War Preparations in Konoha Village

If the other four Kage were to hear Hiruzen Sarutobi's complaints, they would surely shout in indignation:

"You stuffed, arrogant bastard! Hand over the fertile Land of Fire so our ninjas can actually eat their fill, and we'll be more than happy to love peace too!"

As the sky began to brighten, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō gathered in the Hokage's office, bringing with them intelligence from across the village.

Mitokado Homura reported first: "The Ino-Shika-Cho can mobilize ten squads. One is composed entirely of Jonin, while the remaining nine are all Chunin."

"Additionally, the Yamanaka Clan has mobilized 22 extra ninjas: two Jonin, four Special Jonin, and the rest are Chunin."

"The Akimichi Clan has mobilized 13 extra ninjas: three Jonin, one Special Jonin, and the rest are Chunin."

"The Nara Clan has mobilized 15 extra ninjas: one Jonin, four Special Jonin, and the rest are Chunin."

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked: "With so many scattered ninjas from the three clans, have they not tried to form new Ino-Shika-Cho squads?"

Mitokado Homura replied: "We have tried. Half of those ten squads are newly formed; the others simply cannot achieve the necessary synergy."

Utatane Koharu reported: "The Inuzuka Clan has mobilized 45 ninjas: four Jonin, six Special Jonin, 23 Chunin, and 12 Genin."

"The Aburame Clan has mobilized 41 ninjas: five Jonin, three Special Jonin, and the rest are all Chunin."

"Most importantly, the Hyuga Clan has mobilized 133 ninjas: 12 Jonin, 24 Special Jonin, 58 Chunin, and 34 Genin."

"Other minor clans such as the Kurama, Shiranui, Yamashiro, Arakawa, and Fukuda have collectively mobilized 255 ninjas: 14 Jonin, 11 Special Jonin, 113 Chunin, and the rest are Genin."

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could speak, Shimura Danzō stated: "Not enough. Nowhere near enough. The number of Genin is far too low."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a pained expression: "Indeed. We lack enough Genin, who are in the highest demand and suffer the highest casualty rates."

"But if we continue to draft more, we will have to lower the age requirements for Genin once again."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura sighed in unison.

Utatane Koharu said: "We have no choice but to let the students at the Ninja Academy graduate early."

Mitokado Homura added: "It is a necessity. Otherwise, the clans would never release those talented children to the front lines."

Grief welled up in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, and tears began to stream down his face: "I have failed Konoha, and I have failed my teacher and the First Hokage!"

Shimura Danzō sneered: "Enough, Hiruzen. Koharu, Homura—the three of you can stop putting on this performance in front of me."

Utatane Koharu was furious: "Danzō, how can you be so cold-blooded!"

Mitokado Homura tried to explain: "We are not performing! We are genuinely worried and heartbroken for the children!"

Shimura Danzō rolled his single eye: "Ridiculous!"

"Over the past few years, how many children have you three personally ordered to graduate early and sent to the battlefield?"

"To my knowledge, the number of Genin under the age of ten alone exceeds ten thousand, and their survival rate is less than three percent."

"I know for a fact that you all have sent tens of thousands of children to their deaths. No matter how sad you act in front of me, I cannot believe your sincerity; I only find you hypocritical!"

"Shut your mouth!" x2

Shimura Danzō remained utterly dismissive of the angry roars from Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

Don't let the fact that Mitokado Homura stood tall against the Nine-Tails fool you; at best, he simply stood to the left of Hiruzen Sarutobi, unfurling a scroll to release a few inconsequential ninjutsu.

As for Utatane Koharu, heh, she didn't even appear on the battlefield at all.

She was long past being the fierce, brave Konoha ninja she once was.

What?

You say Shimura Danzō didn't face the Nine-Tails either...

Don't you worry about that!

He was busy suppressing the Uchiha Clan, who were allegedly controlling the Nine-Tails; he took a greater risk than the Third Hokage and the Fourth Hokage combined!

Therefore, Shimura Danzō felt perfectly justified in looking down on all his old classmates, including Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had poked the Nine-Tails with a stick.

As for whether the Uchiha Clan actually controlled the Nine-Tails, or if Danzō truly took any risks—don't you worry about that either!

It is a pity, however, that Shimura Danzō had served as Hiruzen Sarutobi's "black glove" for too long; the habits of obedience and fear were etched into his very marrow.

Even though Danzō looked down on Hiruzen Sarutobi, when the Third Hokage glanced at him sideways, he still shuddered violently, gave an indescribable twitch, and obediently shut his mouth.

But with his interference, the atmosphere in the Hokage's office had completely shifted.

Gone were the sorrow and sacrifice, the tragedy and helplessness; there remained only the cold, hard math of cannon fodder requirements and the deficit in actual ninja numbers.

Anyone who does math often knows that if you know how to solve a problem, you can finish it very quickly.

Within half an hour, a new plan for ninja conscription and quotas was finalized.

Following this, the Konoha F4 set out together to negotiate the mobilization of ninjas with the various clans.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, went out personally to persuade the Hyuga Clan to provide men and to arrange for the Ninja Academy to prepare for a massive early graduation.

Shimura Danzō, with courage worthy of note, chose to go directly to the Uchiha Clan to demand men.

Under Shimura Danzō's deliberately rude and overbearing demands, Uchiha Fugaku was thoroughly provoked and angrily rejected the plan to provide additional personnel.

Danzō hadn't even mentioned that it was the Third Hokage's plan, intentionally misleading the Uchiha into thinking it was his own high-handedness.

Moreover, Shimura Danzō had a little trick up his sleeve.

He deliberately lingered outside for two extra hours before returning to the Hokage Office with news of the mission's failure, creating a sharp contrast with the joy of the other three who had completed their tasks.

In just an instant, the assessment of the Uchiha clan in the minds of the Third Hokage and his two companions plummeted significantly.

Even if Uchiha Fugaku had a sudden flash of insight at this moment, realized this possibility, and rushed to the Hokage Office to explain everything clearly, it would be impossible to restore the Uchiha clan's reputation within the Third Hokage Faction.

Shimura Danzō possessed an absolutely astonishing talent for internal infighting, lodging malicious complaints, and spreading rumors.

Even when placed within the history of the Dragon Kingdom, among the cliques of treacherous sycophants who are incapable of accomplishing anything but adept at ruining everything, he would still be able to claim a seat.

He was simply too wicked!

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with a gloomy face, puffing fiercely on his pipe, until he finally made up his mind.

"No, the Uchiha clan absolutely cannot remain on the sidelines; they must provide personnel and demonstrate their attitude to prove their loyalty to Konoha!"

"I, the Third Hokage, will personally make a trip to the Uchiha Compound. Even if it means losing all face, I must force them to hand over more ninja!"