The Uchiha Show Their Might

This is not a difficult situation for just one person.

Many clan leaders expressed that they were unable to spare enough manpower.

The foundation of a ninja village is its clan system.

Centered around a large clan, and then gathering a large number of small and medium-sized clans, this was the initial prototype of the ninja village. Even though it has developed to this day, with commoner ninjas slowly rising up, it is still a short time. Without the inheritance of Ninjutsu or Kekkei Genkai, it is a long and arduous task to truly rise up and replace the major clans.

In other words, it is an impossible task for ordinary ninjas to truly replace the so-called ninja clans.

There's no other reason than that bloodline truly does influence a ninja's strength. Furthermore, high-level Ninjutsu is kept secret by various clans, and the two or three skills taught at the Ninja Academy are simply insufficient to become a master.

Exceptional geniuses like Minato and Orochimaru would hardly have achieved their current success without having a renowned teacher.

The conscription is not just a matter of the Hokage giving the order; it also requires the cooperation of all the clans. Otherwise, the ninja army simply cannot be assembled. These clans are not disobedient, but they complain that they have no one to use. Even Orochimaru cannot defeat an entire group of people with a single blow.

The reason for this was that Katsuki had gone to the Land of Water, bringing with him the Yuki and Kaguya clans, who seized a large amount of resources. Although this didn't affect the Senju, Uchiha, Hyuga, and other major clans, it made many small and medium-sized clans grit their teeth in hatred, and they dared not openly challenge or oppose Katsuki.

But secretly sabotaging someone is something they can do without any qualms.

Otherwise, Orochimaru wouldn't have spent so long trying to gather enough people to go to the Land of Rain to bring Katsuki and the others back.

They had finally managed to assemble a ninja army centered around the members of the Yuki and Kaguya clans, but before they could even send it to the Land of Rain, the Mist Ninja in the east started causing trouble.

Goodness!

Given Yuki and Kaguya's familiarity with the Mist Ninja, this ninja army headed east instead of north.

"We have to fight the Mist Ninja in the east, and we also have to guard against the Cloud Ninja in the north. We're short-handed!"

"...Most of the clan members who can fight have been sent out. Now, those left at home are just thirteen or fourteen-year-old boys. They're okay for guarding the house, but when it comes to fighting the Stone Ninja, only elite soldiers will suffice!"

A group of clan leaders and elders began to complain all at once.

The implication is clear: they can't spare any manpower!

Orochimaru pulled up a chair, sat down, and watched the performance without saying a word, just quietly observing.

"Shut up, all of you! Are you wailing and screaming like your own parents died? This isn't a place for you to wail in front of the Lord Hokage!" The angry roar was like a thunderclap, but upon seeing the Uchiha fan crest embroidered on the speaker's collar, he pursed his lips and didn't dare to argue with him. Instead, he smiled and pretended to listen.

The Uchiha of today is no longer in the awkward position of being isolated from the power structure as it was a few years ago. With the entry of two powerful figures, Yuki and Kaguya, the once clearly defined pool of power has been stirred up. The Uchiha has divided the power of the Police Force between the Yuki and Kaguya clans, and has also taken the opportunity to get rid of the predicament of being isolated.

Following the resurgence of the Senju Clan, the threat posed by the Uchiha was greatly reduced, as they now no longer needed to live cautiously and their former aura as a powerful Uchiha was restored.

Uchiha Fugaku, with his coffin-like face, glanced disdainfully at the clan leaders, looking down on these short-sighted fools.

"Fighting the Stone Ninja is the most urgent task. Our Uchiha Clan still has several hundred members who can go to the front lines to fight."

In short, it expresses the attitude and stance of supporting Katsuki.

Finally, seemingly feeling that the number of 'several hundred clansmen' was insufficient and somewhat inadequate, Uchiha Fugaku added, 'There are twenty Jonin.'

This caused the air to fall silent instantly.

How strong is the Uchiha Clan? How many skilled members does the Senju Clan have? How many Jonin does the Hyuga Clan have in total? These kinds of questions have always been a popular topic of conversation among the idle people of Konoha. There are no accurate answers, so people can make wild guesses and boasts without anyone blaming them.

Now it seems they truly deserve to be called the powerful clan that helped establish Konoha with the Senju. They managed to produce twenty Jonin one go, which is incredibly domineering. Their family background is indeed exceptionally strong.

Furthermore, there's another point: rumors circulate that the Uzumaki Clan and Uchiha Clans have a close relationship, even suggesting that Yuki and Kaguya joined the Police Force at Uzumaki Katsuki's suggestion. Now it seems these rumors aren't unfounded; the two clans are even closer than people realize, going so far as to expose their resources by sending twenty Jonin in one fell swoop...

Tsk tsk, this relationship is definitely not simple!

But so what if they're not simple? The Uchiha Clan is powerful and not to be trifled with, nor can they be afforded to be. Even the sparsely populated Uzumaki Clan is not someone that ordinary people can mess with.

Despite the tireless efforts of elders like Souma Uzumaki, the entire clan, including infants, numbers less than a hundred. It would take the Uzumaki Clan at least thirty to fifty years to rise to prominence. However, their clan leader is incredibly powerful, capable of leading an entire ninja army on his own.

If Katsuki weren't absent, who would dare to cause trouble? Do they really think someone who killed the Third Mizukage is easy to bully?

"What the Uchiha Clan Head said is exactly what I agree with. The Senju Clan will also send the same number of people and will not let the Stone Ninja make a move." Tsunade puffed out her chest, her aura fierce. Her precious younger brother was still on the front lines in the Land of Grass. Not to mention twenty Jonin, she wished she could send all the Senju Clan's experts there.

Nawaki is Tsunade's lifeline.

The power of the Senju Clan had long been handed over to the siblings Nawaki and Tsunade. Since Orochimaru succeeded as the Fourth Hokage, Konoha had become the domain of young people. Young people from various clans rose to power, replacing the elders in their families. Even Sakumo, who was in his prime, was far from old and frail and was in a semi-retired state, not to mention the old men of various clans.

Looking around now, the room is mostly filled with young faces.

With the support of the Senju and Uchiha, there are forty Jonin, a truly formidable lineup. Combined with the strength of the original Katsuki ninja army, they have more than enough combat power to resist the high-ranking Stone Ninja. What they lack are Chunin and Genin as Genin fodder.

For Hokage, the Orochimaru, recruiting Genin and genin was not too difficult.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble the Uchiha Clan Head." Orochimaru nodded to Uchiha Fugaku. As for Tsunade, there was no need for such formalities between fellow disciples.

"The task of resisting the Stone Ninja in the north is entirely entrusted to Katsuki- kun. I believe that with Katsuki- kun's abilities, he will surely be able to intercept the Stone Ninja, otherwise they will advance south."

Orochimaru made the final decision, handing over military command over the Stone Ninja region to Katsuki.

"Next, let's discuss appeasing the Sand Village ninja and guarding against the Cloud Ninja..." (To be continued)