Chapter 231: Replacing the Hokage, Who Should Be Chosen?
"You plan to leave the Akatsuki and join Konoha?" Ikeizumi Uchiha asked, looking at Jūzō Biwa before him.
"To be precise... join your, Ikeizumi Uchiha's, faction." Jūzō Biwa corrected.
After a pause, he continued: "After all, asking me to pledge loyalty to the Konoha Third Hokage is clearly impossible. However, if the object of loyalty is you, Ikeizumi Uchiha, it's not out of the question."
"Good." Ikeizumi Uchiha's concise reply left Jūzō Biwa utterly stunned.
"Huh? No..."
Jūzō Biwa couldn't help but blurt out the surprise in his heart: "Aren't you curious why I am unwilling to be loyal to the Konoha Third Hokage, and only willing to be loyal to you, Ikeizumi Uchiha?"
"Don't care." Ikeizumi Uchiha said calmly.
Jūzō Biwa: "..."
Jūzō Biwa believed that if he were to defect to Konoha's Third Hokage, the latter would definitely investigate all his motives thoroughly and would completely distrust him initially.
Yet, this guy in front of him did not suspect his motives at all.
Wasn't he afraid that he had been turned by the Akatsuki and was here to be a spy for the Konoha Military Police Force?
Ikeizumi Uchiha seemed to have understood his inner thoughts.
He said placidly: "If I found any wickedness on you, the moment you stepped through this door, you would already be dead."
Cold sweat immediately trickled down Jūzō Biwa.
He did not doubt Ikeizumi Uchiha's ability to instantly kill him.
Because he had personally witnessed how terrifying this magma monster was!
The fact that the Akatsuki had viewed hunting and assassinating the opponent as an "imminent threat" further validated the substance of Ikeizumi Uchiha's strength!
At this moment.
Jūzō Biwa suddenly heard Ikeizumi Uchiha add: "This allows me to conveniently use you as a springboard into the Land of Water. To purge all the evil in the Land of Water, leaving none behind."
Jūzō Biwa was taken aback.
The rigorously serious expression on his face finally showed a hint of surprise, and he said in astonishment: "You want to interfere in the Land of Water? Wait a minute, aren't you starting a war between nations? Won't this spark the Fourth Shinobi World War?"
Ikeizumi Uchiha slowly asked: "So, do you have a simpler, more direct, and highly effective method to completely end the Bloody Mist Policy of the Hidden Mist Village and restore the village?"
Jūzō Biwa opened his mouth.
But couldn't utter a word.
If he truly had such a method, he wouldn't have needed to defect from the Hidden Mist Village.
Wouldn't he have just implemented his plan within the village?
Furthermore, Jūzō Biwa realized that he seemed unable to persuade the man in front of him.
When the opponent decided to do something.
No one could talk him out of it.
At the same time, Jūzō Biwa gained a deeper understanding of Ikeizumi Uchiha's [Absolute Justice]—the opponent's justice was not confined to Konoha, or the Land of Fire. Ikeizumi Uchiha truly intended to spread his [Absolute Justice] throughout the entire Shinobi World.
No...
That's not right.
[Absolute Justice] might just be a tool in Ikeizumi Uchiha's hands. What he truly intended to do was use [Absolute Justice] as a tool and means to cleanse the entire Shinobi World of its wickedness!
To bend this twisted and deformed Shinobi World back onto the right track! This was this man's [Ninja Way]!
Yet, many people only saw the surface of Ikeizumi Uchiha's Absolute Justice.
They failed to see the deepest underlying factor behind [Absolute Justice]!
Taking a deep breath, calming his internal thoughts, and preparing himself mentally, Jūzō Biwa asked: "Then, what method will you use to purge the evil of the Land of Water and end the Bloody Mist Policy?"
"Kill." Ikeizumi Uchiha gave only a one-word answer this time.
But it made Jūzō Biwa's hair stand on end.
He seemed to hallucinate a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
Ikeizumi Uchiha had already killed so maniacally in the Land of Fire.
Wouldn't he be even more unburdened in a foreign land?
Jūzō Biwa suddenly felt a little worried.
When Homura Mitokado returned home, he felt completely restless.
He could clearly sense that both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu Utatane had been pushed against the wall by Ikeizumi Uchiha and could not retreat another step.
The two of them could either choose to directly resign and do nothing, delegating the power in their hands to capable young people.
Or, they could choose not to retreat any further, but instead step forward to confront the relentlessly pressing Ikeizumi Uchiha.
As for standing in the same faction as Ikeizumi Uchiha? Directly surrendering?
That was simply not an option!
Differences in ideological concepts led to differences in stances. These two factions could never stand together.
