of a 'Swordsmanship Guild.' This will raise Sakumo's political stature, making him a target for Konoha's ruling class. The stronger the Hatake clan grows, the more they become a threat to entrenched interests."
Sakumo was an exceptional warrior—bold, determined, and morally upright. However, his personality was his greatest weakness. He was too kind. Too righteous. This was exactly why he would be easy to manipulate and ultimately destroy.
"Danzo will move against Sakumo. We only need to set the stage. If we orchestrate things correctly, we can leverage this moment to weaken the Hokage's influence while strengthening our own. Once Sakumo falls, the Hatake clan will be reduced to insignificance, and the Naruto system—Konoha's current power structure—will lose one of its key figures."
Once the Hatake were neutralized, the other kenjutsu clans—now vulnerable—would have no choice but to align with the Uchiha. With fewer strong clans backing the Hokage, the political balance would shift in Uchiha's favor.
"To execute this, we must employ the 'Assassination Plan.' We use the Swordsmanship Guild as a cover to rally support around Sakumo, forcing him into the political limelight. Then, we allow the inevitable backlash to unfold, ensuring his downfall while keeping our hands clean."
Nobunaga Uchiha was an experienced strategist. He had always viewed Yang as exceptionally intelligent, but today, his nephew's cunning surpassed his expectations. Such a brilliantly ruthless strategy. Yang's plan ensured that someone else would pull the trigger while the Uchiha remained untouched.
He studied his nephew closely. Was this truly a Uchiha mindset? Or had the boy somehow inherited the intellect of the Nara clan?
Yang, resembling his late father, remained calm and composed. Nobunaga exhaled and organized his thoughts.
"This plan... there is great potential here. Even if the Uchiha do nothing directly, Sakumo's fate is sealed. And the best part? We remain innocent. The attack comes from others, not us."
He smirked. "In the end, all we're doing is making friends over swords. Promoting unity. What happens afterward? That's not our problem."
Brilliant. A trap so subtle, it would be impossible to refuse. It would dismantle a Hokage candidate, decimate a clan, and leave multiple factions with no choice but to align with the Uchiha. A simple concept—yet utterly merciless in execution.
At that moment, Nobunaga truly understood the depths of Yang's intelligence. The boy wasn't just clever—he was dangerous.
Yang, seeing the reaction of his uncle and mentor, knew his words had struck a chord. The plan could only work under one condition—that Sakumo was destined to fall. If history followed its natural course, Sakumo Hatake would be dishonored and take his own life. But if he was eliminated earlier? That only sped up the inevitable.
And the beauty of the plan? The Uchiha's name wasn't even attached.
Without Uchiha involvement, Danzo couldn't spin this as a Uchiha conspiracy. The Swordsmanship Guild was merely an alliance of like-minded warriors. If Danzo framed them, it would only drive more clans into the Uchiha's arms.
To further cement this, Yang proposed a new initiative.
"Merely hosting swordplay gatherings isn't enough to build lasting influence. I suggest that we request Hokage-sama's sponsorship for a 'Konoha First Ninja Sword Tournament.' This would be an official event where every young kenjutsu user in the village competes."
The format was simple:
The Hokage would host it, adding legitimacy.
Sakumo Hatake would serve as the head judge.
Instead of a Uchiha judge, multiple clans would provide their own representatives to ensure neutrality.
The top ten competitors would be mentored by these judges before a final championship match.
This concept was unprecedented. Unlike the traditional Chunin Exams, this was entirely focused on swordsmanship. The idea was fresh, revolutionary, and full of political implications.
Nobunaga immediately set to work, reaching out to other clan leaders before presenting the proposal to Hokage-sama. Sarutobi, ever the politician, was thrilled.
A tournament meant increased revenue, better training for young ninja, and a boost to his own prestige. And best of all? The event was fully funded by the clans themselves.
Hiruzen had been waiting for something like this—an excuse to give Konoha's next generation a stage. Sakumo had already been consulted in private, so the decision was a mere formality.
Thus, the tournament was set in motion. Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan intensified their own training, preparing their best young swordsmen to seize victory.
The plan was in motion. The pieces were in place.
And Uchiha Yang was ready.