Chapter 144: The Butcher's Bill and a Father's Resolve
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen provide a face-saving exit, Uchiha Masaki felt a wave of bitter relief. The political battle was lost, for now.
"Thank you for your understanding, Hokage-sama," Masaki said, his voice stiff. "I will take my leave."
As he stood and turned to go, Danzo's voice, cold and sharp as a kunai, stopped him. "Clan Head Masaki. A final word. Do keep a tighter leash on your clansmen. The battlefield is for fighting the enemy, not for airing personal grievances. If discipline is needed, do it behind the walls of your compound. If you fail to teach your children proper manners, the world will inevitably teach them a harsher lesson. And when it does, a parent's complaints ring rather hollow." Danzo's single eye narrowed. "As Konoha's largest clan, you really must set a better example."
Uchiha Masaki's fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white, a torrent of rage boiling within him with no outlet. He could only grind out the words, "Your… point is taken, Lord Danzo."
Without another word, he strode from the office, the door closing with a soft, final click behind him.
Once he was gone, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long breath. "Danzo, your timing was impeccable."
Danzo snorted. "My Root has had the Uchiha under constant surveillance. The moment Masaki set foot in this tower, I knew his purpose." He fixed his gaze on Hiruzen. "But what Kagenori did was far too extreme, Danzo, I really think—"
Danzo cut him off with the same efficiency he'd used on Masaki. "Do not tell me you are actually considering punishing the boy. Think. Why did we send Kagenori to the Land of Waves? Why did we attach nearly a hundred Uchiha to his command? He is executing our strategy, and he is doing so with brutal effectiveness. Is it radical? Yes. But is it working? Undeniably. Uchiha Masaki would not be here pleading his case if it were not."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was stern, his mind a whirlpool of conflicting priorities.
Danzo watched him, his internal disdain growing. Indecisive. Always wavering. He wants the Uchiha problem managed but fears the backlash. If you fear the consequences, why set the plan in motion? This hesitation… it is unbecoming of a Hokage.
"Lord Tobirama," Danzo thought coldly, "you were mistaken. Hiruzen is not the right successor. I am."
Aloud, he said, "Hiruzen, you must understand Kagenori's value. To punish him now is to repudiate his methods. It would make him hesitant, cautious. If you task a man with a dirty job, you must grant him the latitude to see it through. However," he conceded, a master of the political gambit, "you may issue a public reprimand. But ensure the full context is included—the Uchiha's insubordination, the wartime necessity. This serves two purposes: it gives Masaki his symbolic victory, and it demonstrates Kagenori's ruthlessness to the remaining Uchiha, ensuring their hatred remains focused on him, not the Hokage. I will personally explain the situation to Kagenori."
Danzo leaned forward, his voice dropping to a compelling whisper. "Hiruzen, the Uchiha issue cannot be postponed until after the war. We must act now. Today, Masaki came here demanding you punish a commander for enforcing discipline. He was trying to force your hand. Think on that. If he succeeds this time, what will he demand tomorrow?"
A flicker of cold resolve finally ignited in Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. The idea of being strong-armed by a clan head was intolerable. "Very well," he said, his voice firming. "We will do it your way."
Satisfied, Danzo took his leave.
...
In the Land of Waves, Kagenori had thrown himself and the Uchiha into the meat grinder of war. The death of Uchiha Kazuo had reduced the original twenty squads to nineteen, and these teams were now scattered across the country, hunting Mist ninja with a desperate fervor. True to his word, Kagenori fought on the front lines, a whirlwind of lightning and steel, while Nara Kubota managed the logistics from the rear base.
It was there that Kagenori received Danzo's missive. He broke the seal and read the contents, a scornful smile twisting his lips.
"A public reprimand? So typical of Hiruzen. Never willing to fully commit, to dirty his hands." He snorted. "But it seems Danzo's support remains firm."
The letter explained that the Hokage had initially sought a real punishment, but Danzo had intervened, instructing Kagenori to proceed without restraint. Kagenori committed the message to memory before incinerating the scroll with a spark of chakra. Then he returned to the battle.
A month passed. A month of relentless, bloody combat. Driven by fear of their commander and their own desperate pride, the Uchiha ninja had managed to bludgeon the Kirigakure forces into retreat. But the butcher's bill was staggering. Of the ninety-one Uchiha who had begun the campaign, only around forty remained. The Mist ninja had suffered even more heavily, unable to match the Uchiha's do-or-die ferocity and Kagenori's overwhelming personal power.
The surviving Uchiha, having witnessed the "Blood-Eyed Shura" in his full, terrifying glory, were now utterly cowed. They obeyed without question, their eyes downcast in his presence.
With the Mist presence in the Land of Waves critically weakened, Kagenori recalled the remnants of the Uchiha force to the base. He then gave the order for a full-scale offensive. Every Konoha ninja in the region was mobilized for a final sweep to purge the country of the last Kirigakure holdouts.
The net was cast wide.
...
Days later, in a dense, mist-shrouded forest, a three-man Genin cell found themselves in mortal peril.
"We're surrounded!" Genma Shiranui hissed, his senbon twitching in his mouth as his eyes darted between the shadowy figures emerging from the trees.
Might Guy's usual exuberance was gone, replaced by a grimace of despair. "There's no clear path for escape!"
Ebisu pushed his sunglasses up his nose, his voice trembling with fear. "Those… those are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"
One of the figures, Juzo Biwa, let out a low, grating laugh. "Heh. Even the brats from other villages know our names. I guess we're famous."
Beside him, Zabuza Momochi hefted the massive Kubikiribōchō onto his shoulder, the executioner's blade sporting a fresh notch. "Tch. A chip," he muttered, his voice a low rumble. "This blade needs to drink blood. The iron will regenerate."
Guy, Genma, and Ebisu stood back-to-back, their minds racing for a solution that didn't exist. They were hopelessly outmatched against one Swordsman, let alone all seven.
"What do we do? We can't fight them!" Ebisu whispered, his composure shattered.
Just as the Swordsmen began to advance, a green blur shot down from the canopy, landing solidly between the Genin and their executioners.
It was Might Dai, Guy's father. He let out a sharp breath, his signature bowl-cut hair and thick eyebrows a surprising sight on the brink of death.
"Phew! Made it just in time!" he declared, his voice brimming with a determined, almost cheerful energy that starkly contrasted with the deadly intent surrounding them.
💫 Liked the chapter?You can read 100+ extra chapters on Patreon, including the current
Patreon Chapter 244:The Anchor and the Namesake
👉 Patreon.com/KudosNey
Your support helps me write more and update faster 💖And don't forget to drop a Power Stone ⭐ — it really motivates me!
Special thanks to All our patreon members : DCor,Joe Mamma,C99mnt,RobbieRay,BuddySchlym😎
Thank you for reading and supporting! 🙌✨