Sarutobi Hiruzen: What Can They Do Besides Spit in My Face?

As for Kirigakure, although it was effectively in a state of isolation, its diplomatic activity was so frequent that people often forgot about that fact.

Not to mention that, as the mastermind behind Konoha's current diplomatic crisis, Hozuki Shingetsu firmly embraced the spirit of kicking someone when they were down and ruthlessly kicked the cripple's good leg. Before long, he released Kirigakure's own version of the declaration.

"Hokage-sama..."

"What is it?"

Exhausted by the twists and turns of this public opinion storm, Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his eyes.

"So it's Rukan. Sit. What is it this time?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's chief adviser, the "Deer" of Ino-Shika-Cho and current head of the Nara Clan, Nara Rukan, glanced at Hiruzen, who had not slept for three days. After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately told the Hokage the intelligence he had received.

"Kirigakure has also issued a corresponding declaration. Would you like to take a look?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and opened the document Nara Rukan handed him.

Sure enough, it was once again the classic move of exploiting one's own advantages to drag Konoha into the mud.

"...If nations could hear the sounds of each other's chickens and dogs yet grow old and die without ever interacting, there would be no more war in this world. To demonstrate Kirigakure's determination to preserve peace among shinobi, Kirigakure will begin isolating itself from this day forward. We hope that the other nations, especially Konoha, will follow suit. We hope mothers will no longer lose their sons, wives will no longer lose their husbands, and children will no longer lose their fathers. We hope war can end in our generation."

Now that was something. Kirigakure really knew how to play dirty!

This shot did not just hit Konoha—it launched a full-map AoE attack, carpet-bombing every other shinobi village.

They were standing right on the moral high ground and spraying every other nation with bullets!

In today's Shinobi World, what nation did not know why Kirigakure had isolated itself?

Wasn't it because they were too weak, could not defeat others, and feared being attacked at their doorstep, forcing them to seal themselves off?

And now this bastard had pulled this stunt on all of them?

Aside from Kirigakure, which lacked the strength to compete, every other nation was capable of obtaining what it wanted through war. Even setting Konoha aside, Sunagakure had no choice but to fight and seize resources because the Land of Wind was too barren.

Other than Kirigakure, no other nation could or would implement a policy of isolation.

Fortunately, there was no sixth shinobi village. Otherwise, Kirigakure's status as the ultimate backstabber would have been nailed down in minutes.

"Heh, the younger generation is truly formidable."

Sarutobi Hiruzen used the same words when speaking of Hozuki Shingetsu this time, but the emotion behind them was clearly different from before.

"Hokage-sama, I suggest we remain still and avoid responding to this matter directly. Once the uproar dies down, no one will bring it up again. And even if they do, there are so many disturbances in the Shinobi World right now, and with all the rumors flying around, public opinion will not focus solely on Konoha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent for a long time. Though he did not want to admit it, there was no doubt that Konoha had lost this war without smoke or fire.

Ever since Sarutobi Hiruzen had been born, when had he ever fought such a frustrating battle?

Konoha had been founded shortly after his birth. Under the leadership of the two great figures, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, Konoha could not exactly be called without rivals, but it could certainly be said that it slew gods who stood in its way.

The most dangerous time had been when the Second Hokage died in battle, yet under his wise leadership, they had ultimately turned the tide.

When had he ever been like this, possessing a whole host of sharp abilities yet having nowhere to use them?

"...Rukan, how are things within Konoha at the moment?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly realized that he had spent the past few days trading verbal blows with the other side in diplomatic settings, while forgetting to check whether his own backyard was secure.

"Rest assured, Hokage-sama. Perhaps in the early stages, some villagers who did not know the truth were indeed misled. But under Danzo-sama's direction, we have successfully turned this public opinion crisis within Konoha into a smear campaign and act of suppression by hostile forces. The villagers have also expressed their support for every decision the village makes."

"...Danzo is capable."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was quite gratified to hear that his old comrade had stepped in at this moment to cover his blind spots.

Although Danzo was sinister and cunning, liked acting on his own initiative, and was always trying to stir up some huge incident, he was still a very dependable comrade!

The next time they argued, he would not throw the Hokage position in Danzo's face!

After all, Danzo would never have the chance to become Hokage in this lifetime.

"What about the shinobi clans in the village? What do they think?"

"At present, the major shinobi clans in the village still trust the village greatly. Basically, no one is discussing this matter. As far as I know, the heads of the clans have even privately issued gag orders, strictly forbidding their clansmen from expressing opinions on it."

"It seems the village is still quite harmonious internally!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction. Neither the villagers nor the shinobi clans had caused any disturbance. As long as they remained united internally, what obstacle could they not overcome?

Nara Rukan hesitated. In the end, considering the close alignment between himself and the Hokage, he still told the truth. "The other shinobi clans are fine, but the Uchiha Clan..."

"The Uchiha Clan? What about the Uchiha Clan?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his eyes with a headache and looked toward his adviser, unable to understand why the Uchiha Clan had become involved in this again.

"This matter is somewhat related to Danzo-sama as well... Wasn't there an unnamed Sharingan wielder mentioned in the earlier declaration? It seems Danzo-sama privately sent people to warn the Uchiha Clan, telling them to watch their words and actions. The Uchiha Clan has taken some issue with that..."

Nara Rukan's phrasing was somewhat tactful, but he had basically conveyed the meaning.

Danzo's warning? That was probably just a direct attack to their faces.

The Uchiha Clan's issue? That meant a Sharingan warning, then?

Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes with a headache. The trust in Danzo that had just risen in his heart vanished in an instant.

Danzo and the Uchiha—there was no way those two powder kegs would not explode when put together.

"Kagami, if only you had not died so early..."

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen missed his former teammate immensely. If Kagami were here, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha would surely be much more relaxed, would it not?

"Forget it. Ignore it. Let's pretend the village knows nothing and handle this coldly! After some time, the Uchiha will settle down on their own."

"At the same time, send someone to warn Danzo. Confine him to the Root base for one week as punishment."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed helplessly. When it came to the conflict between the Uchiha and Danzo, he could only choose to smooth things over.

Besides, he was actually inclined to occasionally keep the Uchiha in check as well.

Nara Rukan was not surprised at all by this. Similar incidents had happened countless times over the years. Although their causes differed, their endings were often the same.

But would this continued practice of taking sides not create future trouble?

"Hokage-sama, Kirigakure's latest diplomatic declaration."

At that moment, there was a knock on the Hokage's office door. An Anbu walked in and handed Kirigakure's latest declaration to Nara Rukan.

"Why does Kirigakure have so many matters to deal with? What difference is there between their isolation and not isolating themselves at all?"

"Rukan, I won't read it. Decide how to reply yourself!"

Growing angrier the more he thought about it, Sarutobi Hiruzen uncharacteristically complained and directly signaled for Nara Rukan to handle it himself.

"Hokage-sama, I think it would be best if you looked at this personally."

Nara Rukan had initially given it a casual glance, but he was startled after seeing only the title. As he read further, his expression grew increasingly solemn. Finally, he looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him, and decided to let him review it personally.

"Before you read it, I think you should prepare yourself mentally."

"Prepare myself mentally? What can they do besides spit in my face?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen casually took the document. At first, everything seemed normal, but soon his face began to flush red. In the end, he flung the document onto the desk and roared furiously.

"Bastard, bastard! I'm going to kill that Hozuki Shingetsu!"

Nara Rukan did not even dare breathe loudly as he quietly watched Sarutobi Hiruzen's rare loss of composure.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon the document. At its top was a striking title in bold red letters:

"Uchiha Human Rights Report"