The Danzo incident spread far and wide, and now, instead of shouting in anger when discussing the man, people shrieked in laughter.
The story of the heroic kitten spread across the lands. Ninja at training grounds whispered it. Officers went home to their families and retold it in choked voices. It was whispered over counters at the Dango shop and exchanged along with newly forged kunai.
At this point the village elders had holed up inside the council building, refusing to take questions and sending root members to hold back the crowd. It was on the front page-the crowd that was. In a military dictatorship like this, numbers like that were unheard of.
"Send Danzo out, that coward!" One girl had shouted.
And then the Uchiha pulled out the big guns.
Fugaku went straight to the Hokage and told him while she and Sasuke listened in the background, that;
"This is discrimination to the Uchiha. We have been serving Konaha faithfully for decades and have been treated with nothing but suspicion in return. I demand the ban to be rendered ineffective immediately. While it encompasses all cat-owners, the bond between the Uchiha and our summons is vital for the villages protection. "
The Hokage actually looked guilty.
He bowed his head and sighed. His pipe tilted as he saw the two kids peeking around the corner, looking all his 60+ years of life.
"I will-"
Poof.
In a swirl of leaves, Danzo appeared in the office. Miko and Sasuke ducked behind their father who gave them disapproving glares.
The tension sparked. Both had come for a proposal from the Hokage and who he decided to entertain would effect everyone for years down the road. If he went with Danzo, he would be damning the Uchiha and roughly half of Konoha. If he went with the Uchiha, he would be publicly snubbing his lifelong 'friend' and 'ally'.
Miko and Sasuke peered out from behind Fugaku's legs, wide moon eyes staring up at the Hokage. His gaze hardened.
"Danzo."
That one word vibrated the entire room with it's power.
"By order of the Hokage, I render this ban Ineffective. Immediately. Cease and desist. I am giving you the choice to tell the public yourself instead of me."
Danzo didn't respond.
"You and I both know this ban is doing more harm than good."
Danzo made for the exit, but not before leaning over and saying;
"You were always a soft-hearted fool." And then he was gone. Sasuke gasped in shock at Danzo's rudeness. Nodding to the Hokage respectfully, Fugaku grabbed both of their hands and led them out of the office. But not before Miko threw a wave over her shoulder.
And perhaps there was another thing she should mention.
Kibbles had become the face of the resistance.
The tiny gray kitten with orange eyes and a cauliflower ear had replaced all the other generic cats. The art institute did life size models and they had instantly sold out. Her aunt who owned the kitten had contacted a shirt making company, and an order for three hundred shirts was placed. For a gray kitten with orange eyes and a cauliflower on the front.
She made sure she and Sasuke got one. She thought she would die if she didn't.
Having heard the story themselves, the shirts were gone almost instantly. People would see each other in the streets with Kibbles shirts and wave. At the clinics a cheer rose whenever someone walked in. Her aunt was having a blast walking around with the actually Kibbles in her hand with a shirt.
People whipped out their Polaroids and got pictures and the Police turned a blind eye. This was all going on at the same time as the crowd protested.
"I love your shirt!" A girl screamed from across the street.
"'Danks!" She chirped back. Orders flooded in and her aunt was making a tidy profit with another thousand shirts being manufactured.
The crowds swelled with Kibbles shirts but then they roared when Danzo appeared at the top of the steps.
Someone screamed to be quiet, and the crowd hushed, waiting for Danzo to speak.
"...The ban was put in place with the best-interest of the village in mind." The crowd stirred but remained silent. "It is unfortunate it had to go this far but as of now." He paused, the entire crowd waiting with baited breath.
"The ban on felines in public will remain-"
Screams of anger drowned him out.
"Bullshit!"
"No way!"
"ENOUGH!"
The crowd buzzed.
Then Tsume Inuzuka, clan head of the Dog clan marched towards Danzo through the parted crowd. Two dogs flanking her.
"I was just at the tower. I heard the Hokage." She growled.
The crowd buzzed. What was she talking about?
"He decreed, as of now, the Ban has been rendered ineffective! Rethink what you are going to say. As a dog-person, this cat ban is idiotic!"
Cheers rose.
"You're supposed to do whats best for the people, how is banning practically half of the village best for the people!?" She roared, her two hounds barking.
Screams almost deafening to her.
"So what do you have to say now!?"
The crowd chanted in agreement. Tsume walked right up to Danzo, kidnapped slaves forming a protective stance around him.
"... As of now, the Village elders declare the ban ineffective." He said through a stiff jaw.
Cheeres rose from the crowd. It was insane.
A random kid hugged her, a lady opened her purse and two cats jumped out. A hulking man placed a kitten on top of his head like a hat. People ran to the clinics and restaurants. The reporters at the scene wrote down most of what was going on and dashed to the newspaper.
"Party at my place!"
People celebrated all night, throwing impromptu parties, and the dog people were invited. At the biggest one Tsume herself grabbed the mic and threw out the idea of a Cat- Dog festival. Miko wished she thought of that.
That was all great.
But the best part?
Tsume was wearing a Kibbles shirt the entire time.