"Fugaku is right. The Uchiha are currently part of the Shinobi Allied Forces. We must not do anything that affects unity."
Kagami, speaking as a senior, first praised Fugaku's composure and then tried to persuade everyone: "Danzo and I were once comrades who faced life and death together."
"In past wars, Danzo protected me. His father and grandfather both died for the Village. He would never do anything to harm his fellow countrymen."
Yashiro said, "Kagami, people change. You've been dead for so long; he's long forgotten those times he fought side-by-side with you."
"Besides, we Uchiha have always been seen by the Senju Faction as the root of trouble. The Uchiha have never been regarded as fellow countrymen by the Senju Faction."
"I remember several cases in the past where Shinobi from the clan went missing while on missions outside the Village. They were all elites of the Police Force who had awakened the Sharingan..."
"The Police Force could never investigate it. I suspect it was Danzo's Root that attacked the Police Force members and stole the clan's Sharingan."
The members of the Police Force's hawk faction turned pale as they thought about the missing clan members from the past.
"No need to investigate, Danzo did it. Only his Root could destroy all the evidence without anyone knowing."
"We can't endure this anymore. No matter what, that old dog Danzo must give us an explanation today!"
Kagami stepped forward to stop them: "Everyone, calm down. Look around you. People from the Anbu have already noticed our strange behavior."
"Everyone calm down first. I will go to Danzo later to ask for clarification on this matter."
Yashiro gave Kagami a push: "Kagami, what if you ask for clarification? You've become someone else's puppet!"
Shisui, standing by Yashiro's side, advised: "Yashiro-senpai, this is just speculation. There is no evidence to prove Elder Danzo is stealing our Uchiha Clan's Kekkei Genkai."
"We should investigate secretly first. As long as Elder Danzo uses the Sharingan, Genjutsu energy will flow. At that time, we can use the Sharingan to see the chakra flow in his eye area."
"I will keep an eye on him. Please, everyone, calm down for now."
The hawk faction members wouldn't listen to Shisui; they wanted to go and interrogate Danzo.
Fugaku finally stepped forward and activated his Sharingan: "Everyone stop! Have you no sense of propriety? The two armies are facing off and about to start a war."
"If we go to question Danzo now, isn't that creating a rift within the Shinobi Allied Forces?"
"This will only make the Alliance more certain that we are spies for Madara and Ryou."
"But, Captain..."
The Uchiha hawk faction members still looked furious.
Fugaku shouted at Yashiro: "Yashiro, stand down! You are an elder; do you have no sense of the bigger picture?"
Yashiro stepped back. In a daze, he saw Fugaku, Kagami, Shisui, and Itachi all standing opposite the hawk faction, and he saw the shadows of the high-level officials in all of them.
Was Fugaku a dove disguised as a hawk?
Yashiro wondered this in his heart, but then shook his head. Fugaku had a point; this was exactly when they were being watched by the Anbu and the Shinobi Allied Forces.
Any divisive action would be interpreted as responding to Madara and Ryou on the opposite side.
They could only investigate in secret.
On the side of Hoshigakure.
"Natsuhi, what's wrong?"
Hotaru noticed Natsuhi's abnormality. Her face was flushed and she was drenched in sweat; it was clear she had suffered under Ryou's pressure.
"No... it's nothing. I was just startled by the Uchiha's Sharingan!"
Natsuhi lowered her head to keep the others from seeing her blush. She was truly annoyed; she had only exchanged a glance with Ryou.
How did he dare to use such a Genjutsu?
What a total rogue!
Akahoshi warned: "Do not look into the Uchiha's Sharingan. The Sharingan is not something we can deal with."
"Form groups of two and keep a constant eye on your partner's condition. Report any abnormalities immediately."
"Yes!"
The people of Hoshigakure had their eyes opened by leaving the Village this time.
Many Shinobi who had never left the country felt that their Hoshikage was a bit too arrogant. By what right did he dare call himself a Kage?
Someone asked Akahoshi.
Akahoshi replied: "It's not that we are arrogant. Two hundred years ago, our Village already had the First Hoshikage. The title of 'Kage' originated from our Village."
