The Third Hokage: First Move Send Danzō to Prison

In a certain secret cave 

"Obito! Obito! Something bad's happened! Itachi and Kisame are down!"

Black Zetsu shouted frantically toward the mysterious masked man, his voice laced with panic.

The ever-reliable intelligence master had just received news that the "Crimson South" duo had suffered a total defeat. The ink on the last meeting's minutes had barely dried before the operation fell apart a terrible omen, to say the least.

"Nani?!" Uchiha Obito stiffened in shock.

Black Zetsu laid out the full situation, ending with a grim conclusion. "Right now, Kisame is in Konoha custody, and Itachi's whereabouts are unknown. A lot of our information has already been exposed, and Kisame knew far more than that. If they dig too deep, everything could unravel."

"I see." Obito fell into thought.

Black Zetsu pressed on anxiously. "It doesn't add up. That Uchiha Itachi is definitely hiding something. Kisame must've been set up. He's the traitor, isn't he?"

"Hmm..." Obito remained silent, still pondering.

"And another thing the battlefield was too clean. We both know that when the Mangekyō Sharingan is used at full force, the aftermath is never this tidy."

"You do have a point," Obito muttered, nodding slowly before falling silent again.

A moment passed. Black Zetsu couldn't hold back any longer. "Say something, Obito!"

"I don't think that's the whole picture."

Obito finally spoke, ending his internal deliberation. "Itachi might be a double agent, but he's not the one who leaked our intel."

Black Zetsu blinked in confusion.

"I mean, we've always known he wasn't fully loyal, but this breach didn't come from him. There's someone else within our ranks."

Black Zetsu exhaled, relieved that Obito's deductive skills weren't entirely gone. "You mean… Konan?"

Obito nodded. "Exactly. Just as you said she has the motive. As Jiraiya's former student, she's still emotionally tied to Konoha. And she's the only one who shares Pain's level of operational intelligence. Only she fits all the conditions."

"But without concrete proof, Pain won't act against her. If you move against her, he'll turn on you without hesitation," Black Zetsu warned, confidently.

"We'll wait for Pain's reaction. After all, he's the de facto leader."

"And what about Itachi?" Zetsu asked.

"Track him down first. Then we decide. Mangekyō Sharingan abilities can't be judged by common sense. Maybe he paid a price to escape."

Perhaps Izanagi, Obito mused.

…

Far away, in the Land of Rain 

Inside the tall tower, Black Zetsu had already relayed the news to Pain.

Uchiha Itachi was missing. Kisame Hoshigaki had been captured.

"So much for a successful first operation," Nagato thought, his pallid face growing even more colorless as he sat tethered to the intricate mechanical rig keeping him alive.

Konan stood beside him, worry clouding her expression. "What should we do? Are we going to rescue Kisame?"

Nagato shook his head, voice cool and detached. "They were merely rogue ninja with temporary utility. We recruited them to help capture the tailed beasts. They failed. That's all. It just means their time has run out. I'll personally take over their target."

He remained clear-eyed about what the Akatsuki had become. This was no longer the idealistic organization of Yahiko's era.

Now it was a nest of conspirators and terrorists. They were tools to be discarded. When peace was achieved, he would personally remove them all.

"Your body…" Konan murmured, looking down at him with concern.

"You don't need to worry, Konan. I won't fall until I fulfill Yahiko's dream," Nagato said gently, then continued. "As for Kisame, if he's still alive when we go after the Nine-Tails, he'll naturally be freed."

Konan frowned. "Deidara wasn't completely wrong last time. Zetsu has always been Madara's man. Is it possible that Kisame and Itachi's downfall was Zetsu's doing? They were very confrontational with him at the last meeting."

Nagato nodded, eyes growing colder. "The atmosphere at that meeting was indeed off. We must be cautious. We can no longer rely solely on Zetsu's intel."

Konan's brow furrowed further. "I'm worried this is a conspiracy targeting you."

But Nagato's voice was filled with unwavering confidence. "A god cannot be defeated. Whatever schemes they conjure will be in vain."

…

In the Hokage's office 

Hiashi Hyuga sat across from Hiruzen Sarutobi at the desk. Two cups of tea sat between them, both having gone lukewarm. Their conversation had gone on for some time.

