After receiving the news that the Three Great Shinobi Villages had massed troops along the Land of Fire's borders, the tide that had been running overwhelmingly one way in the conference room began to turn.
With most people lacking the confidence to face all three villages at once, more and more of the neutral faction began to lean toward Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's strategy.
In other words, sacrifice the interests of a small number of people in exchange for temporary peace for Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been ready to sit on the platform and stay out of things, saw hope of turning the tables when he heard the news.
Utatane Koharu, who had just suffered a setback at Shisui's hands, also found an opportunity to strike back.
"Second Hokage Tobirama Senju once said that the Uchiha were a clan born evil. Now it seems he was right. They'd rather put the village's interests on the line than take responsibility for their own actions."
With Konoha surrounded by powerful enemies, Utatane Koharu's words put Shisui in a difficult position.
The neutral faction present also began to shift against Shisui, and murmurs of dissent rose from the crowd.
"I think Utatane Koharu has a point. The Kumogakure envoy was clearly killed by Shisui Uchiha. Why should the village have to pay the price along with him?"
"Exactly. Whoever did the deed should bear the consequences. The Uchiha Clan should hand Shisui Uchiha over to Kumogakure. If Kumogakure withdraws its troops, I wouldn't be surprised if Iwagakure and Sunagakure returned to their own lands too."
Shisui Uchiha wasn't surprised.
If these people had been firm in their convictions, they wouldn't have joined the neutral faction.
"Even our Uchiha Clan never expected things to reach this point..." Fugaku Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan Head,