AN: I love when Hiruzen takes action...
Smiling at his retreating form, the Sandaime sighed and signaled for a hidden ANBU operative to appear. "Karasu, bring me Fugaku Uchiha." He ordered, the raven masked ANBU saluted before disappearing in a sealless Shunshin.
A short moment later, he felt Karasu return but stay hidden, a second later, Fugaku appeared in his office with a short bow.
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Fugaku." Hiruzen nodded to the stoic man, offering the man the chair before the desk.
"Of course, Hokage-sama." The man said simply as he claimed the seat. They stared each other down for a few moments, neither man showing any emotion.
"I am aware of the unrest within your Clan, Fugaku." Hiruzen began calmly. "I wish to calm the stirring anger as soon as possible, but you are the only one they will listen to." He said, Fugaku's face remaining neutral.
"We both know why Minato was chosen as the Yondaime over you. He was the most feared shinobi to our enemies, and had a respectful relationship with Kumo. While you have a fearsome reputation, you did not make Iwa tremble by existing, and Kumo has never been fond of the Uchiha. It was not for your lack of power, but annoying politics." He continued, Fugaku nodding shortly. He had understood, but unfortunately, some of his clan weren't as intelligent as himself. The curse of being half Nara, he thought.
"I am old, Fugaku, and while I can most assuredly protect the village from those wishing it harm, my time ended when Minato took over." Hiruzen stated blandly before his gaze turned fiery as the room began to creek ominously. "Get your Clan under control, Fugaku, we both know the number of truly loyal Uchiha is too low. If they won't be loyal to Konoha, make them loyal to you, because once you straighten out your clan, you will be named the Godaime Hokage." The Sandaime said seriously.
That had cracked the Uchiha's mask, not by much, but the man's eyes widened. If he were honest with himself, he never actually wanted to be the Hokage. If he had been chosen for the position of Yondaime, he would have accepted- just as he would accept now, but it had never been his dream. He just wanted to be strong and protect his family.
He'd never wanted to be the Clan Head either, but he had fallen in love with the Heiress of the Clan, and Mikoto didn't want anything to do with politics. She just wanted to be a mother, so he had taken over in her place so that she could raise their sons. It would seem he was going to have to do the same with the village. He just sighed. Troublesome.
"It will be done, Hokage-sama." The man said seriously, receiving a sharp nod in return.
"Next, the Kyubi Attack." The Hokage began, making the man sigh. The civilians hadn't known that he wasn't in the village that night. He was sent on a mission to Nami no Kuni to assassinate a rising business tycoon. His not being there, mixed with the order for the Uchiha to handle the civilian's safety and not fight, painted the Uchiha in a bad light. Had he been in the village, Minato would still be alive…
"Before he passed, Minato told me that the one who orchestrated the attack said he was Madara Uchiha, but was far too young for that to be the case. He believed that the known Uchiha in the village were innocent, and that the one at fault was an Uchiha that was previously thought to be dead." Hiruzen explained. A few seconds later, Fugaku's eyes widened slightly, making the man nod.
"Minato was an idealist, and was on death's doorstep when I got to him. I think he knew, but either didn't want to admit that Obito had defected, or was simply just too exhausted." Hiruzen sighed.
"Either way, he warned us of his threat. He is extremely dangerous, and had enough skill to ensnare the Kyubi in a Genjutsu. I want you to examine every member of your clan for traces of genjutsu, or signs that they have been compromised. Send them to TI if you find anything. The other clan's will be doing the same, while the ANBU will be scanning the clanless shinobi and civilians." Hiruzen ordered.
"That is all for now, Fugaku, keep me informed on your progress." Hiruzen dismissed. The man nodded and stood before bowing and flickered away. Next order of business, then.
"Karasu, bring me Ashi Hyuga." He ordered, a few moments passed, much longer than it had for Fugaku. When the ANBU returned, he was alone.
"Ashi Hyuga said that he was busy and that whatever it is can wait. When I informed him it was an order, he ignored me. When I attempted to take him by force, he lashed out with a Jūken strike." He reported, making the man scowl.
