The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, greeted her with a warm smile. After exchanging customary pleasantries, he offered her a permanent residence in Konoha.
Mōryō was a recurring threat to the shinobi world, including Konoha. If the village could join forces with the priestess to definitively annihilate or seal the demon, it would be ideal.
The priestess inclined her head slightly, accepting the invitation.
Coming to Konoha implied this intention. Among all the villages, Konoha had the best reputation. Settling there and benefiting from its support was a logical choice.
Then, she made a request:
She wished for a place to be set up as a sanctuary, where she could practice her rituals and meditation.
Hiruzen immediately agreed.
As it happened, in the mountains behind the village, there was an old abandoned edifice:
The Uzumaki clan's sanctuary.
Since the extermination of the Uzumaki, and then the death of Mito Uzumaki, the First Hokage's wife, the place had fallen into ruin. But after renovation, it could perfectly serve as a sanctuary for the priestess.
The site was thus chosen, to everyone's satisfaction.
The details would be discussed later. To begin, artisans from the Land of Waves would be hired for the work…
As Hiruzen was about to invite the priestess into the building, a voice interrupted them.
"Hokage-sama, Priestess-sama, one moment!"
All eyes turned to Uchiha Fugaku, whose imposing presence was recognized by all.
His sudden intervention sparked murmurs in the crowd.
"..."
Naruto observed Fugaku, beaming with confidence.
Nothing like the oppressed character in the original story. The conflict with Kumo had changed everything, elevating the Uchiha's prestige to its peak.
Are the Uchiha starting to become arrogant?
Naruto was convinced of it.
If the young Uchiha Shisui had been able to repel Yugito Nii, the Nibi's jinchūriki, then the much more experienced Fugaku could certainly stand up to the Raikage.
His provocation meant he had plans.
"Hokage-sama... The priestess deserves maximum protection. The ninjas from the Land of Demons are formidable and cunning..."
Fugaku explained his reasoning.
The priestess's escort had cost Konoha dearly: human losses, injuries.
Having set out in force, the ninjas had returned in tatters.
"The ninjas from the Land of Demons will not give up. They will return to attack the priestess!"
His arguments were solid. Hiruzen could only agree.
"That's why, for the safety of the shinobi world and Konoha, the Uchiha clan volunteers!"
Under the guise of noble intention, Fugaku requested that the protection of the priestess be entrusted to the Uchiha.
Given their exploits against Kumo, his request seemed legitimate.
Yet, his attitude betrayed a certain... arrogance.
A provocation towards the high command, even a thinly veiled attempt at a power grab.
Hiruzen, unaware of the Uchiha's ambitions, simply believed they wanted to prove their worth.
He then praised Itachi's merits, emphasizing that at seven years old, he "already thought like a Hokage."
For Fugaku, these words sounded like a surrender... or a clue.
"Is the Third implying that Itachi has the potential to become Hokage?"
This "revelation" enlightened Fugaku.
His plan for a violent revolution was instantly discarded.
From now on, the peaceful infiltration of Konoha became his priority.
"Yes... With his talent, Itachi will become Hokage sooner or later."
Fugaku then decided to adopt a more subtle approach.
A progressive conquest of power.
A slow but sure erosion of Konoha.
* Itachi, joining the ANBU, would become Hokage.
* Sako, engaged to Naruto, would link the clan to the Kyūbi jinchūriki.
* The Uchiha would gain more influence, eventually controlling the high spheres.
Triple strategy.
And in the end...
All of Konoha would belong to the Uchiha.
Everything became clear...
Naruto scratched his chin for a moment before understanding Uchiha Fugaku's intentions in provoking this public scene.
"Sako's father wants to infiltrate Konoha step by step, force the village leaders' hand... to eventually control it."
The Uchiha, already in full glory thanks to the war against Kumo, if they managed to protect the Priestess and defeat Mōryō, would also gain the title of "saviors of the ninja world."
At that point, their prestige would become irresistible.
Once Mōryō was eliminated and peace restored, the Uchiha could then demand concessions that Konoha's leaders could not refuse.
In terms of sneaky machinations, the Uchiha did not rival Konoha's higher-ups. But in terms of direct confrontation, they feared no one.
It was a bold plan, an open strategy.
"Thank you very much."
Uchiha Fugaku, full of confidence, thanked the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Then the Uchiha ninjas gathered, deploying their professionalism to escort the Priestess, gradually replacing the other Konoha ninjas.
Their impeccable organization revealed their rigorous discipline.
It was like seeing a regular army take control of an area from disorganized militiamen.
In a word: the elite.
But could Fugaku's plan truly avoid the Uchiha massacre?