They Want War, So We'll Give Them War!

"Third Hokage."

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was deep in thought, Akamichi Chodo, who had mostly recovered, asked hoarsely, "Is war... coming?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts were interrupted. Hearing Akamichi Chodo's question, he could not help but sigh.

"Yes," he answered. "At least, that is how things stand for now."

"We... cough! Cough!"

Akamichi Chodo suddenly felt a weight sink into his chest. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but broke into a violent coughing fit, speckling the white bedsheet with blood.

"Senior Chodo, don't speak!"

Hyuga Yunchuan hurriedly rose and stepped forward, taking out a tissue to wipe the saliva and blood from the corner of his mouth before supporting his arm and helping him lie back down.

Then Hyuga Yunchuan looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had fallen silent. Anger surfaced on his face as he said, "Third Hokage, Kumogakure and Iwagakure have pushed their luck again and again. We can't hesitate any longer!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen froze for a moment at those words. Lowering his head, he gave a bitter smile and brushed him off. "You're still young. You don't understand what war means..."

"No, I understand."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was interrupted before he could finish. He instinctively raised his head, only to meet a pair of pure eyes filled with resolve and determination.

"No one wants to face the cruelty of war. My father and mother both died on the battlefield."

Their eyes met. Hyuga Yunchuan said in a low voice, "But we have retreated again and again. There is nowhere left for us to retreat to!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze paused slightly. "Why...?"

"Because behind us lies Konoha—our families and friends!" Hyuga Yunchuan said, each word heavy and clear. "Third Hokage, please give the order. Even if I am the only one, I am willing to stand on the front lines."

"They want war, so we'll give them war!"

The entire ward fell deathly silent. Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Akamichi Chodo all stared at Hyuga Yunchuan, their gazes momentarily blank as something stirred within their once-timid hearts.

They could hardly believe those words had come from the mouth of a fifteen-year-old boy.

These adults and old-timers seemed to be no match for even a child.

"...Yunchuan."

After a long silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to have made up his mind. His faintly gleaming eyes met Hyuga Yunchuan's as he said seriously, "Do you dare say those words again in front of everyone else?"

"I do." Hyuga Yunchuan nodded without hesitation.

Utatane Koharu, standing nearby, seemed to realize something and could not help saying, "Sarutobi, you aren't thinking of..."

"That's right." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "I'm taking this child to the Jonin meeting."

"Third Hokage, how can that be allowed?!"

Akamichi Chodo's expression changed slightly, and the words slipped out before he could stop them.

As someone born into a ninja clan, he understood those people from similar backgrounds all too well.

Even within the Akimichi Clan, staunch supporters of the Hokage, there were still many who cared only about themselves and their clan's interests, refusing to risk their lives for Konoha as a whole.

To put it bluntly, this was the inherent flaw of the "ninja clans." Their power came not only from wealth and military strength, but more importantly from their monopoly over knowledge and culture such as Ninjutsu and secret techniques.

Ninjutsu was extremely precious and difficult for ninjas of civilian birth to obtain. Only ninja clans could firmly control such resources through internal inheritance and education.

Furthermore, the mutual trust and support within ninja clans formed a powerful, expansive social network. This network not only helped them gain higher political status, but also cemented their social influence, creating a fragile balance with the Hokage.

But that was all it was.

"Senior Chodo," Hyuga Yunchuan said calmly, "I want to go."

Seeing Hyuga Yunchuan's calm yet resolute expression, Akamichi Chodo and Utatane Koharu were deeply moved.

"I never expected the ever-stubborn Hyuga Clan to produce a clansman willing to cast aside clan prejudice."

Akamichi Chodo had once been the companion of Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze. Under his influence, his sense of belonging to Konoha had long surpassed his attachment to his clan. Utatane Koharu was even more so under the influence of Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage.

It was precisely because of this that they understood what Hyuga Yunchuan's choice meant.

Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally understood as well, and the look he gave Hyuga Yunchuan became even gentler.

"Then let's go." He patted Hyuga Yunchuan on the shoulder, then squeezed it lightly in reassurance. "Don't worry. You're not alone."

He was, after all, the Third Hokage. He had not yet decayed completely.

Hyuga Yunchuan was right. Since they could no longer avoid this, they could not hesitate any further.

Before Kumogakure could react, he needed to portray Kumogakure as the side that had taken the initiative to provoke the conflict, stirring the wrath of Konoha's ninjas and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, then draw some ninjas from the clans to form a force and strike first.

But plucking feathers from those ninja clans was no easy task. Even as Hokage, he could not force them to send their clansmen to the battlefield to die. Otherwise, those clans would inevitably become alienated, obeying orders in name while resisting in spirit.

If a young ninja from a ninja clan like Hyuga Yunchuan stepped forward voluntarily, however...

Then things would be different.

But that also meant Hyuga Yunchuan would become the first to stick his neck out. It meant he was betraying the Hyuga Clan, even the entire ninja clan faction.

It meant severing himself completely from the Hyuga Clan. It could even be said that he would be completely abandoning his own surname and the resources the Hyuga Clan had given him.

Before Hizashi Hyuga went to his death, he had entrusted Hyuga Yunchuan to Hyuga Hiashi. The resources Yunchuan could obtain from within the clan in the future were far beyond what ordinary ninjas could compare to.

So this was by no means a decision or choice that could be made lightly. That was why Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other two were so surprised and gratified.

But was Hyuga Yunchuan truly so noble and selfless?

Click.

Sarutobi Hiruzen reached out and pushed open the meeting room door. The lights cast his shadow onto the wall, along with the figure following behind him.

Under the meeting room lights, more than just the two of them had their shadows cast. Along both walls, rows of silhouettes swayed—some old, some young, some plain and moderate, others brimming with ambition.

The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen entered, everyone present rose to their feet in unison.

"Third Hokage."

Voices of every kind sounded together, their tones anxious, grave, or questioning.

Although some still did not understand the reason for this meeting, those with intelligence channels had already formed their guesses.

Thus, that cry of "Third Hokage" felt more like pressure.

A united, wordless display of imposing pressure directed at Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage.