Chapter 39: Lurking threat and new home

Even though Fugaku was really angry with the current situation, which was basically 7 clans betraying the village. Killing them wasn't an option because the village too will lose a lot and it's not like everyone from these clans are guilty.

In the end, those at the bottom can only follow the orders of those above them. Only a ruthless person with twisted morals like Hiruzen and the previous council can order for the death of innocents including kids and still sleep at night.

Not to mention it would reflect badly on him to order such a huge massacre and make his position as a Hokage unstable among the civilians, add to that how low the morale would get, it will also cause many problems with the daimyo of the land of fire.

The two old foxes, Koharu and Homura understood all of this that's why they acted boldly in such a situation. If it was only their two clans, the situation would be way different.

Of course with all that said, Fugaku would be a fool if he lets them go away without paying a price, and a heavy price they paid. They were required to provide all their clan's secret Jutsus, 70% of their wealth, and they were forbidden from relocating on the land of fire, they had to go somewhere else.

If any requirement isn't met, a massacre would start and there were no negotiations in this. This is the attitude of a firm Hokage. If this happened under Hiruzen's rule, he would just sigh helplessly and let them leave without any punishment while saying I just want peace like an idiot.

As those 7 clans left, the news about them deserting the village spread like wildfire throughout Konoha, as if it was intentional... this caused a huge disturbance, and some people that didn't know better even grew fearful, thinking the village was left unprotected.

Of course, this wasn't something that escaped from the notice of the higher-ups and they had to try to calm the civilians so Shikaku came up with a simple strategy and a sentence quickly started spreading throughout the village ' The village lost its dead weight, and it's time to rise has come'

When the people heard this, even though some were still fearful, they started to have hope for their village to grow to be a better place...

Meanwhile, inside the meeting room, only Fugaku, Shikaku, Hiruzen were still in the room as Fugaku complemented his Jonin commander " Shikaku, that was a brilliant idea, now instead of fear, the villagers have hope!".

Hiruzen nodded in agreement and also gave a complement of his own "indeed, Shikaku is always reliable when it comes to strategies".

Shikaku simply shrugged " well, it's just my job" causing the other two to smile but not for long as Fugaku said " it seems that even though those 7 left the village, they still have some influence, and for us to not be able to locate where the rumors generated from is really worrying".

Shikaku nodded this time serious " I agree, I also feel that something is happening we don't know about, it's impossible for those careful elders to leave Konoha just like that, and for those clans to follow them and some even still working as spies for them here means they had something really convincing to say that could lead whole clans to migrate. Add to that how they readily agreed to your strict conditions, it's as if ...."

Fugaku completed his words as his eyes started shining in a scary light "as if they think they will get them back soon".

Hiruzen frowned at this scary theory and said "But what could be so convincing?"

Shikaku said one word "Danzo..." and these two quickly understood.

'Did the masked man made another move without our knowledge' all three thought as they started to worry for the future.

'It seems like I have to use Shisui sooner' thought Fugaku as a plan started formulating on his mind...

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As I was on my way to the new Uchiha compound along with Mikoto and Himawari that started to become friends using me as a shared point of interest... we heard about the rumor of the 7 clans leaving which made the two of them worried and got me thinking 'those spineless cowards actually made such a move, only Obito can convince them of such a thing since no other people can infiltrate the village-like him'.

'Let see what Fugaku decides to do, otherwise, I will have to ask Mukai to give them a visit and get rid of their main combatants or at least send Shisui to manipulate either Koharu or Homura to get them as spies' I thought, not knowing that my second idea is the same as Fugaku's and currently he's planning on who to send along with Shisui on this mission.

As we got close to the Uchiha compound, Himawari took her to leave but not before giving me a hug and asking to visit and play with Hinata sometimes.

As for the new compound, it finally felt like this is one of Konoha's noble clans with the better architecture and quality of structures not to mention the Uchiha logo was already painted everywhere as if the people inside will forget where they are ' an old dog never changes Tch' I thought.

Mikoto led me in front of a huge house saying this is where they live now before she pointed at a house just in front of it and said "Bakorio-kun will be living just right in front of us, this way you can visit us all the time".

I was surprised at the luxurious house I was given and asked curiously "Was this your idea?"

Mikoto smiled brightly and said proudly "Of course, well I know Bakorio-kun likes to keep his privacy and won't accept living with us so I pestered Fugaku forth past 5 days to give you the closest house to ours until he accepted".

I smiled back at this woman that always warms my heart and tries to be understanding before I said "Thank you, I will make sure to visit a lot"

And received a happy smile in return so I said "I am going to check my house, I will come when it's time for lunch".

She gave me the house keys and said "Okay, we will be waiting for you".

And with this out of the way, I started checking my house better and it was really big, it was a traditional Japanese two-story house with a small front garden and a huge garden in the back with a pond inside that has a shishi odoshi, which is a segmented tube, made of bamboo, pivoted to one side of its balance point. At rest, its heavier end is down and resting against a rock. A trickle of water into the upper end of the tube accumulates and eventually moves the tube's center of gravity past the pivot, causing the tube to rotate and dump out the water. The heavier end then falls back against the rock, making a sharp sound, and the cycle repeats.

Originally this device was intended to startle any herbivores such as deer or boars which may be grazing on the plants in the garden, but now they are used primarily for their aesthetic value.

Let hope the inside of this house is as good as the outside...