In the Name of the Hokage!

Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to the Hokage Building and immediately convened a meeting of the leadership.

In less than half an hour, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the others had arrived.

Danzo in particular had already learned some of the details through Root on his way there.

In his view, Konoha was currently at its weakest point in history.

The Fourth Hokage had fallen, the Uchiha Clan was stirring restlessly, and the village could not deploy Naruto, its Jinchuriki, onto the battlefield.

Starting a war with Kumogakure at a time like this was undoubtedly the worst possible choice.

Therefore, sacrificing Hizashi Hyuga and handing over his corpse to Kumogakure was the optimal solution no matter how one looked at it.

Though this would mean showing weakness to Kumogakure, it was all for the village.

A temporary concession was for the sake of a better tomorrow.

Once the Uchiha Clan issue was resolved and he took the Hokage's seat, everything lost today would be reclaimed twofold someday.

Yet unexpectedly, Hiruzen Sarutobi had suddenly abandoned that idea.

"Monkey, this is all because of your weakness and incompetence."

Danzo deeply despised Hiruzen Sarutobi's mercy, but for now, he could only curse him inwardly.

After arriving at the conference room, he sat in his seat without saying a word.

Besides the Konoha leadership, the daimyo also attended the meeting.

"I trust everyone has already learned about the events that have taken place in the village over the past few days."

"Under the pretext of forming an alliance and holding a celebration, the Cloud Shinobi were actually seeking the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan."

"Fortunately, under the pursuit of the Anbu and Hiashi, the Cloud Shinobi leader did not succeed."

"However..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly hardened his tone. "Such conduct is undoubtedly shameful. They broke faith and treated the Alliance Treaty as a joke. As the Third Hokage of Konoha, I cannot forgive such actions!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi seized the initiative, immediately branding the Cloud Shinobi as villains.

However, his words instantly sparked discussion among the daimyo.

"And all of you must have heard Kumogakure's unreasonable demand!"

"They demand that we hand over Hiashi Hyuga in exchange for a new Alliance Treaty. Otherwise, they insist on seeking justice for the Cloud Shinobi leader."

"I know very well that some among those present have considered using Hizashi of the Hyuga Branch House in place of Hiashi to settle this dispute."

"But!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi cleared his throat, quieting the restless daimyo before raising his voice further.

"Blind compromise will never lead to a good outcome. On the contrary, such concessions and weakness will only provoke stronger aggression from our opponents, making them push their luck and leaving us increasingly passive."

"Even the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, once said!"

The moment he mentioned Tobirama Senju's name, everyone present changed expression.

Although the First Hokage had founded the village, it was Tobirama Senju who had perfected it, displaying astonishing political acumen and an iron hand.

Even the daimyo of the Land of Fire knew that name well.

Not to mention Danzo, who had been Tobirama Senju's disciple and inherited his ideals.

Thus, when Hiruzen Sarutobi invoked their teacher, Danzo's expression was one of utter surprise.

"We love peace, but peace gained through struggle endures; peace sought through compromise perishes!"

At those words, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura could not help but wear dark expressions.

Danzo, meanwhile, was profoundly shaken.

"Did the Second Hokage really say that? Why don't I remember..." Danzo frowned deeply. In his life, no one commanded his admiration more than Tobirama Senju. There was no reason he should have forgotten such a wise saying.

"Therefore, I have no intention of compromising—not only over Kumogakure's demand for the Byakugan's secrets, but also over the Uchiha Clan issue."

"The Uchiha Clan?"

Danzo immediately refuted him without hesitation. "Hiruzen, how can these two matters be mentioned in the same breath? The Uchiha Clan..."

"Danzo!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, abruptly rising from his seat.

The sudden move startled not only the daimyo, but even Danzo froze in shock.

What was wrong with Hiruzen Sarutobi today?

Whenever discussions involved the Uchiha, hadn't he always been timid and indecisive?

"I have said before that the Uchiha Clan is also part of the village. I will find a way to resolve the conflict between them and the village—and now, I have found one!"

"What?!"

The words shocked everyone present.

The Konoha leadership in particular knew that the Uchiha had once planned a coup. They had only chosen to abandon it because of Shisui's death.

But no one could guarantee when they might plot again.

As a hardliner, Danzo naturally wanted to eliminate the village's source of instability, but Hiruzen Sarutobi had always obstructed him.

Though it displeased him, Danzo did not believe Hiruzen Sarutobi could come up with any solution.

But now...

"No one understands the Uchiha Clan better than I do. I believe we should seize this opportunity and use their strength to fight Kumogakure—to repay blood with blood, and an eye for an eye."

"By doing so, we can weaken the Uchiha Clan's power and secure the village's peace."

"Most importantly, the Uchiha will fight for the village. The villagers will see that, come to understand them, and welcome them back into Konoha's embrace, giving them a sense of belonging once more."

The entire room erupted in an uproar!

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both looked stunned, staring at Hiruzen Sarutobi's profile in disbelief.

Though the strategy sounded simple, it was exceptionally ingenious.

Danzo in particular instinctively straightened up, staring at Hiruzen Sarutobi in dumbfounded shock.

Following Hiruzen Sarutobi's strategy, they could not only preserve the Hyuga Clan and strike back at Kumogakure, but also weaken the Uchiha Clan.

It might cost the village some of its strength, but it would make the Hokage's rule more secure instead.

And regardless of whether they won or lost, they could accept the result.

If they won, everyone would rejoice. If they lost, the Uchiha would be severely crippled and would no longer have the strength to threaten the village.

A plan that killed three birds with one stone!

Sarutobi was terrifyingly formidable!

Is this really the Hiruzen Sarutobi I know? How did his methods suddenly become so forceful...?

"I call this strategy the policy of redirecting internal conflict through external struggle." Hiruzen Sarutobi swept his gaze over everyone's changing expressions and lowered his voice once more.

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long breath inwardly. Xu Fan had not yet grown strong enough; if others learned that he had designed this strategy, it would be extremely disadvantageous for him.

The Uchiha Clan in particular might come to hate Xu Fan if they learned the truth.

As the Third Hokage, he naturally had to protect the children of the village.

For the village, he was willing to bear all of this!

"Who is in favor? Who is opposed?"

Thanks to readers 20200222154336774 and Huawu 2 for their support!