The Senju were gone, but wasn't there still the Uchiha Clan?
As long as they could be made to uphold the Will of Fire, there was still hope of winning this battle.
With Kagami Uchiha's persuasion, his plan had a very good chance of succeeding.
Some far-sighted clan heads noticed Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze, their feelings complex beyond words.
Was he going to have the Uchiha Clan take the Senju Clan's place and become the main force in this war?
On the one hand,
they didn't want to concern themselves too much with whether the Uchiha Clan lived or died. They had never truly accepted the Uchiha Clan.
One had to admire Senju Tobirama's schemes. He hadn't just set up his grandson; most importantly, he had set up the Uchiha Clan.
Given the Uchiha Clan's arrogance, establishing the Police Force was bound to make them offend those in Konoha who refused to follow the rules, leaving them forever at odds with Konoha's ninja clans.
Ninja clans were the very embodiment of privilege.
On the other hand,
Sarutobi Hiruzen's actions left them feeling chilled.
The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan were Konoha's most important founders, yet they were being treated this way.
Would their own clans be dealt with by such underhanded means in the future?
"Danzo, what do you think about sending the Uchiha Clan to the battlefield in the Land of Rain?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice softened as he asked Shimura Danzō for his opinion. At the same time, he was showing weakness to mend their relationship.
Every time before this, when Shimura Danzō disagreed with him, all it took was for him to express his displeasure with the Uchiha Clan, and Shimura Danzō would take his side.
That was because, when the Second, Senju Tobirama, had chosen his disciples, Shimura Danzō had been passed over. The one who took his place was Kagami Uchiha.
Only later, thanks to the efforts of the Shimura Clan and Senju Hashirama's persuasion, had Senju Tobirama accepted Shimura Danzō as his disciple after all.
As a result, Senju Tobirama had held a slight prejudice against Shimura Danzō.
"You're the Hokage. I'll follow your lead."
Shimura Danzō replied mechanically with his eyes closed, without the hostility he had shown before.
In the past, he would have forgiven Sarutobi Hiruzen long ago.
Now, Shimura Danzō felt only cold all over, as though he were drowning in the sea.
He had never truly seen Sarutobi Hiruzen for who he was. After Senju Nawaki's reminder, he had grown wary of him.
Looking back on his time with Sarutobi Hiruzen, everything seemed to carry a hint of hypocrisy.
Could it be that Sarutobi Hiruzen had even deceived their teacher?
The thought crossed his mind, but he kept it to himself and continued to act as he always had.
Everything depended on what Sarutobi Hiruzen did from here on.
"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha Clan's ninjas specialize in Fire Release. Their abilities might be somewhat diminished on the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
"Wouldn't it be better to send them to the Land of Fields to fight the Sunagakure ninjas? They'd have an advantage there."
Kagami Uchiha pressed his lips together, hesitating for a long while before offering his opinion.
"The Land of Rain is the most important battlefield. The Uchiha Clan mustn't be intimidated by the challenge.
"I'll send some of Konoha's active-duty ninjas to support them.
"As for the Land of Fields, the fighting there is still limited. We only need to keep watch."
Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, feeling a hint of displeasure toward Kagami Uchiha.
He had thought Uchiha Fugaku, a mere upstart, would be his biggest obstacle. He hadn't expected Kagami Uchiha to be the first to oppose him.
The fighting in the Land of Fields was closer to the Land of Fire and far less dangerous. Of course he would reserve it for the Sarutobi Clan and the clans loyal to him. He also had many businesses there.
That place was crucial to his control over the Senju Clan and his efforts to suppress them.
The Land of Fields' grain and the Nara Clan's medicinal herbs could surely replace the Senju Clan.
He would make the Senju Clan realize how foolish they were. Without Konoha's protection, they were nothing and could accomplish nothing.
The Land of Rain, on the other hand, would become a meat grinder. It needed a powerful shield to stand in the way, becoming a target for the major shinobi nations and wearing down their forces.
Kagami Uchiha sensed Sarutobi Hiruzen's displeasure and shook his head helplessly.
Inwardly, he wasn't trying to preserve the Uchiha Clan's strength. He was trying to preserve Konoha's strength as a whole.
He was about to continue persuading him when Uchiha Fugaku cut in.
"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha Clan accepts your decision. We're willing to contribute our strength to Konoha's peace."
Uchiha Fugaku raised his head and looked straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his gaze resolute.
Now that the Senju Clan had betrayed Konoha, as long as the Uchiha Clan showed enough goodwill and contributed to the village, they would surely be able to truly become part of Konoha.
He would fulfill the Uchiha Clan's long-held wish and give them a chance to claim the position of Hokage. It all depended on maintaining a good relationship with the Third.
He had once wanted to become Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciple, but the timing had been wrong. Back then, Sarutobi Hiruzen had just taken in the Konoha Sannin and had no time for anyone else.
He believed this was his opportunity—and the Uchiha Clan's as well.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened in surprise and delight.
Is this generation's Uchiha Clan Head really so naïve? Looks like all that education about the Will of Fire hasn't gone to waste.
Uchiha Fugaku was the new Uchiha Clan Head, only five years older than Senju Nawaki and five years younger than the Konoha Sannin.
The other jonin in the meeting room wore strange expressions.
Senju Nawaki was gone, and now Uchiha Fugaku had arrived.
They were happy to watch Sarutobi Hiruzen fool one naïve young man after another.
Uchiha Itachi's eyes flickered, and he stopped trying to persuade them.
The village and the clan had both made their decision. What could he say?
He would only disrupt Uchiha Fugaku's plans and incur Sarutobi Hiruzen's displeasure.
"Good, good, good. Then it's settled.
"The Uchiha Clan will be stationed on the front lines in the Land of Rain and choose their own commander.
"After winning on the battlefield, the Uchiha Clan may nominate one person to join the Council of Elders.
"I'll also take you as my disciple. The Uchiha Clan will be Konoha's greatest benefactor."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and repeated the word "good" three times.
With the Uchiha Clan filling the vacancy left by the Senju Clan, he'd achieve two goals at once.
He could accomplish his aims more quickly.
Every ninja clan that surpassed the Sarutobi Clan would be weakened one by one. Then he would hold the greatest authority in Konoha.
He was offering the Uchiha Clan an irresistible temptation and changing his attitude toward them.
He had lost the Senju Clan's support, so he would seek the Uchiha Clan's instead. Either way, they were tools in his hands; he had merely changed the means by which they would meet their end.
"Lord Hokage, the Uchiha Clan will give everything we have. Konoha will surely win."
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes shone with excitement, and his heart brimmed with joy.
He could almost see the Uchiha Clan becoming Konoha's foremost clan.
With the Uchiha Clan's willingness, everything that followed was easy to arrange.
Konoha still hadn't realized how brutal this ninja war would be. They believed everything was under control, and that the worst-case outcome would be heavy losses for the Uchiha Clan.
Konoha assembled an allied force led by the Uchiha Clan and sent it to the Land of Rain.
Taking Sarutobi Hiruzen's promises to heart, the Uchiha Clan committed all its forces. In just three days, they had reclaimed Konoha's front line.
They managed to suppress the local ninjas of the Land of Rain, as well as Sunagakure and Kumogakure.
Then Chiyo of Sunagakure entered the battle, and her Puppet Technique and poisons inflicted heavy losses on Konoha.
Konoha was astonished to discover that Sunagakure was preparing for a full-scale invasion.
The most fatal weakness of Sunagakure—their inadequate supply lines—had disappeared.
Only then did Konoha Anbu realize that the Senju Clan's grain, which they had thought gave them control over the clan's lifeline, had become the first blade turned against them.
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