"Bring him to me." The Sandaime ordered, Karasu nodding simply before disappearing. Barely a second later, he returned holding Ashi Hyuga by his gray hair, forcing the man to his knees.
"What is the meaning of this?!" The man demanded, byakugan glaring directly into the fiery eyes of the Hokage.
"You ignored my summons, Hyuga. I have serious matters to discuss with you." Hiruzen began coldly, his killing intent pinning the still glaring man in place.
"You are to end the enslavement of your clan, and remove every cursed seal from your members. Once that is done, you will reveal that you covered up the death of Homare Hyuga and step down as Clan Head. If you refuse, you will be dishonorably executed." The Sandaime ordered.
"You don't have the authority!" The man exclaimed angrily.
That was evidently the wrong thing to say, as the room began to shake while Hiruzen got to his feet. "I am the Hokage, I am the authority!" He snapped, the anger in the man's tone making the Hyuga flinch back. The Sandaime was a calm, weak willed man, who was this?!
"You are under my command, as is every other citizen within Konoha! If you refuse my orders, you will be executed for treason." Hiruzen stated coldly as he walked around his desk to stand before the man who continued to glare at him.
He had to be bluffing.
"I won't." Ashi stated defiantly, making the Hokage's face become more stony than his depiction on the monument.
"So be it."
It happened in the blink of an eye. One moment, Ashi was glaring at the Sandaime, the next, there was blood leaking from his now vacant eyes as the blue hue of a chakra scalpel slowly faded from Hiruzen's hand
"Lock down the village, no one in or out. We're cleaning house." The Sandaime ordered. Immediately, the shadows in the room flickered out to relay the orders. What followed had shook the Elemental Nations to its core.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage, had done something that no one could have predicted. He took action.
There had been a total of six spies within Konoha. One from every major village, as well as a spy for Orochimaru. Orochimaru's spy was interrogated, but his mind was in shambles, so they executed him. The rest of the spies were knocked out and taken back to their respective countries with a warning.
There had been an unnervingly high number of those with immediate traitorous intentions. They were interrogated and executed.
The civilians were scared. Suddenly being told to stay in their homes where a pair of ANBU asked them questions had set them on edge and they didn't know how to feel. When they asked, the ANBU said that the Hokage was searching for traitors and spies. A total of seventy-two civilians were interrogated and executed.
Then it all came to a head with the treasonous nationalist himself, Danzo.
"Hiruzen, I see you're finally listening to reason." The bandaged man said as they stood atop the Nidaime's depiction on the Hokage Monument.
"I have been lenient, I admit, but I have honor, and that is something you have never had." Hiruzen said as he removed his Hokage cloak to reveal his battle gear.
"You've known of my actions the entire time, Hiruzen, why now?" Danzo asked, unfazed by the subtle show of force by his former friend and rival.
"My back hurts from bending over, so I'm cleaning up my mess for my successor." Hiruzen stated, the scarred man snorting at his words.
"Who have you chosen?" Danzo asked while they finally turned to face each other.
"Me."
At the voice, Danzo froze… no
Turning toward the treeline that had held his hidden operatives, he found his worries confirmed. Carelessly tossing his best agents in an unceremonious heap on the ground was Fugaku Uchiha. He couldn't help it, he laughed.
"So you are being controlled, it makes so much sense now." He said, making Fugaku's frown lines deepen.
"Unlike you, Shimura, I do not need to control others to be powerful. I will be the Godaime Hokage by my own merit, not deceit." Fugaku said severely.
"Is that so… well it is too bad your words are hollow. You will die here today, as will you, Hiruzen. Thank you for doing the dirty work for me, I will lead Konoha to greatness, don't worry." Danzo said with a smirk as he met the Sandaime's glare.
With a small gust of wind as a silent signal, it began. Hiruzen shot forward and began furiously trading blows with the bandaged man, moving at speeds well beyond Jonin level. With a sudden shift in stance, Hiruzen sent a chakra scalpel at Danzo, who's visible eye widened before he narrowly dodged the attack. That would prove to be a mistake.
