The Uchiha Clan's Blind Swordsman

Not to mention, that was the light.

The light that Chiba had never seen before.

What blind man would not yearn for the light?

Yet, why did it not work when it came to Chiba?

"Lord Danzo... do you need me to go and investigate the Uchiha Clan?"

Danzo waved his hand.

"No need."

"Sarutobi Hiruzen will be making a move against the Uchiha Clan soon; do not go near the Uchiha Clan for the time being!"

After saying this, Danzo let out a heavy sigh, feeling somewhat perplexed.

Chiba, you fellow, what on earth are you still hesitating about?

Setting that side aside for a moment.

Danzo had been waiting.

However, ever since his last contact with Danzo, Chiba had not given these matters a second thought.

In these times of peace.

He poured all of his time into training.

Daily Mission, the development of the Gravity Fruit—Chiba did not stop for a single moment.

He would exhaust his stamina completely almost every single day.

And the results were significant.

Whether it was Chiba or Itachi, both of their strengths had improved at a rapid pace.

Today, just like any other day.

Chiba was waiting for Itachi to arrive at their usual training ground.

Itachi did indeed arrive.

However, he did not seem to have any intention of sparring.

"What's wrong?"

Itachi looked up at Chiba, his face filled with worry.

"The battle between us and Iwagakure has ended."

"Iwagakure's rear supply lines were cut, and they ultimately retreated."

"Konoha has won a complete victory!"

Hearing this, Chiba slowly let out a breath.

Has the Battle of Kannabi Bridge ended?

Everyone in Konoha was immersed in the brief moment of victory.

But only Chiba knew.

The beginning of the scourge was only just starting to spread from this moment on.

"Since we in Konoha have won."

"Why do you look so unhappy?"

To those who did not know the truth.

This was heartening news.

However, one could not hear a shred of joy in Itachi's words.

"No, Chiba-kun, I am not unhappy."

"Although it is true that we won, but... this loss is, after all, far too heavy."

For Itachi, who had once been on the battlefield.

He knew what it meant when a war ended.

It meant counting the casualties.

The joy of victory was temporary.

But those lost lives were bloody and real.

"The Hokage has notified the entire village."

"Although we in Konoha were victorious in the battle against Iwagakure."

"But this was all built upon the sacrifice of lives!"

"In this decisive battle against Iwagakure, we lost a member of our Uchiha clan."

"His death paved the way for Konoha's victory!"

"Therefore, to honor this Uchiha hero, the Hokage has summoned ninjas from every clan to the Cemetery for a memorial service."

That deceased Uchiha clan member was likely Uchiha Obito.

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen claiming to honor an Uchiha hero, Chiba couldn't imagine that being true even if he thought with his backside.

How could Sarutobi Hiruzen, from his position of authority, ever elevate the Uchiha clan?

Even when Iwagakure and Kumogakure were acting so aggressively, Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't sent the Uchiha clan to the front lines, choosing instead to have them face the most low-key Kirigakure.

He did that precisely to cut off any possibility of the Uchiha clan earning merit on the battlefield.

Having experienced the Second Shinobi World War, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew full well what kind of prestige victory in war could bring to a clan.

Hatake Sakumo was the perfect example of that.

With his own strength, he had overshadowed the Hokage himself.

In the end, his achievements had become too great for his superior to tolerate.

Given that, how could Sarutobi Hiruzen possibly summon all of Konoha to memorialize a fallen Uchiha?

I'm afraid his true intentions lie elsewhere.

The dead Uchiha Obito is merely an excuse for Sarutobi Hiruzen.

What he truly wants to highlight is definitely not the Uchiha clan.

It must be Namikaze Minato.

Turning the tide of the battle between Konoha and Iwagakure single-handedly and securing a victory that forced Iwagakure to retreat—such a military achievement is terrifyingly vast.

It is even more exaggerated than Hatake Sakumo's during the Second Shinobi World War.

Therefore, the level of support Namikaze Minato will receive in Konoha is unimaginable.

It is quite obvious.

Sarutobi Hiruzen is paving the way for Namikaze Minato.

A path to becoming the Fourth Hokage.

"Since it is to honor a hero of our Uchiha clan... then let us go."

Having said that, Chiba leaned on his cane and headed toward the Cemetery.

Itachi followed him immediately.

"Chiba-kun, tell me... what is the purpose of war, really?"

"The reason for war? I'm afraid it always comes down to [interests]."

"But no matter how great the interests gained from winning a war, what is lost is, in the end, life. Could the meaning of life really be worth less than those [interests]?"

Hearing this, Chiba exhaled slowly and spoke calmly.

"Itachi, you must remember."

"Interests are merely the surface of war!"

"In wars like this, between nations."

"What is being fought is not just a war; behind the war... lies politics!"

Hearing this, Itachi fell into deep thought.

Thinking from the perspective of life was Itachi's strength, but it was also his weakness.

"Furthermore, you must watch this memorial service very carefully!"

Watch carefully?

Itachi was puzzled.

Chiba-kun seemed to have a hidden meaning in his words.

When Chiba and Itachi arrived at the Cemetery, it was already packed.

Ninjas from every clan had gathered here.

The Nara Clan, the Yamanaka Clan, the Aburame Clan, the Shimura Clan, the Sarutobi Clan, and even many from the Hyuga Clan, who were still fighting on the front lines against Kumogakure, were in attendance.

Almost every family of note within Konoha was gathered here now.

Ordinary ninjas might naively believe this was truly to honor a fallen Uchiha hero.

However, the old, cunning foxes within each clan certainly knew better.

The Hokage's true objective this time was absolutely not the Uchiha clan.

It was Namikaze Minato.

Commemorating the heroes of the Uchiha clan was merely a pretext.

Not only did this cultivate a favorable image of a Hokage who valued heroes and cherished his people, but it also silenced the few remaining voices within the village that had supported the Uchiha clan's bid for the Fourth Hokage.

It was killing three birds with one stone.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's intentions were not focused on the wine, but on the cup.

At the Uchiha clan's grounds, the man leading the group was none other than Uchiha Fugaku.

The front lines at Kirigakure were not as tense as those facing Iwagakure and Kumogakure.

Therefore, he could easily return whenever something special required his presence.

Yet, despite this being a ceremony to honor the heroes of the Uchiha clan, his expression was far from pleasant.

"Why go to such lengths..."

"Lord Hokage, I have no designs on the position of the Fourth Hokage!"

"Why must you use my Uchiha clan as an excuse?"

Uchiha Fugaku slowly exhaled.

He felt a bitter taste in his heart.

He was well aware of the Uchiha clan's standing within Konoha, which was why he had never harbored any ambitions for the Fourth Hokage seat from the very beginning.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen would not see it that way.

He only knew that within the village, there were voices supporting the Uchiha clan's rise to the position of Hokage.