Strike once, and spare yourself a hundred blows!

Elsewhere, Gentō did not head straight to the Hokage's Office after leaving.

He turned down several streets and went directly to the Konoha Military Police Force, where he knocked on Elder Zong Yan's door.

"Come in."

Zong Yan's slightly weary voice came from inside.

Gentō pushed the door open and entered.

"Grand Elder, I've returned from my mission."

Zong Yan looked up, his brow creasing out of habit.

"If you've completed your mission, why come to me instead of reporting to the Hokage first?"

Gentō sighed inwardly.

Years of seeing no farther than Konoha and the police force, coupled with the Uchiha Clan's ingrained pride and political naïveté, had limited Elder Zong Yan's perspective.

His political instincts were clearly far too dull to recognize the approaching war and the opportunity it could offer the Uchiha.

Gentō dispensed with the pleasantries and reported bluntly:

"I was ordered to investigate unusual activity at the border. I've confirmed that the intelligence is accurate. Sunagakure plans to launch a full-scale offensive against Konoha in two months!"

"What?!"

An expression of disbelief and horror immediately crossed Elder Zong Yan's face.

"How dare Sunagakure?"

"This... how is Konoha supposed to respond?"

His loss of composure betrayed his inner panic.

His shock was understandable.

Early in the Third Shinobi World War, Sunagakure had used the Kazekage's disappearance as a pretext to attack. Konoha had only secured a ceasefire after bitter fighting.

Now, with Konoha fighting on multiple fronts and its main forces scattered, it was at its weakest. Yet Sunagakure was seizing this opportunity to start another war!

Watching the Grand Elder's reaction, a flicker of disappointment crossed Gentō's eyes.

He asked in a grave voice:

"Grand Elder, what do you think the Hokage will decide once I report this to him?"

The question caught Zong Yan off guard, and he answered instinctively:

"Naturally, he'll make emergency preparations and mobilize shinobi to repel the invasion."

"Exactly. The Hokage will prepare for war as quickly as possible."

"But where will those shinobi come from? How many can we spare from the fronts against Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure? In the end, won't he have to draw on the shinobi clans still stationed in the village, especially those serving in our Konoha Military Police Force?"

Zong Yan's expression immediately darkened.

Gentō continued:

"We Uchiha have already made enormous sacrifices on the other battlefields. But have those sacrifices earned us any credit?"

"No! The Uchiha's sacrifices haven't earned us any credit at all!"

"The Hokage hasn't honored our sacrifices, and Danzo only wants to use us as cannon fodder!"

Gentō's voice carried deep sorrow, along with a current of suppressed fury.

"The Uchiha, who once struck fear throughout the Ninja World, have been reduced to tools for Konoha High Command to use as they please."

Zong Yan's pupils contracted sharply at Gentō's words.

Everything Gentō said struck straight at his heart.

The resentment within the clan, the grieving families of the fallen, their increasingly awkward position in the village...

But what could the Uchiha do?

Seeing Zong Yan's expression, Gentō knew the moment was right, so he continued:

"We need a victory, a glorious victory that will shake the entire Ninja World and make everyone see the Uchiha anew!"

"The approaching Battle of Kikyo Pass is the perfect stage. It's also the Uchiha's opportunity."

"If you're willing to trust me, please place all the elite forces the clan can still mobilize under my command."

"In the coming war, I will lead them to carve a bloody path for the Uchiha, reclaim the respect we've lost, and win the glory we deserve!"

His voice rang with absolute conviction:

"I will make the Uchiha great again!"

Zong Yan stared blankly at the young man before him.

Gentō stood tall, his gaze sharp. The confidence and resolve in his bearing made Zong Yan feel, for a fleeting moment, as though he were seeing a shadow of their legendary forebear, Madara Uchiha.

Indeed, ever since this boy had awakened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he seemed to have become an entirely different person. His insight, courage, and strength far surpassed those of his peers.

Zong Yan fell silent.

After a long while, he gave a firm nod.

"Very well! This old man... will trust you this once! I will use my authority to support your mobilization of the clan's forces to the fullest extent possible. The Uchiha's future rests on this battle of yours!"

It worked!

Gentō's heart steadied.

"I won't betray your trust!"

Having secured Elder Zong Yan's promise, Gentō wasted no more time and immediately headed to the Hokage Building.

Inside the Hokage's Office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, accepted Gentō's mission report and scanned it quickly.

After a while, he set the report down and said gravely:

"Convene a meeting of High Command and the Jonin immediately!"

Soon, the meeting room was once again filled.

"Gentō, explain the situation in detail."

Hiruzen gave the order.

Gentō stepped forward in response.