As soon as he leaned out of the way of Hiruzen's scalpel, the man was quite literally replaced by Fugaku who sent a heavy chakra enhanced strike to his solar plexus, causing blood to shoot out of his mouth as he was launched back several meters until he shakily landed on the Shodai's head.
He didn't get a moment of respite before he was immediately struck by the end of Enma's extending staff transformation and sent rocketing down Konoha's main street. Bouncing once off the ground, he was intercepted by Fugaku's sharp kick and sent into a hurtling strike from Hiruzen that launched him back toward Fugaku who punched him into the ground, creating a shallow crater on impact.
By now, everyone, shinobi and civilian alike, were peeking through windows or standing on the buildings to see the unlikely battle transpiring below. To see the Sandaime Hokage battling Danzo Shimura with Fugaku Uchiha was shocking to everyone who witnessed it.
Unfortunately, the last attack was too good to be true, as the downed body of Danzo poofed away to reveal a mangled garbage bin. Sharingan spinning like the pinwheel it was named after, Fugaku spun on the spot and deftly grabbed the kunai hurtling toward his face and threw it into the air. As soon as the kunai passed the rooftops, the tag trailing behind it exploded, shaking the nearby buildings and causing the watching civilians to scream.
"Danzo! Surrender for your treasonous crimes against Konoha!" The Sandaime ordered as he stood in a ready stance beside a glaring Fugaku.
"We know the Kyubi attack was orchestrated by you, Shimura. We have already taken out your loyal followers, you have no back up. Surrender." Fugaku's deep voice sounded, his statement rocking the entire world for those who heard his words.
Danzo's eye widened imperceptibly before a smirk crept onto his face. So that's their plan… clever.
"Everything I have done has been for the betterment of Konoha! The shinobi world is not always so peaceful as it is now, sometimes you have to dirty your hands to prosper!" Danzo shouted with a smirk, he could play along.
"What prosperity did Konoha gain from the Kyubi Attack! What prosperity did Konoha gain when you stole the eye of my Clansman!" Fugaku shouted, gasps sounding around them while Danzo smirk deepened.
"I suppose I can stop holding back since you obviously know my secret." Reaching up to his face, he removed the bandages around his head. Opening his closed eye, he revealed the stolen sharingan he had taken from his deceased teammate, Kagami Uchiha, much to the shock of those around him.
He knew there was no getting out of this, and if he ruined Hiruzen's plan, then it would most assuredly spell disaster for Konoha. He had been played. They knew he'd never harm Konoha, and if he denied their claims, Konoha would be torn asunder.
Danzo took the initiative this time, launching himself at Fugaku in a blur to their audience. Their blows were quick and lethal, each aiming for the other's vital points. Just because he knew he'd ultimately lose, didn't mean he liked the idea of an Uchiha being the Hokage. If he killed Fugaku here and now, then he could die content knowing that there wouldn't be an Uchiha leading Konoha. Maybe Sakumo's brat could take over… yeah, that could work.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, Danzo's distracted mind cost him. As soon as Fugaku saw the opening, he slapped Danzo with a sharp crack, the blow sending the man careening into Hiruzen's awaiting swing headfirst, leaving the man slumped on the ground.
With a resounding cheer, their audience began celebrating their success against the man who was apparently responsible for the Kyubi Attack. Looking at each other, Hiruzen and Fugaku shared a smirk. Their plan worked flawlessly.
AN: IT'S MY FIRST FIGHT SCENE... be gentle.
As for Danzo... I hate him. And while I admit his characterization here is stretched, the man was going to lose that fight. Hiruzen is strong as hell, and Fugaku is even stronger. He was surrounded and had no back up. He was beat.
Also! Fugaku is OP... like, he could beat Kaguya, and Madara, and Nagato... Jubi... basically every villain he can take ;) BUT HOW?! You'll see...