"Just now, the arrangements I made for the other clansmen were all just delay tactics."
"If we want to coexist with Konoha, and even eventually achieve a non-violent political coup, this is our only option."
Rengoku pointed to his eyes, and at the same time activated his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Fugaku had a slightly serious expression, "Rengoku, I need to remind you, the Mangekyo Sharingan…"
"Gradually loses its light with usage, I know," Rengoku directly interrupted, blocking Fugaku's words.
Fugaku looked surprised, "You discovered it this early?"
"Heh, the things I know far exceed what you imagine," Rengoku wore a mysterious expression.
Although Fugaku, the Great Elder, and Itachi were all a bit curious, as ninjas, if someone doesn't say it, it means they don't want to tell you.
Seeing that Rengoku was already aware, Fugaku said no more and continued listening to Rengoku's plan.
Rengoku raised one finger, "Konoha currently has an unsolvable problem."
"And that is, they cannot control the Nine-Tails."
"Although Naruto hasn't rampaged, once he does, Konoha has no one who can control it."
The Great Elder's eyes flashed with sharp light. He clearly understood Rengoku's implication.
If the Nine-Tails goes on a rampage, only Mangekyo Sharingan can control it.
Rengoku didn't beat around the bush and directly continued, "Konoha relies on the Four Symbols Seal's effectiveness; without special conditions, the Nine-Tails won't rampage."
"But currently in Konoha, there is no one strong enough with sealing techniques."
"There's a lot of room to operate here."
"That's why we Uchiha must maintain a strong posture and wait for Konoha to come begging us."
Fugaku and the Great Elder both had flashing eyes, clearly moved, "Then the first step, Itachi, tomorrow you defect from Konoha."
A flash of surprise passed through Itachi's eyes but he didn't ask much, "Yes, Rengoku-senpai."
Seeing Fugaku and the Great Elder waiting for his explanation, Rengoku continued, "Itachi is defecting from the village, not the clan."
"Currently, there are some grievances against Itachi within the clan, keeping him in the village is a waste."
"We need to make a show of force and make Konoha understand that we must have Danzo dead."
"Fugaku, how much is your head worth on the black market?"
Fugaku was a bit dumbfounded by Rengoku's jump in logic but still answered, "One hundred million."
Rengoku said to Itachi, "After you defect from Konoha, your first task is to place a bounty on Shimura Danzo's head on the black market, one billion."
"Payment to be made through escrow."
There are several payment methods in the black market. One is escrow, where the money is already deposited with the black market.
Once the task is completed, the black market gives you the money, but they charge a high commission.
Another is post-task payment, where you find the client yourself. The black market acts as just a bulletin board.
Whether the details are met, whether it's successful, or whether the client pays, none of that is guaranteed by the black market.
Seeing the three looking at him in surprise, Fugaku even reminded, "Rengoku, our clan doesn't have that much liquid capital."
Knowing Fugaku had no experience with this, Rengoku explained, "Who said we need to pay?"
"The mission entry fee is one million per person, and we provide relevant intel on Danzo."
"Only those who complete the mission can claim the one billion."
"We'll set a time limit of one and a half months. Each month that passes, the mission entry fee drops by 100,000, with a minimum of 100,000 per person."
"If it were you, and there was a one-billion-dollar commotion, wouldn't you want to take a look?"
Fugaku and the Great Elder were both shocked, 'There is such a tactic?'
Who wouldn't want to bet small for a big return? One billion, that's the combined bounty of all five Kage.
And bundling registration with intel forces people to buy in.
Intel has a time limit. The longer it's delayed, the less useful it becomes.
So the entry fee keeps dropping.
But black market bounty hunters, seeing the entry fee drop, might be tempted to take a risk.
The lower the threshold, the more people will swarm in.
A cold gleam flashed in Rengoku's eyes, "The message we want to send is, WE WANT DANZO DEAD."
"But the Third Hokage will definitely try to protect Danzo."
"Danzo himself isn't important, but his position is."
"He's the one who carries out the Third Hokage's dirty work."
"If the Third gives him up, he won't be able to find anyone else for those shady jobs."
"And such a move, burning the bridge after crossing it, would rip off his hypocritical mask."
"Besides, the Great Elder publicly forced his hand in front of the entire ninja world, so he also can't kill Danzo."
"On the other hand, Danzo also serves as a balance of power with the Third. If Danzo dies, the Third becomes the sole authority."
"Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu can't compete with the Third."
"These two advisor elders will also protect Danzo and won't let him die."
"Over the years, Danzo has done the Third Hokage's dirty work, so of course he has insurance against him."
"He definitely has blackmail material that could force the Third to step down."
"The Third doesn't dare let Danzo die."
Fugaku and the Great Elder followed Rengoku's logic and sorted through it, "So, without spending a cent, we place a revenge bounty on Danzo, and Konoha has to spend a huge amount of manpower and resources to protect him?"
"Yeah, exactly. And that's not all," Rengoku added, "A large number of people investigating Danzo will continuously tie up Konoha's forces."
"If the Third Hokage doesn't mobilize his hidden forces, other villages might launch probing attacks, possibly even triggering another Ninja World War."
"If the Third does use his hidden forces, we'll manipulate things again, and his ambition will be exposed. Other clans won't allow him to remain Hokage."
"During this time, Konoha won't have the resources to deal with us Uchiha."
"This bounty will also show the other four great ninja villages the tension between Konoha and Uchiha."
"The other villages would love to see Konoha and us fight."
"Now it's Konoha begging us not to fight."
Fugaku and the Great Elder were deeply impressed.
This was a chain of strategies. No matter what Konoha chose, the Uchiha wouldn't lose.
In Danzo's situation, the Third can't let him die and has to go all out to protect him.
The Third receiving intel and trying to take Danzo out for the reward isn't viable either.
For Danzo to sit in the Hokage's support position for so many years, his forces are deeply rooted.
His brainwashing of Root is top-notch, Kairen had even planted preemptive warnings.
Danzo definitely has precautions. If Konoha tries hard to kill him, Root will certainly revolt.
They might even expose the Third Hokage's dirty secrets.
And that would still be Uchiha's opportunity.
If external pressure is too great, and Konoha doesn't have an absolute advantage, they won't go to war.
'Just how does this brain of his work?'
'How did the Uchiha produce such an intelligent mind?'
Itachi, on the other hand, looked somewhat conflicted. After all, he still had a heart for peace and didn't want the ninja world engulfed in chaos.
Rengoku turned and gave Itachi a reminder, "Itachi, stay behind later. I'll speak with you alone."
Itachi steadied himself and calmed down, 'For now, Rengoku-senpai has already demonstrated his brilliance.'
'There must be another plan.'
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y