Our Clan Is Willing to Send Uchiha Shisui

A village meeting concerning Uchiha Sen's death was held in the Hokage Building.

In the meeting room, many gazes fell upon Uchiha Fugaku.

Some were inscrutable, their owners hiding their emotions well.

The Uchiha Clan had always been proud. Now that the Uchiha Clan had suffered a loss and lost an Elite Jonin, they were quietly delighted by its misfortune.

However, the Uchiha Clan was powerful, and they were unwilling to clash with it.

Others wore undisguised mockery, such as Shimura Daisuke, the head of the Shimura Clan.

The corners of his mouth curled slightly, and his eyes were filled with ridicule.

The Uchiha Clan and the Shimura Clan had always been at each other's throats. Both sides knew this well, so he made no effort to hide it.

There were also sympathetic gazes, though very few.

Under the mudslinging of the Konoha High Command led by the Third Hokage, the Uchiha Clan's reputation had become truly terrible.

Although, after taking over this body, he had already tried to improve the Uchiha Clan's reputation, too little time had passed. It was difficult to change the entrenched image formed over such a long period in a short time.

"I believe everyone knows the purpose of today's meeting."

"Following an Anbu squad's encounter with the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja, another Elite Jonin has fallen victim to the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja."

Seated at the head of the table, the Third Hokage coughed. Once he had drawn everyone's attention, he spoke.

"Hokage, this Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja has attacked Konoha ninja one after another. He clearly harbors deep hostility toward Konoha. We must take this matter seriously."

Hyuga Hiashi, the Hyuga Clan Head, said. He wore a kimono and had a pair of white eyes.

"Clan Head Hiashi is right. This matter truly must be taken seriously."

Nara Shikaku, the Nara Clan Head, agreed. His hair was styled in the Nara Clan's distinctive pineapple shape.

Having attacked Konoha ninja one after another, this Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja was undoubtedly hostile toward Konoha.

"Third, this matter does need to be taken seriously."

An elderly man with white hair and glasses spoke.

He was Mitokado Homura, one of the three advisors and a highly influential figure in the village.

"It does need to be taken seriously. I will have the Anbu gather intelligence on this person and monitor his every move."

The Third Hokage nodded, agreeing with this view.

A ninja with the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai who also harbored intense hostility toward Konoha certainly needed to be taken seriously.

"Hokage, this person seems to have set his sights on ninja leaving the village to carry out missions. As long as he remains alive, the safety of ninja carrying out missions outside the village cannot be guaranteed."

"I request that the village's elite ninja be selected to form a twelve-man elite team to eliminate this Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja."

Uchiha Fugaku spoke.

"Hokage, I agree with Clan Head Fugaku. This Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja has already set his sights on Konoha ninja. An elite team must be formed as soon as possible to find and eliminate him."

A silver-haired man agreed.

He was Hatake Nobuhiro, the head of the Hatake Clan.

He supported Uchiha Fugaku's proposal partly because he recognized the threat posed by the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja, and partly to repay the favor owed to the Military Police Force.

"I agree as well."

Hyuga Hiashi, the Hyuga Clan Head, also voiced his agreement.

The Hyuga Clan had no particular friendship with the Uchiha Clan. Rather, because of the title of "Konoha's number one noble clan," the two clans were competitors.

He supported the proposal because he had heard that Uchiha Sen's eyes had been dug out.

This Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja had clearly set his sights on Kekkei Genkai. The Hyuga Clan also possessed a Kekkei Genkai and could very likely be targeted as well.

Although the Hyuga Clan had the sealing technique Caged Bird, which could destroy the Byakugan upon death and prevent it from falling into outsiders' hands.

The one behind the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja was Orochimaru. Orochimaru was extremely knowledgeable about sealing techniques, so there was no guarantee that it could not be broken.

"I oppose it."

At that moment, a dissenting voice rang out.

The speaker wore a brown kimono and was tall and thin. It was Shimura Daisuke, the head of the Shimura Clan.

He cast a coldly mocking glance at Uchiha Fugaku and stated his reason for opposing it.

"This Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja has undoubtedly reached Kage-level. To eliminate him, every one of the twelve selected must be an Elite Jonin."

"The village's missions are currently demanding. Pulling so many Elite Jonin away would inevitably affect the mission completion rate, which would in turn affect the village's reputation."

"Furthermore, even if we ultimately manage to surround and kill this Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja, fewer than half of those twelve will likely survive. The cost is too great."

In truth, he had another reason for opposing it: the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja had clearly targeted Konoha's Kekkei Genkai Ninja.

The Shimura Clan was not a Kekkei Genkai clan and possessed no Kekkei Genkai, so it would not be targeted.

Of course, while that was what he thought, he could not say it aloud. Saying it would provoke public outrage.

"Clan Head Shimura has a point. Deploying twelve Elite Jonin would severely affect the village's mission completion rate, and even if we succeed in the end, the price would be far too great."

As soon as Shimura Daisuke finished speaking, Aburame Shibi, the Aburame Clan Head wearing sunglasses, hurriedly voiced his agreement.

The Aburame Clan was quite close to the Shimura Clan, so after Shimura Daisuke opposed the proposal, he was the first to step forward in support.

"It really would affect the village's mission completion rate and damage the village's reputation."

"Even if the elimination succeeds, we would have to pay a grievous price. The cost is simply too great."

The ninja attending the meeting began discussing it among themselves, and many of them grew concerned.

Shimura Daisuke's final words had a considerable effect.

If a twelve-man elimination team were to be formed, Elite Jonin would inevitably have to be drawn from among them or from their clans.

Faced with such a high casualty rate, no one could guarantee that they or their clan's Elite Jonin would escape without losses.

This made them hesitant.

Uchiha Fugaku glanced at Shimura Daisuke.

As expected of someone capable of becoming a clan head. With just a few words, he had made everyone present wary and indecisive.

He spoke.

"An elimination operation would indeed come at a great cost, but if we let this continue, the village will inevitably suffer more casualties."

"This time, the ones killed were members of my Uchiha Clan. Next time, they may not be members of the Uchiha Clan. It could very well be members of the clans present here."

"Clan Head Fugaku's words make some sense!"

"Indeed, the next people attacked might be members of our clans."

"The other side has already targeted the village. The village will inevitably suffer further casualties!"

Discussion broke out once more. Clearly, Uchiha Fugaku's words had also had some effect.

"Clan Head Fugaku makes it sound easy. If the proposal to eliminate the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai Ninja passes, how many clan members does Clan Head Fugaku intend to send to take part?"

Seeing that the situation was turning unfavorable, Shimura Daisuke hurriedly spoke.

"Since this matter was proposed by my Uchiha Clan, naturally we will not shirk responsibility. Our clan will send our prodigy, Uchiha Shisui."

Uchiha Fugaku said.

"Although Shisui is young, he already possesses the strength of an Elite Jonin. If our clan is willing to send such a prodigy, that should be enough to demonstrate our sincerity, shouldn't it?"