And this...
Also caused the Konoha Village, which was already accumulating immense pressure and contradictions, to seem on the verge of a complete explosion of this contradiction.
Koharu Utatane was opposed to Ikeizumi Uchiha, believing that his existence posed a great threat to Konoha. This idea was actually exactly the same as the already-killed Itachi Uchiha.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, his feelings towards Ikeizumi Uchiha were a mix of hatred and helplessness.
Homura Mitokado firmly believed that Hiruzen could never let go of the hatred for the murder of his son.
Because, when Hiruzen led the ANBU to the capital of the Land of Fire, he was already prepared to stop Ikeizumi Uchiha's actions while simultaneously avenging his two sons.
He just didn't expect the Daimyō's son to surrender first...
Leaving Hiruzen awkwardly stuck, forced to abandon his original plan.
Did Hiruzen let go of the hatred afterward?
How could that be possible!
"Hmph... Under the extreme pressure from Ikeizumi Uchiha, as his authority is gradually eroded, and upon realizing that Konoha cannot be replaced by Absolute Justice. The hatred that Hiruzen had suppressed in his heart has been slightly released."
"Although Hiruzen is the Hokage, he is also human. He is not a saint, nor is he a bleeding heart. He is certainly not a purely political creature."
After completing his analysis, Homura Mitokado found himself somewhat powerless.
If he were to support Koharu Utatane and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He was actually a little timid.
Regardless of success or failure, the influence caused by the process would definitely affect the Mitokado Clan, and even affect him, Homura Mitokado.
And among the three Konoha Elders, his, Homura Mitokado's, clan was the weakest in terms of strength.
Small family, small assets.
Cannot withstand turmoil.
But the question was, could he, as a Konoha Elder, really stand aloof from the matter?
Absolutely impossible!
"Koharu asked Hiruzen to relay this matter to me, perhaps also to ask me how I should align myself. In this event, there is clearly no such thing as a neutral faction." Homura Mitokado, located within the Mitokado Clan compound, glanced at his clan members.
He gritted his teeth, finally deciding to push himself at this age, staking the most important bet of the Mitokado Clan.
Homura Mitokado disguised himself using the Transformation Jutsu.
Then he walked towards the Uchiha Clan compound.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not know what Homura Mitokado was thinking.
Because an extremely tricky problem was suddenly placed before him.
—Tsunade had kidnapped more than a dozen students from the Ninja Academy!
It was only after several teachers from the Ninja Academy jointly came to "complain" that Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Tsunade had caused such a huge mess.
Helplessly, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only arrange for an ANBU ninja to find Tsunade and question her about what she intended to do.
The "Orochimaru" PTSD caused Hiruzen Sarutobi a strange sense of worry, even though he felt that Tsunade would not emulate Orochimaru.
"Yes." As the ANBU ninja answered, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed involuntarily.
Because the ANBU ninja did not add the honorific "Hokage-sama" after "Yes."
This indicated that there was already significant dissatisfaction with him, the Hokage, within the ANBU.
Even some ANBU ninja who were once fiercely loyal to him, Hiruzen Sarutobi, were now somewhat perfunctory in their attitude towards him.
Although still loyal, they no longer respected him as much as before.
Before long.
The ANBU ninja he had sent out returned and informed Hiruzen Sarutobi of Tsunade's purpose.
"Hokage-sama, Lady Tsunade intends to select children suitable to become medical ninja from the Ninja Academy and train them to become potential members of the Military Police Force's Medical Squad."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "..."
This immediately reminded Hiruzen Sarutobi of the argument he had with Tsunade some time ago.
When he rejected Tsunade's proposal at the time, Tsunade had thrown down a number of "harsh words" at him, but he didn't expect Tsunade would actually prepare to form her own Medical Squad.
And even extended her tentacles into the Ninja Academy!
If anyone else did this, Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely use every means available to stop them. After all, the Ninja Academy was the future of Konoha, and Hiruzen Sarutobi absolutely could not allow others to infringe upon it.
However...
The person doing this was Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage-sama.
This made things a bit complicated.
"Which children did Tsunade... choose?" After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked another question.
The ANBU ninja recited more than a dozen names.
Every name made Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyelids twitch, because he felt most of these names were familiar. Familiarity meant he had previously paid attention to these children; these children were the elite ninja he envisioned for Konoha's future.
Yet, they were all poached by Tsunade!
At the same time.
Land of Rain.
Nagato, sitting in his wheelchair, spoke to Konan beside him: "You will represent the Akatsuki to meet a person. The opponent contacted an external member of the Akatsuki through some special means and frankly disclosed their intention. The opponent is interested in cooperating with the Akatsuki."
