Hero of Shinobi? Ninja Bear!

Sunagakure.

The Third Kazekage's face was as dark as water as he stared at Chiyo and Ebizo without saying a word.

After a long while, he slowly let out a breath and said, "I miscalculated. I will take responsibility for the village's loss of five Jonin this time."

Chiyo snorted coldly. "There's no point saying that now. We absolutely cannot let this matter go so easily."

The Third Kazekage asked, "Chiyo, let's hear your opinion this time."

"The Uchiha Clan are Konoha's ninja. Konoha must bear responsibility for our losses."

"Make them pay compensation, or we start a war!"

"And from today onward, put pressure on Konoha's borders."

Ebizo asked worriedly, "Sister, the Uchiha Clan has already become Rogue Ninja. Will Konoha really agree to such a demand?"

Even as her younger brother, Ebizo felt that Chiyo's proposal was far too unrealistic.

"And there's still quite a gap between our strength and Konoha's."

Chiyo gave several cold laughs and said confidently, "The Uchiha Clan has defected en masse. Konoha is at its weakest right now."

"We just need to start the group fight. Others will naturally follow."

"Don't forget how the previous two Ninja Wars began."

"No one has ever given up on that juicy piece of meat."

The Third Kazekage and Ebizo both perked up, excitement flashing through their eyes.

That made sense!

Konoha.

Shimura Danzō pushed open the door and walked in. Getting straight to the point, he said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Hiruzen, my Root was attacked at the border by Kumogakure's ninja."

"We must demand an explanation from them."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "Why was your Root at the border instead of staying properly in the village?"

Shimura Danzō answered vaguely, "We were only investigating some intelligence and seeing whether we could plant a few spies in other villages."

"Never mind that. Those Kumogakure bastards are far too arrogant. I think we should teach them a lesson."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took several puffs of his pipe before finally sighing. "Conflicts between villages are normal. Your subordinates died because they were too weak."

"If we start a war over something this minor, it will only bring greater casualties to the village."

Shimura Danzō snapped, "They've shat right on your head, and you're still backing down!"

"Danzo!" Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed the table. "Watch your attitude."

"What? Is Hokage-sama going to hit me?"

"You..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at Shimura Danzō before finally compromising. "You may draw some ninja from the village to replenish Root's losses."

"Hmph." Shimura Danzō did not continue making a scene. Instead, he began seriously considering what kinds of secret-technique ninja he should recruit this time.

Just then, an Anbu appeared in a Body Flicker. "Hokage-sama, this scroll was sent by Sunagakure."

"Sunagakure?" Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the scroll in confusion. After reading it for a few moments, he angrily threw it onto the table.

"Isn't this fucking bullying an honest man?!"

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's fury, Shimura Danzō curiously picked up the scroll and read it. The contents immediately made him laugh.

The Uchiha Clan had killed Sunagakure's Jonin, yet the Third Kazekage was demanding compensation from Konoha...

He had never heard of a village taking responsibility for the actions of Rogue Ninja.

Had those desert dwellers gone mad for money?

"Hiruzen, should we teach Sunagakure's ninja a lesson?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "Let's endure it this time. Those people only want some money. Just compensate them."

Shimura Danzō had to admit that when someone was utterly speechless, they really could laugh.

"What a Ninja Bear. You've really broadened my horizons." Shimura Danzō sneered a few times and strode out of the Hokage's Office.

If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he would be angered to death.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt utterly innocent.

If the Uchiha Clan had not defected en masse, would Sunagakure and Kumogakure dare to take advantage of the situation?

In the end, it was all the Uchiha Clan's fault!

One month later.

Escorted by Cloud Ninja, all the Uchiha clansmen arrived in Kumogakure.

At the village entrance hung enormous banners, while colorful silk ribbons fluttered in the wind.

The Third Raikage personally stood at the entrance to welcome the Uchiha Clan from afar.

"Yuzuru, nothing happened on the way, right?"

"Thanks to the Raikage's people protecting us. We appreciate the trouble."

"Hahahahaha..."

After exchanging a few simple words with Uchiha Yuzuru, the Third Raikage led the way into the village.

The Uchiha clansmen followed closely behind.

Kumogakure was filled with towering peaks. Even the clouds could only reach halfway up the mountains.

The villagers' homes were built around the foothills.

On the mountains stood one massive office building after another.

The Raikage Building stood at the very center, looking incomparably imposing.

Seeing such terrain for the first time, every Uchiha clansman was filled with curiosity.

In Konoha, aside from a few low hills, everything was flat forest. Compared with this place, it was practically another world.

"Wow! So this is the Uchiha Clan? They really are a great Ninja Clan. There are so many of them."

"So many handsome guys! I heard the Raikage said the Uchiha Clan is willing to intermarry with outsiders. Kumogakure's women are in for a treat."

"Is that the Uchiha Clan's leader walking at the front? He's so young! And that face is way too handsome!!!"

"I really want to spar with their ninja and see just how powerful the Sharingan, famed throughout the Shinobi World, really is..."

"So fair, so tender... They're completely different from Kumogakure's fierce women. I'm begging you, let me marry into their family."

"Even begging means you'll have to get in line!"

Hearing the discussions around them, excited expressions appeared on every Uchiha clansman's face.

All their unease about the future vanished in that moment.

Even in their dreams, they had never imagined that the Uchiha Clan would be so welcome!

"So the Uchiha Clan has so many strengths in the eyes of ninja from other villages."

"Yeah. Unlike those Konoha bastards who roll their eyes whenever they see us, I've only ever seen a scene like this in my dreams."

"They're too enthusiastic. Hurry up and check whether I'm under a genjutsu."

Uchiha Fugaku, walking beside Uchiha Yuzuru, could not help but sigh. "Yuzuru, the welcoming ceremony is so grand that even I'm a little flattered."

"Third Raikage, you've truly put a lot of thought into this."

The Third Raikage shook his head. "The villagers organized this welcome ceremony themselves. A rough man like me would never have thought to arrange something like this."

"Eh? Is that so?"

Seeing Uchiha Fugaku's astonishment, Uchiha Yuzuru patted him on the shoulder.

"Fugaku, don't let your past experiences affect you. Learn to open your eyes and see the world."

"In Konoha, those people ostracized us and found fault with us at every turn. But in the eyes of villagers from other villages, as a great Ninja Clan with a heritage stretching back thousands of years, we Uchiha come with protagonist aura built in."