Blood Stains the Clan Crest

After Namikaze Minato left, the oppressive silence returned to the command tent.

The occasional groans of wounded soldiers and shouts from medical ninja drifted in from outside, but those sounds seemed cut off by an invisible barrier.

Uchiha Yashiro's aged fingers lightly tapped the tabletop. "Sanpo, you shouldn't have spoken so recklessly just now. You need to be more steady in the future."

Though his tone was calm, his sharp gaze was like a blade, and every word struck Uchiha Sanpo's heart like a heavy hammer.

Uchiha Sanpo felt his throat tighten. Of course, he understood what Elder Yashiro meant.

Earlier, he had discussed it with Elder Yashiro.

After the war ended, Konoha's higher-ups would inevitably make a grand show of promoting Namikaze Minato in order to support his rise, shaping him into a savior. When that time came, if they exposed the truth about Kannabi Bridge, Namikaze Minato's heroic halo would lose the people's trust and collapse completely.

Now that he had driven Namikaze Minato away and revealed this trump card, they would have one less thing to rely on in the future.

Uchiha Sanpo thought for three seconds. "Last night, four thousand of us fought more than six thousand Iwagakure ninja, and we even captured over five thousand of them. Today, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki came to sign the surrender document and promised to bring thirty billion ryō this afternoon. In such a short time, I turned the losing battle around... earned so many honors... so I got a little carried away... I trust everyone can understand. I'll be more careful in the future!"

Seeing Uchiha Sanpo's sincere attitude, Elder Uchiha Yashiro's gaze softened slightly.

Previously, they had been at a disadvantage, so they needed some leverage and hidden cards.

Now that they had defeated Iwagakure, and their achievements surpassed Namikaze Minato's, the truth about Kannabi Bridge no longer really mattered.

He had warned Uchiha Sanpo only because he was young. He wanted to keep him from developing an arrogant and conceited character, so he had given him a reprimand.

No one took the little episode just now to heart.

Uchiha Yashiro stroked the beard on his chin and turned his gaze toward the sand table in the center of the tent, where last night's battle formation still remained.

"Now that Iwagakure has surrendered, we'll get the money by noon. But after releasing those five thousand Iwagakure prisoners, what should we do next?" Elder Uchiha Yashiro's voice carried a trace of confusion.

Clan Head Kazami's fingers tapped anxiously against the edge of his teacup as he murmured, "Yes, our war with Iwagakure is over. What... should we do next?"

The surface of the tea trembled faintly, reflecting his tightly furrowed brows.

Everyone turned to look at Uchiha Fugaku. After all, he was the commander-in-chief of the front lines.

Uchiha Fugaku stood before the sand table with his hands behind his back, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly turning.

He stared at the sand table as well, as though analyzing every detail upon it.

Everything had changed after Uchiha Sanpo returned from gathering intelligence yesterday.

The outpost had originally been running low on supplies, and they had planned to withdraw the frontline base back to the border of the Land of Fire.

But after Uchiha Sanpo's various analyses and arrangements, they had truly defeated Iwagakure. Not only had they captured more than five thousand Iwagakure ninja, they had also successfully demanded thirty billion ryō in war reparations.

Happiness had come too quickly, and the changes had come too fast. Even Uchiha Fugaku had not figured out what they should do next!

Fortunately, he was the clan head and the commander-in-chief of the front lines. He could have no ideas, but his subordinates had to have some.

So he passed the buck. "Sanpo, what do you think?"

Everyone in the tent turned to look at Uchiha Sanpo.

This young ninja, only sixteen years old, had displayed astonishing tactical talent in last night's battle.

Uchiha Sanpo straightened his back unconsciously and cursed inwardly, I'm just a squadron captain. You're the big shots, so why are you all looking at me? Uchiha Fugaku doesn't want to think for himself and is dumping the problem on me. Just watch me throw it right back at him!

"What happens next depends on whether Clan Head Fugaku intends to become the Fourth Hokage! If the clan head does not wish to become the Fourth Hokage, then once we receive the thirty billion ryō, we can divide the money and return to Konoha to enjoy peaceful lives. After all, given Clan Head Fugaku's current achievements, Konoha's higher-ups definitely won't let him earn any more merit."

Uchiha Sanpo's words were like a stone cast into a calm lake, stirring ripples in everyone's heart.

Becoming Hokage was the dream that countless Uchiha Clan members longed for.

The tent fell silent. Everyone silently reevaluated Uchiha Sanpo. This guy really dared to say anything!

Having failed to get the answer he wanted, Uchiha Fugaku naturally would not let him off so easily.

He frowned slightly. "Sanpo, tell me what you really think!"

Uchiha Sanpo drew a deep breath. Looking straight into Fugaku's eyes, he asked slowly, "Clan Head Fugaku, do you... truly want to become... the Fourth Hokage?"

The question pierced Uchiha Fugaku's heart like a sharp sword.

He had considered this question, but never thought about it carefully.

His pupils contracted slightly, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan began turning unconsciously.

The higher-ups in the tent exchanged astonished looks. Uchiha Yashiro's hand clenched the edge of the table without realizing it, revealing the turmoil in his heart.

Clan Head Kazami narrowed his eyes, seemingly reevaluating this young man's courage.

Uchiha Fugaku's brow furrowed even more deeply. "If I want to become Hokage, what price would I have to pay?"

At those words, Uchiha Sanpo understood immediately. He keenly caught the wavering in Clan Head Fugaku's tone.

Uchiha Fugaku's question could be understood this way: if the price was small, then he would try becoming the Fourth Hokage. If the price was too great, he would give up. That showed his resolve to become the Fourth Hokage was not particularly firm.

He swept his gaze around the room, letting it rest briefly on every face.

The veins stood out slightly on Elder Yashiro's hand as it pressed against the tabletop. Clan Head Kazami appeared calm, but the tea in his cup had unnaturally spilled onto the table. Clan Head Kurama stared fixedly at the sand table, as though the answer were hidden there.

"With what we've achieved so far, we already qualify as candidates for the Fourth Hokage. But if we want more people's support, we must make a trip to the Kirigakure battlefield. The problem is that Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others won't agree to let us reinforce the Kirigakure battlefield. They may even interfere and hold us back. So if we want to go to the Kirigakure battlefield, we can only go against Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others."

Excitement flashed in Uchiha Yashiro's eyes, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated unconsciously.

He slapped the table and rose excitedly. "Sanpo! If we follow your plan, what are our chances of success?"

Uchiha Sanpo answered without hesitation, "Seventy percent. The key is whether we can end the fight quickly on the Kirigakure battlefield. If we drag things out too long, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō will have enough time to sabotage us."

Uchiha Fugaku closed his eyes, and the faces of his wife Mikoto and young Itachi appeared in his mind.

If he chose caution, he could at least ensure his family's safety. But if he chose to press forward and succeeded, the Uchiha Clan would gain unprecedented status. Yet if he failed... he might die on the Kirigakure battlefield, or be surrounded by Anbu, with blood staining the clan crest... and lose everything...