The discussion had revolved too much around Hyuga affairs, and Hiashi couldn't help but feel uneasy. Then, the Third Hokage slid a written proposal across the desk and asked a pointed question.

"Hiashi, is the Hyuga clan truly a part of Konoha?"

The question struck deep. Hiashi straightened up, replying carefully, "Of course. The Hyuga are loyal to the Hidden Leaf, devoted and unwavering. We've always acted with honor."

Hiruzen nodded, seemingly satisfied. "I believe that. Your clan's loyalty is well-documented. But as Hokage, I still have concerns."

"Please speak freely, Lord Hokage. I will answer without reservation."

"If the Hokage's orders and the Hyuga clan head's orders conflict, which takes precedence?"

"Of course, the Hokage's."

"If a Hyuga shinobi receives contradictory orders from the clan and the Hokage, who should he obey?"

"The Hokage's orders, naturally."

"What about the branch family, bound by the Caged Bird Seal? Who do they obey?"

"…That…" Hiashi began to sweat.

He wanted to say, "The Hyuga clan will always obey the Hokage's command. Our orders would never contradict the village's."

But under the Hokage's piercing gaze, the words died in his throat.

Hiashi was both the biggest beneficiary and, at the same time, a victim of the Caged Bird system. His twin brother had died with resentment in his heart, and now one of his own daughters would inevitably suffer the same fate.

The system had begun as a means of protection, but over time, it had warped into something else entirely. His feelings about it were deeply conflicted.

As clan head, he was bound to uphold tradition.

As a father, he longed for change.

The Third Hokage began to speak, softly at first. "Years ago, the title of 'strongest clan' was contested between the Uchiha and the Hyuga."

Uchiha… Hiashi's brow glistened with sweat.

"Back then, I was misled by corrupt advisor Danzo. His manipulation led to tragedy, the Uchiha Massacre. But the root cause was irreconcilable tension between powerful clans and the village."

Hiashi understood perfectly this was a warning.

"I reflect on my failures every day. I swore I would never repeat those mistakes. But when I look at the Hyuga, I see shadows of the Uchiha."

What injustice! Hiashi wanted to shout. We've always been loyal! We even donated heavily to your new project! How can you compare us to traitors?

Hiruzen seemed to read his thoughts. He tapped his pipe on the desk and continued in a gentler tone. "Of course, the Hyuga's issues pale in comparison to what happened with the Uchiha. But darkness accumulates. It may take ten, twenty, thirty years before it explodes."

"I don't want to leave a ticking time bomb for the next Hokage. You, Hiashi, were born with the Will of Fire. You must understand my worries."

"You've witnessed everything from the Fourth Hokage's time until now." Hiruzen refilled his teacup. "You should also understand the resolve behind my actions."

Hiashi was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Lord Hokage, though I am the clan head, the Hyuga cannot be commanded by me alone."

Hiruzen's eyes darkened. Bad memories rose unbidden in his mind.

I know this script too well… another Fugaku.

The Hokage's orders meant nothing. The Uchiha clan head's words held no weight either. Their underlings led them by the nose, always shouting, "You're being naive!" or "You'll regret this!"

And when disaster struck, it was the leader who bore the blame.

As Hiruzen's eyes grew increasingly cold, Hiashi wiped sweat from his brow and pressed on, under immense pressure. "The laws of our ancestors cannot be discarded lightly. I must first convene a clan meeting."

Damn it, Hiruzen thought, he really is becoming more like that old friend.

He looked at Hiashi with a peculiar expression. "Don't let your clan meeting turn into a rebellion…"

Realizing the Hokage was drawing parallels to the Uchiha again, Hiashi immediately shouted, "Absolutely not!"

His face flushed red, the veins around his Byakugan bulging.

"The Hyuga are utterly loyal to the village! I personally support your proposal to abolish the Caged Bird Seal. But the elders are old and slow to accept change. Please, Lord Hokage, grant me a little more time."

Hiruzen puffed slowly on his pipe, his voice contemplative. "Hiashi, you truly were born with the mind of a Hokage. Go now. Show me you have the strength to lead."

He tapped his pipe against the desk once more.

"Don't let me down, Hiashi."

It was a message meant for Hiashi yet it felt like he was speaking to a long-gone friend.