When Yusuke Uchiha finished speaking, the room fell into a brief, heavy silence.
The eyes turned toward him were filled with admiration and approval.
Measured yet bold. Fiery yet controlled.
"Blazing Demon" Yusuke truly lived up to his name as the renowned Uchiha Clan Head.
Still, no one rushed to declare their stance.
Almost instinctively, all eyes shifted to the Third Hokage.
Yusuke had ignited their fighting spirit—
But no seasoned clan head wanted to be the first bird to stick its neck out.
Hiruzen shot Danzō a subtle look for support.
The man in the corner—leader of Root—simply snorted and said nothing.
Danzō had always been hawkish. He had little respect for Hiruzen's conciliatory approach.
If not for the two advisors backing Hiruzen, he might have already stepped forward himself.
Now that Yusuke was pushing for war—
That aligned perfectly with Danzō's interests.
His prestige had always lagged behind Hiruzen's.
And war was the fastest way to build reputation.
Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh.
Danzō was clearly useless at this moment.
Danzō's gaze lingered on Yusuke, filled with caution.
First reshaping public opinion.
Now seizing moral high ground and prestige.
The Uchiha were calculating.
Are you trying to compete for the Hokage's seat?
Seeing the hesitation in the room, Yusuke decided to add fuel to the fire.
He had already made the humiliation clear.
If they still refused to speak, it could only mean one thing—
They were afraid of offending the Hokage.
Yusuke's voice rang firm.
"The Uchiha will never abandon one of our own."
"Even if war breaks out, we will stake our entire clan's lives and tear flesh from the enemy."
He turned his gaze toward Hiashi Hyūga.
He had done his part.
If the Hyūga still failed to stand up, then they deserved whatever fate awaited them.
Yusuke had already earned goodwill from multiple clans.
Even if this failed, it wouldn't harm him.
As for offending Konoha's leadership?
The Uchiha and the higher-ups were already at odds. A little worse made no difference.
Hiashi remained silent for a moment.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"Yusuke is right."
"The Hyūga will not abandon our own either."
"Hokage-sama—we request permission to fight!"
As he declared it, he cast Yusuke a grateful look.
Whatever Yusuke's true intentions were—
Today, he had helped the Hyūga.
"Ahem."
Shikaku Nara cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"The Nara clan… agrees to war."
He had little choice.
Yusuke had framed the issue perfectly.
To remain silent now meant admitting willingness to abandon clan members.
No clan head could accept that.
"The Yamanaka will fight."
"The Akimichi will fight."
The Ino–Shika–Chō alliance had always stood together.
Once Shikaku spoke, Inoichi Yamanaka and Chōza Akimichi followed without hesitation.
Soon after, the Aburame and Inuzuka clans declared their stance as well.
One after another.
The tide had turned.
Watching the rising fervor among the clan heads, Hiruzen and the two advisors knew—
War had become unavoidable.
What could have been resolved by sacrificing a single life—
Had now escalated into the prospect of Konoha reigniting large-scale conflict.
They were unwilling.
But they had no choice except to smile through it.
Yusuke's sudden intervention had ripped control from their hands.
Hiruzen cast a quiet glance at Yusuke, eyes dark with caution.
Is this the Uchiha's way of breaking their isolation? Through war?
This young man is anything but simple.
Elite shinobi throughout the room stared at Hiruzen expectantly.
Everything was ready.
Only the Hokage's final word remained.
After a long pause, Hiruzen nodded solemnly.
"You are correct."
"Konoha will not abandon a single comrade."
"If Kumogakure insists on arrogance and aggression—"
"Then Konoha will respond in kind."
His conciliatory stance vanished.
In its place stood a resolute war leader.
Hiruzen understood the timing.
To continue advocating surrender would devastate his authority.
If the Uchiha wanted war—
Then let them have it.
War could also serve as a means to weaken the Uchiha.
If the entire clan marched to the battlefield—
At least they wouldn't be scheming internally.
With the decision made, Hiruzen stood.
"This meeting is adjourned."
"This afternoon, I will personally negotiate with Kumogakure's delegation."
"Return to your clans. Prepare for war."
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