The concept of a Shinobi Village did not exist until the era of the Five Great Nations.
Many years ago, many small Shinobi Clans banded together to establish Villages to resist foreign enemies.
However, the Shinobi Villages at that time had not signed contracts with nations, were not officially recognized, and could not receive subsidies.
As for Hoshigakure having a Kage 200 years ago, that is an original anime setting.
Akahoshi said: "Later, we will perform the Mysterious Peacock Method. This time, we must make the Village's name famous."
"Yes!"
Though Hoshigakure was small, its Ninjutsu was not weak.
Chakra refined through the 'Star' can be materialized, and their chakra can transform into various forms for attack.
They can also fly.
The ability to fly alone gave them an aerial advantage.
Akahoshi decided to shine this time and make Hoshigakure's name known.
Ryou scanned the Shinobi Allied Forces and got a rough idea of the First Division's strength.
Shibuki of Takigakure mustered his courage and questioned Ryou loudly: "Uchiha Ryou, you stole our Village's Seven-Tails and the ancient tree we've worshiped for hundreds of years!"
"Give them back to us quickly!"
The people of Takigakure shouted loudly for Ryou to return the Tailed Beast and the ancient tree.
Ryou crossed his arms and looked toward the Takigakure side with his Sharingan.
As soon as the Takigakure people saw Ryou's Sharingan, they were scared witless and all avoided his gaze.
Ryou directly ignored everyone from Takigakure and focused his gaze on the group from Konoha.
"╰(艹皿艹)."
The Takigakure people were furious. How could Ryou ignore them so directly?
Takigakure was not a small Shinobi Village like Hoshigakure. Outside the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Takigakure's strength was among the top.
So many of them had questioned Ryou loudly in front of everyone, yet they were treated like stray dogs barking by the roadside.
Could they endure this? They had to grab their weapons and fight him!
However, after their great outburst of anger, nothing happened. It was just a brief flare of rage.
There was no other way; they didn't even dare to meet Ryou's eyes and could only endure the cold violence from him alone.
Ryou just stood there with his arms crossed, without saying a word.
On the banks of the large river at the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire, the atmosphere between the two armies was as cold as iron.
On one side was the Shinobi Allied Forces, their aura heavy and composed, exuding the air of elites.
On the other side was a group of cats with various fur colors, some arching their backs with fur standing on end, some with ears pricked and teeth bared—all sorts of divine cats were present.
Though they were bizarre, they didn't lose out in terms of momentum.
Low, threatening growls rolled from the throats of the cat army, radiating a wild and fierce aura toward the Shinobi Allied Forces.
The two sides were in a dead standoff, the air so tense it felt like it would snap at a touch; even the wind didn't dare to pass through lightly.
Suddenly, Ryou addressed the Third Hokage: "Monkey, why have you led an army to invade our territory? Do you know this is an illegal act?"
Ryou's cats all let out a roar and hissed, pushing back the momentum of the Shinobi Allied Forces.
The Third Hokage didn't speak, but Jiraiya shouted at Ryou: "Ryou, the purpose of the five Villages forming the Shinobi Allied Forces is to crusade against you and Uchiha Madara."
"If you're smart, kneel and surrender immediately. Turn over a new leaf, and the Shinobi Allied Forces can give you a chance to redeem yourself."
"Pah!"
Ryou spat: "I see you all as nothing but men with straw markers on their heads waiting to be sold. To think you want me to surrender—laughable!"
"Ryou is here! Who dares to fight me?"
Nekomata carried Ryou forward a few steps, letting out a ferocious roar at the Shinobi Allied Forces.
One man and one cat faced the army of tens of thousands of Shinobi without the slightest fear.
Jiraiya couldn't stand it anymore and was about to summon Gamabunta to fight Ryou.
The Third Hokage grabbed Jiraiya's clothes: "Jiraiya, what are you doing? Are you a match for him?"
Jiraiya said with some indignation: "But our army of tens of thousands can't be intimidated by just one person, right?"
The Third Hokage said: "Wait for the command center's orders. The most important thing for us now is to stall for time!"
"But—"