He gave a detailed account of his border investigation, his encounter with Sunagakure's elite squad, the intelligence he had obtained, the battle, and his return.

Naturally, he left out Kurenai Yuhi's poisoning with an aphrodisiac and their night of ecstasy.

As he spoke, the atmosphere in the meeting room grew increasingly grim.

Sunagakure would attack Konoha in two months.

For Konoha, which had yet to catch its breath from fighting on multiple fronts, this news only compounded its troubles.

"You're all aware of the situation now."

Hiruzen exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and spoke slowly.

"Let's hear your thoughts. What should we do?"

Utatane Koharu was the first to speak.

"We absolutely cannot rush into war!"

"Years of war have strained the village's finances. Our shinobi have suffered heavy casualties, and we can't replenish our ranks quickly enough. We have little strength left to commit to another battlefield! Our most urgent priority is to rest and recover."

Mitokado Homura immediately voiced his support.

"Well said. I agree completely!"

"We should immediately dispatch an envoy to the Land of Wind and formally inform Sunagakure that we've uncovered their plot. We must demand that they cease all provocations and reopen peace talks, seeking a political resolution to the dispute."

Listening to his two advisers, Hiruzen tapped his fingers lightly against the table. A thoughtful expression crossed his face, and he seemed quite persuaded.

Maintaining peace at the lowest possible cost was consistent with his usual approach to governing.

"Absurd!"

A cold shout rang out.

Shimura Danzō rose, leaning on his cane. His single eye swept sharply over Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura before settling on Hiruzen.

"Hiruzen, you're far too weak! This is naked aggression! An insult to the dignity of the Land of Fire!"

"If we show weakness and plead for peace, Sunagakure and the other shinobi villages watching us hungrily will only see Konoha as easy prey. It will invite even more covetous eyes and attacks!"

Shikaku Nara rubbed his brow and offered a calm analysis.

"Lord Danzo, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire is dissatisfied with the results of our recent campaigns and has already expressed an intention to cut our funding."

"Opening another front would cause military expenditure, supply demands, and logistical pressure to rise sharply. In the village's current state, sustaining a prolonged war on multiple fronts would be extremely difficult."

Utatane Koharu gave a cold snort and added scathingly:

"Hmph. You make it sound so easy, Danzo. Where will the shinobi needed for this new battlefield come from?"

Danzo dismissed their objections.

"As for funding, there's always enough if we economize. As for shinobi..."

"We'll simply have to ask the shinobi clans to suffer a little more."

"Danzo! You!"

At those words, every shinobi clan head present glared furiously at Danzo.

"Listen to yourself! How can you say something like that?"

"What do you mean, ask the shinobi clans to suffer a little more?"

Hiruzen watched the argument with a deep frown.

He did not state his position immediately. His gaze moved from face to face before finally settling on Uchiha Zonyan, who sat expressionless in a corner, resting with his eyes closed.

"What do the Uchiha think?"

Hiruzen's sudden question instantly silenced the meeting room.

Every gaze turned toward the Uchiha seats.

Indeed, apart from the Anbu and certain special units, the Konoha Military Police Force was the village's best option for quickly assembling a substantial fighting force. It had a relatively independent organizational structure and was permanently stationed in the village.

Its ranks included several hundred elite Uchiha.

Elder Zong Yan slowly opened his eyes, but neither rose nor looked at Hiruzen. Instead, he turned his head slightly and spoke evenly to Gentō beside him.

"Gentō, you will speak for the Uchiha."

With that, he closed his eyes again, as though the matter no longer concerned him, leaving every decision to this young clansman.

The sight stirred a wave of emotions among the senior officials present, their expressions varied.

With this gesture, Zong Yan was undoubtedly declaring in public that Gentō could now represent the will of the Uchiha.

But on closer consideration, it made sense.

After all, Gentō's political insight had already been proven.

As time passed, both Iwagakure and Kumogakure had begun showing faint signs of wanting a ceasefire.

Even Sunagakure's current plans for an offensive confirmed his earlier assessment.

Under everyone's complicated gazes, Gentō slowly rose.

Just then, a system notification suddenly sounded in his mind.

[Ding! The host has triggered a main quest.]

[Main quest issued: Become supreme commander of the Sunagakure front!]

[Quest description: Lead a major battle that will determine Konoha's fate and establish an undisputed position of leadership during it.]

[Quest reward: Lottery draws ×1.]

Become supreme commander?

Exactly what I wanted!

Gentō spoke at once.

"Strike once, and spare yourself a hundred blows!"

"The Uchiha's position is this: if Sunagakure wants a fight, then we'll give them one!"

"We'll keep fighting until they learn what pain feels like!"

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