Konan looked at Nagato and asked suspiciously: "Who? And where are they from?"
The person who could draw Nagato's attention must have an unusual identity, right?
Nagato replied: "Koharu Utatane, from Konoha's Root organization."
Upon hearing those words, Konan fell silent for a moment.
"Konoha's Root..."
Because she recalled Danzo Shimura, who once controlled Konoha's Root.
Yahiko's death was inextricably linked to Danzo Shimura.
Konan frowned slightly: "Could it be another trap?"
Nagato shook his head: "The current Akatsuki is fundamentally different from the former Akatsuki; the opponent wouldn't be so foolish. Moreover, I will send two Pains to guard you. That way, even if it is a trap, your safety can be guaranteed."
"Besides, the opponent is actively seeking a meeting, so they will be coming here, and this is our home ground. They wouldn't be so idiotic on our home ground."
After a pause, Nagato added: "If the opponent wants to hire us to do something, you can make an exorbitant demand. After all, she is from Konoha, and Konoha is immensely wealthy."
Konan nodded: "Understood."
Konoha Village.
Military Police Force Headquarters.
"Ikeizumi, I am not choosing sides. I just don't want to see the Mitokado Clan fall into danger, and I certainly don't want the young people in the clan to be dragged into the quagmire of death. I also hope you won't tell anyone else that I met with you today."
The disguised Homura Mitokado selectively informed Ikeizumi Uchiha of some of the information he knew.
After all the words were spoken, Homura Mitokado felt a sense of shame for having betrayed Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu Utatane.
But this sense of shame quickly disappeared.
He had no choice.
He had to do this.
Of course...
The most important point was that Homura Mitokado believed that he had no major deep-seated grudge against Ikeizumi Uchiha. Although a few members of the Mitokado Clan had been arrested by Ikeizumi Uchiha, it was only because those few clan members had committed wrongs and crimes.
"Your statement of 'not choosing sides' is just self-consolation." Ikeizumi Uchiha said calmly: "The moment you stood before me, you had already chosen your stance. You are actually very clear that you cannot turn back."
"I am a little curious, what is your motive? Is it merely for the Mitokado Clan? That excuse is too ridiculous. Such a flimsy excuse is not enough to make you stand against the Hokage."
Ikeizumi Uchiha's verbal interrogation caused Homura Mitokado to open his mouth, his heart deeply conflicted.
After a long silence, he finally said: "Hiruzen is indeed somewhat indecisive. He is old now, no longer the fiery, young Third Hokage, no longer the world-renowned 'Professor' Shinobi.
"If he had chosen a tough stance against you from the beginning, I would have firmly stood by him. But he initially retreated constantly, and now he is suddenly trying to be tough."
"This doesn't indicate a transition from indecisiveness to a firm hand. It only indicates that he has lost the ability to judge the situation."
Homura Mitokado sighed: "Hiruzen, in fact, is no longer suitable to sit in that position. His continued presence in that position has caused Konoha to gradually decline."
"This..."
"Hmph, this is what I do not want to see."
Ikeizumi Uchiha carefully scrutinized the Homura Mitokado before him, looking through the lenses of his glasses into his eyes.
Ikeizumi Uchiha slowly said: "Whether it is the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, or the Root leader, Koharu Utatane. They both attribute Konoha's decline to the interference of [Absolute Justice] in the village. Only you think this is the Third Hokage's problem. I previously thought that the three of you shared the same ideology."
Homura Mitokado felt somewhat uneasy under the stare. He shifted his gaze and said: "Although we are all Konoha Elders, it is impossible for the three of us to adhere to the same mindset."
"Hiruzen leans towards balance and conservatism; Koharu leans towards radicalism; and I lean towards rationality. And these different mindsets cause us to have some disagreements when discussing certain political matters."
"Of course... these disagreements are impossible for outsiders to know."
"You think the three of us share the same ideology, perhaps because the three of us first debate a matter to a conclusion, and then have that conclusion implemented."
"And you, Ikeizumi, look at us three based on 'that concluded matter,' overlooking the arguments and debates that took place beforehand."
Ikeizumi Uchiha slightly nodded, admitting frankly: "That is indeed the case."
Homura Mitokado said: "The information, I have already passed it on to you, so I should leave now. Please, when you do anything, do not involve me, and at least do not let Hiruzen and Koharu know that I secretly contacted you."
Just as Homura Mitokado turned to leave.
Ikeizumi Uchiha suddenly pondered and said: "If... I wanted to replace the Hokage, who do you think would be a better choice?"
Homura Mitokado's heart violently shook in horror.
His movement instantly froze.
.......
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