Mitokado Homura spoke.
"Ensuring Sasuke's safety is part of our agreement with Itachi. Itachi has sacrificed enough already; please be a little lenient with Sasuke."
Hiruzen furrowed his brows and picked up where Homura left off.
"What Hiruzen said makes sense; after all, the only one bearing the name 'Uchiha' now is Sasuke. There's no need to demand too much from a child, as long as he can live quietly as a Konoha Ninja."
Utatane Koharu also expressed her thoughts.
Unexpectedly, Danzo was ready to dismiss Koharu's standpoint, with a cold tone he said:
"Is there truly only one Ninja left bearing the name 'Uchiha'? Don't forget, over ten years ago, some members of the Uchiha Clan left Konoha."
"You are overthinking, Danzo. Those people are renegade ninjas who have long lost their legitimate Uchiha status. Moreover, they only dare to engage in secretive, shady activities, living like stray dogs. As long as we remain vigilant and don't offer them any opportunity, they won't dare to provoke Konoha. We won't give them another chance to instigate the Kyuubi Rampage."
Utatane Koharu argued her case.
In her view, the legitimate Uchiha have always been within Konoha, and those who have defected are no longer legitimate Uchiha ninjas.
Even Itachi at this moment cannot be considered legitimate Uchiha.
Therefore, in future battles as Uchiha, only Uchiha Sasuke remains.
The defected Uchiha Ruri and others are just abandoned stray dogs of the village, unable to represent the true Uchiha.
Having lost Konoha's protection, it's uncertain where they are wandering now.
"Suit yourselves, I just wanted to point out that Konoha still faces hidden threats, don't become complacent at such a time."
Danzo stood up from his seat.
"Leaving already, Danzo?"
Hiruzen looked at Danzo standing up and asked.
Danzo nodded and said to Hiruzen:
"There are many matters to handle over at Root, deciding about Uchiha Sasuke and the aftermath of the Uchiha Clan is up to you, Hiruzen."
Uchiha Sasuke is different from Itachi; he doesn't warrant much attention from Root.
To Danzo, Uchiha Sasuke is merely a pawn connecting Konoha and Itachi.
Besides that, there's nothing else about him that deserves attention.
Just as Danzo was about to open the door, suddenly the conference room door was aggressively pushed open.
"Fire, Hokage-sama!"
Hiruzen recognized this anxious-looking Konoha Ninja.
The person is a ninja from the Konoha Intelligence Communications Department, responsible for Konoha's communication with the outside world.
Rushing over with panic, is it because of a major event outside?
Before Hiruzen could inquire, the ninja handed over a letter, reporting to Hiruzen:
"This is the open declaration of war from the Land of Demons to the Land of Wind, just delivered to the village. Now war has completely broken out between the Land of Demons and the Land of Wind."
"What did you say?"
Hiruzen and others were wide-eyed, even Danzo who was about to leave the meeting room paused upon hearing the news.
The Land of Demons' declaration of war to the Land of Wind?
Is war upon us again?
And it's a Neutral Country initiating war on one of the Five Great Nations... This seems incredible no matter how you look at it.
Despite knowing that the relationship between the Land of Demons and the Land of Wind has been tense due to the loan issue during the Third Ninja Realm War, no one had thought they would fall out to this extent in such a short time.
Hiruzen picked up the declaration that the ninja handed over, skimming through it quickly.
Indeed, as the ninja said, this is the Land of Demons' formal public declaration of war to the Land of Wind on the international stage.
With such a declaration, it could very well lead to a full-scale war between the two countries, not just a minor conflict.
Hiruzen soon saw a signature at the bottom of the declaration.
Seeing the signature, Hiruzen was struck as if by thunder, sitting dumbfoundedly in his chair, showing a shock expression.
"Minister of Military Affairs of the Land of Demons, Supreme Commander of the Army... Chiba Hakushi!?"
How is this possible?
Why would their dangerous renegade from Konoha run to the Land of Demons and openly declare war on the Land of Wind, one of the Five Great Nations?
This must be a dream, otherwise such a hallucination couldn't occur.