After Mitokado Homura responded in agreement, he went out to make the necessary preparations.
Night fell.
The clan heads entered the conference room one after another.
"Clan leaders, Konoha has reached an extremely dangerous moment. Stone Village, Sand Village, Mist Village, and Cloud Village all still harbor the intent to destroy Konoha. Right now there are four battlefronts, all requiring a large number of ninja reinforcements. At a time like this, we need everyone's combined wisdom and effort."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with great sincerity.
"Heh, that sounds nice now. But when the war first started, why did the Hokage refuse when our clans wanted to go to the battlefield?"
The Uchiha clan head mocked.
Back then when we wanted to fight, you refused no matter what. Now that you've suffered defeats, you suddenly want us to solve everything? Do you really think we're fools?
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew very well that he hadn't handled the matter properly.
But there was nothing he could do.
After all, the ninja clans had already achieved great merit on the Land of Rain battlefield.
If they were allowed to earn more glory on other battlefields and further raise their prestige, then when would the plan to weaken the ninja clans ever succeed?
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to persuade the clan heads with lofty ideals, the Aburame clan head suddenly stood up first.
"My time is limited, so I'll speak first. Hokage-sama, send the Aburame clan currently stationed in the Land of Rain directly to the Land of Grass battlefield. Aburame Shiken will lead them and have full autonomy. The next Aburame clan head will be Aburame Shiken. If you agree, I will immediately lead the remaining Aburame ninja capable of fighting to the battlefield."
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze when he heard this.
Is he paving the way for Aburame Shiken? But your son Aburame Shibi—if you give the clan head position to someone else, what will he think?
There's a loophole.
No, this isn't the time to think about things like that.
Suppressing the instinctive thought about weakening the clans, Hiruzen Sarutobi burst into laughter.
"At a time like this, the Aburame clan head stepping forward to resolve Konoha's crisis is truly admirable. All requests are approved."
The other clan heads glanced sideways at the Aburame clan head.
So impatient. Don't you want to squeeze a little more benefit out of this?
Seeing that the Aburame clan head was finished, the other clan heads decided to get their matters done quickly as well.
Retiring early wouldn't be so bad.
"The Inuzuka clan requests to go to the Land of Rivers battlefield. Inuzuka Ryoha will lead the team with full autonomy. The next Inuzuka clan head will be Inuzuka Ryoha. I will lead the remaining Inuzuka forces to the Land of Rivers battlefield."
"The Hyūga clan requests to go to the coastal battlefield. Mere Mist Village techniques are like clowns dancing before the Byakugan. As for the Kaguya clan—cowards who abandoned their homeland. Hyūga Hiyasu will lead the team. The Hyūga clan will also deploy three hundred more ninja."
The Hyūga clan head was slightly different from the others. However, the Hyūga main family not going to the battlefield was something everyone already knew.
"Well then, it looks like the Cloud Village battlefield is the only one left without volunteers. Hokage-sama, leave it to our Ino–Shika–Chō clans."
The Nara clan head stood up as he spoke.
The Yamanaka and Akimichi clan heads nodded in agreement.
"Hokage-sama, this time our Uchiha clan won't be excluded from the battlefield again, will we?"
The Uchiha clan head said.
"How could that be? The Uchiha will serve as a mobile support force, ready to reinforce any battlefield at any time."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said this against his own conscience.
"Then many thanks to Hokage-sama. Also, Uchiha Kamito has outstanding leadership ability and noble personal character. Our Uchiha clan recommends Uchiha Kamito for promotion to head of the Police Force. We hope Hokage-sama will approve."
The Uchiha were not like the others.
If they didn't redeem this promise now, then when would they?
A Hokage's post-war promises had a one-hundred-percent chance of never being fulfilled.
Just like earlier—if Kamito hadn't made a move, the Uchiha clan might still be stuck staying at home.
"Hmph. At a time like this when Konoha faces such danger, why did no one notify the Senju clan? Do you think the Senju clan has already declined?"
A white-haired Senju Kyūma, wearing Senju clan armor from the Warring States era, strode in with imposing vigor.
"Kyūma-sama."
Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly stood up.
Back when he became the student of the Second Hokage, this man had already been a jōnin. He was an old veteran who had survived since the Warring States period.
The other clan heads—including the Uchiha clan head—also stood up to show respect.
"Has Konoha already forgotten our Senju clan? For such an important matter, the Senju clan isn't even qualified to participate?"
"Kyūma-sama, the Senju have already sacrificed too much for Konoha."
"So this time it's not for Konoha—it's for the Senju clan. The position of Senju clan head will officially be handed to Senju Hideki. No problem with that, right?"
"But there's still Tsunade."
"If Tsunade had that intention, the clan head position would've been hers ten years ago. Since she doesn't want it, our Senju clan isn't shameless enough to force it onto her."
"But what about Nawaki?"
"In ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and leadership ability—what part of Nawaki can compare to Hideki? You're not planning to let the Senju clan completely decline, are you?"
"I wouldn't dare, Kyūma-sama."
"Good. From now on, the Senju clan head is that boy Hideki. Send him to the Cloud Village battlefield. Some grudges can only be avenged personally."
After saying that, Senju Kyūma left.
...
News of Senju Kyūma's actions soon reached the Land of Rain.
Hyūga Hiyasu said to Senju Hideki,
"The elders of your clan have staked everything on you. Taking the Senju clan head position away from the direct bloodline of the First Hokage isn't something simple."
Senju Hideki's massive body trembled slightly.
"I won't disappoint them."
"Alright, we get it. Shiken called us to a meeting. This time we're sharing intelligence. Pay attention—we're about to split up soon."
...
Inside a pitch-black cave.
The familiar barrier insects.
Aburame Shiken began analyzing the situation.
"First, Hiyasu."
Hyūga Hiyasu nodded, indicating he would focus.
"Hiyasu's opponent is the Mist Village. Their strongest ninja is the Third Mizukage. Back when the First Mizukage was alive, this man was actually one of his shadow guards. According to the unwritten rule that two shadow guards usually become the next Mizukage and his assistant, this man should've been the most legitimate Second Mizukage. But Hōzuki Gengetsu was powerful enough to forcibly seize the Mizukage position from him. And judging by how every Second Kage tends to be an inventor, he definitely has plenty of hidden trump cards. However, based on the Mist Village declaring war at lightning speed this time, he has likely already been controlled by Uchiha Madara."
"Shiken, you're speaking so clearly. Aren't you worried about White Zetsu?"
Uchiha Kamito asked.
Aburame Shiken waved his hand, and a large swarm of insects crawled out of the ground.
"I don't know if it's luck or not, but insects love wood more than human flesh. Back in Konoha, they once devoured a body by chance. The insects' chakra tripled."
"A natural counter to Wood Release, huh?"
"Hard to say. Who knows what exactly Senju Hashirama's Wood Release is made of? But White Zetsu, filled with pure life force, is indeed the perfect specimen. I even suspect the Aburame clan's original parasitic insects were bred after someone accidentally found a White Zetsu corpse."
Aburame Shiken analyzed.
"Well, who knows? The history between the Sage of Six Paths and the Warring States era is something no one can truly understand."
Uchiha Kamito sighed.
"Wait, weren't you supposed to be analyzing my enemy?"
"Ah, sorry. Got sidetracked. Let's continue."
Aburame Shiken showed no guilt whatsoever.
Hyūga Hiyasu stared at him with a resentful look in his eyes.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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